Government Documents Research Guide

United States Government: Basic Sources

A Brief Guide to: General Catalogs and Indexes | Directories and Handbooks | Constitution
Legislative Branch | Executive Branch | Judicial Branch | Statistical Sources | Digital Collections

MO Election Results (November 7, 2006)

General Catalogs and Indexes

MERLIN Library Catalog

The catalog of the Libraries of the University of Missouri System. Not all government information resources held by MU appear in MERLIN. However, this is still the first place to look. Includes links to Internet resources.

Web	http://laurel.lso.missouri.edu/search~S1
Telnet	telnet://laurel.lso.missouri.edu/ [login as "library"]

The Catalog of U.S. Government Publications (CGP)

The primary catalog for electronic and print publications from the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the U.S. government. The CGP contains descriptive records for historical and current publications and provides direct links to those that are available online. Preceded by the Document Catalog (1893-1940), the 1909 Checklist (1789-1909), Ames Index (1881-1893), and Poore (1774-1881). See also: specialized indexes online, and below.

Internet	July 1976-present	http://catalog.gpo.gov/
Print (Monthly Catalog)	1895-present	MU ELLIS DOCS REFERENCE Z1223 .A18

Directories and Handbooks

FirstGov.gov

The official U.S. gateway to government information. Also Includes information on state, local, and tribal governments.

Internet

Current

http://www.firstgov.gov/

United States Government Manual

The official handbook of the Federal Government. Comprehensive information on the agencies of the legislative, judicial, and executive branches, as well as on quasi-official agencies, international organizations in which the United States participates, and boards, commissions, and committees.

Internet	1995/96-present	http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS2410
Print	Current edition	MU ELLIS READY REFERENCE JK421 .A32
Print	1973-present	MU ELLIS JK421 .A32
Print	1936, 1938-72	MU ELLIS JK421 .A3

Official Congressional Directory

The official handbook of Congress, with additional information on the Executive and Judicial branches, as well as international agencies. Contains: biographical information, Congressional District maps. Prior to 1897, also available online in the U.S. Congressional Serial Set.

Internet	1996/97-present	http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS194
Print	Current edition	MU ELLIS READY REFERENCE JK1011 .U5
Print	Older editions	http://laurel.lso.missouri.edu/search/t?Congressional+directory
Print	1789-1840	MU ELLIS JK1011 .U53

Constitution of the United States

The National Archives (NARA) site has a digital facsimile of the original document and biographies of the signers. The annotated edition contains extensive commentary, historical background and legal analysis of each clause and amendment.

Internet	NARA	http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/constitution.html
Internet	Annotated	http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS29924
Print	Annotated	MU ELLIS READY REF KF4527 .U54 2004

Legislative Branch

Stautes at Large

A chronological arrangement of the public and private laws of the United States.

Internet	1995/96-present	http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS5052
Internet	1789-present	LN Congressional
Internet	1789-present	Hein Online
Print	Unbound "Slip Laws"	MU ELLIS DOCS AE 2.110:
Print	1937-present	Location varies
Print	1873-1936	UM Depository
Print	1869-1873	UM Depository
Print	1859-1869	UM Depository
Print	1845-1859	UM Depository
Print	1789-1845	UM Depository

United States Code

A consolidation and codification of the general and permanent laws of the United States. Provides subject access, collates the initial laws with subsequent amendments, and excludes repealed or superceded statutory provisions.

Internet	Current (Annotated)	LN Congressional
Internet	1994-present (Official)	http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS2873
Print	1940-present (Official)	Location varies

Congressional Bills and Resolutions

Legislative proposals before Congress. May include both public bills, which apply to the general population, and private bills, which only apply to a single person or to a select group of people.

Internet	1993-present	http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS29362
Internet	1989-present	LN Congressional
Microform	1979-2000	MU ELLIS DOCS MICROFORM
Microform	1801-29;1861-99	MU ELLIS SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
Microform	1789-1972	Center For Research Libraries (CRL) [Request using this form].

Congressional Record

The official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. Published daily when Congress is in session. Preceded by: Congressional Globe (1833-1873), Register of Debates (1824-1837), and Annals of Congress (1789-1824).

Internet	1994-present (GPO)	http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS1671
Internet	1985-present	LN Congressional
Print	1873-present	MU ELLIS J11 .R4

Thomas: U.S. Congress on the Internet

A full-text database of legislative information from the U.S. Congress. Includes major legislation (by bill number, subject, and title), bills (full text, summaries, and status), public laws, the Congressional Record and the Congressional Record Index, roll call votes, Congressional committee reports, some Congressional committee hearings, historical documents, and information about the legislative process.

Internet

Coverage varies

http://thomas.loc.gov/

Lexis Nexis Congressional

A comprehensive collection of information by and about the United States Congress and the legislative process. It includes indexes to congressional publications (1789-date), a bill tracking service (1989-date), and extensive full-text, including the Congressional Record (1985-present), the Federal Register (1980-present), the Statutes at Large (1789-present), Congressional Research Service reports (1916-present) and Committee Prints (1830-present). It also includes biographical, financial and voting information on current members of Congress.

Internet

Coverage varies

http://www.lexis-nexis.com/congcomp/

Regulations and Executive Branch Documents

Federal Register

The official daily publication for Rules, Proposed Rules, and Notices of Federal agencies and organizations, as well as Executive Orders and other Presidential documents. Twice a year, in April and again in October, the Federal Register includes the Unified Agenda, a comprehensive report on regulations under development or review.

Internet	1995-present (GPO)	http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS1756
Internet	1980-present	LN Congressional
Internet	1936-present	Hein Online
Print	Latest 2 years	MU ELLIS DOCS AE 2.106:
Print	1936-present	MU LAW DOC FED AE 2.106:

Code of Federal Regulations

A codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the Executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government.

Internet	1996-present	http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/index.html
Internet	1981-present	LN Congressional
Internet	Title 3: 1936-present	Hein Online
Print	Current edition	MU ELLIS DOCS REF AE 2.106/3:
Print	1938-present	MU LAW FEDERAL AE 2.106/3:

Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents

Published every Monday. Contains statements, messages, and other Presidential materials released by the White House during the preceding week.

Internet	1993-present	http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS1769
Internet	1965-present	Hein Online
Print	Unbound issues	MU ELLIS CPRR
Print	1965-present	MU ELLIS J80 .A284

Public Papers of the Presidents

Each Public Papers volume contains the 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. The material is presented in chronological order, and the dates shown in the headings are the dates of the documents or events. Technically, this series only goes back to the Hoover Administration, but I've included information on earlier sets that also cover presidential papers -- though these are not as complete.

Internet	1991-present	http://www.gpoaccess.gov/pubpapers/index.html
Internet	1789-present	Hein Online
Print	1929-33;1945-present	MU ELLIS J80 .A283
Print	1928-1945	FDR
Print	1789-1897	Bureau of National Literature compilation
Print	1789-1897	Richardson's compilations

Foreign Relations of the United States

The official documentary record of U.S. foreign policy. Includes a wide variety of primary source material, including declassified documents. Published approximately thirty years after the period covered.

Internet	1945-present	http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS1155
Internet	1860-1960 (incomplete)	http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/FRUS/
Print	1861-present	MU ELLIS JX233 .A3

CIS Index to U.S. Executive Branch Documents

Guides to executive branch documents not published in the Serial Set.

Print	1789-1909	MU ELLIS DOCS REF Z1223 .Z7 C57
Print	1910-1932	MU ELLIS DOCS REF Z1223.Z7 C59 1996

Judicial Branch

United States Reports

Official opinions of the United States Supreme Court.

Internet	1991-present	http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS35288
Internet	1790-present	LN Academic
Internet	1937 - 1975 (FLITE database)	http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/supcrt/index.html
Internet	1790-present	Hein Online
Print	1790-present	Location varies

Federal Reporter

The primary source for opinions of the U.S. Court of Appeals. Inclusion of the opinions of other federal courts has varied over time. Preceded by Federal Cases.

Internet	1880-present	LN Academic
Print	1880-present	MU LAW FEDERAL

Statistical Sources

Statistical Abstract of the United States

The standard summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic organization of the United States. Also serves as reference guide to other statistical publications and sources.

Internet	1878-present	http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS2878
Internet	1878-present	LN Statistical
Print	Current edition	MU ELLIS READY REFERENCE HA202 .A38
Print	1878-present	MU ELLIS HA202 .A38

Lexis Nexis Statistical

Comprehensive index to government publications having a significant statistical component. Extensive abstracts and growing full-text component. Full-text is also available in the ASI (U.S) and the IIS (International) Microfiche Libraries.

Internet

Coverage varies

http://web.lexis-nexis.com/statuniv/

FedStats

A comprehensive web portal to statistics published by the U.S. Government. More than 70 federal agencies produce statistics. The Federal Interagency Council on Statistical Policy maintains this site as a single point of access to the full range of these official statistical resources. Includes subject and geographic indexes, mapping tools, a cross-agency search engine, and direct links to statistical agencies and data access tools.

Internet

Coverage varies

http://www.fedstats.gov/

Census Data

Population, housing, economic, and geographic data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Internet	1990-present	http://factfinder.census.gov/
Internet	1790-present	http://www.census.gov/population/www/censusdata/hiscendata.html
Internet	1790-1960	http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/histcensus/index.html
Print	1790-present	Decennial Census volumes

Selected Digital Collections

GPO Access

The single most comprehensive source for official publications from all three branches of the U.S. government, as well as independent agencies. Provides access to a broad array of full-text databases and finding aids.

Internet

Coverage varies

http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS23052

Archive of Americana

Includes the Early American Imprints (1639-1800), the American State Papers (1789-1838), and the U.S. Congressional Serial Set(1817-1897). All three sources contain legislative and executive branch documents.

Internet

1639-1897

http://infoweb.newsbank.com/

American Memory Project

An ongoing attempt to digitize primary source materials relating to the history and cultural development of the United States. Includes written and spoken word, sound recordings, still and moving images, prints, maps, and sheet music.

Internet

1400-present

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/index.html

Avalon Project

An extensive collection of digital documents relevant to the fields of Law, History, Economics, Politics, Diplomacy and Government.

Internet

1600-present

http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/

Digital National Security Archive

A comprehensive collection of significant primary documents central to US foreign and military policy since 1945. The Archive is organized into dozens of topical collections, each containing government documents declassified under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)."

Internet

1945-present

http://nsarchive.chadwyck.com/