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To begin the tutorial, click here and then size the new window so that you can see both it and this window.

LexisNexis Tutorial

Your Name (Lastname, Firstname):

Your e-mail address:

Purpose: These exercises will help you practice finding different types of legislative documents using the LexisNexis CIS Congressional Universe — database.

Section A: Accessing LexisNexis Congressional Universe from the UA Library homepage

The UA Library's homepage should be in the window to your right. It is a live connection so you can use it to conduct your searches for the practice exercises (you don't need to open a new window).

Get ready to start the tutorial:

  1. Click on the Article & Database Searching link. This will give you a list of all our databases.
  2. Select "L"
  3. From the list, select "LexisNexis Congressional Universe." You will get the UA's entrance screen for Congressional Universe.
  4. NOTE: If you are connecting from off campus, your borrower status must be verified first.

Now you are ready to start the tutorial.

Section B: Locating Bills

Problem 1 - Search for a bill by its subject

1.) Search the subject "terrorism" for the full-text of a Senate bill from the most recent Congress.

a) What is the bill number of the first Senate bill in the list? (ex: 108 S. 113)

b) Date of introduction

c) First listed sponsor

Need help? Click here to review the step-by-step instructions.

Then use your browser's back button to return to LexisNexis when you are through.

Section C: Congressional Debate

Problem 2 - Locating Congressional debate

  1. Attention! Return to the LexisNexis Homepage by clicking the "Home" link at the top of the LexisNexis window to your right.
  2. Find a remark on terrorism made by Senator McCain during the 107th Congress. (Hint: Debate is recorded in the publication Congressional Record).

What are the first 2 sentences of Senator McCain's remark?

Need help? Click here to review the step-by-step instructions.

Then use your browser's back button to return to LexisNexis when you are through.

Section D: Reports & Documents

Problem 3 - Locating 1789-1969 Reports & Documents (Serial Set)

  1. Attention! Return to the LexisNexis Homepage by clicking the "Home" link at the top of the LexisNexis window to your right.
  2. Find a 1889 House Report on Relief to Female Nurses who Served in the War of Rebellion. (Hint: remember this is historical, and enter the date mm/dd/yyyy).

a) What is the Report number? 
(ex: H.rp.415, 51-1)

b) What is the Serial Set Volume number?

Need help? Click here to review the step-by-step instructions.

Then use your browser's back button to return to LexisNexis when you are through.

Problem 4 - Locating 1970-1990 Reports & Documents (Serial Set)

  1. Attention! Return to the LexisNexis Homepage by clicking the "Home" link at the top of the LexisNexis window to your right.
  2. Find a 1974 Senate Report on UN Peacekeeping in the Middle East. (Hint: use the CIS Index, and enter the date mm/dd/yyyy).

a) What are the Congress & session ("CONG-SESS") numbers?

b) What is the full date?

c) What is the Report number? (ex: S.rp.2541)

Need help? Click here to review the step-by-step instructions.

Then use your browser's back button to return to LexisNexis when you are through.

Problem 5 - Locating Reports & Documents from 1991 on (Serial Set)

  1. Attention! Return to the LexisNexis Homepage by clicking the "Home" link at the top of the LexisNexis window to your right.
  2. Use the subjects of "Libya" and "terrorism" to find a 1992 House document. (Hint: use the CIS Index, and enter the date mm/dd/yyyy).

A) What is the title of the House document?

B) Is the full text available online?
yes
no

Need help? Click here to review the step-by-step instructions.

Then use your browser's back button to return to LexisNexis when you are through.

Section E: Hearings & Prints

Problem 6 - Locating Congressional Hearings & Prints

  1. Attention! Return to the LexisNexis Homepage by clicking the "Home" link at the top of the LexisNexis window to your right.
  2. Use the subject of terrorism to find a recent House and Senate Hearing or Print.(Hint: Use the CIS Index)

a) What is the CIS number?

b) Where is it located in the UA Library?
Special Collections
Government Documents Collection
Full text available online

c) What format is it in?
Microfiche
Paper
Electronic

Need help? Click here to review the step-by-step instructions.

Then use your browser's back button to return to LexisNexis when you are through.

Section F: Public Laws

Problem 7 - Locating Public Laws by subject

  1. Attention! Return to the LexisNexis Homepage by clicking the "Home" link at the top of the LexisNexis window to your right.
  2. Find the text of a recently passed public law on terrorism.

a) What is the number? (ex: PUBLIC LAW 108-15)

b) What is its date?

Need help? Click here to review the step-by-step instructions.

Then use your browser's back button to return to LexisNexis when you are through.

Section G: U.S. Code

Problem 8 - Locating U.S. Code by subject

  1. Attention! Return to the LexisNexis Homepage by clicking the "Home" link at the top of the LexisNexis window to your right.
  2. Find the codified laws related to the United States flag.

a) What U.S. Code title has information about laws governing the commercial use of the flag? (Hint: Code titles are numbers)

b) How would you cite this law? (ex: 10 USCS § 934 (2003)

Need help? Click here to review the step-by-step instructions.

Then use your browser's back button to return to LexisNexis when you are through.

Congratulations! You're done!


Developed by Gene Spesard, Atifa Rawan and Lisa Bunker, Summer 2003
© 2003, Arizona Board of Regents. All rights reserved.