Subject Specialist:
Political Science, Law, International Relations
e-mail: hms2@psu.edu
Helen Sheehy
Title: Head Social Sciences Library
Subject Specialist:
Political Science, Law, International Relations
e-mail: hms2@psu.edu
Congressional [Proquest] provides access to the best Web resources for congressional and legislative information. Many of the citations are available in full text. Relevant collections within the product include:
U.S. Serial Set
The U.S. Serial Set, a full-text collection of U.S. government publications compiled under the directive of Congress, includes Congressional reports and documents, executive agency and departmental reports ordered to be printed by Congress, the American State Papers, and all maps, illustrations, photos, and lithographs found within the U.S. Serial Set from 1789-1969.
Congressional Hearings
Published hearings are the official record of committee hearings proceedings. Hearings, which are usually open to the public, are held to enable committees to gather opinions and information to help Members of Congress make decisions regarding proposed legislation or to help them fulfill their oversight and investigation responsibilities.
Congressional Research Service Reports
The Congressional Research Service [CRS] was established in 1914 within the Library of Congress to provide congress members, committees, and congressional staff with nonpartisan and objective research and analysis on all public policy issues.
Committee Prints
A committee print can include research papers by committee staff, Congressional Research Service experts, or outside consultants.
House and Senate Documents
House and Senate documents are the class of publications issued by congressional committees or the full House or Senate. This publication type can contain:
Congressional may also be reached via the Libraries' Databases by Title [A-Z list]. Select the Advanced Search tab and the collection you wish to search.
Note: be sure to Restrict by All Available Dates or by Any Congress. You may also restrict to a specific Congress or Date, if known.
Note: not everything is currently available in full text. However, the Penn State Libraries generally own the microfiche or print copy. Copy the CIS number [CIS-NO] and ask for assistance at the Social Sciences Library Reference Desk on the 2nd floor of Paterno Library.
| Years | Title | Call Number |
|---|---|---|
| 1774-1881 | Descriptive Catalogue of the Government Publications of the United States, 1774-1881 | J83.P83 |
| 1789-1909 | Checklist of United States Public Documents, 1789-1909 | J83.P86 |
| 1789-1976 | Cumulative Title Index to United States Public Documents | J83.C72 |
| 1881-1893 | Comprehensive Index to the Publications of the United States Government, 1881-1893 | J83.P85 |
| 1885-1894 | United States Government Publications: A Monthly Catalog | Z1223.A178 |
| 1893-1940 | Catalogue of the Public Documents of the [53rd-76th] Congress and all Departments of the Government of the United States for the Period from March 4, 1893 to December 31, 1940 | Z1223 .A13 |
Cumulative subject index to the Monthly catalog of United States government publications, 1895-1899 [call number: Z1223.A1812]
Cumulative subject index to the Monthly Catalog of U.S. Government Publications, 1900-1971 [call number: J83.C73]
Monthly catalog of United States government publications [call number: J83.C7196]
Department of Labor [1913 to the present]
SuDocs Number: L
Commerce and Labor Department (1903-)
SuDocs Number: C
U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pension
SuDocs Number: Y1.1/5: or Y 4.L 11/4:
House Education and Labor Committee
SuDocs Number: Y 1.1/8: or Y 4.ED 8/1:
The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings, debates, and activities of the United States Congress. Although the Record contains a substantially verbatim account of the proceedings and debate, it also contains extensive inserted materials, communications from the President and executive agencies, memorials, and petitions.
| Years | Title | Call Number |
|---|---|---|
| 1834-1873 | Congressional Globe | J11.G5 |
| 1873 to the present | Congressional Record | J11.R5 |
Available in electronic format in HeinOnline and in ProQuest Congressional [via the Libraries' Databases by Title (A-Z list)]. Search for the title Congressional Record and click on the results to search within this title.
The Decennial census has been taken every ten years since 1790. Although this is typically viewed as a source for statistics on America, it also includes a wealth of summary articles that focus on special topics such as the timber industry, race, urbanization, etc.
Census of Manufactures
The Census of Manufactures contains labor data, typically by industry and geographic areas. It was part of the Decennial Census in 1860 to 1900. It became its own entity from 1905 on, collected at odd years and eventually collected on years ending in 2 and 7.
The Census of Manufactures can be found along with the other U.S. Economic Censuses in the Social Sciences Library Census Collection, 2nd Floor Paterno Library.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) is the tripartite UN agency that brings together governments, employers, and workers of its member states in common action to promote decent work conditions throughout the world. The United States sends a representative who shares responsibility from the Department of State and Department of Labor. The AFL/CIO represents the worker and the U.S. Council for International Business represents the employers.
The ILO documents collection is shelved with the International Documents Collection [call number stem ILO] on 2nd floor Paterno Library.
Index and full-text documents can be searched on the International Labour Organization Web site at ILO Publications and Research.
ILO also has a great collection of trend statistics databases on the ILO Statistics and Databases page.
Gale Virtual Reference Library
Contains numerous encyclopedias, including a number of basic legal encyclopedias that can outline basic tenets in labor law.
American Jurisprudence (AmJur). — part of LexisNexis Academic
click on US Legal (on the left side of the screen, then on Legal Reference to choose American Jurisprudence. AmJur provides in-depth discussion of legal issues with notes and links to the most important relevant cases.
Scholarly articles on legal issues are often the best and most efficient ways to identify a case that is central to a topic you are exploring. There are two main databases. There is considerable overlap, but each has its relative strengths. Both contain some full text and will link out to full text in other databases.
BNA Labor and Employment Law Resource Center
A one-stop-shop for information on employment law. Look for entries marked analysis or from the Labor Relations Expediter. The analyses will link to important cases related to that topic.
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Decisions are available in LexisNexis Academic.
The NLRB is an independent federal agency that protects the rights of private sector employees to join together, with or without a union, to improve their wages and working conditions. It acts as a quasi-judicial body deciding cases between employers and employees formal administrative proceedings. Decisions can be appealed to traditional courts.
Other court cases are also available through LexisNexis Academic:
If you have identified a case through another source (journal article or encyclopedia article use the Look up a Legal Case section on the first screen for a quick look-up.
To search by keyword. Click on US Legal on the left side of screen, then on Federal and State Cases.
Hoover's
Proprietary company and industry information, SEC filings, plus reports on money management, career development, news, and business travel
LexisNexis Academic
Contains many reports on company finances.
Company Information research guide
Use this guide created by the Business Library to locate a host of other excellent business research sources.
Historical Statistics of the United States
A compilation of statistics going back to colonial times along with background essays that puts those statistics in context.
Statistical Abstract of the United States
The Statistical Abstract of the United States, published since 1878, is the authoritative and comprehensive summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic organization of the United States. Sources of data include the Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Economic Analysis, and many other Federal agencies and private organizations
Bureau of Labor Statistics time series
BLS is the major federal agency charged with collection labor data. This site compiles major data sets back to 1948. You can jump from here to other BLS data.
Statistical Insight [Proquest]
An index to all the major statistical publications of federal, state, and international agencies, many of which are available full-text online. It also has a lot of online tables available for easy download.
