About the Congressional Research Service
The Congressional Research Service (a division of the Library of Congress) provides high-quality research and analysis for committees and members of Congress. These reports, studies, and issue briefs are succinct and well-researched and many are regularly updated. About CRS
Most of these reports are available on public websites. Some are on commercial online services that are either UW Restricted (HeinOnline) or that require individual IDs and/or passwords (Bloomberg Law).
For more information about finding CRS reports, see the Gallagher guide on Congressional Research Service Reports.
The Process
- Questioning Supreme Court Nominees about Their Views on Legal or Constitutional Issues: A Recurring IssueBriefly covers conduct of hearings for nominees Ginsburg, Roberts, Alito, Sotomayor, and Kagan. 28 pages. Dated June 23, 2010.
- Supreme Court Appointment Process: Consideration by the Senate Judiciary CommitteeCovers the pre-hearing stage, confirmation hearings, and reporting the nomination. 24 pages. Dated Oct. 19, 2015.
- Supreme Court Appointment Process: President's Selection of a NomineeDescribes how vacancies occur, the Senate's advise and consent role, criteria for selecting a nominee, background investigations, and speed of selecting a nominee. 25 pages. Dated Oct. 19, 2015.
- Supreme Court Appointment Process: Roles of the President, Judiciary Committee, and Senate64 pages. Dated Sept. 3, 2010.
- Supreme Court Appointment Process: Senate Debate and Confirmation VoteCovers Senate criteria for evaluating nominees, filibusters and motions to end debate, final votes, and further examination of nominees. 27 pages. Dated Oct. 19, 2015.
- Supreme Court Nominations: Senate Floor Procedure and Practice, 1789-2011Addresses historical trends in and characteristics of floor consideration. Includes tables and statistics. 48 pages. Dated March 11, 2011.
- Evolution of the Senate's Role in the Nomination and Confirmation Process: A HistoryDescribes development of the Senate's procedures, Senatorial courtesy, "blue slips" asking home-state Senators to take positions on nominations, holds to delay Senate action, and filibusters. 16 pages. Dated May 13, 2009.
History
- Speed of Presidential and Senate Actions on Supreme Court Nominations, 1900-2010Includes a table of major events in the process for nominees from forward by Presidents Theodore Roosevelt through Barack Obama and days between major events. 53 pages. Dated Aug. 6, 2010.
- Supreme Court Justices: Demographic Characteristics, Professional Experience, and Legal Education, 1789-2010Includes charts on judicial and legislative experience, legal education and law schools attended, military service, prior experience and occupations, and religious affiliation. 36 pages. Dated April 9, 2010.
- Supreme Court Nominations, 1789 to the Present: Actions by the Senate, the Judiciary Committee, and the PresidentIncludes a table of nominations from 1789 (John Jay and others) to Aug. 5, 2010 (Elena Kagan), with nominee names, President who made the nomination, dates of consideration in the Senate, and final actions. 45 pages. Dated Dec. 7, 2012.
- Supreme Court Nominations Not Confirmed, 1789-August 2010Discusses factors behind unsuccessful nominations, with statistics and tables identifying failed nominees. 29 pages. Dated Aug. 20, 2010.