Sources for Politics JP Workshop # 9
Congressional Representation

John Hernandez, Politics & U.S. Documents Librarian
Sara Holder, Social Science Reference Librarian

(current ed. 2004, National Journal Group).
Provides information about the 50 governors of the United States and every member of Congress--including their committee assignments, by what percentage of the vote they won their seats, and how much money they spent doing it. Organized alphabetically by state, it examines all 435 congressional districts, including their population, racial makeup, median income, median house value, and descriptions of each district’s history. (F) JK1012.A44 (1978-2004) – copies of current volume located in SSRC and GHRD Ready Reference Collections. Also available electronically (1998+), access via National Jounral Policy Central (click on Almanac).

(current ed. 2000, Congressional Quarterly).
Arranged by state, each entry gives post-World War II state-wide votes for President, Governor and Senator, as well as Congressional district data for recent Congressional elections. Also includes county level figures for the most recent elections. (SSRC) JK1967 .A8 (1956-2000) – current volume located in SSRC Ready Reference Collection.

(current ed. 2003/summer, Congressional Quarterly).
Provides detailed information on 540 members of Congress (online version is updated daily). Includes: biographical & profile information, photographs, Washington, DC and home state offices and staff, committee and subcommittee assignments, other assignments and memberships, including caucuses. Online version has links to current political profiles, written by the staff of Congressional Quarterly. (F) JK1012 .C65 (1960-1999), (SSRC) JK1012 .C65 (1966-2003).

(1999, Congressional Quarterly).
Includes classic writings, court opinions, debates, editorials, hearings, investigations, legislation, petitions, private letters, rules, and speeches. Texts are selective and often abridged , with reference to sources. (SSRC) JK1041 .L36.

Web site of the Center for Responsive Politics. Explore the world of Federal campaign contributions by industry, by candidate or by geographic area. For historical data consult Open Secrets: The Encyclopedia of Congressional Money & Politics, published by Congressional Quarterly, located in the Public Administration Collection (SF), under call number: JK1991 .M26 1996

(current ed. 2004, Congressional Quarterly).
Informational articles on senators and congressmen, including committees, key votes, interest group ratings, voting study, election results. Separate sections on: maps of Congressional districts, committee membership; seniority; campaign finance receipts and expenditures. (F) JK1010 .P64 (1986-2004) – current volume located in SSRC.

Includes information on members of Congress (as well as other candidates and officials) in five basic categories: backgrounds, issue positions, voting records, campaign finances and performance evaluations.

This database is a comprehensive bibliography of articles published from 1955 to present on the history and culture of the United States and Canada from prehistory to today.

Also called Lexis-Nexis Congressional. An extensive database that indexes publications of the U.S. Congress such as hearings, committee reports, documents and prints. Coverage in this database goes back to 1789 and much of the material is available in microfiche with some in paper. This is an essential tool for doing legislative history research.

Compiled by the British Library of Political & Economic Science of the London School of Economics & Political Science, this database provides bibliographic information from an international selection of publications (including over 2,600 journals) in the fields of economics, political science, sociology, and anthropology. Indexing covers material published from 1951 to present.

Provides abstracts in English or French to articles selected from over 1,000 international journals. Topics covered include political science method and theory, political thinkers and ideas, governmental and administrative institutions, political process, international relations, and national and area studies. Index covers material published from 1989 to present, with the print edition available back to 1951.

Based on Social Science holdings of the New York Public Library, this database provides citations to articles, books, reports, and select government documents on public and foreign policy issues from 1972 forward. PAIS is generally considered to be a comprehensive index to policy literature. The print version of PAIS goes back to 1915, and is located in the Social Science Reference Center Index Shelves under call number 0487.739.

Provides citations, abstracts, and indexing of the international serials literature in political science, including international relations, law and public policy. Online version covers material from 1975 to present and print edition goes back to 1967. Also provides references to reliable web resources.