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Research Guides

Federal Legislative History

Deciphering Acronyms and Abbreviations

Commonly Used:

Legislation​

  • H.R. 422
    (House of Representatives bill number)
  • H.R. Res.
    (House Resolution)
  • H. Con. Res.
    (House Concurrent Resolution)
  • H.R.J. Res.
    (House Joint Resolution)
  • S. 516
    (Senate Bill Number)
  • S. Res.
    (Senate Resolution)
  • S. Con. Res.
    (Senate Concurrent Resolution)
  • S.J. Res.
    (Senate Joint Resolution)
  • S. Exec. Res.
    (Senate Executive Resolution)
  

Documents​​

  • H.R. Rep. No. 99-253
    (House Report 253 of the 99th Congress)
  • H.R. Doc. No.
    (House Document)
  • H.R. Misc. Doc. No.
    (House Miscellaneous Document)
  • S. Rep. No. 95-601
    (Senate Report 601 of the 95th Congress)
  • S. Exec. Doc.
    (Senate Executive Document)
  • S. Treaty Doc.
    (Senate Treaty Document)

Debates​

  • Annals Of Cong.
    (Annals of the Congress of the United States (1789-1824))
  • Reg. Deb.
    (Register of Debates in Congress (1824-1837))
  • Cong. Globe
    (Congressional Globe (1833-1873))
  • Cong. Rec.
    (Congressional Record (1873-present)

Reference Source:

Prince's Bieber Dictionary of Legal Abbreviations: A Reference Guide for Attorneys, Legal Secretaries, Paralegals, and Law Students.

Bluebook Rules

The Bluebook rules for citing legislative materials can be found under Rule 13, Legislative Materials:

  • Bills and Resolutions (Rule 13.2)
  • Hearings (Rule 13.3)
  • Reports, Document, and Committee Prints (Rule 13.4)
  • Debates (Rule 13.5)
  • Separately Bound Legislative Histories (Rule 13.6)


Abbreviations for commonly used words in legislative materials can be found in Table T9.

Using the Catalog (JACOB) to Find Federal Legislative History Resources

Search by Call # Range:

  • JK 1012 - 1432 - Congress. Legislative branch
  • JK 1154 - 1276 - Senate
  • JK 1308 - 1432 - House of Representatives

Search by Subject Heading: