Tap the Power: Resources for Legislators

Tap the Power

Knowledge
is Power

Publications available from the Theobald Legislative Library

Resources for Legislators

Compiled by Marian G. Rogers, Updated January 2007

This bibliography contains a wide range of print and electronic resources helpful to legislators and legislative staff. This issue also contains links to Web sites of Wisconsin legislative service agencies, as well as to other government and information resources on the Web.

The Art of Legislative Politics / Tom Loftus. 1994. (328.11/L82) Written by a former Assembly Speaker (1983-1991), this is an insider's account of the Wisconsin Legislature and its leaders.

Asking Key Questions: How to Review Program Results / National Conference of State Legislatures and The Urban Institute. 2005. (354.1/N211)

Blue Book / Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. (328.3/W7c) Wisconsin government almanac. Library copies: circulating (1901-2005) and reference (1853-2005). Recent editions are also online: www.legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/pubs/bluebook.htm

Building a True Partnership with Your Constituents / National Conference of State Legislatures. 2005. (321.1/N21)

Clippings Collection. (noncirculating) Newspaper clippings arranged chronologically by over 1,900 subjects. Older clippings are on microfiche or paper; more recent clippings are scanned.

Congratulations! You Won! 15 Tips for Being an Effective Legislator / National Conference of State Legislatures. Reprinted January 1999. (328.142/N212d) Offers "a compilation of practical wisdom."-Preface.

Crane and Hagensick's Wisconsin Government and Politics, 8th ed. / Ronald E. Weber, editor, Primus Custom Publishing. 2004. (Ref./354/W7d) (noncirculating) Library has earlier editions which may be checked out.

Drawing the Line: Legislative Ethics in the States / Alan Rosenthal. 1996. (322/R72) This book aims "to apply ethical principles, reasoning, and judgment to the problems that are encountered by legislators in the fifty states."-Book jacket.

Governing Wisconsin / Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. 2005 to date. Primarily prepared for civics classes, this constituent-oriented series of two-page publications discusses how Wisconsin government works. www.legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/gw

Heavy Lifting: The Job of the American Legislature / Alan Rosenthal. 2004. (328.11/R72c) This book "offers a unique in-depth view of state legislators as they represent their constituents, negotiate the law making process, and interact with other political officials." -Kathleen Bratton, Louisiana State University.

How to Be an Effective Legislator: Advice from the Experts (CD series and guidebooks) / National Conference of State Legislatures. (328.142/N212c/v.5) pt.1: Mastering the Legislative Process. pt.2: Managing the Budget. pt.3: Dealing with the Media. pt.4: Chairing a Committee. pt.5: Serving Your Constituents. pt.6: Working with Staff and Lobbyists. pt.7: Mastering the Rules. pt.8: Effective Legislative Leadership. v.2: Building Consensus (audiotape). www.ncsl.org/newmember/cd.htm

Inside the Legislative Process / American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries in cooperation with the National Conference of State Legislatures. 1998, updated October 2003. (328.4/N21d) This resource "provides some of the best information on state legislative processes and procedures."-Page 1-1.

Learning the Game: How the Legislative Process Works / National Conference of State Legislatures. 2005. (328.4/N212c) Outlines the basic steps of the legislative process.

Legislating for Results / National Conference of State Legislatures. 2003. (328.11/N212i) (Guidebook and CD-ROM) A guide to gathering performance information about state programs.

The Legislative Process in Wisconsin / Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. 1993. (328.4/W7b9) Reprint of the feature article in the 1993-1994 Wisconsin Blue Book. www.legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/pubs/feature/legispro.pdf

LRBCAT: www.legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/http://lrbcat.legis.wisconsin.gov/search The Web-based catalog of the Theobald Legislative Library. Many titles contain direct links to full-text versions available on the Internet.

Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure / National Conference of State Legislatures in cooperation with the American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries, Paul Mason. 2000. (328.4/M38/2000) Designed "to assist legislators and staff and ensure more efficient legislative bodies." -Page xxxiii.

NCSL 50-State Legislative Tracking Web Resources / National Conference of State Legislatures. Unveiled in November 2006, this vast resource links to comparative information on the states. The list is arranged alphabetically under more than two dozen broad subjects. www.ncsl.org/programs/lis/lrl/50statetracking.htm

Secrets of Power Presentations / William Hendricks. 1996. (374.5/H38) A guide to help the public speaker control fears, outline and organize a presentation, polish delivery and hold the audience's attention, and develop skills as a trainer.

The State of State Legislative Ethics: A Look at the Ethical Climate and Ethics Laws for State Legislators / National Conference of State Legislatures, Center for Ethics in Government. 2002. (322/N213b) A review of state statutes and information from state ethics commissions and committees.

Tap the Power: Knowledge is Power / Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. Two-page bibliographies on topics of current interest, such as REAL ID, eminent domain, and medical malpractice. Previous issues of "Resources for Legislators" (January 2001, 2003, and 2005) contain some resources not mentioned in this 2007 update. www.legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/pubs/tapthepower.htm

What Have You Gotten Yourself Into? A Guide for New Legislative Leaders / State Legislative Leaders Foundation. January 2005. (328.14/St2) www.sllf.org/pdf/52.pdf

Wisconsin Politics and Government: America's Laboratory of Democracy / James K. Conant. 2006. (354/C74) Traces "the development of the state and its Progressive heritage from the early territorial experience to contemporary times."-Publisher's description.

The Wisconsin State Constitution: A Reference Guide / Jack Stark. 1997. (342.32/St2) A "comprehensive, convenient, and accessible resource on the Wisconsin Constitution for both lawyers and non-lawyers alike."-Page xviii.

"Wise Women" / Leah Oliver, State Legislatures, July/August 2005, p.22-26. (328.11/N214/2005/v.31/no.7) "Being a woman and a legislator present unique challenges and opportunities. Four seasoned lawmakers offer some sage advice."

Wisconsin Legislative Service Agencies

Joint Legislative Council (LC): www.legis.wisconsin.gov/lc
This site provides links to council study committees, publications, standing committees, administrative rules, and staff contact information. Includes the 2007-08 Legislator Briefing Book.

Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB): www.legis.wisconsin.gov/lab
The LAB "was created to assist the Legislature in maintaining effective oversight of state operations." -Web page. Links to general agency information as well as reports and audits in progress.

Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB): www.legis.wisconsin.gov/lfb
The LFB "provides fiscal and program information and analyses to the Wisconsin Legislature, its committees and individual legislators."-Web page. Links to many of its fiscal publications, as well as information on LFB and the Joint Committee on Finance.

Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB): www.legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb
Links to LRBCAT (online library catalog), numerous research publications and topical bibliographies, and indices to Wisconsin Legislation and Wisconsin Acts.

Legislative Technology Services Bureau (LTSB): www.legis.wisconsin.gov/ltsb
LTSB is "the single point of responsibility for providing technological services and support for the Wisconsin Legislature and its service agencies."-Web page.

Revisor of Statutes Bureau (RSB): www.legis.wisconsin.gov/rsb
Provides information on Wisconsin statutes, acts, and constitutions; Wisconsin Administrative Code and Register; Supreme Court rules; Attorney General opinions; town law forms; and WisLaw on CD-ROM.

Other Useful Web Sites

BadgerLink: www.badgerlink.net A project of the Wisconsin Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning, this database provides free access to thousands of magazines and newspapers, state and federal government sites, and other information.

Council of State Governments (CSG): www.csg.org Established in 1933, CSG provides information, trend-setting ideas, and support to the states. This site includes policy expertise, innovations, research, and numerous other resources.

FirstGov: www.firstgov.gov "The U.S. Government's Official Web Portal."

GPO Access: www.gpoaccess.gov A service of the U.S. Government Printing Office which provides "free electronic access to a wealth of important information products. ... The information provided on this site is the official, published version and ... can be used without restriction, unless specifically noted."-Web page.

National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws: www.nccusl.org/nccusl/DesktopDefault.aspx Established 116 years ago, NCCUSL works to draft proposals for uniform and model laws, and works toward the enactment of such laws in the state legislatures. This site has the full-text, summary, and enactment history of acts recommended by the conference.

National Conference of State Legislatures: www.ncsl.org An excellent source of information on current issues of the day. Links to state and legislative Web sites, publications, policy issues of current interest, and welcome page for new members: www.ncsl.org/newmember

State and Local Government on the Net, compiled by Piper Resources: www.statelocalgov.net/index.cfm This site provides "convenient one-stop access to the websites of thousands of state agencies and city and county governments."-Web page.

State Legislative Leaders Foundation: www.sllf.org/sllf.php/cat/26/title/Leadership+Resources

Thomas: http://thomas.loc.gov "In the spirit of Thomas Jefferson, legislative information from the Library of Congress."


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