Identifying and locating government documents can feel like navigating a maze. Happily, ProQuest Congressional, a database of congressional documents from 1789 to the present, makes the task much easier. If you are a student or researcher of history, political science, the social sciences, or someone who wants to analyze past and present U.S. political, economic, or social issues, this is a tool for you.
Where to start? If you are looking for a specific document or event, choose Searching; if you want to get an overview of the available information on a topic, opt for Browsing.
Searching
Here is an example of what searching looks like, using the timely example of “voting rights”:
- From the main database page [Advanced Search Legislative & Executive Publications], enter “voting rights” in the search bar at the top of the page.
- This basic search returns over 3,000 results! Fortunately, these results are organized into helpful categories, such as content types, topic pages, hearings, and more.
- Try selecting Voting Rights Act, which appears under the Topic Pages header, to learn what it is and how it came to be.
In addition to the usual Basic and Advanced searches, that most databases have, ProQuest Congressional includes additional searches, highlighted in blue. Want to stay in-the know about what your representatives are doing in D.C.? Try this example:
- In the Bill Sponsor search box type “Ruppersberger”, and select his name (Charles Albert Ruppersberger III) to autofill the box. Now click search. Dutch Ruppersberger has represented Maryland’s 2nd congressional district since 2003.
- This simple search returns 181 results split between bill text, which has title information and the full text of the bill, and bill profile, which summarizes the bill and highlights key information. Most recently Congressman Ruppersberger sponsored the Fairness for Victims of SNAP Skimming Act of 2023, which aimed to amend the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, to increase the replacement of stolen EBT benefits under the supplemental nutrition assistance program. This is only one of Congressman Ruppersberger’s bill sponsors, so you can find out more about his legislative work by using the Bill Sponsor search filter.
These two searches show the wealth of information you can find using ProQuest Congressional, but there are so many ways to search. More information on advanced searches and filtering searches can be found here. Additionally, Legislative and Executive Publications is not the only place you can search. ProQuest Congressional allows users to search Members and Committees, Regulations, and News & Social Media. To learn more about the different search forms, check out the ProQuest Congressional Search Forms tab.
Browsing
Browsing is another way to find information and two of the most useful browses are by Topic and by Congress in Context. Try these examples:
- Select the Browse Topics Header and click on Electoral College. This guide includes a background on the electoral college, congressional research reports on issues related to the electoral college, congressional hearings, in the news, and links to other useful information, such as the Twelfth Amendment to the Constitution. The topic pages provide both overviews of important subjects as well as sources to jumpstart your research.
- Select the Congress in Context Header. This section provides background on each of the congresses, highlights and provides a summary of major events that occurred during that congress, and has a timeline of events that happened throughout that congress’ session. The most recent congress, 118th Congress (2023-2025), highlights the Israel/Gaza Conflict, economic trends and conditions including the persistent inflation starting in 2021, and Supreme Court decisions. The Congress in Context page’s historical profiles highlight the setting, personnel, and events that may have impacted the legislation crafted during that session of congress.
Next Steps
Want to learn more about using ProQuest Congressional? Check out the ProQuest Congressional Research Guide. This guide has learning modules, webinars, PowerPoints, and more to help you master the database. Also, you can contact the liaison librarian to history, Ben Cushing, or the liaison to political science, Taras Zvir, with any questions you may have. When searching for information on the United States Congress, use ProQuest Congressional to propel your research further!