Government Policies and their Unintended Consequences

If you need help deciding what to research try this:

• CQ Researcher -- covers many topics of current interest.  Go into CQ Researcher and click on Browse by Topic. 
• Scan a newspaper for ideas
• Pick up a News Magazine such as Time or Newsweek

The resources below will step you through that process.

• Begin by reading some background information on your topic.  The sources listed under "Policy Development" will provide that background and talk about specific laws. 
• Identify a public law that you want to explore and note its number (e.g. P.L. 209-58) and the date it was passed.
• Next go to the CQ Electronic Library and use the CQ Almanac and CQ Weekly Reports to get more information on the law's provisions and Congress' discussions when it was considering the law.
• Then trace the law's legislative history. 
  • Use Lexis/Nexis Congressional.  Click on Legislative Histories in the left column, choose get a document and type in the law's number.
  • look for committee reports and hearings, as well as congressional debate to determine the intent. These documents comprise the legislative history.
• Determine the outcomes.  Use the resources below under "Outcomes".
  • Look at government reports from the GAO or Agencies involved in administering the Law
  • Look for journal articles about the issue.
  • If the issue is very current try news sources as well.

Background information on policy development and interest groups

Hint:  these resources outline the issues as well as talk about the potential solutions.  Some will also provide legislative histories.

• Policy File -- Public policy research and analysis database that is a clearing house for locating information from think tanks and interest groups.  A good place to find pro/con discussion, but keep in mind that many of these organizations may have a partisan point of view. 
• Congressional Research Service Reports   --  Reports prepared for the use of congressional committees as they are studying possible new legislation of government programs.  They also sometimes provide histories of legislation and discussion of how well legislation has achieved its stated purpose.  Very non-partisan and objective in their analysis.
• Congressional Budget Office -- publishes studies of the economic effects of many government programs and policies.

Background information on legislation

Hint: Use the CQ Electronic Library resources and National Journal to identify a public law.  NOTE the Public Law number and use that number to search the legislative histories in Lexis/Nexis Congressional.

• CQ Electronic Library  -- use the following databases within the Library to identify a federal law to research.  Click on the above link then choose one of these files. Be sure not note the bill number (e.g. HR129 or S232) and the Public Law Number (e.g. PL 99-123) for use in Lexis/Nexis Congressional.
  • CQ Almanac -- similar to Congress and the Nation, but more detailed and issued on an annual basis.  Good for determining the rational behind passing legislation.
  • CQ Weekly -- the Time or Newsweek of Congress.  Detailed coverage of legislative activities.
• Lexis/Nexis Congressional .    Once you have identified a Public Law.  Search the Legislative Histories section of Lexis/Nexis Congressional.   Look particularly for the House/Senate/Conference Reports which will give in depth info on the legislative intent.  Hearings may also be helpful   Most of these will be full text in the database for contemporary reports. 
• National Journal -- similar to CQ Weekly above but also covers the executive branch.