Current Hot Topics   

The Oyez Project is a multimedia archive devoted to the Supreme Court of the United States and its work. It aims to be a complete and authoritative source for all audio recorded in the Court since the installation of a recording system in October 1955. The Project also provides authoritative information on all justices and offers a virtual reality 'tour' of portions of the Supreme Court building, including the chambers of some of the justices.

Federal (U.S.) Laws, Regulations, etc.
CFR: Code of Federal Regulations -- All executive agency regulations currently in effect
Federal Register -- Includes published and proposed regulations, notices, public laws, Executive Orders, and other Presidential Documents
GPO Access -- Government resources from all branches of the government, including Congressional Bills, Congressional Record, Federal Register, etc.
Historic Supreme Court Decisions - by Topic -- from Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
Supreme Court -- Official site, providing docket, calendar, and current opinions
Supreme Court -- Links and landmark cases, from FindLaw
Thomas -- Laws, bills, committee reports, and other Legislative Branch information
U.S. Code -- Searchable database of U.S. laws currently in effect
OYEZ -- U.S. Supreme Court Multimedia

California
California Code of Regulations -- California state regulations
California Codes -- All 29 Codes representing California law
California Courts Self-Help Center -- Organized by specific need, available in several languages
California State Constitution -- Full text, searchable
Current Bills and Legislation -- Full text of Senate & Assembly bills, resolutions, including history, votes, and analyses
Index to California Ballot Propositions, 1944 to Present -- Index only, including proposition names, passage, and entry into existing law, from Santa Clara University
Megan's Law -- From the Office of the Attorney General. Information on registered sex offenders.

Web sites covering current hot topics
Argumentative Essay Topics
This site has a great table that offers many topic choices.  Clicking on the topic with take you to thesis statements and websites discussing both sides of the issue.

 High School Debate Topics
This is by the University of Michigan Government Documents department. Topic are given with links to both sides of the issue.

IDEA (International Debate Education Association)
Provides background, arguments, motions, links and readings for over 150 topics; searchable by keyword.

Public Agenda Online
Several current issues from abortion to social security; provides three approaches including understanding the issue, public opinion on the issue and links to resources and sources.

Social Issues
Covers topics including racial profiling and terrorism with links to megasites on the topic, sites that support and oppose the issue and legislation.  Although its stated audience is middle school students, the site is appropriate for any researcher.

You Debate
Provides the newest debated issues, as well as a directory of broad categories such as health, religion and politics. Search by keyword or keyword that is a pro issues or con issues. 

You may also want to go to http://www.santacruzpl.org/online/refdb.php to use your public library card and PIN to access many subscription online databases.

Bibliography Sites
MLA Style
Citation Machine
Citing Sources -- from Oregon School Library Information System
KnightCite -- from Calvin College
MLA Style Guide -- from Capital Community Technical College, Hartford, CT.
Noodle Tools Quick Cite -- from NoodleTools, Inc.
Soquel High School's Citation Guide
Using Modern Language Association (MLA) Format -- From Purdue Univ.

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Page last updated 9/07 by Madeline Britton, Librarian