Federal Resources
The following resources pertain to federal law and/or the federal government. They include licensed databases of the Law Library and open access Internet websites. Access restrictions for licensed databases are noted following each database description.
To locate other resources, including additional databases licensed by the Law Library, browse the other Electronic Resources web pages or see our List of Databases.
- LexisNexis Congressional:
This comprehensive database utilizes one search interface to a vast collection of congressional publications and legislative information. Documents are indexed using the CIS Index structure and terminology. Includes abstracts and the full-text of selected recent pulbications: including bills starting in 1989, public laws in 1988, committee reports in 1990, house and senate documents in 1995, Congressional Record in 1985 and the Federal Register in 1980. Also includes the following new full-text collections:
- Congressional Hearings: 1824 - present
- Congressional Committee Prints: 1830 - present
- CRS Reports: 1916 - present
- U.S. Serial Set (including the American State Papers): 1789-1969
(Licensed database; Access provided to College of Law users only.)
- GPO Access:
This official federal website of the U.S. Government Printing Office contains databases, indices and documents representing the official publications of the federal government. (Internet resource; Open access)
- Thomas:
This official federal website of the Library of Congress provides a gateway to legislative information of the U.S. Congress (Internet resource; Open access)
- FirstGov.gov:
This is the U.S. government's official web portal which provides access to official websites, publications, and information of the federal government. (Internet resource; open access)
- Homeland Security Digital Library:
This federal database and respository of policy related documents on homeland security is organized to support local, state and federal decision-making and analysis. It is structured to assist scholars and academics in homeland security research. The HSDL is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Office of Grants & Training Center for Homeland Defense & Security at the Naval Postgraduate School, NPS Dudlgey Knox Library. (Remote access provided to Syracuse University and College of Law users.)
- LLMC-Digital:
The Law Library Microfrom Consortium (LLMC) is digitizing many historic legal and government documents. The site contains the full-text of many historic Federal Executive branch publications, and as well as Judicial and Legislative branch materials. (Licensed database; Access provided to College of Law users only)
- CQ Homeland Security:
This licensed database includes comprehensive news coverage, sections on People on the Move including a comprehensive directory for the Department of Homeland Security, as well as Congressional bills and federal regulations related to homeland security issues, and much more. (Licensed database; Access provided to College of Law and Syracuse University main campus users)
- TRACFED (Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse):
TRAC (Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse) is a statistical clearinghouse providing data on federal enforcement, federal staffing, and federal spending. It includes performance data on the activities of federal district judges. (Licensed database; Access provided to College of Law users only)
The following are additional links to specific federal material. Access restrictions are noted:
- Federal Government Web Sites: List of federal government web resources as maintained by the Library of Congress
- FedStats: Official federal website compiling statistics from many federal agencies