CRS is sometimes known as Congress' think tank due to its broad mandate of providing research and analysis on all matters relevant to national policymaking.

[1] Modeled after the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau,[6] CRS was founded during the height of the Progressive Era as part of a broader effort to professionalize the government by providing independent research and information to public officials.

Its work was initially made available to the public, but between 1952 and 2018 was restricted only to members of Congress and their staff; non-confidential reports have since been accessible on its website.

[5] In 1914, Senator Robert La Follette Sr. and Representative John M. Nelson, both of Wisconsin, promoted the inclusion in the legislative, executive, and judicial appropriations act of a provision directing the establishment of a special reference unit within the Library of Congress.

They were promoted by Archibald MacLeish, the librarian of Congress, and, among other topics, addressed timely policy issues, such as American national defense.

CRS was reorganized in 1999 partly to handle the load, relocating staff, adopting more efficient workstations, and attempting to enable more communication across disciplinary specialists.

[5] In all its work, CRS analysts are governed by requirements for confidentiality, timeliness, accuracy, objectivity, balance, and nonpartisanship.

Although it rarely conducts field research, CRS assists committees in other aspects of their study and oversight responsibilities.

The six divisions are: American Law; Domestic Social Policy; Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade; Government and Finance; Knowledge Services; and Resources, Science and Industry.

[18] Responses to congressional requests take the form of reports, memoranda, customized briefings, seminars, videotaped presentations, information obtained from automated databases, and consultations in person and by telephone.

[5] CRS "supports the Members, committees, and leaders of the House and Senate at all stages of the legislative process":[5] At the preliminary stage, members may ask CRS to provide background information and analysis on issues and events to better understand the existing situation and then assess whether a problem requires a legislative remedy.

While not classified, they were exempt from Freedom of Information Act requests due to congressional privilege and, therefore, not readily accessible, nor was their authenticity easily verifiable.

They were promoted by Archibald MacLeish, the librarian of Congress, and, among other topics, addressed timely policy issues, such as American national defense.

The Review, which was published ten times a year and available to the public by subscription, offered original analytical articles, summaries highlighting CRS research products, and other kinds of assistance to the congressional community.

[31] Thus, persons seeking public domain content in CRS reports can avoid infringing copyright by paying attention to the internal citations.

Analysts define and explain technical terms and concepts, frame the issues in understandable and timely contexts, and provide appropriate, accurate, and valid quantitative data.

These reports may be updated as events occur, or archived when they no longer reflect the current legislative agenda but can provide background and historical context.

This CRS office also prepares titles, bill relationships, subject terms, and Congressional Record citations for debates, full text of measures, and Member introductory remarks.

[34] The limitation began in the House as a flat prohibition on publications by the Library of Congress using funds appropriated to the Legislative Reference Service (now CRS).

"[30] This was countered by a clarification saying that the goal was the public release of only reports the research service produces, not the memorandums it also writes for members of Congress.

[40] On January 27, 1998, Stanley M. Brand, the former general counsel to the House of Representatives, wrote a letter to Senator John McCain: Concerning applicability of the Speech or Debate Clause, U.S. Const.

[41]) John McCain cited this letter on the Senate floor when he was proposing an amendment[42] to the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act 1999 that would direct the Director of the Congressional Research Service to post 'CRS Reports to Congress' and 'CRS Issue Briefs' on the Internet.

[43] In this speech, he also noted: I would like to point out that the Rules Committee has approved a decentralized system, where Senators can release CRS products on their private web pages.

Also, we release paper copies of these products to our constituents every day without causing a great strain to CRS staff.

Finally, I have the results of an analysis of state legislative research organizations that do work similar to CRS and post these products on the Internet.

[12] The reports may take many forms, including policy analysis, economic studies, statistical reviews, and legal analyses.

[21] CRS reports are considered in-depth, accurate, objective, and timely, and topped the list of the "10 Most-Wanted Government Documents" survey by the Center for Democracy and Technology in 1996.