Legal Definitions - Congressional Globe

The Congressional Globe was a significant historical publication that meticulously documented the daily activities, debates, and speeches that took place within the United States Congress. It functioned as the principal, privately published record of congressional proceedings from 1833 until 1873. During this period, it was the only comprehensive transcript available of what was said and done on the floor of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, before it was succeeded by the government-published Congressional Record.

• Example 1: A historian researching the legislative debates that preceded the American Civil War might consult volumes of the Congressional Globe to understand the specific arguments, amendments, and voting patterns of senators and representatives regarding issues like westward expansion and the Fugitive Slave Act. By examining the detailed records within the Globe, the historian can reconstruct the political climate and the precise positions taken by lawmakers during that critical era.

  Explanation: This example illustrates how the Congressional Globe served as the definitive record of congressional speeches and statements, providing invaluable primary source material for understanding historical legislative processes and the intent behind laws passed during its period of publication.

• Example 2: A legal scholar analyzing a federal statute enacted in 1855, perhaps concerning land grants or interstate commerce, might refer to the Congressional Globe to uncover the discussions and deliberations among members of Congress about the law's intended scope and purpose. Since no other official record existed, the scholar would rely on the Globe to gain insight into the legislative intent behind the statute.

  Explanation: This demonstrates the Congressional Globe's role as the sole available record for understanding the legislative history of federal laws passed between 1833 and 1873, which is crucial for legal interpretation today.

• Example 3: A biographer writing about a prominent senator who served during the 1840s could use the Congressional Globe to find direct quotes from their speeches, track their participation in committee discussions, and identify their voting record on key national issues. This would allow the biographer to accurately portray the senator's legislative career and contributions to national policy.

  Explanation: This example highlights the Congressional Globe's utility as a detailed chronicle of individual congressional members' actions and words, providing a comprehensive account of their legislative activities during the period it was published.