Frequently Asked Questions: Law Library of Congress

The Law Library of Congress is often asked whether it is possible to determine who authored, or was responsible for, certain parts of a bill or statute. Records connecting legislators to legislation (or parts of legislation) are limited to a bill’s sponsor and cosponsors, committee records, voting records, and debates and proceedings on the chamber floor, which are memorialized in the Congressional Record. Outside of these formal proceedings, amendments may be made to bills during the drafting process and while differences are being resolved between the House and Senate; during these times, few published records are kept of who proposed or supported bill amendments.

For further information about the legislative process and finding legislative records, researchers can consult these online resources:

• Compiling a Federal Legislative History: A Beginner’s Guide, Law Library of Congress
• Congressional Voting Records: A Beginner's Guide, Law Library of Congress
• Introduction to the Legislative Process in the U.S. Congress (R42843), Congressional Research Service