Finding United States Government Documents
General United States Government Resources
Federal Legislative Resources
Federal Judiciary: The Court System and Federal Law
Executive Legislative Resources
The Census and Other Statistical Information
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Crime and Criminal Justice
Security, Military and Intelligence
Science and Research
Public Health
Policy, Assistance, Grants, Employment
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Paley Library is a government depository library.
The purpose of the government's Federal Depository Library Program is to insure that the public is well informed by providing equitable, convenient access to government information. Paley Library is a selective depository. This means that Paley Library selects a percentage of federal government documents which meet the needs of
Temple's academic programs. Paley Library is also a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Depository Library.
In return for receiving these documents at no cost, the library is responsible for
maintaining them and making them available to the public.
Where can I
find U.S. government documents selected by Paley Library?
Searching Temple University Libraries' Diamond Catalog will
provide results that include government documents created from 1976 to the present.
Your search results will tell you if can download your materials directly from your
computer or if you need to get your material at Paley Library. Documents created prior
to 1976 are searchable through print indexes in the reference department. The Government
Documents librarian or the reference librarian currently at the desk will help you with this.
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The United States
Government Manual
The official handbook of the Federal Government, the United States Government.
Information on legislative, judicial, and executive branches, quasi-official agencies,
and international organizations in which the United States participates.
The United States Constitution
The first 10 Amendments to the Constitution are referred to
as The Bill of Rights.
There are 27 Amendments to the The
Constitution of the United States.
Core Documents of the United States Democracy
Current and historical Federal Government documents that define
the United States Government including the Articles of Confederation, The Declaration of
Independence, Documents from the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention,
1774-1789, The Emancipation Proclamation, The Federalist Papers, and The Gettysburg Address.
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The United States House of
Representatives
The official sight offers schedules, legislation currently on the House floor, committee searches,
voting records, and general information.
The United States Senate
The official web site offers legislative histories and information on
current legislation, committees, voting records, calendars, general
information.
How Laws are Made
The United States
Congressional Serial Set
The United States Congressional Serial Set contains Congressional Documents
and Reports bound by session of Congress.
Congressional Documents are defined as House and Senate Documents, Senate
Executive Documents, Senate Treaty Documents, reports of executive departments
and independent organizations, and reports of special investigations
made for Congress
Congressional Reports are defined as House and Senate Reports and Senate
Executive Reports from congressional committees dealing with proposed
legislation and issues under investigation.
Congressional Hearings
A hearing is a session of a Senate, House, Joint, or Special
Committee of Congress held to get information about proposed legislation
or current Federal law, oversee a government department or conduct an
investigation. Most Congressional hearings are published two months
to two years after they are held from 1997 to the present.
- Hearings
Online from 1997 to the present
- Paley reference microfiche: Congressional Committee
Hearings from 1869-1953
- Paley Government Documents Unit: Available in paper
format from 1954 to the present
- LexisNexis Congressional: Indexes published and unpublished hearings from1824 to the present.
Secret Sessions of Congress
"Secret" or "closed" sessions of the House and Senate
exclude the press and public and are withheld from publication.
Secret sessions are held for reasons of national security, to discuss
confidential or sensitive information and during impeachment trials.
Any member of Congress may request a secret session. For more information
see Secret
Sessions of Congress: A Brief Historical Overview.
Secret Sessions of Congress in Paley can be found in:
Government Documents Microfiche (arranged by congress number and committee):
- Unpublished US Senate Committee Hearings from 1823-1976
- Unpublished House Committee Hearings from 1833-1968
- LexisNexis Congressional: Indexes published and unpublished hearings from1824 to the present.
The Congressional Record
The official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States
Congress. It is published daily when Congress is in session. The Congressional
Record began publication in 1873, and is still published today.
The Debates and Proceedings in the
Congress of the United States
Debates and material from sessions of congress prior to 1873 are recorded
in The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States
(1789-1824), and the Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789
to 1856.
Calendars of the United States House of Representatives
Current house floor proceedings and a history of current legislation.
House Journal
The Constitution requires the House of Representatives and the Senate
to keep and publish a Journal in order to insure that the proceedings
are available to the public. The Journal is the official record of the
proceedings of the House for each legislative day and are admissible
in judicial proceedings.
Congressional Committee Prints
Reports of congressional
committees on topics related to the scope of their activities.
Congressional Bills Online
- The Government Printing Office's Congressional Bills database contains the full text of congressional
bills from the 1993 forward. The current Congress database is updated
by 6 a.m. daily when bills are published and approved for release. Search
bills by Congress, type of legislation, or Years and session Dates of
Congress. This site includes a Congressional Bills Glossary.
- The Library of Congress's THOMAS Congressional Bills database
offers full text of congressional bills from 1989 to the present, Summary
and status from 1973 to the present. Search by keyword, phrase or bill
number.
Legislative Histories
Public and Private Laws
Public and
Private Laws enacted from the 104th Congress to the present
online from the Government Printing Office
Public Laws enacted from the 93rd Congress to the present
online from THOMAS
The United States Statutes at Large
The Statutes at Large is the official source for the laws and resolutions passed by Congress. Every law, public and private, enacted by the Congress is published in the Statutes at Large in chronological order. Each Law includes a brief legislative history. All treaties and international agreements approved by the Senate were published in the Statutes through 1947.
The United States Code
The United States Code is the organization by subject matter of the Laws
of the United States. It is divided by subject into 50 titles. It is revised
every 6 years to include new laws with annual supplements. The only laws included in the U. S. Statutes are those that are in effect as of the date of publication. All superseded laws are deleted.
U.S.
Federal Election Commission:
Commission created by Congress to oversee and enforce the Federal Election
Campaign Act (FECA). News, information, and data, such as campaign contributors.
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The Federal Judicial Center
The Federal Judicial Center is a division of the federal judicial system devoted to education and research. Includes a succint explanation of the Federal Judical System, judicial histories of notable trials, and a biographical database of all judges who served on the U.S. District Courts, U.S. Circuit Courts, U.S. Courts of Appeals, and the Supreme Court since 1789,
The Law Library of Congress
Internet sources of interest to legal researchers.
Understanding the Federal Courts
A Court Administrative Office publication that explains the judicial process ,structure and jurisdiction of the Federal Courts. Offers a glossary of common legal terms, directory of Federal courts and other general information.
The United States Courts: The Federal Judiciary
The official website for the United States Courts Federal Judiciary System; the stated purpose "is to function as a clearinghouse for information from and about the Judicial Branch of the U.S. Government."
United States Courts of Appeals
The official website for the U.S. Courts of Appeals. American judicial districts are organized into 12 regional circuits, each of which has a United States court of appeals. A court of appeals hears appeals from the district courts located within its circuit, appeals from decisions of federal agencies, patent law appeals and other specialized courts. Includes circuit maps, fees, subpoena regulations, and other general information.
The Supreme Court of the United States
The official website for the Supreme Court. Offers general information about the Court, Docket, Arguments, Briefs, Opinions, Orders and Case Handling Guides.
The Supreme Court Historical Society's How the Court Works
The Supreme Court Historical Society's explanation of traditions, selection of justices, and technical matters.
Supreme Court Decisions
Database of Supreme Court Decisions from 1937-1975 searchable by keyword, case name or case number.
United
States Reports
The permanent addition of the decisions of the Supreme Court from the
Supreme Court's homepage.
OYEZ- U.S. Supreme Court Multimedia
The nonprofit OYEZ Project provides searchable access to all Supreme Court audio recorded since 1995. Some pre-1995 audio is also included.
Findlaw for Legal Professionals
A commercial search engine for State Law, Federal Law, International Law, U.S. Code, Supreme Court Cases, legal resources by jurisdiction,legal news and analysis
FedLaw
Research tool developed for Federal lawyers and other Federal employees.
Hein Online
An extensive collection of legal research material which includes a an extensive
collections of Law Journals, a Federal Register collection, a Treaties and Agreements collection, and a U .S. Supreme Court collection. All collections provide exact page images that enable the researcher to view all pages as they originally appeared in paper; including all charts, graphs, and photographs.
Lexis Nexis Academic
Provides Legal, Business & Government information sources. Areas covered
include news and current issues, legal information and law reviews, federal
case law; country profiles; U.S. Code, U. S. Constitution, court rules; state profiles; and state legal research.
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The
Code of Federal Regulations
The codification of the general
and permanent rules published in The
Federal Register. It is divided into 50 titles that represent broad
areas subject to Federal regulation.
The
Federal Register
The official publication
for rules, proposed rules, and other publications of Federal agencies
including executive orders and presidential documents.
Codification
of Presidential Proclamations and Executive Orders
Extends from the administration of Harry S. Truman through Ronald Reagan.
The Economic
Report of the President
The annual report written by the Chairman of the Council of Economic
Advisors transmitted to Congress no later than ten days after the submission
of the Budget of the United States Government.
Office of Management
and Budget: OMB's function is to assist the President in
overseeing the preparation of the federal budget and administer the
budget in Executive Branch agencies.
Office of the United States
Trade Representative
The USTR is " responsible for developing and coordinating U.S.
international trade, commodity, and direct investment policy, and overseeing
negotiations with other countries." The head of USTR serves as
the president’s chief advisor for international trade.
Presidential
News and Speeches
Full text of speeches, proclamations, nominations,
executive orders. From 2001 to the present.
Public Papers of the Presidents
Each
Public Papers volume contains the papers and speeches of the President
of the United States. The material is in chronological order.
- Paley Government Documents
online from 1992 to the present.
- Paley Reference Stacks (under call number J80.A283):
from 1929 to 1933 (Hoover) and from 1945 (Truman) to the present.
- Ambler Stacks (under call number J80.A283): The Public
Papers and Addresses of Franklin D. Roosevelt
The
American Presidency Project
provides online access to the Public Papers
of the Presidents from Hoover to George W. Bush (January-June 2001).
The State
of the Union Address
The annual address presented to Congress in the House of Representatives
Chamber. Available online from 1982 to the present.
Weekly Compilation of Presidential
Documents
Presidential statements, messages, remarks, and information released
by the White House Press Secretary.
The
White House
Biographies of the President,
Vice President and their respective spouses, news, photos, a virtual
tour and an interactive "ask the White House" and talk back
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The United States Census Homepage
Census counts are used to determine the number of congressional representatives allowed to each state, adjust the boundaries of congressional districts, determine revenue sharing programs, market analysis and other research. The Economic Census is conducted every five years. The Census of the general population, which is called the Decennial Census is conducted every ten years. The research conducted by the Census provides information on population, poverty, race, business, income, housing, education, and society that can be generated in table format or on maps.
The United States Census American Factfinder
Information about communities and society broken down on a national, state, county, municipal or local level.
American Community Survey of the United States Census
An annual survey of select communities that provides more current data than the Decennial Census.
Historical Census Information at Paley Library
Information by decade from 1790 to 1930.
Selected Historical Information on Population and Housing
Available online from 1790 to 1960.
Historical Decennial Census Statistics:
Links to national, state regional and local statistics from historical Decennial Censuses.
Historical Census Browser
Access state and county census topics from 1790 to 1960.
County and City Data Book
Social, economic and political data on counties and incorporated cities.
Economic Statistics Briefing Room
Current economic data provided by The White House. Includes charts.
Social Sciences Statistics Briefing Room
Current social and demographic statistics provided by The White House. Includes charts.
FedStats.gov
Statistics collected by more than 100 Federal agencies. Search by topic, subject area, agency or keyword. Produces mapped profiles of any state, county, city, congressional district, or Federal judicial district.
Statistical Abstract of the United States
Statistics pertaining to American social and economic condition. Includes some international data.
Vital statistics of the United States
Statistical information on natality, mortality, marriage, and divorce.
- Online from
1937 to the present.
- Paley Stacks (under call number HA203.A2)
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Inflation, wages, productivity, occupations, business costs, industrial safety, demographics, statistical and geographic information about labor economics.
TradeStats Express
TradeStats Express allows the searcher to "retrieve, visualize, analyze, print, and download...customized output" of the latest annual trade data from the Office of Trade and Economic Analysis (OTEA).
Stat-USA
STAT-USA/Internet is the Department of Commerce's web portal for all of the information available from the National Trade Data Bank.
Statistical Reference Index (SRI)
Microfiche collection of publications issued by associations, business/research
organizations, and state government containing statistical data.
- Paley Library (under call number Z7554.U5S77x) from 1981 to 2004
- Paley Microfiche collection from 1985-2005
American Statistics Index (ASI)
Microfiche collection of non-depository documents arranged
by entry numbers in the printed index.
Paley Microfiche collection from 1974-2003
Commercial Directories and other sites:
InfoPlease.com
Useful for statistical tables and cited sources.
Statistics Every Writer Should Know
Useful for explanations of basic statistical terminology.
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The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
A law enforcement agency within the U.S. Department of Justice that enforces laws and regulations relating to alcohol and tobacco diversion, firearms, explosives, and arson.
Bureau of Justice Statistics
Collects, analyzes, publishes, and disseminates information on crime, criminals, crime victims.
Cybercrime.gov
Computer crime and Intellectual Property Division of the Department Justice that deals with computer crime, intellectual property crime, cyber crime, economic espionage and cyber ethics. Links to documents, policy, cases, guidance, laws, press releases, speeches, testimony, letters, reports, and manuals.
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Homepage of the FBI. History, current issues, documents, data, counter terrorism efforts, crime lab information, background check data, training information and the 10 most wanted.
National Institute of Justice
NIJ is a branch of the U.S. Department of Justice that specializes in the research, development, and evaluation of crime control and justice issues. The search site gives researchers the option of searching the National Institute of Justice database, publications from the Office of Justice Programs, the National Criminal Justice Reference Service or any combination of the above.
National Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism
Terrorism Information Center
Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics
A collaboration between the Hindelang Criminal Justice Research Center, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the Bureau of Justice Statistics offers criminal justice data from more than 100 sources.
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The Central Intelligence Agency
Links to current agency documents, history, reference material and jobs.
The Department of Homeland Security
The Department of Homeland Security was organized to ameliorate America's vulnerability to terrorism and natural disasters.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
"Disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery planning"
The National Security Agency
The National Security Agency focuses on cryptologic and foreign signals intelligence information with the intention of protecting government information systems.
The United States Air Force
The official U.S. Air Force features current news, videos, photographs, Airman Magazine, career information,and an Air Force-wide search engine.
The United States Army
News, career information, publications, photographs, links to related sites and a search function.
The United States Navy
A comprehensive collection of Navy related information including football news,
a guide to various Navy ships, biographies of naval personnel, speeches and testimony before Congress from to the present.
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Energy Citations Database
Database of bibliographic citations from the Department of Energy's scientific and technical information. Available online from 1948 to the present.
DOE Information Bridge
Full text reports from the Department of Energy's research report literature. Available online from 1995 to the present.
Federal R&D Project Summaries
Research and Development project summaries from the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, the Small Business Administration, and the Department of Agriculture.
GrayLit Network
Accesses over 350,000 reports from government agencies such as the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, The Defense Technical Information Center, and NASA Langley Technical Reports.
Science.gov
Web portal for federal science information and the government agency research and development.
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The Department of Health and Human Services
The Nation's principal health agency offers a comprehensive public health web portal featuring information about health research, safety and wellness, disasters and emergencies, a health reference collection, geriatric resources and data about specific populations. Policies, regualtions, grants, funding and resource locaters are also available.
The Center for Disease Control
The CDC's mission is to prevent and control infectious and chronic diseases, injuries, workplace hazards, disabilities, and environmental health threats. Links to Journals, information, data and statistics gathered from birth and death records, medical records, interview surveys, and through direct physical exams and laboratory testing.
The Food and Drug Administration
The FDA regulates food, drugs, medical devices, biologics such as organ transplants, animal feed, radiation emmitting devices such as cell phones, and cosmetics. Reference sources include laws, regulations, product safety, and hearings about matters ranging from contact lens solution to nanotechnology.
The Public Health Service Commissioned Corps
The PHSCC is one of the seven Uniformed Services of the United States. Its purpose is to provide highly-trained and mobile health professionals who carry out programs to promote the health of the Nation, deliver health services to federal beneficiaries, and furnish health expertise in time of war or other national or international emergencies.
The National Health Information Center
A health information referral service intended to match health care providers and consumers who have health questions with those organizations best able to provide answers. NHIC is a joint effort of The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, The Office of Public Health and Science, and the Department of Health and Human Services.
Healthfinder.gov
The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion's public health search engine for health care consumers.
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The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Apply for financial aid online.
Congressional Research Service Reports
The Congressional Research Service provides nonpartisan public policy research and information to Members of Congress.
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
A description and link to a searchable database of most of the financial and nonfinancial assistance programs administered by departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
The Urban Institute
An independent, nonpartisan social research organization that analyzes policies and evaluates social and political programs and issues facing America's cities.
Moving Ideas: Electronic Policy Network
Information and opinions from a non-governmental organization on policy issues and politics.
Policy.com
A commercial service that tracks a different public policy issue each week and provides links to relevant government, news, and research services.
Rand Corporation
Non-profit institute that studies a wide range of public policy issues. Particularly useful for subject area and topic bibliographies.
USA Jobs -- Federal Job Openings
From the Office of Personnel Management, access to current professional job listings and an online application form.
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To get help with your research or to obtain assistance finding Government Documents, email Susan at susan@temple.edu, call her at 204-3842 or stop by the Government Documents Office on the ground floor of Paley Library in Room 18.
You can get help on literature searches at Temple University, chat online with a librarian, co-browse Web sites, or submit an e-mail reference question through the Reference Department at Paley Library.
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