Links

Places to find Documents

Whitehouse.gov

The Federal Register is the official daily publication of the U.S. federal government. It is managed by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and the Office of the Federal Register (OFR). The Federal Register serves as a centralized source for federal government regulations, proposed rules, public notices, and other important government documents.

The website federalregister.gov provides access to:

1. Regulations and Rules: Official final rules, proposed rules, and notices of federal agencies and organizations.
2. Presidential Documents: Executive orders, proclamations, and other presidential actions.
3. Public Participation: A platform for the public to review and comment on proposed regulations.
4. Legal Notices: Announcements like public hearings, funding availability, and other updates that require official notification.

Key Features of the Website:

• Searchable Database: Users can search, filter, and explore past and current entries from the Federal Register.
• Open Access: The site provides free access to all Federal Register documents.
• User-Friendly Interface: It offers tools for easier navigation, such as advanced search, bookmarking, and sharing of content.
• Integrated Regulations.gov Access: Links to the Regulations.gov platform where people can submit comments on proposed rules.
• Purpose:
  To provide a centralized, official record of all federal regulations, rules, notices, and presidential documents. It is focused on legal and regulatory transparency.

• Content:
  • Rules and regulations issued by federal agencies.
  • Proposed rules and public notices.
  • Presidential documents (e.g., executive orders, proclamations).
  • Opportunities for public participation in regulatory processes (e.g., comment periods for proposed rules).
  • Technical, legal, and procedural updates.
• Audience:
  Mainly professionals, such as lawyers, researchers, businesses, policy analysts, and anyone tracking federal regulatory activity.
• Style:
  It’s a non-political, fact-based publication of government processes, designed for accuracy and legal documentation rather than outreach or advocacy.
• Key Feature:
  Often linked with Regulations.gov, where the public can comment on proposed regulations.

In essence, the Federal Register website is a critical resource for staying informed about the workings of the U.S. federal government, particularly regarding new laws, regulations, and public engagement opportunities.

WhiteHouse.gov

• Purpose:
  To serve as the official website of the President of the United States and their administration. It focuses on communicating the administration’s agenda and priorities.
• Content:
  • Statements and press releases from the President or the administration.
  • Information on policies, initiatives, and executive actions.
  • Biographies of the President, Vice President, and Cabinet members.
  • News updates, speeches, and remarks.
  • Public engagement tools (e.g., petitions and newsletters).
  • Historical and educational resources about the White House.
• Audience:
  General public, media, and anyone interested in the executive branch’s activities, policies, or communications.
• Style:
  Designed to be accessible, engaging, and aligned with the political messaging of the current administration.
• Key Feature:
  It is politically driven and reflects the priorities and viewpoints of the sitting President.

Regulations.gov

• Purpose:
  Provides a platform for the public to comment on proposed federal regulations and view supporting documents.
• Key Features:
  • Submit comments on proposed rules.
  • Track the regulatory process for individual rules.
  • Access supporting materials for rules, such as scientific reports or analysis.
• Best For:
  Public participation in the rulemaking process and detailed documentation on specific regulatory proposals.

Visit Regulations.gov

Congress.gov

• Purpose:
  Centralized source for tracking federal legislation, congressional activities, and related documents.
• Key Features:
  • Full text of bills, resolutions, and amendments.
  • Information about legislative actions and voting records.
  • Access to the Congressional Record for debates and statements.
• Best For:
  Legislative history, pending bills, and congressional records.

Visit Congress.gov

GovInfo.gov

• Purpose:
  Provides free public access to official publications from all three branches of the federal government.
• Key Features:
  • U.S. Code, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), and Congressional Reports.
  • Access to the Federal Register, Congressional Record, and Presidential Documents.
  • Historical and current documents from the government.
• Best For:
  Centralized access to legal, legislative, and executive branch publications.

Visit GovInfo.gov

U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)

• Purpose:
  Provides reports, audits, and analyses of federal spending and government programs.
• Key Features:
  • Performance audits and evaluations of government agencies.
  • Reports on government spending, fraud, and inefficiency.
  • Recommendations for improving government operations.
• Best For:
  Oversight, accountability, and detailed evaluations of federal programs.

Visit GAO.gov

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

• Purpose:
  Coordinates the federal budget process and regulatory oversight through the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA).
• Key Features:
  • Regulatory review actions through OIRA.
  • Budget documents and performance reports.
  • Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions.
• Best For:
  Federal budget data and regulatory reviews by the executive branch.

Visit OMB.gov

Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR)

• Purpose:
  Provides an up-to-date version of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), which codifies the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register.
• Key Features:
  • Continuously updated, unofficial version of the CFR.
  • Rules are organized by title and subject.
• Best For:
  Accessing the most current version of federal regulations.

Visit e-CFR

U.S. Courts (uscourts.gov)

• Purpose:
  Offers information and publications about the federal judiciary.
• Key Features:
  • Court rules, case law, and judicial opinions.
  • Forms and guidelines for court processes.
  • Reports on judicial activities and statistics.
• Best For:
  Legal and court-related publications, federal case law, and rules of procedure.

Visit USCourts.gov

Data.gov

• Purpose:
  The U.S. government’s open data portal, providing datasets and tools for public use.
• Key Features:
  • Datasets from federal agencies on topics like environment, health, and economy.
  • Tools for analyzing and visualizing government data.
• Best For:
  Open datasets for research, analysis, and transparency.

Visit Data.gov

Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS)

• Purpose:
  Provides opinions, orders, and other documents related to cases before the Supreme Court.
• Key Features:
  • Opinions and case documents.
  • Orders from the Court.
  • Information about oral arguments and case schedules.
• Best For:
  Accessing Supreme Court decisions and related documents.

Visit SupremeCourt.gov

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regulations

• Purpose:
  Provides access to environmental regulations, guidance, and public notices.
• Key Features:
  • Current and proposed environmental regulations.
  • Access to compliance and enforcement information.
  • Public notices on environmental impact assessments.
• Best For:
  Environmental laws, compliance, and public involvement.

Visit EPA Regulations

Library of Congress (loc.gov)

• Purpose:
  Houses a vast collection of government documents, historical records, and legal texts.
• Key Features:
  • Access to historical federal documents.
  • Specialized legal, policy, and historical publications.
• Best For:
  Archival research and historical context for government regulations.

Visit LOC.gov