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Legal Research Note
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) provides detailed, objective research on issues relevant to members and committees of the U.S. Congress. The CRS, formerly known as the Legislative Reference Service, has provided analysis to Congress since 1914.1 The agency's staff analyzes current policy and legal issues in a legislative context. One might find CRS reports on the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, the Open Government Initiative, or transportation security.
The CRS staff produce reports exclusively for Congress and do not make the documents publicly available. An internal website provides twenty-four hour access to representatives, senators, and several legislative branch agencies.2 If the report is released at all, a member of Congress may release the report. Without a publicly available database...