UNITED
STATES GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SOURCES
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Locator Services, Search Engines,
and Directories
Congressional Research Service Reports on the Internet-- The non-partisan U.S. Congressional Research Service, based at the Library of Congress, prepares thousands of unclassified reports a year on a vast range of topics at the request of members of Congress. Many CRS reports are on foreign affairs topics or U.S. foreign policy issues. Thousands of these first-rate reports are available in full-text PDF online, but they are scattered on the Internet and poorly indexed by regular search engines. The Open CRS collection is one searchable source to find these reports online. The Department of State posts many Congressional Research Service reports on international affairs. The Federation of American Scientists posts Congressional Research Service Reports on international security issues. The Library of the U.S. Air University posts a large, selected collection. The National Council for Science and the Environment posts CRS reports about environmental and related topics, extending quite broadly, even into international finance. The University of North Texas Libraries post a large searchable collection of CRS Reports. The DocuTicker reporting service offers a constantly updated archive of recently-available CRS Reports. Be sure to try the two very helpful limited area search engines at zFacts and the Internet Archive that search Congressional Research Service Reports online sites.
Cyber Cemetery-- From the
University of North Texas Libraries, affiliated with the
National Archives and Records Administration, "an
archive of [U.S.] government web sites that have ceased
operation (usually web sites of defunct government
agencies and commissions that have issued a final
report)."
Data.gov--
"Increases the ability of the public to easily find,
download, and use datasets that are generated and held
by the Federal Government. Data.gov provides
descriptions of the Federal datasets (metadata),
information about how to access the datasets, and tools
that leverage government datasets. The data catalogs
will continue to grow as datasets are added."
FedStats-- The purpose of this very
useful site, from the Federal Interagency Council on
Statistical Policy, is to provide easy online access to
the full range of statistics and information produced by
scores of federal agencies for public use.
FedWorld-- Huge central information
network of the U.S. federal government, with searchable
access to agencies and departments, documents, databases,
etc.-- a comprehensive site for searching for, locating,
ordering, and acquiring government and business
information.
Federal Digital System-- From the US Government Printing Office, identifies public information resources within the three branches of the federal government (including electronic information resources), describes the information available in these resources, and assists in obtaining the information. The Catalog of U.S. Government Publications is "the finding tool for federal publications that includes descriptive records for historical and current publications and provides direct links to those that are available online."
Foreign Assistance.gov-- Provides a view of U.S. Government foreign assistance funds and enables users to examine, research, and track aid investments in a standard and easy-to-understand format... [site] initiated by the Department of State and USAID under the policy guidance of the National Security Staff."
Freedom of Information Act Website--
From the U.S. National Archives and Records
Administration, facilitates access to U.S. government
information in executive branch agency records, either
through the Electronic Reading Room or by inquiry directly
to the National Archives and Records Administration.
Frequently Used Sites Related to U.S.
Federal Government Information-- Helpful directory
from the Government Information Services section of the
Central Library at Vanderbilt University.
GovEngine.com-- Directory for U.S.
federal, state, and local websites, including courts.
GovFresh-- Aggregated "live feed of
official news from U.S. Government Twitter, YouTube, RSS,
Facebook, Flickr accounts and more, all in one place."
GovTrack.us-- Free online service to
"research and track the activities in the U.S. Congress
[such as] the status of U.S. federal legislation, voting
records in the Senate and House of Representatives, and
information on Members of Congress, as well as
congressional committees and the Congressional Record."
MetaLib-- From the U.S. Government
Printing Office, a "federated search engine that searches
multiple U.S. Federal government databases, retrieving
reports, articles, and citations while providing direct
links to selected resources available online."
SearchGov.com-- Searches millions of
Web pages of executive agencies, independent agencies, and
state and local levels.
SearchMil.com-- Searches over one
million military (.mil) Web pages, indexed and ranked in
order of popularity.
U.S. Federal Government Agencies
Directory-- Searchable and by links, from Louisiana
State University Libraries.
USA.gov-- Large official United
States government web portal offering easy access to all
online U.S. federal, state, and local government
resources, by various means of approach. Excellent
source for such information, with tutorials. There is also
a Defense and International Relations
section for official information and services from the
U.S. government. Note the U.S. Government RSS Directory
option.
United States Government Manual--
Searchable official information source about the agencies
of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
Department,
Agency, Congressional, and Military Sources
• Agency for International Development--
USAID is the government agency that provides economic
development and humanitarian assistance to advance
U.S. economic and political interests overseas. Much
information on USAID's activities and on developing
countries. Note the Development
Experience Clearinghouse, "the largest online
resource for USAID funded technical and program
documentation, with over 137, 500 documents available
for [free] electronic download."
• Census
Bureau's Foreign Trade Statistics-- Show trade
data and related information for the United States.
• Census Bureau's International Programs
Section-- A rich
computerized data bank containing statistical tables
of past, present, and projected demographic and
socio-economic data for most countries and all areas
of the world.
• Central Intelligence Agency--
Note the Center for the Study of Intelligence,
which conducts research on intelligence and publishes
classified and unclassified editions of the Studies
in Intelligence journal, as well as books,
monographs, and a quarterly newsletter. The CIA
maintains a highly-regarded annual World Factbook and has
many online publications. The National Intelligence Council,
"a center of strategic thinking within the U.S.
Government," posts numerous publications on global
trends and issues. Note the CIA and the War on Terrorism
page. The Freedom of Information Act
Electronic Reading Room gives access to a
searchable online database "to provide the public with
an overview of access to CIA information, including
electronic access to previously released documents."
The downloadable Global
Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds study is
"intended to stimulate thinking about the rapid and
vast geopolitical changes characterizing the world
today and possible global trajectories over the next
15 years." There is also a Global Trends 2030 blog.
• Congress of the United States-- United
States House of Representatives-- Official site
of the U.S. House of Representatives and United
States Senate-- Official site of the U.S.
Senate. Note especially the following committees--
House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs;
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations;
House of Representatives Armed
Services Committee; Senate Committee on Armed Services. See
Thomas,
from the Library of Congress, a very large, searchable
site with much detailed information about the Congress
and its deliberations and legislation. Congress.gov,
also from the Library of Congress, "plans to transform
the Library of Congress's existing congressional
information system into a modern, durable and
user-friendly resource."
• Customs and Border Protection--
"The single unified border agency of the United
States." Information on the agency's border control
and customs functions, with official statements,
import, export, border security, and international
travel information, regulations, statistics, and
forms. Note the Customs Rulings Online Search System,
a searchable database of CBP rulings, plus
trade-related links.
• Department of Agriculture-- The
Foreign
Agricultural Service maintains a Global
Agricultural Information Network about the
agricultural situation and agricultural trade
overseas, by categories, countries, and posts. The Economic
Research Service has a search facility and its Topics Page posts many
international reports. The World Agricultural Outlook Board
"serves as USDA’s focal point for economic
intelligence and the commodity outlook for U.S. and
world agriculture."
• Department
of Commerce-- Economic news and statistics on
international trade and the U.S. economy. The Bureau of
Economic Analysis supplies online data,
articles, and surveys on U.S. international commercial
transactions and the U.S. position in the world
economy.
• Department of Defense--
Department of Defense's starting point for U.S.
military information online. Check the Publications
page for online documents, such as the major Quadrennial
Defense Review. The Joint
Electronic Library provides access to official
publications and research papers of the U.S. armed
forces, through the Joint Chiefs of Staff site.
• Department
of
Homeland Security-- Charged with
protecting the U.S. homeland from terrorist attacks,
this organization posts information about its mission,
policies, regulations, and actions. The Yearbook
of Immigration Statistics posts statistics and
reports on immigration matters.
• Department of Labor-- Note
especially the Bureau of International Labor
Affairs, International Labor Comparisons,
and the Monitoring International Labor
Standards Database.
• Department of State-- Very
extensive site, for an official view of U.S. foreign
policy. There is a handy page that lists the many
major online State Department publications.
The Media Center provides
connections to Department products on social media and
multimedia. Abundant information for world travelers
is found at the Bureau
of Consular Affairs. The Countries section provides facts
about most countries. Declassifed documents are
available at the Freedom
of Information Act Electronic Reading Room.
There are official blog and video
sections. The Websites of U.S. Embassies,
Consulates, and Diplomatic Missions page links
to the Web sites of U.S. diplomatic missions around
the world. Also see the site of the American
Foreign Service Association, the professional
association of the U.S. Foreign Service. AFSA
publishes the Foreign Service Journal for "an
insider's view on how U.S. foreign policy is made."
The Electronic Research Collection
is a searchable archive of historical online materials
from the Department of State Web site, as posted from
1990 to 2001. An archive of materials released by the
George
W. Bush administration (January 20, 2001 to
January 20, 2009) is available. An archive of Dispatch Magazine issues from
1993 to 1999 (with "key speeches and testimony by
senior State Department officials as well as current
U.S. treaty actions") is available in full-text PDF
files. The Overseas Security Advisory Council
posts advisories on security-related issues around the
world as "the focal point for the exchange of
unclassified information between the U.S. Department
of State and the private sector in the U.S. on
security-related incidents and threats overseas." The
First Quadrennial Diplomacy and
Development Review (2010) focuses on "civilian
power," for "directing and coordinating the resources
of all America's civilian agencies to prevent and
resolve conflicts; help countries lift themselves out
of poverty into prosperous, stable, and democratic
states; and build global coalitions to address global
problems."
• Energy
Information Administration, Department of Energy
(International Section)-- Large "International Energy
Information at a Glance" site, searchable, with
energy, GDP, and population statistics by country and
region, plus country, regional, and world analysis
reports. Note the comprehensive Country Analysis
Briefs, International Energy Outlook,
and International Energy Statistics.
• Export-Import Bank of the United
States-- Information on U.S. export promotion
and financing, plus foreign country data, from the
official export credit agency of the U.S. government.
• Foreign Relations of the United
States-- From the Office of the Historian in the
U.S. Department of State, a series of volumes in the
official documentary historical record of major U.S.
foreign policy decisions and significant diplomatic
activity. Recently-released volumes contain
declassified records from all the foreign affairs
agencies. Many volumes are online in full-text, from
1945 onward. The University of Wisconsin Digital
Collections project maintains a searchable,
freely-accessible archive of these volumes from 1861
to 1960.
• National
Defense University-- Many publications, policy
news and views, and links from the top school of the
U.S. military services. Note the many sectors of the
NDU complex, each of which has online information in
its specialized area. The complex includes the National
War College, Institute
for National Strategic Studies, and the William
J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies,
among others.
• Overseas Private Investment
Corporation-- An independent U.S. government
agency that assists U.S. companies investing in some
150 emerging economies around the world.
• Peace
Corps-- Information about the "mission, history,
and current endeavors" of this agency of the U.S.
federal government for volunteer service overseas. The
Digital Library "provides a
searchable collection of electronic Peace Corps
materials from 1961-present," such as newsletters,
stories, photos, posters, speeches, reports, audio,
and video.
• United
States Air University-- At Maxwell-Gunter Air
Force Base, the "intellectual and leadership center"
of the U.S. Air Force. The Muir S. Fairchild Research
Information Center posts many excellent
bibiographies, studies, articles, and links about
international topics, U.S. foreign policy issues, and
the U.S. Air Force. Note the many resources in the Socio-Cultural
and Language Resources Center.
• United States Army War College-- The top school in the U.S. Army educational system, with many excellent international affairs and security studies accessible online. The Library provides useful military and security resources, including topical bibliographies. Note the Parameters journal and the Strategic Studies Institute pages. The U.S. Army Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute may be of interest.
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services-- Provides immigration and
naturalization information, including laws,
statistics, and forms.
• U.S. Mission to the United Nations--
From the Office of Press and Public Affairs, U.S.
Mission to the United Nations, New York City.
• United States Trade Representative--
Responsible for developing and coordinating U.S.
international trade, commodity, and direct investment
policy, and leading or directing negotiations with
other countries on such matters. Note the many
full-text reports and trade agreements available.
• White
House-- Official statements from the Executive
Office. The Briefing Room and a blog cover recent events, with
an archive. Parts of the White House archives from the
George W. Bush administration are available online at
the George W. Bush Presidential Library
and Museum. Parts of the White House archives
from the Bill Clinton administration are available
online at the White House Virtual
Library and the William J. Clinton Presidential
Library and Museum. The presidential documents
of both George W. Bush and Bill Clinton are available
online through the Federal Digital
System.