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United States Government Information
Guide to Federal Government Information and Data
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Reference Librarian
Other UTSA Government Guides
Acknowledgment
This guide was originally created by Rita Wilson (1948-2024), UTSA Government Documents librarian for 27 years and liaison for Anthropology, Spanish and Modern Languages, Geography, Criminology, and Paralegal Studies.
Search Engines: USA.gov and Census Survey Explorer
Official Government search engine to Federal & State government information and services.
- Census Survey Explorer NEW!Discover which of the 130+ Census surveys covers the data, geography, demographic characteristics, date coverage and frequency of release you want. Search this user-friendly tool by broad topics listed under the Topics & Subtopics tab. View an 8-minute instructional Data Gem to learn more.
Key Databases for Federal Government Information
- ProQuest Congressional This link opens in a new windowComprehensive full image coverage of U.S. Congressional publications 1789-present, Updated daily. Hearings (1824-present); Congressional Research Service Reports (CRS) (1916-present); House and Senate Documents/Reports (1817-present); Legislative Histories (1969-current); Bills & Laws (1776-present); Vote Reports (1987-present); Historical Maps & Images (1789-2007); Congressional Record (daily and bound versions) (1789-present); Regulations; Federal Register and Code of Federal Regulations; Presidential Executive Orders.
Member profiles, committee assignments, financial disclosure statements and voting records. - MetaLib GPO This link opens in a new window> U.S. Government reports, articles, and citations
> Simultaneously searches across multiple subject based government databases, catalogs, and digital repositories
> Search all or create your own sets of searchable databases
> Includes more than 50 sources including EPA, ERIC, GAO, Data.gov, FBI Vault, govinfo, NCJRS, National Archives and Library of Congress
- Catalog of U.S. Government Publications (CGP)> Finding tool for electronic and print publications from the U.S. legislative, executive, and judicial branches
> Contains more than 500,000 descriptive records for historical and current publications since July 1976
> Provides direct links to online documents
> Updated daily
> For publications issued prior to 1976, consult govinfo.gov Monthly Catalog (below)> Finding tool for electronic and print publications from the U.S. legislative, executive, and judicial branches
> Contains more than 500,000 descriptive records for historical and current publications since July 1976
> Provides direct links to online documents
> Updated daily
> For publications issued prior to 1976, consult govinfo.gov Monthly Catalog - New Titles Added to CGPFind all the latest documents added to the Catalog of U.S. Government Publications (CGP) including print, online, e-books.
- Monthly Catalog of U.S. Government PublicationsLists all of the publications produced by the U.S. Government Printing Office from 1895 to 2004.
govinfo.gov
- GPO Monthly Catalog This link opens in a new windowIndexes all types of U.S. Government documents from July 1976 to the present including Congressional reports, hearings, and debates; judiciary materials; and documents issued by executive departments.
- Govinfo,gov> From U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO)
> Free electronic access to a wealth of Federal publications including regulations, laws, Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, administrative decisions, Core Documents of U.S. Democracy, and judicial, legislative, and executive documents.
> Dates of coverage vary. Updated continuously. Replaced FDsys.
- LLMC Digital This link opens in a new windowExtensive collection of digitized historical legal material and government documents. Includes publications of state, federal, and territorial governments of the U.S, as well as foreign and international legal and government materials and indigenous law. All documents are available full text in PDF. Date range: 14th-21st centuries. Title List.
- Military and Government Collection (EBSCO) This link opens in a new windowOffers current news pertaining to all branches of the military, including a thorough collection of military titles, trade publications, and newsweeklies. Provides cover-to-cover full text of 300 periodicals. Also includes the full text of 245 pamphlets and indexes/abstracts 400 magazines.
- HathiTrust Digital LibraryMany historical government documents have been digitized and are freely available through HathiTrust as well as many out-of-copyright books.
- Territorial Papers of the United States (Carter Papers)Official records of the 28 territories established between 1787 and 1912 to south and west of the 13 original colonies including Mississippi, Indiana, Florida, Wisconsin and Michigan. Affairs in the territories were under the general direction of the Department of State until 1873 and the Department of the Interior after 1873.
From the National Archives and available online in HathiTrust
Statistics
- Census Survey Explorer NEW!Discover which of the 130+ Census surveys covers the data, geography, demographic characteristics, date coverage and frequency of release you want. Search this user-friendly tool by broad topics listed under the Topics & Subtopics tab. View an 8-minute instructional Data Gem to learn more.
- Statistical Abstract of the United States This link opens in a new windowAn authoritative and comprehensive summary of U.S. social, political and economic data from Federal and State agencies as well as private organizations. All tables are available for download in PDF and Excel formats. Check original sources of data to explore more detailed information. Excellent introductory essay at beginning of each topic section. Updated annually.
Earlier editions (1970-current) accessible using drop down menu. Archived government editions (1878-2012) available free at U.S. Census Bureau and Cybercemetery sites. Tip Sheet. - Statista This link opens in a new windowProvides access to recent and relevant statistics and studies from market researchers, trade organizations, scientific publications, and U.S. and international government sources. Topics include business, finance, education, media, politics, society, environment, technology and more. Ready-made tables, graphs, and charts are downloadable in PDF, XLS, PNG, or PPT.
- Sage Data This link opens in a new windowProvides access to an extensive repository of standardized and structured statistical datasets covering a variety of subject areas and helps users create charts, maps, graphs, and tables with descriptive summaries and citations. Data is sourced from U.S. and international public and private organizations. Users can compare and contrast multiple data series, perform statistical calculations on the data, and customize output views. Years of coverage vary depending on dataset.
Agriculture & Food; Banking, Finance, & Insurance; Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement; Education; Energy Resources & Industry; Government & Politics; Health & Vital Statistics; Housing & Construction; Industry, Business & Commerce; International Relations & Trade; Labor & Employment; Military & Defense; Natural Resources & Environment; Population & Income; Prices, Consumption & Cost of Living; Transportation & Traffic.
- Historical Statistics of the United States 1789-1957A supplement to the Statistical Abstract of the United States; prepared by the Bureau of the Census with the cooperation of the Social Science Research Council.
- Statistical Insight (ProQuest) This link opens in a new windowStatistical information by U.S. Federal and State agencies, international intergovernmental organizations, professional, trade and independent research organizations, commercial publishers and universities. Abstracts/indexing from 1973 with significant full-text online 1995 to present. Additional older content is available on microfiche using ASI, SRI or IIS number in the record.
Fast & Easy Census Statistics
- Narrative Profiles - U.S. CensusGenerate a short, analytic report derived from the American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Provides text and bar charts to display highlights of selected social, economic, housing and demographic estimates for a selected geographic area. Choose from State, County, Place, Census Tract, MSA, Zip Code Tabulation Area, Address Lookup.
- City, State and County Quick Facts (U.S. Census)QuickFacts provides statistics for all states and counties, and for cities and towns with a population of 5,000 or more.
- data.census.gov (Explore Census Data) This link opens in a new windowPrimary search tool to browse and access U.S. census data and build custom, downloadable tables, charts, reports, maps and data visualizations. Includes detailed data on population, housing, economics, and geographies from the Decennial Census, American Community Survey, Economic Census and other surveys.
Topics and geographies are easy to search using the single search bar, or access more detailed data using the filters in the Advanced Search option.
Access data.census.gov tutorials.
- Census PublicationsPublications, briefs and reports from Census Bureau experts. Filter by topic, survey and/or year.
- Decennial Census Official PublicationsChoose a publication year to see the official census as well as related reports. Available in easy to load PDF files.
- Census Survey Explorer NEW!Discover which of the 130+ Census surveys covers the data, geography, demographic characteristics, date coverage and frequency of release you want. Search this user-friendly tool by broad topics listed under the Topics & Subtopics tab. View an 8-minute instructional Data Gem to learn more.
- Census Data GemsA series of short how-to videos available for data users looking for an easy and quick way to enhance their knowledge on finding Census data on specific topics.
- USA.gov This link opens in a new windowUSA.gov is the U.S. government's official web portal to all federal, state, and local government web resources and services, as well as those of cross-government agencies and tribal governments. Provides access to over 100,000 government websites. Search the official Spanish language web portal of the U.S. Government at USAGov en español . For similar resources, see also govinfo and GPO Monthly Catalog.
- HeritageQuest Online (ProQuest) This link opens in a new windowA rich collection of research materials for genealogists and historians to trace family histories and American culture. Includes full-image population schedules from the U.S. Census (1790-1950), U.S. City Directories (1821-1989), U.S. Freedman's Bank Records (1861-1875), U.S. Indian Census Rolls (1885-1940), Canadian Census (1825-1921) and more.
- SimplyAnalytics This link opens in a new windowThis web-based mapping and data analysis application enables users to develop interactive thematic maps and reports using demographic, business, and marketing data variables by state, county, city/place, ZIP code, census tract, block group, or custom area. Additional modules include:
1. SimmonsLOCAL, a targeting and profiling system that provides insights into consumer behavior for all of America's 210 media markets drilled down the block group level.
2. Claritas PRIZM, a consumer segmentation system which combines demographic, consumer behavior, and geographic data into 66 consumer segments to help marketers identify, understand, and target their customers and prospects.
3.Claritas ConneXions, a consumer segmentation system which classify U.S households into 53 consumer segments based on the technology and communications purchasing and usage preferences.
4. Claritas P$YCLE, a consumer segmentation system which classifies U.S. households into one of 58 consumer segments based on the income-producing assets.
Only a few people can use this database at one time.
Key Reports & Analysis
- Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports via ProQuest CongressionalCRS, a division of the Library of Congress, produces analytical, non-partisan reports on topics of interest to members of Congress. Comprehensive collection 1916-current
- Congressional Research Service ReportsCRS approaches complex topics from a variety of perspectives and examines all sides of an issue. Staff members analyze current policies and present the impact of proposed policy alternatives. New reports added as received. Not comprehensive.
- Congressional Budget Office (CBO)A federal legislative agency that provides economic information and revenue projections for Congress. Reports produced are "objective, nonpartisan, and timely analyses to aid in economic and budgetary decisions on the wide array of programs covered by the federal budget." All reports are posted on website.
- Government Accountability Office (GAO) Reports & TestimoniesIndependent, non-partisan agency known as the Congressional watchdog. Its reports provide excellent analysis and critique of government topics.
Webinars and Tutorials
- FDLP AcademyFree webinars and webcasts on a wide variety of Government information topics, presented by GPO, other Federal agencies, or from the FDLP community.
- FDLP Academy Training RepositoryFree recorded webinars and conference events on a wide variety of government topics, presented by GPO, Federal agencies, or from the FDLP community. Older recordings may be found in FDLP Academy: Webinars and Webcasts.
- FDLP Academy Older Recordings and WebcastsRecordings older than two years may be found in FDLP Academy: Webinars and Webcasts.
- Census AcademyCensus Academy provides courses and webinars on data tools, geography, data science and visualization, population characteristics, business and economy, and housing. Click here for recorded webinars
- Census Data GemsA series of short how-to videos available for data users looking for an easy and quick way to enhance their knowledge on finding Census data on specific topics.
- Cite It With Style! How to Cite Government Information Resources like a ProFree webinar provides an overview of the principles of scholarly citation and focus on the specific problems and peculiarities involved in citing Government documents. 66 min.
Books on Government Documents Research
- Mastering United States Government Information by Christopher C. BrownCall Number: E-bookPublication Date: 2020Information on navigating the immense field of government information.