If I have a federal statute, how can I figure out its history?

Question

More specifically, I want to find out when 8 USC sec. 1158(b)(3)(a) was passed through Congress. I don't know where I even start. (And yes, I have access to Lexis and Westlaw if need be.)

More specifically, I want to find out when 8 USC sec. 1158(b)(3)(a) was passed through Congress. I don't know where I even start. (And yes, I have access to Lexis and Westlaw if need be.)
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UPDATE: I've traced it back to 1980 so far; I found a bill (passed as Pub. L. 96-212) that contains the same text. Lexis and Westlaw don't say specifically when each section was added to the code.

Answer 1

Pull up the statute in either Lexis or Westlaw.

After the text, you'll see the legislative history -- I think in Lexis it may be on a different tab (I mainly use Westlaw, so I forget the Lexis layout).

That will tell you when it was enacted, and when it was amended.

Answer 2

It's easy. Look up the statute in a copy of the U.S. Code or on Lexis or Westlaw. Look at the annotations. There should be a series of dates that shows the dates when modifications were made to the statute. The earliest of those dates will be when the bill passed through Congress.

Answer 3

I just did it by cutting and pasting your statute into westlaw's key word search and it pulled up a nice article. I would start there.

It was amended in 2005.

Answer 4

Try clicking on Notes on the right hand side of this page and see if it contains the information that you're looking for:

http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode08/usc_sec_08_00001158----000-.html