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Presidential Communications: A Beginner’s Guide

Posted by: Robert Brammer

This post is coauthored by Robert Brammer and Barbara Bavis, senior legal reference specialists. We sometimes receive questions about communications sent to Congress by the president that concern legislation. Since this post pertains to legislative history, our focus is on executive communications, presidential messages, veto messages, and signing statements. If you would like to learn more about …

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Virginia Dynasty: James Monroe

Posted by: Jennifer González

Our final president is James Monroe. He follows George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison and completes the Virginia Dynasty.   James Monroe was born in 1758 in the Northern Neck of Virginia, near the area where George Washington was born.  Today, nothing remains of the house, but the land is a park with several …

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Virginia Dynasty: Thomas Jefferson

Posted by: Jennifer González

Thomas Jefferson is featured in this third blog post about the Virginia Dynasty, following posts on two other renowned Virginians–James Madison and George Washington.   Thomas Jefferson was born at Shadwell,Virginia in 1743 to Peter Jefferson and Jane Randolph.  From his successful and wealthy parents, Thomas inherited considerable property and began building Monticello when he was 26 years …

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Virginia Dynasty: George Washington

Posted by: Jennifer González

This second installment of the Virginia Dynasty blog posts highlights our first president, George Washington, the “Father of his country.” George’s great grandfather, John Washington, immigrated to America in 1656 and settled in the Northern Neck of Virginia in 1657, on the Potomac River near the present-day town of Colonial Beach. George was born in …

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Locating Congressional Documents: A Beginner’s Guide

Posted by: Robert Brammer

This post is coauthored by Barbara Bavis and Robert Brammer, senior legal reference specialists. Congressional documents concern a wide variety of subjects and include all papers ordered printed by the House or Senate apart from congressional committee reports. As described by the Government Publishing Office (GPO), congressional documents “may include reports of executive departments and independent organizations, …

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Legal Reports on Counterterrorism Laws and other Security Measures

Posted by: Ruth Levush

The Law Library of Congress has recently published a number of legal research reports on the counterterrorism laws of various foreign countries. The full text of these and other relevant reports may be accessed on our website under Current Legal Topics by clicking on War Crimes, Terrorism, and National Security. The reports describe legal and …

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Virginia Dynasty: James Madison

Posted by: Jennifer González

Four of the first five United States presidents were Founding Fathers from Virginia. Of the first 36 years of the United States’ existence, Virginian men served as president for 32 of them. This period became known as the Virginia Dynasty. In the last few months, I have visited all of their homes and wanted to …