Primary Sources for Congressional DiscussionsThe Posse Comitatus Act was enacted on June 18, 1878, as part of the Army Appropriations Act (20 Stat. 143-152). The original congressional debates and proceedings took place during the 45th Congress (1877-1879), primarily in the House of Representatives and Senate, in response to post-Reconstruction concerns over federal military involvement in civilian law enforcement. These discussions are preserved in official government records. Here's where to access them:Congressional Record (1878): This is the verbatim transcript of floor debates, amendments, and votes. Key discussions occurred in May and June 1878, starting with Rep. William Kimmel's (D-MD) amendment to the Army appropriations bill (H.R. 3587). Search for terms like "posse comitatus," "military execution of laws," or references to the bill's sections (e.g., around page 3587 in the daily edition).Online Access:GovInfo (U.S. Government Publishing Office): Free digital archive of the Congressional Record. Navigate to the 45th Congress, Volume 7 (1878), and use the search function for "posse comitatus."
Library of Congress (Congress.gov): Search by date (e.g., May 10-18, 1878) or keyword. Includes digitized scans and text.
Physical/Microfilm Access: Available at major libraries like the Library of Congress (Washington, DC) or university libraries via interlibrary loan. Microfilm sets are common in academic collections.
Congressional Globe (Predecessor to the Congressional Record): For context on earlier related debates (e.g., 1870s Reconstruction-era discussions), check the Globe for the 44th Congress, but the core 1878 action is in the Record.
Secondary Sources with Excerpts and AnalysisFor easier entry points with quotes from the debates, consult scholarly reports that cite the originals:Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports:R42659: The Posse Comitatus Act and Related Matters: Detailed legislative history, including excerpts from House and Senate debates on limiting military use to "execute the law."
R42669: A Sketch: Shorter overview with references to Senate floor arguments.
Free on Congress.gov or EveryCRSReport.com.
Historical Analyses:History.com Article on the Act: Summarizes the divided congressional debates and bipartisan passage.
Academic papers like "The Posse Comitatus Act: Setting the Record Straight" (Military Law Review, 2003), available via JSTOR or HeinOnline, quote primary debate text.
These resources are public domain and freely accessible online. If you're researching in person, start at the Library of Congress's Main Reading Room for guided access to bound volumes.