Government Information: A Research Guide

Government documents are publications issued by all levels of government, either to meet legal requirements or to provide useful information for the public. Below you will find a list of the most frequently requested federal government publications organized by topic and branch of government. In addition to the government publications below, when government reports or laws are issued, articles about them appear as secondary sources. These articles may provide summaries and explanations of the primary document and can be located by searching the library’s periodical databases. The terms and phrases listed in the subject headings below can be used to search for more materials in the library’s catalog and research databases. If you need further assistance, please ask a librarian.

Some of these web sites are external to CFCC. The owners of these web sites are responsible for their content, including their links to other sites on the World Wide Web. CFCC has not necessarily reviewed this site and assumes no responsibility for the Contents, nor does this “Link” imply endorsement of the site.

Statistical Information

Statistical Abstract of the United States. United States. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1878– . ISSN: 00814741., Citrus REF HA202.U58, Ocala REF HA 202
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/
Statistics describing social, economic, political, and geographic changes in the United States.

Florida Senate Statutes Index — http://www.flsenate.gov/Statutes/index.cfm

Thomas – Legislative Information on the Internet — http://thomas.loc.gov/

Executive Branch Documents

Budget of the U.S. Government — http://www.gpoaccess.gov/usbudget/
Provides information on how the federal government spends money, from A Citizens Guide to the Federal Budget, written for the average reader, to extensive economic and historical analyses of the United States budget.

Code of Federal Regulations — http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/index.html
The CFR contains administrative regulations, issued by federal agencies or presidential executive order, which are arranged by subject and published annually. Weekly updates are found in the Federal Register.

Federal Register — http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html
Daily publication that presents final regulations as they are enacted, proposed rules, notices, and presidential documents. The same information is organized by subject and published annually in the Code of Federal Regulations.

Public Papers of the President — http://www.gpoaccess.gov/pubpapers/index.html
Papers and speeches of the President of the United States that were issued by the Office of the Press Secretary during the specified time period.

United States Government Manual — http://www.gpoaccess.gov/gmanual/index.html
Manual provides information on the agencies of the three branches of government.

Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents — http://www.gpoaccess.gov/wcomp/index.html
The Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents is published every Monday by the Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration and contains statements, messages, and other presidential materials released by the White House during the preceding week.

Legislative Branch Documents

Congressional Directory — http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cdirectory/index.html
Staff directory for the legislative, executive, and judicial agencies of the federal government. It features brief biographies, committee memberships, and addresses and phone numbers for staff members and judicial branches.

Legislative Branch Resources on GPO Access — http://www.gpoaccess.gov/legislative.html
History of bills, Congressional bills, Congressional record, full-text versions of all signed bills, and more.

Public and Private Laws —http://www.gpoaccess.gov/plaws/index.html
Public and private laws are prepared and published by the Office of the Federal Register (OFR), National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). GPO Access contains the text of public and private laws enacted from the 104th Congress to the present.

United States Code — http://www.gpoaccess.gov/uscode/index.html
The United States Code is the permanent, or public, laws of the United States organized into broad subject areas called titles.

United States Constitution — http://www.gpoaccess.gov/constitution/index.html
The basic document establishing the government of the United States, the Constitution of the United States also defines the rights and liberties of citizens.
Judicial Branch Documents

Supreme Court Opinions — http://www.supremecourtus.gov/
The Supreme Court of the United States is the final arbiter in controversies or interpretation of the laws of the United States or the intent of the Constitution. Its decisions are called “Opinions.”

Subject Headings

executive departments—United States—handbooks, manuals, etc.
United States—Congress—joint committee on printing
United States—Congress directories
United States—Office of the Federal Register
United States—politics and government—handbooks, manuals, etc.