Federal legislative-history practice grew through two sequential expansions.

Evidence

The development of the practice in the federal courts, and measurably in the state courts, has followed two lines: first, a gradual expansion of the types of materials which the courts were willing to rely upon in any circumstances and second, a progressive enlargement of the circumstances under which they were prepared to consider competent material. — Henry M. Hart, Jr. and Albert M. Sacks, The Legal Process, 1972

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: American courts never formally barred legislative history, only weighed it case by case. — Henry M. Hart, Jr. and Albert M. Sacks, The Legal Process: Basic Problems in…, 1971; Private market ordering can make legislative materials available once courts settle their interpretive utility. — Henry M. Hart, Jr. and Albert M. Sacks, The Legal Process: Basic Problems in…, 2153