Research Guides: Tracing Federal Legislation: Find Bill / Law Text

Databases

The following databases will provide access to the text of legislation or laws.

HeinOnline This link opens in a new window More than 100 million pages of legal history in an online, fully-searchable, image-based format. Comprehensive coverage, from inception, of more than 2,000 law and law-related periodicals, as well as many current and historical government documents.
U.S. Congressional Serial Set, 1817-1994 This link opens in a new window Contains House and Senate Documents and Reports. Reports are usually from congressional committees dealing with proposed legislation and issues under investigation. Documents include all other papers ordered printed by the House or Senate; documents cover a wide variety of topics and may include reports of executive departments and independent organizations, reports of special investigations made for Congress, and annual reports of non-governmental organizations. (15th - 103rd Congresses)
Westlaw This link opens in a new window Westlaw provides access to cases from the courts of all 50 states and the federal courts, statutes from all 50 states and federal statutes. Contains full text of American Law Reports and numerous law reviews. This is the best place to start legal research.