Research Archives
Capitol Hill Workshop: Politics, Policy, and Process
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Capitol Hill Workshop: Politics, Policy, and Process |
Congressional decision-making is driven by politics, policy and process. In this engaging workshop, Washington-based experts discuss these 3 P's and help you understand the complete policy-making process.
This intensive 3-day course is held in Washington, DC.
Attend a congressional hearing and see the process in action. Materials include the Early Edition of the Congressional Directory and the Training Edition of the award-winning Congressional Deskbook. This course is designed for GS-12 and above, military officers, supervisory personnel, and Leadership Development participants.
- February 11-13, 2009
- 8:30 am to 4:00 pm all three days
- More information here
January 18, 2009 12:47 PM Link Comments (0)
Tracking and Monitoring Legislation: How to Find and Use Congressional Documents
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Tracking and Monitoring Legislation: How to Find and Use Congressional Documentss |
Are you responsible for legislative tracking? Do you know which online resources are most useful for your particular task? Do you need to know alternative methods for monitoring legislative changes and ways to better utilize your resources (saving time in the process)?
You’ll learn different types and versions of bills, committee and conference reports, and leadership documents. Students also find out about The Congressional Record, Congress' official activity account. Learn about legislation tracking, monitoring and the complexities of how a bill becomes a law.
- Tuesday, September 16, 2008
- 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
- More information here
August 18, 2008 02:37 PM Link Comments (0)
Practical Web Research in a Nutshell
Practical Web Research in a Nutshell
Learn how to search more efficiently and effectively in this course designed for professionals who want practical techniques for conducting Web research on the job. In this course, you gain an overview of:
- How search engines work, and how to make them work for you
- Advanced, but easy, search techniques
- How to use the best of the free websites for legislative, legal, regulatory, factual, state, and international information
- What to do when you do not know where to start
- What you will not find on the Internet
Open Q&A with the faculty included: Peggy Garvin.
- Tuesday, August 12, 2008
- 2 pm ET/1 pm CT/12 noon MT/11 am PT
- More information here
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Practical Web Research in a Nutshell
Capitol Learning Audio Course Includes seminar materials. Audio Course on CD: $47 plus shipping and handling  |
July 21, 2008 04:17 PM Link Comments (0)
Researching Federal Legislative Histories: Bills, Resolutions, Committee Hearings, and Committee Reports
Researching Federal Legislative Histories: Bills, Resolutions, Committee Hearings, and Committee Reports
If you are researching legislative histories, you need a thorough understanding of federal legislative documents. During this program, you will learn about:
- Bills, resolutions, and the print and Internet sources for them
- Committee hearings—types and sources to locate published hearings
- Other miscellaneous documents and publications
Open Q&A with the faculty included: Bob Gee.
- Wednesday, July 23, 2008
- 2 pm ET/1 pm CT/12 noon MT/11 am PT
- More information here
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Researching Federal Legislative Histories: Bills, Resolutions, Committee Hearings, and Committee Reports
Capitol Learning Audio Course Includes seminar materials. Audio Course on CD: $47 plus shipping and handling |
July 2, 2008 12:47 PM Link Comments (0)
How to Research and Compile Legislative Histories: Searching for Legislative Intent
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How to Research and Compile Legislative Histories: Searching for Legislative Intent |
This full-day course in Washington, DC, explores effective, professional methods for locating and compiling legislative histories of federal laws.
Our experienced, up-to-date, and independent faculty demonstrate and discuss:
- Various document types necessary to research and compile legislative histories including enacted laws, bills and resolutions, floor debates and committee reports with a focus on federal (not state) legislative history research methodologies
- The fastest ways to find and use print and online documents
- Professional secrets and tips
Also see our web page, "Legislative History Reference and Research Tools."
- Friday, June 27, 2008
- 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
- More information here
June 21, 2008 09:37 AM Link Comments (0)
Research Skills for the Real World: Going Beyond Google
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Research Skills for the Real World: Going Beyond Google |
This 1-day course in Washington, DC, helps anyone responsible for research at any Washington-area organization, whether an agency, association, business, elected official or nonprofit. It is designed for anyone who wants to improve their research skills.
Are you among the 80 percent who haven’t received research skills training? Our faculty offer a minimum of 10 years' experience in performing research in Washington.
You'll gain:
- An overview of online searching, telephone and email research
- A review of legislative, judicial, regulatory, factual and international research
- A review of public and private information sources
Course materials include your personal copy of Real World Research Skills by Peggy Garvin.
- Wednesday, June 25, 2008
- 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
- More information here
. . .
June 18, 2008 10:37 AM Link Comments (0)
Researching Federal Legislative Histories: Statutory and Code Research
Researching Federal Legislative Histories: Statutory and Code Research
If you are researching legislative histories, you need a thorough understanding of the sources and publication of laws, i.e., statutes and codes. During this program, you will:
- Learn about the "print and selected electronic" sources and publications of "Federal" laws in layperson's terms
- Examine the U.S. Statutes at Large and U.S. Code, and other compilations of laws
- Learn the fastest ways to find these documents in print and online
- Be apprised of other research aids
Open Q&A with the faculty included: Bob Gee.
- Wednesday, June 18, 2008
- 2 pm ET/1 pm CT/12 noon MT/11 am PT
- More information here
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Researching Federal Legislative Histories: Statutory and Code Research
Capitol Learning Audio Course Includes seminar materials. Audio Course on CD: $47 plus shipping and handling |
June 17, 2008 06:17 PM Link Comments (0)
Researching Federal Legislative Histories: Statutory and Code Research
Researching Federal Legislative Histories: Statutory and Code Research
If you are researching legislative histories, you need a thorough understanding of the sources and publication of laws, i.e., statutes and codes. During this program, you will:
- Learn about the "print and selected electronic" sources and publications of "Federal" laws in layperson's terms
- Examine the U.S. Statutes at Large and U.S. Code, and other compilations of laws
- Learn the fastest ways to find these documents in print and online
- Be apprised of other research aids
Open Q&A with the faculty included: Robert Gee.
- Wednesday, June 18, 2008
- 90 minutes: 2 pm ET/1 pm CT/12 noon MT/11 am PT
- More information here
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Researching Federal Legislative Histories: Statutory and Code Research
Capitol Learning Audio Course Includes seminar materials. Audio Course on CD: $47 plus shipping and handling |
May 28, 2008 10:17 AM Link Comments (0)
"'Young' America has a more 'Ancient' Constitution than 'Old' England"
Because the U.S. Constitution is written and the English constitution is unwritten, according to Lexington Green the U.S Constitution has more "ancient vestiges than the English one." These vestiges include the Second Amendment and impeachment.
"Young" America has a more "Ancient" Constitution than "Old" England, and has retained more of its freedom as a result.
"Continuities," by Lexington Green, Chicago Boyz, October 17, 2005
Other Resources
- United States Constitution, a guide from the Library of Congress
- CRS Annotated Constitution, from LII. "The CRS Annotated Constitution was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) at the Library of Congress, and published electronically in plaintext and PDF by the Government Printing Office. Dating back to 1964, the initial online annotations were published in 1992, and supplements were released in 1994, 1996, 1998, and 2000. This edition is a hypertext interpretation of the CRS text. It links to Supreme Court opinions, the U.S. Code, and the Code of Federal Regulations, as well as enhancing navigation through linked footnotes and tables of contents."
- "The English Constitution," by Walter Bagehot, 1865 (as 214 page pdf
)
- "The English Constitution," by Henry Hallam, on Blupete.
April 27, 2007 06:27 AM Link Comments (0)
Do you want to improve your research skills?
A recent survey found:
- A commanding 95 percent of professionals find Internet search engines an aid for conducting work, yet only 40 percent say they are very satisfied with the results
- Less than 25 percent of professionals are very confident that when using popular Internet search engines they’ve looked everywhere to find answers
- Businesses pay employees to hunt for information that can’t be found and make decisions without all the facts.
- More than 60 percent disclosed they do not ask for help when lost, while 80 percent said they have never been trained to use the advanced search feature.
Consumer Search Engines Leave Professionals at a Loss, says Convera® Survey, December 19, 2006
"First, I'd learn how to be a researcher and guide. The sheer amount of Web-based information is a double-edged sword. All this great stuff is wonderful in theory, but wading through page after page of search results is tiresome."
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"Some journalism teachers -- myself included -- tend to overestimate the Web skills of the current generation. We mistake technological comfort with research expertise. However, there's little transferable skill between a well-managed MySpace profile and online research."
"Online Journalism Skills I Wish I'd Learned in School, Part 1," by Mac Slocum, E-Media Tidbits, Poynter Online, April 11, 2007
If you want to become a more effective and efficient researcher, saving your organization time and money, take our course, "Research Skills for the Real World: Going Beyond Google."
Course materials include Peggy Garvin's "Real World Research Skills: An Introduction to Factual, International, Judicial, Legislative, and Regulatory Research."
Real World Research Skills, by Peggy Garvin
April 16, 2007 04:42 PM Link Comments (0)
Beta test of new THOMAS features - review by Peggy Garvin
This month, January 2007, the folks at THOMAS rolled out a beta test of new THOMAS features at the URL http://thomas.loc.gov/beta/. While making no change in the core content, the beta presents some of the biggest search, display, and navigation changes to THOMAS in its history.
"Testing the THOMAS Beta," by Peggy Garvin, LLRX.com
Real World Research Skills, by Peggy Garvin
January 23, 2007 07:17 AM Link Comments (0)
Legislative Drafting Resources
We recently updated our "Legislative Drafting Reference and Research Tools" page.
On January 27, we will have a 90 minute telephone seminar, "Drafting Effective Federal Legislation and Amendments in a Nutshell." On March 15, we will sponsor a 1-day training course, "Drafting Effective Federal Legislation and Amendments."
This spring, we will publish a new book, "Legislative Drafter's Deskbook: A Practical Guide," by Tobias A. Dorsey, Contributing Author: Clint Brass.
Technorati Tags: drafting legislation, legislative drafting, bill drafting, legislative drafter
January 18, 2006 07:37 AM Link Comments (0)
CRS reports about presidential nominations
On October 12, 2005, we posted several CRS reports about presidential nominations.
We're going to keep this at the top for a few weeks, which is why it is dated January 15, 2006.
The Congressional Deskbook discusses presidential appointments and the confirmation process: Sec.10.80, Congress and the Executive: Appointments; Sec. 10.81, Confirmation Procedure; and Sec. 10.121, Nominations to Federal Courts.
"The Alito Nomination: First Day Jitters And Seconded Arguments, Half-Cocked Theories And Full-Bore Rants," The Blogometer, January 10, 2006. Good blog roundup.
From FactCheck.org (Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania)
- "Anti-Alito Ad Uses Selective Quotes," January 10, 2006
- "Does Alito Pretend To Be A Moderate?," January 9, 2006
- "Dueling Alito Ads," January 5, 2006
"Frist begins pre-emptive strategy on Alito vote: Says he’s prepared to block Democrats if they seek to filibuster nominee," AP on MSNBC, December 11, 2005
January 15, 2006 11:37 AM Link Comments (0)
U.S. Congress Votes Database - Washington Post
Today the Washington Post launched a news website, The U.S. Congress Voters Database, that allows users to browse data from the 102nd Congress (1991) to the 109th Congress (present).
"Washington Post Launches U.S. Votes Database," by Sabrina Pacifici, BeSpacific, December 5, 2005
Technorati Tags: capitol hill, congress, legislation, legislative research
December 6, 2005 08:14 AM Link Comments (0)
"The Myth of Political Polarization"
[I]f people would simply look beyond the federal arena, they would see a very different picture. Although state campaigns can unquestionably get nasty, there is a spirit of pragmatism in state government that is not seen at the federal level.Governors such as Mark Warner and Mike Huckabee have worked successfully with legislatures controlled by the opposite party. Republicans such as Bill Owens of Colorado have supported tax increases, while Democrats like Phil Bredesen of Tennessee have enacted cuts in social programs, even though these actions contradicted the typical stances of their parties.
"The Myth of Political Polarization," by Josh Goodman, 13th Floor, December 1, 2005
December 1, 2005 05:07 PM Link Comments (0)
"Olny srmat poelpe can"
aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm.
"Olny srmat poelpe can," TEDblog, November 12, 2005
More
- Summary of "The Significance of Letter Position in Word Recognition," PhD Thesis, 1976, Nottingham University, by Graham Rawlinson
- "Reibadailty," by Graham Rawlinson, New Scientist, May 29, 1999
- "the science behind this meme," by Matt Davis, October 30, 2003. A page with versions in different languages and many links to various aspects of letter randomization.
- "University researchers demonstrate the order of letters within words is unimportant to reading comprehension." Snopes, September 23, 2003
November 12, 2005 01:00 PM Link Comments (0)
"The Military Applications of Silly String"
Silly string has served me well in Combat especially in looking for I.A.Ds., simply put, booby traps. . . . When you spray the string it just spreads everywhere and when it sets it lays right on the wire. Even in a dark room the string stands out revealing the trip wire.
"The Military Applications of Silly String," Cockeyed.com, November 4, 2005
via BoingBoing
November 5, 2005 02:31 AM Link Comments (0)
"When lobster was fertiliser" - What we can learn from old restaurant menus
Glenn Jones, of Texas A&M University, is a palaeo-oceanographer—an archaeologist of the oceans. He investigates both the mysteries of the deep and the secrets of the past. He and a colleague once estimated the temperature of the sea floor a century ago by studying the “isotopic composition” of mollusc shells. His latest method of inquiry, on show this week at the “Oceans Past” conference in Kolding, Denmark, is a little easier to understand. He reads old seafood menus. Lots of them. Mr Jones reckons he and his team have trawled through 40,000 or so, dating back as far as the 1850s.Why? His menus, mostly from American cities on either coast, have allowed him to track the price of seafood back 150 years, much further than anyone has gone before. The menus show that the bountiful seas of centuries past have become more miserly in recent decades. From the early 1920s to the late 1930s, for example, a San Francisco restaurant would charge only $6-7, in today's money, for a serving of abalone, a type of mollusc. By the 1980s, however, abalone was selling for $30-40 a meal. The collapse of abalone stocks prompted a 1997 ban on commercial harvesting off California's coast.
"When lobster was fertiliser," The Economist, October 27, 2005
November 2, 2005 07:02 AM Link Comments (0) TrackBacks (1)
"Fear Vectors" and "Fear Management"
Last August, in a Shiite neighborhood in eastern Baghdad, a suicide car bomb went off near a police station across the street from an open air bus station. Ten minutes later, as people crowded in the station to watch the rescue across the street, another suicide bomber drove his car into the station itself. The carnage was widespread but far from over. Twenty minutes later, as the victims of the first two blasts were removed to Kindi hospital only 200 yards away from the terminal, a third suicide car bomb went off at the hospital's side entrance.
What's interesting to me in this incident is the effort spent by the attackers anticipating where crowds would form. This is clearly a substantial tactical advance over earlier efforts (and like most developments from the proving ground in Iraq, something we are likely to see later). The attackers weren't thinking in terms of a single event but rather a series of events where they controlled the outcome.
"Fear Vectors," Global Guerrillas, October 22, 2005
October 23, 2005 04:13 PM Link Comments (0)
CRS reports about the confirmation process
Reports about judicial nominations and the confirmation process from the Congressional Research Service (CRS)
- "Types of Committee Hearings," by Richard Sachs, June 24, 2004, 98-317 GOV (pdf)
- "Evolution of the Senate’s Role in the Nomination and Confirmation Process: A Brief History," by Betsy Palmer, March 29, 2005, RL31948 (pdf)
- "Supreme Court Nominations Not Confirmed, 1789-2004," by Henry Hogue, March 21, 2005, RL31171 (pdf)
- "Constitutionality of a Senate Filibuster of a Judicial Nomination," by Jay R. Shampansky, June 14, 2005, RL32102 (pdf)
- "Cloture Attempts on Nominations," by Richard S. Beth and Betsy Palmer, April 22, 2005, RL32878 (pdf)
- "Senate Consideration of Presidential Nominations: Committee and Floor Procedure," by Elizabeth Rybicki, July 1, 2003, RL31980 (pdf)
Also See
"CRS reports about presidential nominations," Hobnob Blog, October 12, 2005"Senate Judiciary Committee, Nominations," a collection, from the Library of Congress, of "floor debates (Senate debate while in Executive Session), votes, hearing transcripts and Senate statements (statements made about the nominees outside of Executive Session) of four Supreme Court nominees which were not confirmed by the U.S. Senate": Robert H. Bork; G. Harrold Carswell, Clement F. Haynsworth; and Homer Thornberry.
October 20, 2005 01:13 PM Link Comments (0)
Open Source Warfare
The patterns of conflict we see today in Colombia and Iraq are a break from the previous framework (which may be an example of punctuated equilibrium). Unlike the previous models of guerrilla wars which sought to replace the state, these new wars have moved to a level of decentralization that makes them both unable to replace the state and extremely hard to eliminate. Is this new evolutionary equilibrium a fifth generation of warfare? It is extremely likely. This new form of warfare, or what I call open source warfare, is what this site (and my book) is dedicated to understanding.
"War's New Equilibrium," by John Robb, Global Guerrillas, September 20, 2005
October 18, 2005 09:09 AM Link Comments (0)
