Library Guides: Political Science: U.S. Government Documents

Federal Depository Collection

Lehigh University Library is a Federal and State Depository Library. Our collections range from historical materials to current print and online collections.

FDsys

GovInfo
The Government Printing Office has begun maintaining collections of full text government documents in GovInfo in an effort to preserve and make available online access to government information.

GovInfo offers free online access to official publications from all three branches of the Federal Government. Through GovInfo, you are able to:

Search for documents and publications
Browse for documents and publications
Access metadata about documents and publications
Download documents and publications in multiple renditions or file formats

Collections are continually being added and expanded in this product. Some of the collections currently available include:

Budget of the U.S. Government (1996-)
Compilations of Presidential Documents (1993-)
Congressional Bills ( 1993 -)
Congressional Committee Prints ( 1975/76 and 1991-)
Congressional Documents ( 1985-)
Congressional Hearings ( 1991-)
Congressional Record ( 1994-)
Congressional Reports (1994-)
Economic Indicators ( 1995-)
Economic Report of the President ( 1995-)
Federal Register ( 1994-)
Public and Private laws ( 1995-)

Executive Branch Materials

The White House
Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents
Online 1993 -
Print: 1965 - 1997 Docs collection AE2.109:
The American Presidency Project
Extensive coverage of both historical and current information on U.S. presidencies. Searchable database of over 85,000 documents such as speeches, official papers, executive orders etc.
Federal Executive Branch Directory (USA.gov)
Links to executive departments and agencies.

Legislative Branch Materials

Congress.gov
"Congress.gov is the official website for U.S. federal legislative information. The site provides access to accurate, timely, and complete legislative information for Members of Congress, legislative agencies, and the general public" (website description)

About the Congressional Record
GovInfo
Contains Congressional Record volumes from 140 (1994) to the present. At the back of each daily issue is the "Daily Digest," which summarizes the day's floor and committee activities.

HeinOnline This link opens in a new window
Legal history and documents in an online, fully-searchable, image-based format. Find law journals, the Congressional Record in entirety, coverage of the U.S. Reports back to 1754, famous world trials back to the early 1700's, legal classics, the United Nations and League of Nations Treaty Series, all United States Treaties, the Federal Register from 1936, the CFR from 1938, and much more.

GovInfo
1985 - to present, some hearings are not electronically accessible.

HeinOnline This link opens in a new window
Legal history and documents in an online, fully-searchable, image-based format. Find law journals, the Congressional Record in entirety, coverage of the U.S. Reports back to 1754, famous world trials back to the early 1700's, legal classics, the United Nations and League of Nations Treaty Series, all United States Treaties, the Federal Register from 1936, the CFR from 1938, and much more.

NexisUni This link opens in a new window
Database from LexisNexis® featuring more than 15,000 news, business and legal sources, including U.S. Supreme Court decisions dating back to 1790. Primarily in English but some foreign language news as well.

American State Papers
The American State Papers, comprising a total of thirty-eight physical volumes, contain the legislative and executive documents of Congress during the period 1789 to 1838. The collection includes documents that cover the critical historical gap from 1789 to the printing of the first volume of the U.S. Serial Set in 1817.

U.S. Congressional Serial Set This link opens in a new window
Complete access U.S. Congressional Serial Set, 1817-1980.
Full text access and indexing for research in U.S. political, social, cultural, military and ethnic history, as well as international relations.

GovInfo
The Government Printing Office has begun maintaining collections of full text government documents in FDsys in an effort to preserve and make available online access to government information.

HeinOnline This link opens in a new window
Legal history and documents in an online, fully-searchable, image-based format. Find law journals, the Congressional Record in entirety, coverage of the U.S. Reports back to 1754, famous world trials back to the early 1700's, legal classics, the United Nations and League of Nations Treaty Series, all United States Treaties, the Federal Register from 1936, the CFR from 1938, and much more.

Judicial Branch Materials

Decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court are issued in a series know as "U.S. Reports". The library has extensive online availability as well as printed volumes from earlier periods.

Printed volumes from 1875 - 1900 are available in the Library storage facility, call number LMC 345.4 U58r.

HeinOnline This link opens in a new window
Legal history and documents in an online, fully-searchable, image-based format. Find law journals, the Congressional Record in entirety, coverage of the U.S. Reports back to 1754, famous world trials back to the early 1700's, legal classics, the United Nations and League of Nations Treaty Series, all United States Treaties, the Federal Register from 1936, the CFR from 1938, and much more.
NexisUni This link opens in a new window
Database from LexisNexis® featuring more than 15,000 news, business and legal sources, including U.S. Supreme Court decisions dating back to 1790. Primarily in English but some foreign language news as well.

Supreme Court of the United States
1991 - present.

Political Science

Federal Depository Collection

FDsys

Executive Branch Materials

Legislative Branch Materials

Judicial Branch Materials

Library and Technology Services

Connect with Us

Make a Gift