Government Publications - POL 301W - Foundations of Public Administration / Leviss, Perri - James P. Adams Library at James P. Adams Library

US Government Documents and Data

This page provides a starting point for finding US government information. It lists resources for locating primary documents and data produced by government agencies.

First, a few general strategies for searching:

Use Google. Tip: limit the domain to .gov by adding site:.gov after your search words.
Use the Hein Online research database. There's a link to it below.
Read general or legal news stories that might offer clues to relevant agencies, reports, and data sources.
Go to the website of a public agency and search there. Check out this list of Federal Agencies.
Search the Government Printing Office (GPO) Catalog of U.S. Government Publications. See, "Search Tools and Catalogs."
Ask for help!

Sample Google Search

Hein Online

HeinOnline This link opens in a new window
In addition to its collection of academic journals, HeinOnline contains historical and government documents, including the entire Congressional Record, Federal Register, and Code of Federal Regulations, complete coverage of the U.S. Reports back to 1754, and treaties, constitutions, case law, world trials, classic treatises, international trade, foreign relations, U.S. Presidents, and much more.

How-to Guide for Using Hein Online
Learn the basics of searching and the structure of HeinOnline content with this easy-to-follow guide.

Government Data Resources

Data.Census.Gov
Previously, American FactFinder, Data.Census.Gov is the U.S. Census Bureau's end user search engine designed to search the Bureau's many statistical resources. It delivers a wide variety of population, economic, geographic and housing data.
U.S. Census Bureau
The federal agency for national demographic and economic data.
Data.gov
Data.gov provides access to machine readable datasets generated by the Executive Branch of the Federal Government. Content includes, both raw and geospatial datasets, statistical reports, etc. The public is encouraged to contribute ideas and apps for data management

Search Tools and Catalogs

Catalog of United States Government Publications
The finding tool for federal documents published from 1976 to present. Includes direct links to those which are available online. Search by agency, document title, subject, or keyword. An "Advanced Search" option is available.
GovInfo
Access to information from all three branches of the federal government. Developed by the U.S. Government Publishing Office, this discovery tool replaced the FDsys database.
Science.gov
Searches over 40 databases and 1,950 selected websites, offering 200 million pages of authoritative U.S. government science information, including research and development results
USA.gov
The U.S. Government's Official Web Portal, provides links to information and services from the U.S. government... a consumer oriented site.