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Hearings & Testimony

 

Contact

Stephen Woods photo

Stephen Woods
Title: Social Sciences Librarian Specializing in Data and Government Information


Subject Specialist:
Statistics & Data, U.S. Government Documents
814-865-0665
e-mail: sjw31@psu.edu

Social Sciences Library

Introduction

During hearings committees call on executive branch officials, "experts" in appropriate policy areas, and interest groups from the public and private sector to testify to the merits of proposed legislation. Many — though not all — of the transcripts from hearings are published and available in print, microfiche, or (increasingly) electronic format.

These documents can be particularly useful in tracking the stance of administration officials and the opinions of interest groups as well as understanding the positions of senators and representatives through the questions they pose.

In addition to hearings, you may also find that there are committee documents and prints. These are materials produced for use by the committee during its deliberations and can provide background and context for the issues being discussed.

Indexes

  • The CIS Index — the best index to congressional publications.

  • The CAT — search for Committee publications in the CAT, the Penn State Libraries' online catalog.

Online Resources

  • ProQuest Congressional [Penn State Libraries]
    An online version of the CIS Index with additional services linking users to transcripts of important hearings and the full text of both Bills and Committee Reports. (available to researchers with a Penn State Access Account)

  • THOMAS (Library of Congress)
    One of the main links to congressional information. THOMAS provides links to committee home pages, hearings schedules, and generally has full text of the hearings.

  • FDSys (Federal Digital System) - U.S. Government Printing Office
    "Most Congressional hearings are published two months to two years after they are held. Only hearings released to the Government Printing Office from the committees are made available."