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Library Research Guide for Government 428:
Government and Public Policy
http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/govt428.html
Research Strategy
Research Strategy
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Finding Books: Basic Search
The Public Policy Process: Background Material
- Relationships of Government Entities to Laws They Create and Sources in Which the Laws
Are Found (chart)
- Organizational Chart of Federal Government Entities
and their Corresponding Legal Research Sources
- Organizational Chart of State Government Entities and their Corresponding Legal Research Sources
- How Our Laws Are Made
(from Thomas; 1/00)
Oleszek, Walter. Congressional Procedures and the Policy Process. 7th ed. 2007. (Olin KF4937 O44 2007 - in ROOM 405)
An examination of how Congress makes laws and how its rules and procedures shape public policy. Describes the making of a law from introduction to final passage. 6th edition (2004) shelved in Olin Reference, KF4937 O44 2004)- CQ Researcher. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc., 1991-. (online from 1991; in paper from 1930 in URIS Library, 6th Level, H35 E23)
CQ Researcher provides articles on current and controversial world issues. "Every 12,000-word report is written by an experienced journalist and features comments from experts, lawmakers and citizens on all sides of every issue. Numerous charts, graphs and sidebar articles -- plus a pro-con feature, a chronology, lengthy bibliographies and a list of contacts -- round out each report." (About page) - The Dictionary of Public Policy and Administration by Jay M. Shafritz. Westview Press, 2004. (Olin Ref H97 S483 2004)
"The Dictionary of Public Policy and Administration offers definitions of all the key terms, concepts, processes and practices of contemporary public policy and administration. Included are brief biographies of major scholars and influential practitioners, summaries of major rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court, overviews of significant laws, descriptions of important government agencies, and explanations of historical trends and governing doctrines. The Dictionary is designed to be the single most useful tool that a student or practitioner of public administration could have-the book to keep at their side while they are reading other textbooks in the field." --From the publisher's website (http://www.westviewpress.com/) - Encyclopedia of the American Legislative System: Studies of the Principal Structures, Processes and Policies of Congress and the State Legislatures since the Colonial Era. Silbey, Joel, ed. 3 vols. 1994. (Olin Ref + JF 501 E53x 1994; also Uris Ref)
This extensive set of articles about the state and national legislatures in the United States provides historical background and contemporary analysis of their behavior, members, processes, and structures. Extensive coverage of the relationship between legislatures and public policy, the executive, the courts, and the media is also provided. Each article includes an annotated biliography. - Public Agenda Online
Short, fact-based reports on public opinion and public policy issues. Compiled by Public Agenda, a non-profit research orgnization. Provides regular coverage of 19 topics: abortion, alcohol abuse, America's global role, crime, the economy, education, the environment, the family, the Federal budget, gambling, health care, illegal drugs, immigration, internet speech/privacy, Medicare, race, right to die, Social Security, and welfare. Emphasis on current news and short-term trends. Based primarily on the results of surveys sponsored by other organizations, but occasionally includes original survey results as well.
Congressional Resources
- CQ (Congressional Quarterly) Almanac. Vol. 1- . Washington: Congressional Quarterly, 1945- . (Olin Ref + JK 1 C66)
Each volume provides a survey of legislation for one session of Congress with summaries of major Congressional action. Includes voting information on numerous measures. The index allows for access by name or subject. Published annually. Not yet available online. - CQ Guide to Congress. 5th ed. Washington:
CQ Press, 2000. 2v. (Olin Ref + JK 1021 C74 2000; also Law Ref)
Chapters are arranged under broad categories: Origins and Development of Congress, Powers of Congress, Congressional Procedures, Housing and Support of Congress, Congress and the Electorate, Pressures on Congress, and Qualifications and Conduct of Members. This fourth edition of the guide attempts to address important recent developments in our legislative process. Each chapter is followed by a bibliography of additional readings. When looking for a specific fact, be sure to check the index at the back first. Appendices include: A Biographical Listing of All Congressmen/Women, A Glossary of Congressional Terms, Documents of the Pre-Constitutional Period, and Congressional Statistics. - CQ Electronic Library.
Includes the CQ Researcher, CQ Weekly, CQ Public Affairs Collection, CQ Voting and Elections Collection, CQ Congress Collection and the CQ Encyclopedia of American Government. Includes search functionality to search across subscribed collections. - CQ Public Affairs Collection. [Washington, D.C.] : CQ Press, c2002-
CQ Public Affairs Collection brings together CQ's storehouse of current affairs content in a fully integrated reference tool. Some subjects are advocacy and public service, education, energy, the environment, health, and transportation. Provides in-depth reporting on vital issues, statistical and historical analyses, historic documents and primary source materials, as well as a directory of key govenment, nonprofit, and private organizations in each of the major policy areas. - CQ Weekly.
Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly, 1946 - .(OLIN REF + JK 1 C661; also Uris Ref; available online via the Library Catalog or Find Databases from
Oct. 1983 - date)
CQ Weekly provides news summaries of congressional legislation, commission reports, presidential talks and appointments, and even information about birth dates, religious affiliation and occupation of senators and representatives. One of the best and most current of all publications dealing with government action. Covers Congress in depth, but also includes information on the executive and judicial branches of government. Quarterly indexes cumulate annually and provide access by subject. There are also special indexes for: Lobby registrations, Presidential texts, Committee roll call votes, etc. - Congressional Record: Containing the Proceedings and Debates of the
43rd Congress to Date. 1873 - . (Olin stacks + J 11 R4; current Index vol. in Ref)
Taken from stenographic reports of the debates and proceedings of Congress, the Record is issued daily while Congress is in session, and in bound form at the end of the session. (The name has changed since 1873.) Recent years available in several online resources including: Congressional Universe, GPO Access, and Thomas. - Lexis Nexis Congressional
Serves as both an index and a full text source of US Congressional materials: members and committees, bills, laws, hearing transcripts, committee prints, documents, the Congressional Record, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, US Code. Updated daily. Produced by Congressional Information Service, a major publisher of government documents related reference sources, including (in print) the CIS Index to publications of the United States Congress (1970 - ) [OLIN REF Z 1223 A2 C739+] and "historical" volumes and series covering the publications of Congress from 1789 to 1970. - Reports Required by Congress: CIS Guide to Executive Communications. 1994 - .
(Olin Ref Z 1223 A12 R42+)
If you are trying to locate exactly how an executive agency implemented regulations mandated by federal legislation, or are interested in researching how federal programs are administered, or are trying to determine how agencies spend their budgets -- this is the place to look. The reports themselves may be available in print in the library -- or increasingly on the Internet -- but this index will help identify the "executive communications" that are ubiquitous but hard to find. - Thomas--Legislative Information on the Internet
Provides free access to a wide range of legislative information on the Congress, including the full text of the Congressional Record and bills for the 103rd to the present Congress, a directory of congressional committees and members of Congress, the weekly floor schedule for the House, and a schedule of daily committee hearings. Includes text of How Our Laws are Made by Edward F. Willett Jr. - U.S Congressional Serial Set (Readex)
Current coverage 1817 - 1919. Database of primary source texts from the bound, sequentially numbered volumes of all the reports, documents, and journals of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Texts constitute a rich source of primary source material on all aspects of American history. Upon completion, the digital version of the Serial set will consist of over 12 million pages. Database searchable by subject, publication category, standing committee author, and other parameters.
Laws, Statutes and Regulations
- Code of Federal Regulations.
A subject compilation in 50 titles of all regulations of U. S. administrative agencies currently in effect. Such regulations promulgated by agencies under authority granted by Congress have the force of law. The regulations which first appear in the Federal Register (Olin J 1 A2+), a daily publication, are codified in the CFR on an annual basis. Also available online in Congressional Universe. - Federal Register
Published by the Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), the Federal Register is the official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of Federal agencies and organizations, as well as executive orders and other presidential documents. It is updated daily by 6 a.m. and is published Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. GPO Access contains Federal Register volumes from 59 (1994) to the present. Also online back to 1980 in Lexis Nexis Congressional. Older issues in print in Olin. -
Shepard's Acts and Cases by Popular Names, Federal and State. 5th ed. Colorado Springs: Shepard's, 1999+.
(Olin Ref KF 80 S54+ ; also Uris)
"A compilation of popular names by which Federal and State acts and cases have been referred to or cited, together with an identification of each act in terms of its constitutional or statutory references and each case in terms of the volume and page references where the text of the decision may be found." Kept up to date by annual supplements. - United States Code. . . Containing the General and
Permanent Laws of the U. S. revised every six years. (Olin Ref + KF 62 A2)
A codification of all federal laws in effect, arranged by subject under 50 broad categories ("titles"). Kept up to date by annual supplements. Completely revised every six years. Recent years available in several online resources including: Lexis Nexis Congressional, FindLaw, and GPO Access. - United States Statutes at Large. 1873 - .
(Olin K U545+; Last 5 volumes in Ref; latest volume also in Uris Ref)
Contains public laws, reorganization plans, private laws, and concurrent resolutions and proclamations. Arrangement is chronological (within these categories) by date of passage of the act. Recent years available in several online resources including: Lexis/Nexis Congressional, GPO Access, and Thomas.
Other Federal Government Resources
- The Budget of the United States Government.
Presents an overview of the President's budget proposals and includes explanations of spending programs in terms of national needs, agency missions, and basic programs, and an analysis of estimated receipts including a discussion of the President's tax program. The Appendix for each year includes similar, but more detailed, information for each government agency. Print edition in Olin at HJ 2051 A59+. Latest vol in Reference. - Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance.
The catalog is a government-wide compendium of federal programs, projects, services, and activities which provide assistance or benefits to the American public. One intent of the catalog is to improve coordination and communication between federal, state and local government. Cites enabling legislation and gives financial information. - GPO Access.
From this site users can connect to more than 25 text and data resources distributed by the Government Printing Office, such as Congressional Bills, Calendars, Directories, Records, GAO Reports, House and Senate Manuals, Supreme Court Decisions, Federal Register, and United States Code. - Guide to the Presidency. Michael Nelson, editor. Washington, D.C. : CQ Press, c2002.
3rd ed. (Olin Ref JK516 .C57x 2002+)
Contains factual information about the institution and the presidents, as well as analytical chapters that explain the structure and operations of the office and the president’s relationship to co-equal branches of government, Congress and the Supreme Court. This edition includes a new chapter on presidential power and coverage of the expansion of presidential power under President George W. Bush. (publisher) - Guide to the U.S. Supreme Court. David G. Savage.
4th ed. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly, 2004. 2 v. (Olin Ref KF8742 W567 2004 +; also Law Ref)
CQ's substantive and well-documented encyclopedia covering the history, operations, and powers of the Supreme Court, including its relationship to the President, the states, the press, and the individual. Chapters also treat areas such as due process, freedom of speech, and equal rights. A great place to begin research on the Court. - A Historical Guide to the U.S. Government. Kunan, George Thomas, ed. 1998. (Olin Ref + JK 9 H57x
1998)
More encyclopedia than guide, this work gives excellent background for those doing more historical research of the US government. - National Journal Group's Policy Central.
Provides links to publications such as National Journal, Almanac of American Politics, Congress Daily, Technoloy Daily, American Health Line, The Hotline, Markup Reports, Poll Track, and others. The print version of National Journal, beginning with 1969, can be found in the Olin stacks at Olin JK 1 N27+, with recent years in Reference. Weekly issues review actions and events throughout the federal government, including the White House, federal departments, and agencies, Congress and the Courts.Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States
The Public Papers of the Presidents, which is compiled and published by the Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration, began in 1957 in response to a recommendation of the National Historical Publications Commission. Noting the lack of uniform compilations of messages and papers of the Presidents before this time, the Commission recommended the establishment of an official series in which Presidential writings, addresses, and remarks of a public nature could be made available - United States Government Manual. annual. 1973/74 - . (Continues United States Government
Organization Manual, 1935-1972/73). (online via Library Catalog or Find Databases; print copy at Olin Ref JK 421
A3; also Uris Ref)
The official handbook of the federal government containing descriptions of the agencies in all branches, as well as certain boards, committees and commissions. Congressional or executive authority for each agency's establishment is cited, and the prominent publications are listed for some of the more important units. Includes organization charts, addresses, and telephone numbers, regional maps. Also available online in GPO Access. - Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents. 1993 - . (in print back to 1965; Olin J 80 A87+)
Contains transcripts of the President's news conferences, messages to Congress, public speeches and letters, proclamations, announcements, executive orders, and other statements. In periodical format, searchable online via GPO Access and Periodical Abstracts. The printed version has a cumulative subject index.
State Legislative Resources
- Guide to State Legislative and Administrative Materials, ed. by Fisher, Mary L. 4th ed. 1988. (Olin Ref +
KF 1 G94 1988)
For each state, provides data in standardized format on the availability of bills, hearings, legislative digests, committee reports, debates, journals, legislative manuals and directories, slip laws, session laws, codes, attorneys general opinions, executive orders, administrative regulations, state law guides, etc. - Inside the Legislative Process: a Comprehensive Survey of the American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries in Cooperation with the National Conference of State Legislatures. triennial. 1991 - . (Olin Ref + JK 2495 I57)
Describes the parliamentary practices within each state legislature. - Internet
Sites of the State Legislatures. Denver, CO: National Conference
of State Legislatures, [199-]-
NCSLnet is the electronic information network for state legislatures, providing comprehensive services through web, directory and news servers. NCSLnet provides immediate access to all NCSL products, plust a research database of more than 500,000 documents encompassing legislative research reports, current and past legislation, statutes, and 50-state surveys. - State Legislative Sourcebook. annual. 1986 - . (Olin Ref + JK 2495 S792)
Provides basic data and lists sources of information concerning all 50 state legislative processes. Bill status and bill room telephone numbers for each state are also given. - Stateline.org : Your Source for News on the States.
Stateline.org follows the development of major policy issues on the public agenda in the states. For such topics as welfare reform, land use, taxes, health care and education, the site provides original articles, links to newspaper coverage, and background information at the state level. Daily news summaries are posted each weekday with links to the full stories. For each state, the site maintains a profile of policy issues, current news, statistics, and background information. The web site and its features can be searched by keyword and date, and the site offers Internet resource links and a current awareness service. - FindLaw: Internet Legal Resources. dates of coverage vary.
A good starting point on the Internet for finding local, state, federal, and international laws. - Lexis Nexis State Capital. dates of coverage vary.
A Web-based database providing access to full text resources on state-specific information legislative matters including current bills, statutes, regulations, major state issues, links to state government sites, etc. - New York State Assembly Legislative Information System.
This information system contains general information about the current two-year legislative session. This includes detailed information on legislation, information on Assembly committee and floor calendars, the state constitution, and laws of New York State. - New York State Senate.
This Senate Web site contains basic information about the Senate, its members, and the legislative process as well as information about bills, resolutions, and statutes.
Journal Article Resources
NOTE: Also see the list of databases in the Government, Law and Public Policy section of Find It! Databases.
- Alt-PressWatch
Full text database of selected newspapers, magazines, and journals of the alternative and independent press. Basic or advanced subject searching takes you to in-depth articles on contemporary society, including coverage of the peace movement, ecology and the environment, labor, indigenous peoples, public policy, and grassroots organizing. This coverage of diverse points of view and perspectives complements the reporting in the mainstream press. - America: History and Life. 1964- .
A complete bibliographical reference to the history of the United States and Canada from prehistory to the present, covering over 2000 journals published worldwide. - EconLit.
Produced by the American Economic Association, EconLit indexes books, journal articles, dissertations, and articles in books published since 1969. Subjects covered in EconLit include economic theory and history, fiscal theory, econometrics, agricultural economics, public finance, demography, monetary theory, international economics and others. - Index to Legal Periodicals and Books.
An online index to articles in legal journals such as law school, law reviews and bar association journals, as well as commentary on important court decisions. Prior to 1981, the index is available in print at the Law Library (KF 8 I37). - International Political Science Abstracts.
International Political Science Abstracts is a bibliographic database that indexes and abstracts articles from periodicals published throughout the world. The abstracts summarize the source articles. Begins coverage with 1989. - JSTOR: the Scholarly Journal Archive.
JSTOR is a fully-searchable database containing the back issues of several hundred scholarly journals in the humanities, social sciences, mathematics, music, ecology and botany, business, and other fields. - PAIS.
PAIS is an international index to periodical articles, books, and government documents about public policy issues: political, economic, and social conditions, public administration, and international affairs. The online version allows more flexibility in searching by subject. The print version, Public Affairs Information Service. Bulletin, (Olin Ref + Z 7613 P67) provides access to items indexed back to 1915. Many entries include brief abstracts. - (ProQuest) Research Library
Research Library, formerly known as Periodical Abstracts, is a comprehensive database available through the ProQuest online system. It indexes and abstracts general interest magazines and scholarly journals in the social sciences, humanities and sciences. It comprises two components: a core list of periodicals covering about 800 publications, and 15 subject-specific modules that supplement the core list. Modules cover arts, business, children, education, general interest, health, humanities, international studies, law, military, multicultural studies, psychology, sciences, social sciences, and women’s interests. Full text of many articles is provided. - Web of Science
Provides access to the Science citation index expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social sciences citation index (SSCI), and Arts & humanities citation index (A&HCI). These ISI citation databases are multidisciplinary databases of bibliographic information indexed to be searched by subject, author, journal, and/or author address. They can also be searched for articles that cite a known author or work. Cited reference searching allows use of a given work as if it were a subject term, to identify more recent articles on the same topic.
Newspapers and Current Events
- Access World News
Access World News from NewsBank provides full-text information and perspectives from over 600 U.S. and over 700 international sources, each with its own distinctive focus offering diverse viewpoints on local, regional and world issues. - Factiva.
Factiva provides access to global news and business information, including local newspapers, same-day newswires, company reports, and media programs. -
Lexis-Nexis Academic.
A Web-based database providing access to full text resources on topics including current and general news; business and financial information; newspapers; company directories; government and politics; medical and health topics; accounting, auditing, and tax; federal and state laws; legal cases; and regulations. Resources include TV and radio news transcripts. Updated daily. - World News Connection: WNC.
A successor to the Daily reports from the Foreign Broadcasting Information Service and the JPRS reports from the Joint Publications Research Service provided through the National Technical Information Service. The material is obtained from non-U.S. open-source political speeches, television programs, radio broadcasts, newspaper articles, periodicals, and books. The content focuses primarily on military, political, environmental, scientific, technical, and socioeconomic issues and events. Under some subscription options, profiling (automated custom-searching) is offered. Full text is available on-line, or relevant articles may be sent to a subscriber's e-mail address. Because of copyright restrictions some material which appears in the FBIS Daily Reports is not included in WNC but may be available on the FBIS Publications disk. - World Press Review
Drawing upon publications around the globe, and a network of correspondents in dozens of countries, worldpress.org presents the issues that barely see the light of day in the mainstream press, translating, reprinting, analyzing, and contextualizing the best of the international press. The World Press Review Online website offers full text articles, search options and direct links to foreign media by country. Its archives include back issues with selected articles from the print title, World Press Review.
Statistical Resources
- American FactFinder.[Washington, D.C.] : U.S. Census Bureau, [1999-
American FactFinder is a new data access and dissemination system that provides useful facts and information about your community, your economy, and your society. The system will find and retrieve the information you need from some of the Census Bureau's largest data sets, including data from the 2000 census. - Statistical Abstract of the United States. Washington: Bureau of the Census, 1878- .
(Uris Ref HA 202 .A25; also Olin Ref, Mann Ref et al)
"The standard annual summary of statistics on the social, political and economic organization of the United States. It is designed to serve as a convenient volume for statistical reference and is a guide to other statistical publications and sources." (Preface) Appendix I refers to tables that update the series cited in Historical Statistics of the U.S. Appendix III, "Statistical Methodology and Reliability," defines basic U.S. surveys and notes limitations, such as sampling errors. A subject index is included to help find material by topic. - Lexis Nexis Statistical. 1973 - .
Provides comprehensive access to US statistical information. Includes an index to over 100,000 US government statistical publications from 1973 to present, abstracts and tables, and background information. Links to some full text. This Web resource is based on three separate print indexes: American Statistics Index, Index to International Statistics, and Statistical Reference Index (1980- ).
EVALUATING
SOURCES
Evaluating the sources you find is a crucial step in the process of library research. The questions you ask about books, periodical articles, or multimedia sources are similar whether you're looking at a citation to the item or have the item in hand.
How to Critically Analyze Information Sources lists some of the critical questions you should ask when you consider the appropriateness of a particular book, article, media resource, or Web site for your research.
Distinguishing Scholarly from Non-Scholarly Periodicals: A Checklist of Criteria shows how to evaluate periodicals by looking at their format, intended audience, and appearance.
Evaluating Web Resources lists ways to analyze the Web sites you find.
Five Criteria for Evaluating Web Sites offers a table of suggestions.
For additional suggestions specific to Web sites, see Evaluating
Web Sites: Criteria and Tools.
Style Manuals
- Citation Tools at Cornell
- APA Citation Style.
- MLA Citation Style.
- Chicago Manual of Style
- Garner, Diane L. The Complete Guide to Citing Government Information
Resources: A Manual for Writers and Librarians. rev. ed. 1993. (Olin Ref Z 7164 G7 G23
1993; also Uris Ref, Mann Ref)
- Li, Xia. Electronic Styles : a Handbook for Citing Electronic Information.
2nd ed. 1996. (Olin Ref PN 171 D37 L68 1996; also Uris Ref)
Getting Reference Help
- Olin Library Reference phone number: 255-4144
- Olin Kroch Uris Reference e-mail address: okuref@cornell.edu
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A new, experimental service that lets you ask questions and get answers, in real time, from the reference staff in Olin and Uris libraries.
- Reference
Desk Schedules in Olin and Uris Libraries
revised, August 29, 2007
Fred Muratori (fmm1@cornell.edu)
URL: http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/govt428.html
Olin and Uris Libraries, Cornell University, Ithaca NY 14853
PSA: Public Services and Assessment
Information and reference: 607-255-4144, okuref@cornell.edu
Circulation: (Olin) 607-255-4245, (Uris) 607-255-3537, olincirc@cornell.edu