see also :
Congress --
Constitution --
Economy --
Politics
US Government Search: Search.USA.gov
(websites, images, federal forms, recalls)
- 60 Second Civics
"60-Second Civics is a daily podcast that provides a quick and convenient way for listeners to learn about our nation’s government, the Constitution, and our history." From the Center for Civic Education.
- Benefits.gov
"The official benefits website of the U.S. government, with information on over 1,000 benefit and assistance programs."
- Blog.USA.gov
Aggregation of blogs from various government agencies.
- Blogs from the U.S. Government
Blogs by U.S. agencies and employees highlighting government services and useful information. Organized by topic.
- BRB Publications: Free Public Records Resources
"BRB's Free Resource Center is a comprehensive and searchable list of free public record sites along with additional tools to locate sources for civil records, criminal records, driving records, real estate records, public record vendors, record retrievers, legislation and more."
- Budget of the United States Government
The White House offers the budget report as a single document or as multiple short ones by area.
- Budget of the United States Government
Current and historical budgets and explanatory documents.
- Census 2010
- CitizenTube
"CitizenTube is YouTube's News and Politics Blog. Here you'll find important breaking news videos from citizens; developing trends in the use of YouTube by news organizations, activists, politicians, and governments; and lots of other YouTube goodness." Also accessible via YouTube page.
- Congressional Research Service
Though these reports for Congress from the Library of Congress are not directly available to the public from the LoC, many are available at
Open CRS,
Archive-IT, and
The Memory Hole.
- CQ Press In Context
Online articles relating to current issues, from Congressional Quarterly.
- C-Span
Tons of information about current government happenings. Includes streaming audio and video, current news, links, and pages on various topics such as American Presidents.
- The Citizen Journalist's Guide to Open Government
"With newspapers cutting staff, there is a greater need than ever for citizen journalists to exercise the public's rights of access to government records, meetings and courts. Find out how to obtain records and what to do if you're denied access."
- Could You Pass a U.S. Citizenship Test?
Take an online version of the U.S. Citizenship Test and test your knowledge.
- Data.gov
"The purpose of Data.gov is to increase public access to high value, machine readable datasets generated by the Executive Branch of the Federal Government."
- Department of Justice
Department of the U.S. government which oversees law enforcement-related affairs. Includes the DEA, the FBI, the Office of the Attorney General, and the
U.S. Marshalls, among others.
- FAQ About the U.S. Government
Answers to common questions relating to the U.S. government, its departments and agencies.
- The Federal Eye
Section of the Washington Post dedicated to "Keeping Tabs on the Federal Government".
- FedSpending.org
"This website, created by OMB Watch, is a free, searchable database of federal government spending. ... With over $12 trillion in federal spending, this more open and accessible tool for citizens to find out where federal money goes and who gets it is long overdue."
- Foreign Policy in Focus
"A 'Think Tank Without Walls' connecting the research and action of more than 600 scholars, advocates, and activists seeking to make the United States a more responsible global partner."
- Get It Done Online!
"Access U.S. government services from your computer." Everything from 'Address Change' to 'ZIP Code Lookup'.
- GovEngine.com
Very nice directory to information about U.S. state and federal courts and governments.
- Governing.com
"Policies, economics, and technology information and lots of new items pertaining to state and local government in the U.S. With complete searchable archives of Governing magazine.
- Government 2.0
Links to interactive U.S. government tools such as blogs, RSS feeds, Twitter accounts, videos, webchat, and more.
- GPO.gov (Government Printing Office)
The GPO publishes the Congressional Record, the U.S. Code (laws), the Code of Federal Regulations, Supreme Court decisions, and much more. Find specific documents via the Catalog of U.S. Government Publications, the
Government Information Locator Service, and FDsys (formerly GPO Access).
- How a Bill Becomes a Law
From Lexis-Nexis, "a flowchart illustrating the process by which a bill becomes a law. Click a box to view information on that step, including tips related to your online research."
- National Archives and Records Administration
All sorts of information and documents about American government and history.
- Presidents
- President Barack Obama
- Publications.USA.gov
"We used to be Pueblo.GSA.gov, but now we're Publications.USA.gov. This Federal Citizen Information Center site still offers important consumer information and publications to help you make important life decisions."
- Recovery.gov
"Recovery.gov is a website that lets you, the taxpayer, figure out where the money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is going."
- Regulations.gov
"Regulations.gov is your online source for U.S. government regulations from nearly 300 federal agencies." Inlcudes proposed rules, agency documents, final rules, section of new rules, ability to comment on rules.
- State Department
Information about world countries, human rights, foreign policy, and a special Digital Diplomacy for Students section.
- State of the Union Addresses of the American Presidents
"Search and analyze the the full-text of all State of the Union Addresses."
- Supreme Court
General information about the Court, Docket Information, downloadable files of the Court Schedule, Supreme Court Calendar, Court Rules, Opinions, and links to related sites. (see also Law: Supreme Court)
- The Three Branches of Government
A ThinkQuest project neatly explaining the relationship of the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches of the U.S. Government.
- United States Government Manual
Search and read online or download the U.S. Government manual in text or .pdf (Adobe Acrobat) format. Includes manuals from 1995-96 on.
- USA.gov | Search.USA.gov
Formerly known as "FirstGov", this site gives access local, state, and U.S. Government Agency websites. There is also a Reference Center for acronyms, calendars, maps, an A-Z federal agency list, and more.
- USPS: United States Postal Service
Information about shipping, tracking, services, local post offices, Post Office abbreviations, overseas shipping, and more.
- The White House
Information about the White House, the President and Vice President, briefing room, Weekly Video Address, the president's agenda, history of the White House and the presidents, links to the other branches of government and to the official White House blog, Flickr photostream, and more.
Social Studies Index Page