Guide to Government
Websites:
Constitution | Elections, Voting, Candidates | City & County Government | State Government | Texas
United States (including Tax Guides & Information, Find Your Representatives)
International | Immigration | Opinion Polls
Books:
Suggested Subjects Headings | Recommended Reference Books
Course-Related Websites
Databases
- American History Online
- Information about hot topics related to history and government, biographies, speeches, laws, primary sources, government agency information, timelines and image gallery...
- CQ Weekly Online (what's going on in Congress)
- CultureGrams (country and cultural information)
- Statesman's Yearbook Online (country information)
- Opposing Viewpoints - great for hot topics involving the government - includes various viewpoints with facts and statistics for each viewpointt
- SIRS Researcher - search by KEYWORD for almost any hot topics or for basic information on countries or states (with maps), check out the side links down the right side of the screen
- Student Research Center (some country and state information, with maps, includes primary documents)
- Academic Search Complete (TIP: COMBINE DATABASES to also search simulataneously: Business Source Complete, Newspaper Source, Legal Collection, Regional Business News for the best results)
- LexisNexis Academic
- Federal Register
- LOUIS: Library Of Unified Information Sources
- LOUIS searches simultaneously: Congressional Reports, Congressional Record, Congressional Hearings, Federal Register, Presidential Documents, GAO Reports, Bills and Resolutions.
Additional Databases:
- CQ Researcher (includes pros and cons, charts, statistics, pictures)
- eLibrary (includes tv and radio interviews/transcripts, pictures)
- Facts.com (includes pros and cons, some pictures, world leaders, country reports)
Newspapers:
Check the Periodicals Guide to insure that the Library subscribes to the print journal you need. Request print copies of journals at the Circulation Counter.
-- END OF DATABASES --
Comphrehensive Web Sites & Portals
- Political Information & News Search Engine
- Links to over 4,000 websites on: campaigns, elections, commentary, government, grassroots, issues, parties, research tools, and today in Congress.
- NationMaster
- Information including facts, statistics, and comparisons of countries around the world. Information gathered from CIA FactBook, United Nations, World Health Organization, World Bank, UNESCO, UNICEF and more.
- Best Information on the Net: Government Links
- Government & Political Science Resources (Education Index)
- Teaching Politics: Images, Multimedia Resources, Links...
- WWW Virtual Library of International Affairs
- Yahoo: Politics
- Globalization 101
- Impact of major issues around the world. Includes news analysis and issue briefs. Topics include: Darfur, food safety, HIV...
Political News
- Brookings Institution
- Common Cause
- Campaigns and Elections
- CNN Political News & Congressional Votewatch
- Drudge Report
- FactCheck
- Foreign Policy In Focus
- Free Lunch
- Links to government statistics and demographic information on a variety of topics: demographics, international trade, employment, crime statistics, consumer purchasing, migration, household purchasing, government spending, corporate spending, personal income, corporate income, real estate sales...
- Open Secrets
- Politics1
- Public Agenda
- Tom Paine
- Interviews, commentary, and critiques of political news.
The Library subscribes to the following publications. The most recent issue is on display and back issues are available at the Circulation Counter. Bound issues are shelved in the upper level of the Library. Check the Periodicals Guide for information on the previous years shelved or bound.
| Texas Observer World Press Review Congressional Digest CQ Weekly U. S. News & World Report |
National Review New Republic Newsweek Time Texas Monthly |
City & County Government
Direct links to:
- City of Dallas
- City of Irving
- City of Mesquite
- City of Plano
- City of Richardson
- Dallas County
- Dallas County Elections
- Dallas ISD
Links to additional information:
- Political Parties
- First Gov Gateway
- Search engine and directory to goverment services and information. Includes links for kids, consumer fraud, health, taxes... Includes links to state and local governments, with links to a variety of facts/statistics.
- State and Local Governments (Library of Congress)
- Counties in the U.S.: Statistics, Census Data...
- E-Podunk: Info on Cities & Counties
- County and City Data Books
- 2000 County and City Data Book
- Guides to State and City Information
- League of Women Voters of Texas
- League of Women Voters of Dallas
- Municipal Codes, Minutes, etc.
State Government
- Legislators Online!
- Links to live shows of the state legislators and legislation.
- State and Local Governments (Library of Congress)
- Government Performance Ratings
- Ratings on how each states is handling: money, people, infrastructure, and information. Includes a comparison of states.
- Guides to State and City Information
- InfoPlease: Information on Every State
- 50 States and Capitals: Information
- State Blue Books: Basic Information about each State
- Public Records, Appraisal Districts, & Real Estate Values Online
- Public Records Search
- State Government Offices & Agencies on the Web
- State News
- Stateline
- News and current issues with links to additional headlines. Includes education, elections, health, energy, environment, business, and government. Includes background information on issues, such as death penalty.
- Texas Governor
- Texas Legislative Branch
- Texas Judicial Branch
- Texas Government Online: renew registrations, driver's licenses, permits, verify workers' compensation, renew professional licenses
- Find Your Elected Official in Texas
- Practicing Texas Politics
- Texas Government Information (UT)
- Texas Constitution
- Texas Watch
- Organization that monitors insurance and consumer protection in Texas. Provides updated information on current issues and legislation. Provides information on how to contact legislators.
United States Government
- Tutorial: Locating Recent Bills
- Tutorial: Finding Congressional Debates
- Tutorial: How Do I Contact My Congressman
- Vote Smart : Info on Your Representatives
- Write Your Representative
- Congressional Directory
- Biographical Guide to Congress, 1774 to Present
- Search engine to biographical information, images, oral histories, business and personal papers. Also includes territorial delegates, resident commissioners, and U. S. Vice Presidents. Searchable by name, party, state, position and year.
- Lobbyists
- Links to lobbyists. Includes information about the group, address, phone number, email contact and website link.
- Political Database of the Americas
- Political Graveyard: Historical Biographies of Politicians
- Presidential Debates: 1960 - 1996
- Public Agenda Online
- Skeleton Closet
- Votenet
- Campaign Contribution Database (Follow the Money)
- Census Data & Statistics
- Congress Votes Database
- Contains all votes in Congress, since 1991. Let's you see who missed voting, which bills passed narrowly, and how your representatives voted.
- Open Secrets: Campaign Finance Info
- Political Money Line (FEC & Campaign Finance information in an easy to read format)
- Federal Spending
- Search the Federal Gov
- Search engine and directory to goverment services and information. Includes links for kids, consumer fraud, health, taxes... Includes links to state and local governments, with links to a variety of facts/statistics.
- USA Gov Gateway
- Official link to government information and news articles from the White House.
- First Gov for Senior Citizens
- U. S. Government: All Branches
- U.S. Legislative Branch -- House of Representatives
- U.S. Legislative Branch -- Senate
- U.S. Executive Branch -- President
- American Presidency Project
- Links to public papers, State of the Union addresses, presidential election maps, media, data, other relevant documents and more!
- U. S. Judicial Branch -- Supreme Court
- U.S. Federal Agencies
- Listed: alphabetical, hierarchical, by boards, and by government branch.
- United States Government Manual: Guide to Government Agencies & Departments
- U.S. State Department
- Constitution of the United States
- American Political Development
- Links to primary source related to American 19th/20th Century political history, arranged by time period. Look under Presidential Recordings and under Oral History.
- Congress Link
- Links to information about Congress, experts opinions, primary documents, schedule of Congressional activities, zip code guide to elected officials, legislative procedures, and more...
- American Studies Web
- Ben's Guide to U. S. Government
- Capitol Spotlight
- Includes weekly updates on Congress with analyses of votes, information on hearings, video clips and news of the President. Includes a "Votes Library" for congressional votes by subject, vote number, chamber, and year.
- Congress.org
- Name, state, committee assignments, and congressional leadership. Searchable by zip code, with links to members of Congress. For each member, includes telephone and email, biography, committee responsibilities, staff directory, local office, previous election results, major cities within the district, and other state representatives.
- Congressional Research Reports for the People
- Searchable database of more than 8,000 reports, a list of recently released reports and other collections of CRS reports.
- Frequently Used Sites Related to U.S. Federal Government
- Government Information Links (UT)
- Legal Guide Online (Library of Congress Links)
- Links to: Constitution, Executive, Judicial and Legislative guides, country guides...
- Political Fact Check
- Sailor: Gateway to the Government Printing Office (GPO)
- Reports from federal agencies: Federal Register, Budget...
- Selected Government and Social Science Internet Resources by Subject (UC/Berkeley)
- This Nation: Comprehensive Guide to American Government and Politics
- Extensive listing of links to: an online textbook, glossary, pictures, political cartoons, political search engine, and political news.
- This Nation: Links to Historical Documents, Statistics, Voting Records, Issues, News, Representative Lookup
- Uncle Sam: Links to Government Web Sites
- Tax Links
- IRS Tax Forms
- Atlas of Presidential Elections
- American Fact Finder
- Annotations to Cases Decided by the Supreme Court
International Government
- Elections Information From Around the World
- Election Guide: Elections Around the World
- National Statistics
- Statistical comparisons for: educational level, democracy, economy, environment, population, media, literacy, sports, religion...
- Chamber of Commerce: Across the World
- Chief of States & Cabinet Members of Foreign Governments
- Electronic Cultural Atlas
- Historical and cultural maps and information about various countries. Includes artifacts and architecture.
- Council on Foreign Relations
- Links to information on: Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, and Middle East: economics, finance, trade, law, human rights, defense, peace, security, science and technology, social and cultural issues.
- Countries of the World
- Basic facts: map, flag, current ruler, land area, population, capital, languages, ethnicity, religions, literacy rate, economy, government, and history.
- Country Commercial Guides
- Overview of economic, political and market analysis.
- Country Guides
- Information on ethnic conflicts.
- Country Information, Regional & World Rankings
- Country ranking listings: richest, most populous, largest, cleanest... Links to basic country fact sources.
- Country Profiles: Library of Congress Area Handbook Series
- In-depth studies of over 100 countries.
- Country Watch
- Basic facts: population, history, economy, energy, environment, and current news.
- Country Briefings
- Basic facts, current events, domestic product, taxes, natural resources.
- Encyclopaedia of the Orient
- Fact Monster: the World
- Links to information and statistics on: country studies, current events, populations, flags, maps, major disasters, war, timelines, year-by-year events from 1900-2000.
- Foreign Affairs
- Current events updates, world issues, economics, peace and conflict, terrorism, media, and public opinion.
- Foreign Affairs Online
- Globalstat
- Comparisons of various countries by: population, government, economy, transportation, military and analysis.
- World Factbook
- Arab View
- Constitutions of the World
- Constitutions and Governmental Information of Select Countries of the World
- Country Reports
- Elections Around the World
- Embassy Search
- Embassy Web
- EuroInternet
- Europa: European Union
- European Union
- Foreign Policy
- Foreign Policy in Focus
- Foreign Relations U. S. Government Official Website
- Infonation: Choose Countries
- Inside Europe: Behind the Headlines
- International Government, Documents, Information, and Maps
- International Relations
- Statistics and research reports on: world conflicts, economics, environment, demographics, treaties, politics, society...
- Political Resources on the Web : Countries of the World
- Portals of the World
- Information on over 60 countries (education, geography, government, history, and media).
- Rulers
- United Nations
Immigration
- Immigration
- How to find a lawyer, how to fill out INS paperwork, how to get a green card, refugee qualifications, and basic information about life in the U. S. (under Immigration)...
- Immigration & Naturalization Services
- Immigration Handbook
- Information on temporary and permanent visas, citizenship, applying for a social security cards...
- Naturalization FAQ
- Yearbook of Immigration Statistics
- Statistics on immigration in the United States since 1820. Includes permanent and temporary (tourist).
Opinion Polls
Suggested Subject Headings
Do a SUBJECT or KEYWORD search in the Online catalog for your topic. After doing your search, you can limit the results to books at El Centro by selecting the Limit Your Search button.
| civil rights democracy socialism liberalism lobbying political ethics |
Presidents communism bureaucracy campaign funds political corruption politics United States - politics & governments |
Recommended Reference Books
in-library use only
U. S. Government Manual
REFJK 421 A3
Congressional Directory
REF JK 1011 U53
CQ's American Congressional Directory
REF JK 9 K73
Almanac of American Politics
REF JK 1012 A44
Politics in America
REF JK 1010 P64
Federal Regulatory Directory
REF KF 5406 A15
Decisions of the U. S. Supreme Court
REF KF 101.1 L38
Book of the States
REF JK 2403 B6
Texas State Directory
REF JK 4830 T45
Guide to Texas State Agencies
REF JK 4830 G84
The best guide to resources is a librarian who can help you in using the catalog, databases and the Web. A librarian can also assist you in selecting materials appropriate for your needs. Please ask at any service desk for information or assistance!
The El Centro College Library does not guarantee the currency or accuracy of these websites. Links to these sites do not represent an endorsement of the site or of information contained within the site.
Reference/Information Desk: 214-860-2174 Circulation:
214-860-2175
Comments or suggestions are welcome.
©2006 El Centro College Library
Dallas, TX
Last Updated:
May 15, 2008