GOVERNMENT AGENCY ASSIGNMENT
(PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION)

SUGGESTIONS FOR FINDING INFORMATION ABOUT A GOVERNMENT AGENCY, SUCH AS ORGANIZATION, BUDGET, AND ISSUES.

GOVERNMENT INFORMATION & LAW DEPARTMENT

The Gov't & Law Dept. contains United States government agency publications. These reflect the agency's responsibilities and interests and are not necessarily ABOUT the agency, altho some publications may be. Publications are received through the Federal Depository Library Program, which is now primarily electronic. Most current agency publications are distributed through agency web sites and NOT distributed to libraries in print form. We do receive most congressional publications in print.

GOVERNMENT & LAW SOURCES:

Reference Books

United States Government Manual. Gov Desk

Available online on GPO Access.

Government Agencies. Gov Reserve JK 421 .G65 1983

Primarily large agencies. Historical background.

Federal Regulatory Directory. Gov Desk and King Ref KF 5406 .A15 F4

Lengthy descriptions of agencies with regulatory responsibilities.

Agency Web Sites

U.S. Federal Government Agencies Directory www.lib.lsu.edu/gov/fedgov.html

Or search Google

Agency Index (WashLaw Legal Research on the Web)

Includes specific links to organization charts when available.

Agency Publications

Search Miami Libraries Catalog. Do a subject search on agency name. Many agency names are listed with "United States" at the beginning (spelled out); if "Department" is in the name that is always abbreviated "Dept"; format of agency names does vary - a few may use the abbreviated U.S., and some may not use "U.S." in any form. Consider publications about the parent agency if researching a sub-agency. Such resources may relate to or discuss subjects involving sub-agencies. Some search term examples:

United States Environmental Protection Agency
United States Dept of Agriculture Economic Research Service

Laws and Regulations

May describe basic purpose, organization, mission, responsibilities.

United States Code Annotated Gov Law KF 62.5 .W45

Primarily cabinet level. Also available online on LexisNexis Congressional (select "Legislative History, Bills & Laws, then U.S. Code), LexisNexis Legal Research (select Federal & State Codes from right side menu), and GPO Access (not annotated).

Code of Federal Regulations Gov Law KF 70 .A34

Also available online on LexisNexis Congressional (select Regulations), LexisNexis Legal Research (select Federal & State Codes from right side menu, then CFR in drop down box), and GPO Access.

Congressional Resources

CQ Almanac. King Reference JK 1 .C66 (Gov't & Law Ref also has 1966-2004, same call number)

In-depth annual review of Congress' activities, including overview and background on major laws in the year they are passed or in years of other significant related activity.

CQ Weekly Online. 1983- . http://library.cqpress.com/cqweekly/

Weekly coverage of congressional activities.

LexisNexis Congressional

Basic keyword search may find hearings on agency's budget, activities, programs, issues. "Legislative Histories" menu option identifies committee hearings, reports and debate related to a specific law for laws passed since 1970. Publications with SuDoc numbers are usually available in the Gov't & Law Dept. Appropriations hearings (SuDoc begins Y 4.Ap 6/1: or Y 4.Ap 6/2:) are received only in microfiche, but many are available online from GPO Access (Hearings page: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/chearings/index.html). Check availability of microfiche in the library catalog and use "Request Item" to request microforms. For help in citing resources in this database, click on "How Do I?" at the top right of the LexisNexis screen. Then choose "How to Cite."

Presidential Resources

Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents. King Periodical J 80 .A284 (1965-Oct. 2000)

Available online in Hein Online, 1965- (MU only) and GPO Access, 1993- .

Public Papers of the Presidents. King Library J 80 .A283 (1929- )

Annual compilation. Available online from Hein Online (MU only. Complete set -- see U.S. Presidential Library), the University of Michigan Digital Library (complete set), The American Presidency Project (UC Santa Barbara) and GPO Access ( 1992- ).

Other

Budget Appendix. Gov US Ref PREX 2.8: (earlier budgets in US collection). Online: http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS862

Suggested method for using the online version: select Browse option under the current budget. Click on Appendix in the menu line at the top of the box of files/chapters or scroll down to bottom area of the box to find the appendix link (after the major department chapters).

Periodicals and Newspapers

National Journal. http://nationaljournal.com/pubs/nj/

LexisNexis News (Guided Search) (Library web page, Research by Subject, Newspapers)

Academic Search Complete (Library web page, Research by Subject, Political Science)

King Reference

Encylopedia of Federal Agencies and Commissions. King Ref JK 9 .H536 2004

Federal Agency Profiles for Students. King Ref JK 421 .F42 1999

Historical Guide to the United States Government. King Ref JK 9 .H57 1998

Almanac of the Executive Branch. King Ref JK 1 .A455 1997/98

Sources for Additional Help

King Research Help Desk, 1st floor, for more help with books and journal articles.

Political Science Librarian, for help with materials outside the Gov't & Law Dept.: