TABLE OF CONTENTS

Background on Legal Process
Finding Information about your topic
Tracing Legislative Bills in Law or Oblivion
Laws, Codes, Statutes, Ordnances, Constitutions
Regulations on Implementation of Laws
Case Law

BACKGROUND ON LEGAL PROCESS

United States

Legislation:  An Overview (Cornell Legal Information Institute)   Short explanation of concept.

CIS Congressional Universe  (Available to UC campuses affiliates only)      Click on "Overview" in the top bar, scroll down to "Help" and select for the menu.  Within each section, links to definitions, charts, etc.  The "How do I..." section, links to the proper search screen with instructions on how to search that section.

Legislative Research  (Thomas)  Detailed procedures for process of bills to signed laws.

• How Our Laws Are Made  (U. S. House of Representatives Parliamentarian)
• Enactment of a Law  (U. S. Senate Parliamentarian)

Reports on the Legislative Process  (Congressional Research Service)Very detailed.  Table of Contents lists numerous processes,  procedures, organizations, key details.

How a Bill Becomes a Law (Project Vote Smart) Outlines the process with links to definitions of terms used.

United States Legal System  (Libarary of Congress)  Broader than just the legislative process, encompasses descriptions of the total legal system.  Sign in as Guest.

California

Guide for Accessing California Legislative Information on the Internet (California Legislative Council)  Includes sections on legislative process, glossary, and what is and is not available on the the internet.

International

Global Legal Network  (Library of Congress) Includes some selected guides to international and multinational legal topics.  Sign in as Guest.

UC ONLY Subscrition Resources
Select from the CDL/Melvyl databases.

• PAIS (Public Affairs Information Service) Analyses at all levels of government located in journals, books and government publications.  Bibliographic citations and abstracts.
• Congressional Universe (CIS) The "Inside Washington" "Publications" and "Testimony" sections might all have full text articles on your topic.  Be careful to follow instructions on how to search.
• Academic Universe (Lexis-Nexis) "News" and "Legal Research" (use the Law Reviews and Legal News sections) to search for full-text topical articles.  Be careful to follow instructions on how to search.
• ABI Inform (American Business Index)  Many topics, including government, law and legislation, as relates to business.  Some full text.
• Magazine and Journal Articles  Many topics, including government, law  and legislation.  Some full text.
• Index to Foreign Legal Periodicals
• Global Newsbank World perspective on many topics, including government, law  and legislation from around the world.  All full text. All translated.

Free Resources

• GAO Reports(U.S. General Accounting Office)  Analyses for Congress on multiple topics about government activities, proposed legislation, budgets, etc.  Full text beginning with 1996 to present.
• Subjects, United States Law  (Library of Congress)  Sign in as Guest.
• Infomine (University of California)  Keyword search under law or legal or legislation or legislative.  Browse keywords.
• State Government and Politics  (University of Michigan) Guide and links to numerous sources.

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United States

Congressional Universe (CIS) (Available for UC affiliates only) Search the "Bills" section for all bills; search the "Laws" section for bills signed into law; search "Publications" section for Congressional Record, reports, documents.  Follow instructions on how to search.

GPO Access (U.S. Government Printing Office)  Official resources in "Legislative" section.  Years of coverage vary with different titles.

GPO Gate(University of California)

Thomas (Library of Congress)

California

• Official California Legislative Information (California Legislative Council)  Begin with "Bill Information"

Other States

State Government and Politics  (University of Michigan) Guide and links to numerous sources.

State and Local Government on the Net (Piper Resources) Variety of information and content may vary from state to state.

International and Multinational

• Resolutions and Decisions  (United Nations, General Assembly)
• Academic Universe, Lexis-Nexis (CIS)  Under "Legal Research", select "EU Law".  European Union laws.
• European Parliament  (European Union)
• United Nations Treaty Collection  (United Nations)
• Global Legal Network  (Library of Congress)   1) Make selection, 2)click on "Search", 3) Click on "Guest" unless you are a member.
• Nations of the World (Library of Congress)

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United States
• U. S. Code via GPO Access (U. S. Govt. Printing Office)  Official site for U.S. laws
• U. S. Constitution via GPO Access  Scroll down to "U. S. Constitution" for selections
• Academic Universe, Lexis-Nexis  (CIS) Under Legal Research click on "Federal Code".  Follow search instructions carefully for best results.
• Congressional Universe (CIS) Click on "Laws".  Follow search instructions carefully for best results.
California
• California Code Current California Laws by subject.
• California Constitution Current constitution (not superseded parts)
Other States
• Academic Universe, Lexis-Nexis  (CIS)  Under "Legal Research",  click on  "State Codes".  Follow search instructions carefully for best results.
• State and Local Government on the Net (Piper Resources)  Variety of information and content may vary from state to state.
• State Laws and Constitutions (University of Michigan)
International and Foreign
• Academic Universe, Lexis-Nexis (CIS)  Under Legal Research, click on "EU Law".  Follow search instructions carefully.
• Foreign Governments:  Constitutions, Laws and Treaties  (University of Michigan)  Links to several good sites
Local Ordnances
• Eureka for California city and county government.
• State and Local Government on the Net (Piper Resources)
• Municipal Codes Online (Seattle Public Library)




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United States

• U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (NARA on GPO Access)  Official site for CFR.
• Federal Register (NARA on GPO Access)  Official site for proposed regulations and finalized versions.
• Congressional Universe (CIS) Has both Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) and Federal Register (FR).

California

California Code of Regulations Be sure to read instructions on how to search!

Other States

• WashLaw(Washburn School of Law).  What is provided by each state may vary.
• State Legal Sources on the Web  (Univ. of Michigan)

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United States

• Academic Universe, Lexis-Nexis  (Lexis-Nexis)  Under "Legal Research" look at the listings for "Federal Case Law".  Follow searching instructions carefully.
• GPO Access  Many years of Supreme Court Decisions.
• Judicial Branch web sites (LSU) Links to available decisions by federal jurisdiction:  Supreme Court, Circuit Courts, etc.
• Supreme Court of the United States Dockets, oral arguments, opinions.
• Legal Information Institute (Cornell University) Select Court Opinions and click on the courts of interest.

California

• Academic Universe, Lexis-Nexis (Lexis-Nexis) Under Legal Research select State Case Law.  Be sure to follow search instructions.
• California Court Opinions (Judicial Council of California)  Supreme Court and California Court of Appeals.  Just a few years available.

Other States

• Academic Universe, Lexis-Nexis  (Lexis-Nexis)  Under Legal Research select State Case Law.  Be sure to follow search instructions.
• Legal Information Institute (Cornell University)  Select the state of interest

 International and Foreign

• Legal Information Institute  (Cornell University)  Their Global Law section includes a variety of information on law around the world, including court cases.  Some court cases by country, others by topic.Includes International Court of Justice.
• Court of Justice of the European Commutities
• United Nations International Law (United Nations) International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court and special tribunals.

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