Michigan State University Libraries - General Reference Resources

Congressional Digest

Electronic Holdings: Full text Congressional Digest issues from Vol. 77, no. 1, January 1998 to date are available via: Pro and Con Online. To retrieve the issues, (1) click on either Civil Rights & the Judiciary, Economic & Environmental Policy, Government & Politics, or Foreign Policy; (2) find an entry with a Congressional dome on the right; and (3) click on the dome.

Paper Holdings: Congressional Digest
Note that the most recent issues are in Current Periodicals; older issues in the Main Library Stacks.
An independent monthly publication featuring pro-con arguments on controversial issues before the U.S. Congress. It is not an official government publication, nor is it controlled by any political party or interest group. Each monthly issue covers one controversial topic, giving an overview and position papers, the legislative background and then pro and con positions about the topic by members of Congress.

Recent issues since 1996 have covered:

1996 Elections: National Campaign Issues, October 1996, V. 75, no. 10.
2000 Election: the Presidency, Congress, and American Voters, Oct. 2000, V. 79, no. 10.
2004 Election: A Referendum on the Candidates and the Process, October 2004, Vol. 83 No. 8
Affirmative Action: Redistribution or Equal Opportunity, June-July 1996, V. 75, no. 6-7. Affordable Housing ; Addressing the Basic Needs of Low-Income Families, December 2007, Vol. 86 No. 10
Airline Mergers: Consolidation, Competition, & Customer Service, April 2001, V. 80, no. 4.
Asbestos Compensation: Seeking Fairness for Victims and Industry, June 2004, Vol. 83, no. 6.
Americans and Their Cars: The Debate Over Fuel Economy, May 2002, V. 81, no. 5
Bankruptcy Reform: Balancing the Interests of Debtors & Creditors, Dec. 1998, V. 77, no. 12.
The Bosnian Conflict: U.S. Involvement in the Balkans, Feb. 1996, V. 75, no. 2.
Campaign Finance Reform: Debate Over Money and Politics, Oct. 1998, V. 77, No. 10.
Charitable Choice: Government Funding and Faith-Based Organizations, Feb. 2002, V. 81, no. 2
Chemical Weapons: Controlling International Production & Use, June-July 1997, V. 76, no. 6-7.
China and World Markets: The Debate Over Trade Status, June-July 2000, V. 79, no. 6-7.
Civil Liberties in Times of War : 2005-2006 Policy Debate Topic, September 2005, Vol. 84 No. 7
Class Action Lawsuits : Moving to Overhaul the Civil Justice System, April 2005, Vol. 84 No. 4
Cleaner-Burning Gasoline: Balancing & Protecting the Quality of Air & Water, April 2000, V. 79, no. 4.
Climate Change: The Science and Politics of Global Warming, January 2004, Vol. 83 No. 1
Compulsory National Service : 2006-2007 Policy Debate Topic, September 2006, Vol. 85 No. 7
Covering Uninsured Children : The SCHIP Reauthorization Debate, October 2007, Vol. 86 No. 8
Crack vs. Powder Cocaine: Mandatory Minimum Drug Penalties, January 2003, v. 82, no. 1
Disarming Iraq: The Case Against Saddam Hussein, Dec. 2002, V. 81, no. 10
DNA Testing & Capital Punishment: Technology from the Crime Scene to the Courtroom, Nov. 2000, V. 79, No. 11.
Drunk Driving: Setting National Standards, June-July 1998, V.77, no.6-7.
Electoral College: Anachronism or Bulwark of Democracy?, Jan. 2001, V. 80, no. 1.
Enron Fallout: Congress Moves to Protect American Workers, June 2002, V. 81, no. 6
Estate Tax Repeal : Debating Fiscal Policy in a Post-Katrina Environment, October 2005, Vol. 84 No. 8
FDA Reform: Food and Drug Safety and Availability, Feb. 1997, V. 76, no. 2.
Federal Farm Policy: Moving to a More Market-Based System, April 1996, V. 75, no. 4.
Federal Role in Education: 1999-2000 Policy Debate Topic, Aug.-Sept. 1999, V. 78, no. 8-9.
Federal Student Aid : Addressing the Affordability and Accessibility of Higher Education, June 2006, Vol. 85 No. 6
Fighting for Air: The New Debate Over Industrial Emissions, March 2003, v. 82, no. 3
Financial Services Restructuring: Cross-Ownership of Banking, Securities, and Insurance Interests,

Jan. 2000, V. 79, no. 1.
Firearms in America: The Link Between Guns & Violence, Nov. 1999, V. 78, No. 11.
Fisheries Management : Confronting the Depletion of Ocean Resources, January 2007, Vol. 86 No. 11
Flexibility in the Workplace: The Overtime/Comp Debate, May 1997, V. 76, no. 5.
Forest Management: Reducing the Threat of Wildland First, Nov. 2002, v. 81, no. 9.
Genetically Modified Foods: Risks & Benefits of Biotechnology in Agriculture, March 2001, V. 80, no. 3.
Government Surveillance Technology, April 2003, V.82, no. 4
Guest Workers : Devising a New Immigration Policy, June 2005, Vol. 84 No. 6
Hate Crimes : Federal Prosecution of Bias-Motivated Incidents, June 2007, Vol. 86 No. 6
Health Savings Accounts : The Debate Over Consumer-Driven Care, March 2006, Vol. 85 No. 3
High-Speed Internet Access: the Debate Over Broadband Deregulation, March 2002, V. 81, no. 3.
Highway Funding : Deficit Reduction vs. Jobs and Infrastructure, April 2004, Vol. 83 No. 4.
HIV/AIDS in America : The Rural vs. Urban Federal Funding Debate, December 2006, Vol. 85 No. 10
How to Protect the Nation : Proposed Department of Homeland Security, Oct. 2002, v. 81, no. 8
Human Cloning: Scientific, Legal, & Ethical Considerations, Feb. 1998, V. 77, no. 2.
Immigration Policy: Balancing National Interests, May 1996, V. 75, no. 5.
Impeachment of the President: Interpreting "High Crimes & Misdemeanors", Feb. 1999, V. 78, no. 2.
Importing Prescription Drugs: Balancing Affordability and Public Health

November 2003, Vol. 82 No. 9
Indecency in the Media, Feb. 2005, V. 84, no. 2.
Independent Counsel Law: Investigating High-Level Government Officials, May 1999, V. 78, no. 5.
Intelligence System Reform, Dec. 2004, V. 83, no. 10.
International Monetary Fund: Reassessing the IMF Role in the New World Economy, April 1998, V. 77, no. 4.
Internet Privacy: Protecting Personal Information Online, Feb. 2000, V. 79, no. 2.
International Population Assistance, April 1997, V. 76, no. 4.
Iraq Two Years Later: Struggle For Sovereignty, March 2005, Vol. 84 No. 3.
Journalistic Privilege : Confidentiality of Reporters' Sources, December 2005, Vol. 84 No. 10
Judicial Nominations : The Debate Over the "Nuclear Option", May 2005, Vol. 84 No. 5
Juvenile Crime: 1996-97 Policy Debate, Aug.-Sept. 1996, V. 75, no. 8-9.
Lobbying Reform : Congressional Ethics in the Wake of Scandal, May 2006, Vol. 85 No. 5
Media Ownership: Diversity, Competition, and Localism in a High-Tech Marketplace

October 2003, Vol. 82 No. 8
Medical Liability Insurance:
Causes and Consequences of Rising Malpractice Premiums, Feb. 2003, V. 82, no. 2.
Medical Records Privacy: 2000-2001 Policy Debate Topic, Aug.-Sept. 2000, V. 79, no. 8-9.
Mental Health Parity: Eliminating Inequities in Benefit Coverage, Jan. 2002, V. 81, no. 1
Military and Reconstruction Funding: U.S. Responsibility for Iraq and Afghanistan, December 2003, Vol. 82 No. 10.
Military draft: the debate over Mandatory National Service, May 2004, V. 83, no. 5.
Mine Safety : Addressing the Human Toll of a Dangerous Industry, January 2008, Vol. 87 No. 1
The Minimum Wage Debate : Balancing the Needs of Workers and Business, March 2007, Vol. 86 No. 3
Minimum Wage: The Debate Over Raising the Hourly Rate, March 2000, V. 79, no. 3.
National Educational Tests: Setting Standards & Measuring Achievement, Nov. 1997, V. 76, no. 11.
National Parks & Public Lands: Enjoying & Preserving America's Natural Resources, Jan. 1999, V. 78, no. 1.
National Security After the Cold War: 2001-2002 Policy Debate Topic, Aug.-Sept. 2001, V. 80, no. 8-9.
NATO's 50th Anniversary: Broadening & Redefining Our Transatlantic Partnership, April 1999, V. 78, no. 4.
Natural Disasters : The Federal Response, November 2005, Vol. 84 No. 9
Negotiating Trade Agreements: Presidential Fast Track Authority, Dec. 1997, V. 76, no. 12.
Network Neutrality : Preserving Openness and Innovation on the Internet, February 2007, Vol. 86 No. 2
Nuclear Waste Storage: The Yucca Mountain Debate, Jan. 1998, V. 77, no. 1.
Nuclear Weapons: The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, Dec. 1999, V. 78, no. 12.
Ocean Policy, Sept. 2003, v.82, no. 7
Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling : Opening the Outer Continental Shelf to Exploration and Development, October 2006, Vol. 85 No. 8
Oil Drilling in Alaska: Domestic Production & the Environment, June-July 2001, V. 80, no. 6-7.
Ongoing Medicare Debate: Market Competition vs. Social Contract, Feb. 2004, v. 83, no. 2.
OSHA Ergonomics Standard: Musculoskeletal Injuries & the Workplace, May 2001, V. 80, no. 5.
Overtime Pay: Redefining Exempt Workers, March 2004, V.83, no. 3
Partial-Birth Abortion: The Ongoing Debate Over Reproductive Rights, June 2003, V. 82, no. 6
Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights: Intellectual Property in a Global Economy, Dec. 1996, V. 75, no. 12.
Patients' Bill of Rights: Consumer Protection & Managed Care, Oct. 1999, V. 78, no. 10.
The PATRIOT Act Revisited: Civil Liberties and the War on Terrorism, November 2004, Vol. 83 No. 9
Physician-Assisted Suicide: Balancing Medical Ethics & Individual Rights, Nov. 1998, V. 77, no. 11.
Public Housing Reform: Integrating Programs with Communities, Oct. 1997, V. 76, no. 10.
Puerto Rico Political Status: Statehood, Commonwealth, or Independence, May 1998, V. 77, no. 5.
Reducing the Deficit: The Ongoing Balanced Budget Debate, March 1997, V. 76, no. 3.
Re-examining Eminent Domain : The Conflict Between Private Property and Economic Development, January 2006, Vol. 85 No. 1
Renewable Energy: 1997-98 Public Policy Debate, Aug.-Sept. 1997, V. 77, no. 8-9.
Restructuring Head Start: The New Debate Over Early Childhood Development, May 2003, V. 82, no. 5
Roadless Forest Areas : Balancing Preservation and Commercial Use, February 2006, Vol. 85 No. 2
Saving Endangered Species: Wildlife Conservation and Property Rights, March 1996, V. 75, no. 3.
Sexual Orientation: Federal Nondiscrimination Policies, Nov. 1996, V. 75, no. 11.
Special Education Reform, Jan. 2005, V. 84, no. 1.
Stem Cell Research: Confronting Scientific & Moral Issues, Oct. 2001, V. 80, no. 10.
Strategic Petroleum Reserve: America's Oil Dependence & Its Consequences, Dec. 2000, V. 79, No. 12.
Sub-Saharan Africa's Public Health Crisis : 2007-2008 Policy Debate Topic, September 2007, Vol. 86 No. 7
Superfund Reform: Cleaning Up America's Toxic Waste Sites, March 1998, V. 77, no. 3.
Tax and Budget Priorities: Charting Our Economic Future, April 2002, V. 81, no. 4
Taxing E-Commerce: Online Purchases & State Revenues, May 2000, V. 79, no. 5.
Telecommunications Reform: Regulating the Information Superhighway, Jan. 1996, V. 75, no. 1.
Train Travel in America: The Future of Amtrak and High-Speed Rail, Dec. 2001, V. 80, no. 12.
The United Nations: An Institution in Transition, Jan. 1997, V. 76, no. 1.
United Nations Peacekepping (2004-2005 Policy Debate Topic), Sept. 2004, V. 83, no. 7.
U.S. Aid to Colombia: Partnership for Democracy or a "New Vietnam", Feb. 2001, V. 80, no. 2.
U.S.-Cuba Relations: Weighing the Merits of Engagement vs. Isolation, March 1999, V. 78, no. 3.
U.S. Relations with Russia: 1998-99 Team Debate Topic, Aug.-Sept. 1998, V. 77, no. 8-9.
U.S. Troop Deployment : Tour Rotation Policy and Armed Forced Burnout, November 2007, Vol. 86 No. 9
Voting Integrity : The Controversy Over Electronic Machines and System Security, November 2006, Vol. 85 No. 9
D.C. Voting Representation : Democratic Rights for Citizens of the Nation's Capitol, May 2007, Vol. 86 No. 5
War on Terrorism: America Takes Action in a Changed World, Nov. 2001, V. 80, no. 11.
Warrantless Government Surveillance : Presidential Authority in Times of War, April 2006, Vol. 85 No. 4
Welfare Reauthorization : The Debate Over the 1996 Reforms Continues, Sept. 2002, V 81, no. 7
Y2K Issues: Resolving Year 2000 Liability Disputes, June-July 1999, V. 78, no. 6-7.

Congressional digest : the pro & con monthly : 75-year index (1921-1995) is also available in the Main Library Stacks under the call number JK1 .C652 1996 .

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