The Foreign Legislation Bulletin: documentary analysis of an exemplary collection

Abstract

What is known as the Boletín de Legislación Extranjera (Foreign Legislation Bulletin) started its publication in 1910, under the title: Boletín Analítico de los Principales Documentos Parlamentarios Extranjeros recibidos en la Secretaría del Congreso de los Diputados (Analytical Bulletin of the Main Foreign Parliamentary Documents received in the Secretary-General of the Congress). Except for one interruption of four years and with successive changes of title, it was published for sixty-three years, until 1977. Its 531 bulletins, bound together in 105 volumes, form a singular Collection of great bibliographic and documentary value. Throughout this period, the Bulletin maintained a similar structure, with some variations and expansions of its contents, although always including a section for foreign legislation. All documents from other countries were translated into and published in Spanish when their original language was another. The aim of this work is to analyze and describe the content of this Collection, especially now that it has been entirely digitized and is possible to consult online. The Collection is a source of information for all researchers and historians interested in the study of the twentieth century. As a complement, the analysis of the Collection shows, once again, the great work and dedication that, under the respective Secretaries-General of Congress, have developed and develop their officials, one of whose main objectives is to provide the documentary support that Members require to carry out the legislative function and control to the Government that the Constitution attributes to them.