Executive Documents
Resources for official publications, reports, and records produced by the President of the United States and executive departments.
American Government
Resources for the study of Congress, the executive, the judiciary, elections, political parties, public policy, and civic institutions.
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Overview
According to the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO), 97% of federal U.S. government publications are born-digital, which means they are created in digital format for online viewing. Many of these documents are free of charge and available through the U.S. government’s various online sites, such as Congress.gov and GovInfo.gov. Subscription databases such as HeinOnline and ProQuest Congressional are often available through academic and some public libraries.
The 3 Branches of Government
When conducting U.S. government research, it's important to understand how the government is organized. This will help you determine the particular type of documentation needed for research. As the following image shows, the Constitution of the United States divides the federal government into three co-equal branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. Each of these three branches produces specific types of official documents.
Document Types
Government documents are official publications produced by government bodies at the local, state, national, and international levels. Many university libraries provide access to subscription-based government databases for students and faculty. Some subscription databases may also be available through public libraries.
Main Government Categories
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Douglas Rissing/iStock Judicial Documents
Resources for publications produced by the federal courts, such as judicial decisions, court procedures, and interpretation sof federal law.
flySnow/iStock Legislative & Congressional Documents
Resources for locating documents produced by Congress, including House and Senate bills and resolutions, committee reports, hearings, and prints.
the Treasury Department building in Washington DC Independant Federal Agencies
Resources for locating reports, regulations, and research produced by federal agencies that operate independently of the executive departments.