Helpful Websites
Conducting your own research on Congress and its rules? The websites below are a helpful place to start. (This page is a work in progress. More websites will be added.)
Congress.gov
Congress.gov is the official website for U.S. federal legislative information. The site provides access to accurate, timely, and complete legislative information for Members of Congress, legislative agencies, and the public. It is managed by the Library of Congress using data from the Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Office of the Secretary of the Senate, the Government Publishing Office, Congressional Budget Office, and the Congressional Research Service.
The STanding Rules of the Senate
The forty-four Standing Rules of the Senate govern things ranging from non-controversial issues like the oath of office (Rule III) and the committee referral process (Rule XXVII) to controversial issues such as the process to end debate (Rule XXII). The website is managed by the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.
Riddick’s Senate Procedure
Named after Senate Parliamentarian Emeritus Floyd M. Riddick, this Senate document contains the contemporary precedents and practices of the Senate. It is updated periodically by the Senate Parliamentarian. The website is managed by the U.S. Government Publishing Office.
The Senate Manual
The Senate Manual, prepared during the second session of each Congress by the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, contains the standing rules, orders, laws, and resolutions affecting the Senate, as well as copies of historical U.S. documents, such as Jefferson's Manual, Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, Constitution of the United States, et cetera. and selected statistical information on the Senate and other Government entities. The website is managed by the U.S. Government Publishing Office.
The Congress Project at the University of Georgia
The Congress Project provides stories and context behind important legislation considered by the U.S. Congress. It also includes links to published research readers can consult for further information. These stories and context most commonly take the form of detailed legislative histories written by undergraduate researchers and edited by faculty at the University of Georgia.