LibGuides: Government Publications: Government

Information Portals

GPO's “beta” website (replacing FDsys) provides free public access to government information submitted by Congress and federal agencies. Browse key titles and collections from the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the federal government.

MetaLib

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.

USA.gov

Interagency portal to official information from the U.S. government. Use to locate government departments, bureaus, agencies, affiliates, and their respective services.

Federal Executive Departments

Agriculture
Provides leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues based on public policy, the best available science, and effective management.
Commerce
Works with businesses, universities, communities, and workers to promote job creation, economic growth, sustainable development, and improved standards of living for Americans.
Defense
Develops and deploys the military forces needed to deter war and to protect the security of the United States. The nation's largest employer and government agency.
Education
Promotes student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.
Energy
Addresses energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions.
Health and Human Services
Enhances and protects the health and well-being of all Americans by providing for effective health and human services and fostering advances in medicine, public health, and social services.
Homeland Security
Ensures a homeland that is safe, secure, and resilient against terrorism and other hazards through maturing and strengthening the homeland security enterprise.
Housing and Urban Development
Creates and fosters strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all Americans.
Interior
Protects America's natural resources and heritage, honoring its cultures and tribal communities while supplying the energy to power the American future.
Justice
Enforces the law and defends the interests of the United States according to the law in securing the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans.
Labor
Fosters, promotes, and develops the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States by improving working conditions and opportunities.
State
Shapes and sustains a peaceful, prosperous, just, and democratic world, promoting conditions for stability and progress for the benefit of the American people and people everywhere.
Transportation
Ensures a fast, safe, efficient, accessible and convenient transportation system that meets vital national interests and enhances the quality of life of the American people.
Treasury
Maintains a strong economy and creates economic and job opportunities by promoting the conditions that enable economic growth and stability at home and abroad, and managing the government's finances and resources effectively.
Veterans Affairs
Supports American veterans, their families, and beneficiaries.

Federal Government Websites

The Executive

The power of the Executive Branch is vested in the President of the United States, who also acts as head of state and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. The President is responsible for implementing and enforcing the laws written by Congress and, to that end, appoints the heads of the federal agencies, including the Cabinet.

The Legislature

The Legislative Branch consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together form the United States Congress. The Constitution grants Congress the sole authority to enact legislation and declare war, the right to confirm or reject many Presidential appointments, and substantial investigative powers.

The Judiciary

The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the land and the only part of the federal judiciary specifically required by the Constitution. The Court is the final judicial arbiter in the United States on matters of federal law.

Key Bureaus, Agencies, and Quasi-Independent Organizations

For a detailed listing of agencies spanning the three branches of the federal government, reference the U.S. Government Manual.