[Researchers looking for the newest version of the electronic publication should utilize
usgovernmentmanual.gov.]
The official handbook of the Federal Government, published annually; issued by National Archives' Office of the Federal Register (OFR). Provides information on the agencies of the legislative, judicial, and executive branches; information on quasi-official agencies; international organizations in which the United States participates; and boards, commissions, and committees. Begins with reprints of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
Coverage: 1935 to present; 1935-1995 editions available from digital imaged file formats in PDF format with full-text search and indexing; 1995-96 to present editions are available in PDF format, with more recent years available as XML (machine-readable) files.
About the United States Government Manual, covering Searching, URLs and Metadata, and Related Resources.
Currently published as a special edition of the Federal Register (
see 1 CFR 9.1). Its focus is on programs and activities. Persons interested in detailed organizational structure, the regulatory documents of an agency, or Presidential documents should refer to the Federal Register or one of its other special editions.
A typical agency description includes:
—A list of officials heading major operating units.
—A summary statement of the agency's purpose and role in the Federal Government.
—A brief history of the agency, including its legislative or executive authority.
—A description of its programs and activities.
—Information, addresses, and phone numbers to help users locate detailed information on consumer activities, contracts and grants, employment, publications, and other matters of public interest.
GPO and OFR partner to offer bulk data downloads of files from 2011 forward from Data.gov and GPO’s
Bulk Data Repository.