The Application of Federal Legislative Histories
Legislative history research refers to the process of tracking the progress of a bill which involves a thorough examination of the documents that arise in the legislative process. The goal of conducting this research is to establish the purpose of the legislation as proposed by Congress. Some of the legal statutes contain ambiguities that require lawyers and scholars to interpret to understand the legislative intent adequately. When carrying out a legislative history, two common approaches are adopted, which include establishing the purpose of the enacted bill and determining the status of the pending bill. Some of the elements of the legislative histories include the floor debate and discussion, bill sponsor’s remarks, and committee reports, hearings and prints. The legislative histories can be located at the Interior library and often involve the use of both microform, internet, print, and other electronic databases.
Significance of Researching the legislative history of the Second Amendment to the US Constitution
The Second Amendment to the US provided an individual with the right to own and bear arms, which was established on 5th December 1791 as part of the bill of rights. In a recent court case ruling, in the District of Columbia versus Heller, the court confirmed that indeed the right belongs to the people, especially for self-defence at homes. Researching on the Second Amendment provides the researcher with the opportunity to understand the precursors to the amendment, drafting and adoption of the constitution, and the ratification debates. An understanding of these principles provides one with adequate knowledge to make a persuasive argument in support of the absolute right to own arms.