LIBRARY
SWK-520 Social Welfare Policy (Lucio 2020): 4-Background & History
This guide will focus on steps to successfully research a social issue
Section 4 - Background & History
- Background & History: Addresses the history or evolution of the social welfare system’s response to the population
- How long has the issue been going on?
- What has been tried to resolve this issue in the past?
- How do people feel about the issue?
- How does the issue link or divide different segments of the community?
- Who and what influences opponents to take their positions?
- What political forces are influencing decision-makers?
- What will it take to gain support?
- What is the history of the issue in this community?
Finding Legal Resources for Social Work
You may already have the names of policies from your research so far. By looking up government sources, we can find more about the history, what has already been tried, the political forces influencing the issue, and decision-makers involved. The tips below will help you in your search for government sources.
- Is it Federal, State, or a Local policy? This determines where to start searching
- Federal Sites:
- U.S. Government Accountability Office - provides accountability information on key issues and relevant reports.
- Congress.gov - search for bills by subject or policy area.
- Congressional Record Index - includes remarks and activities by members, individuals, organizations, and legislative business
- United States Senate website allows you to search for legislation and records
- Data and Statistics - U.S. Census data, quick facts, population map, statistics from multiple federal agencies
- State Sites:
- Florida Laws and Regulations - state constitution, statutes, executive orders, House and Senate Journals
- Florida State Government Bodies - Governor, Senate, House, Courts, Boards, and Commissions
- Florida State Agency Homepages - find the Agency overseeing your issue or policy
- Other States - look up other state governments and territories
- Local Government
- Florida County Governments - government, services, public meetings and events
- Federal Sites:
Understanding the Government Process
- How Laws are Made This online resource provides a basic outline of the numerous steps of our federal law-making process from the source of an idea for a legislative proposal through its publication as a statute.
- Federal Register The daily journal of the United States Government
- Library of Congress the largest library in the world, with millions of books, recordings, photographs, newspapers, maps and manuscripts in its collections. The Library is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office.
- U.S. Code a consolidation and codification by subject matter of the general and permanent laws of the United States. It is prepared by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the United States House of Representatives.