The Enron Corporation: A Tale of Corporate Fraud, Conspiracy, and Corruption

American History, Economics, U.S. Congressional Documents, U.S. Federal Legislative History, U.S. Presidential Library, U.S. Supreme Court
Tara Kibler

Eighteen years ago, the Enron Corporation filed for bankruptcy following one of the largest corporate scandals in American history. Among its devastating effects, Enron’s collapse left nearly 5,000 company employees without jobs, precipitated the dissolution of Arthur Andersen LLP (one of the five largest auditing and accounting companies in the world), and left a lasting impact on the financial and legal world.

Featured Databases

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1. U.S. Congressional Documents

Featuring the complete Congressional Record Bound version…

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Social Security Turns 84: A History of Roosevelt’s Landmark Act

American History, Economics, Highlights in History, Law, Law Journal Library, Political Science, Reports of U.S. Presidential Commissions, Statutes at Large, U.S. Federal Agency Library, U.S. Federal Legislative History, U.S. Presidential Library
Tara Kibler

You may have a Social Security number, but do you actually know why? On this day 84 years ago, the first act was signed to implement social security programs in the United States. Explore the origins of U.S. Social Security with HeinOnline.

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One Small Step for Man, 50 Years of Innovation for Mankind

American History, Foreign Affairs, Highlights in History, Popular Culture, Statutes at Large, U.S. Congressional Documents, U.S. Congressional Serial Set, U.S. Federal Legislative History, U.S. Presidential Library
Tara Kibler

Just 66 years after Orville and Wilbur Wright took mankind to the air, the United States put a man on the moon. Tomorrow, the fiftieth anniversary of that first moon landing will be commemorated across the United States. Most U.S. citizens can tell you that Neil Armstrong was the first man to step foot on the moon, but fewer may understand the journey it took to get there. Launch into a history of the Space Race and the evolution of the Apollo program with HeinOnline.

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Chernobyl: Not Just Another HBO Drama

Federal Register, Foreign Affairs, Highlights in History, Hot Topic News, Medicine, Popular Culture, Reports of U.S. Presidential Commissions, Statutes at Large, The Environment, U.S. Congressional Documents, U.S. Congressional Serial Set, U.S. Federal Agency Library, U.S. Federal Legislative History, U.S. Presidential Library, World Treaty Library
Tara Kibler

Thanks to the wildly popular HBO miniseries on the subject, the Chernobyl nuclear explosion of 1986 has become a hot topic in the news. The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, an area covering approximately 1,000 square miles around the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, has even become quite the tourist attraction. Journey with HeinOnline into the depths of the disaster, and learn a little more about nuclear energy in the U.S. while you’re at it.

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From Poppies to Painkillers: An Overview of the U.S. Opioid Crisis

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Current Events, Federal Register, GAO Reports and Comptroller General Decisions, Hot Topic News, Law, Medicine, Political Science, Reports of U.S. Presidential Commissions, Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, U.S. Congressional Documents, U.S. Federal Agency Library, U.S. Federal Legislative History, World Treaty Library
Tara Kibler

It has recently been determined that drug overdoses are now the leading cause of death among Americans under 50 years of age. This finding is just one effect (among many) of the rising U.S. opioid crisis which, as of 2018, has been declared a national public health emergency by the Trump Administration and by the Department of Health and Human Services. With the opioid crisis rising once again to the forefront of U.S. news given the recent Johnson & Johnson opioid lawsuit, learn about the context of the epidemic and recent U.S. countermeasures with HeinOnline.

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You Gotta Fight For Your Right To Equality: 55 Years of Civil Rights

American History, Highlights in History, Human Rights, John F. Kennedy Assassination Collection, Law, Political Science, Statutes at Large, U.S. Federal Agency Library, U.S. Federal Legislative History, U.S. Presidential Library, U.S. Supreme Court
Tara Kibler

On this day 55 years ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 during the height of the civil rights movement. Originally proposed by President John F. Kennedy, the act prohibited discrimination, ended racial segregation, created equal employment opportunity, and more. Join HeinOnline as we explore the evolution of the act, the efforts that went into its passage, and its ultimate impact.

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Pride and Prejudice: Researching Stonewall and LGBT Rights

American History, Current Events, Highlights in History, Hot Topic News, Human Rights, Law, Popular Culture, Statutes at Large, U.S. Federal Legislative History, U.S. Supreme Court
Tara Kibler

Fifty years ago today, members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community fought back against a police raid at the Stonewall Inn in New York City with violent demonstrations now known as the Stonewall Riots. Considered the first significant protest calling for equal rights for homosexuals, the Riots inspired future gay pride celebrations to be held annually in June. In 1999, June was officially declared “Gay and Lesbian Pride Month” by President Bill Clinton. Pride Month was later expanded to “LGBT Pride Month” by President Barack Obama in 2009.

The Stonewall Riots launched an international phenomenon that continues to grow as LGBT rights are increasingly recognized across the globe…

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New Legislative Histories Now Available!

HeinOnline Updates, U.S. Federal Legislative History, What's New
Lauren Mattiuzzo

HeinOnline’s U.S. Federal Legislative History Library includes comprehensive federal legislative histories published by the U.S. Government Publishing Office as well as private publishers. Users can research legislative intent behind major public laws and follow the progression of a bill from its introduction to its passage. We recently added two new legislative histories to this database, and we want to make sure you didn’t miss them! See what’s new in today’s blog.

FOIA Oversight and Implementation Act of 2016

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NEW Print Edition of Sources of Compiled Legislative Histories is now available!

Content News, HeinOnline Updates, U.S. Federal Legislative History
Lauren Mattiuzzo

It has been four years since a new edition was published for this essential tool used for legislative history research! Sources of Compiled Legislative Histories: A Bibliography of Government Documents, Periodical Articles, and Books, 1st Congress–114th Congress, Fourth Edition was compiled by new editors and includes more than 3,300 laws and nearly 7,800 bibliographic records! This book is easy to use and is perfect for librarians, attorneys, government employees, students, and researchers.

About The New Edition

A legislative history is the collection of documents produced in Congress during the enactment of a law…

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Legislative Intent and Statutory Interpretation

Exploring HeinOnline, Law, Searching, U.S. Federal Legislative History
Lauren Mattiuzzo

In cases that involve a statute, there is often a need for statutory interpretation. Some statutes can have straightforward meanings, while others can be ambiguous. In cases where a statute may be vague, judges must step in to decipher the legislative intent.

Statutory Interpretation

The language is the most important part of a statute. If the language itself is straightforward and plain, it must be applied according to its terms. However, if a statute is unclear, the interpretative process begins. Read about this process in the CRS Report…

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