Research Guides: CMN 685: Gendered Rhetorics (UNH Durham): Government Information

Introduction

Many levels of government collect, publish, and disseminate an extensive amount of information and statistics on a wide range of topics.

CRS (Congressional Research Service) Reports

CRS (Congressional Research Service) Reports are an excellent secondary and background source for information on policy issues, significant legislation, and government programs. The reports are written in a nonpartisan, nontechnical style by subject specialists. Source information is provided through footnotes. (Example)

CRS (Congressional Research Service) Reports, 2018+ This link opens in a new window
Now directly released by the CRS, which prepares these reports for the use of Congress in its legislative, oversight, and representational duties. Reports are produced on topics of interest to Congress.
CRS (Congressional Research Service) Reports, 1965-2018 This link opens in a new window
Public policy briefs issued by the Congressional Research Service to inform members of Congress and their staff on subjects of current interest. Funded by taxpayer money and thus all in the public domain, these reports are nonpartisan and concise.
Note: The information on this site is compiled and made available as a public service by the Government Documents Department at the University of North Texas Libraries. UNT does not make any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of the information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for results obtained from the use of the information. Distribution of the information does not constitute such a warranty. Use of the information is the sole responsibility of the user.

Government Agencies

One way to specifically look for government information, including from federal and state agencies, is to use Google and search: site:.gov [topic keywords]. For example: site:.gov women workplace report. Include a specific state if that's relevant. Some examples:

Note: Using "site:.gov" in searches may also retrieve research articles published in peer-reviewed journals because some government agencies have repositories containing research articles. The National Library of Medicine's PubMed Central is an example and contains research articles published in biomedical and life sciences journals.

A few examples:

Bearing the Cost: How Overrepresentation in Undervalued Jobs Disadvantaged Women During the Pandemic
From the Women's Bureau, US Dept. of Labor
Workplace Sexual Harassment: Experts Suggest Expanding Data Collection to Improve Understanding of Prevalence and Costs
From the Government Accountability Office, which is an independent, non-partisan agency that monitors and reviews government spending and makes recommendations for greater efficiency.
What breastfeeding employees need to know
From the Office on Women's Health, US Dept. of Health & Human Serivces
Women's Bureau, U.S. Department of Labor
Created by law in 1920 to formulate standards and policies to promote the welfare of wage-earning women, improve their working conditions, increase their efficiency, and advance their opportunities for profitable employment.