Government Information 2e: Agencies and Departments

The executive branch of the U.S. government generally enforces laws made by the legislative branch. It includes the Office of the President, the Office of the VIce President, and secretaries of agencies on the president's cabinet.

The official organizational chart of the US Government appears in the US Government Manual. The US Government Manual lists all agencies, their histories, defines their purpose and activities, and includes names of heads and directors. It also includes the Judicial and Legislative branches. The United States Government Policy and Supporting Positions (commonly called the Plum Book) lists federal civil service leadership and support positions in the legislative and executive branches of the Federal Government that may be subject to noncompetitive appointment (agency heads, agency heads and their immediate subordinates, policy executives and advisors, and aides who report to these officials).

Kinds of Agencies

There are different kinds of agencies that have different relationships with the federal government. Their names have changed over time and in many cases are folded into other agencies or sunset and cease to exist. New agencies are created as well.

• Cabinet Level Agencies -- 15 agencies that report directly to the President and sit on the Cabinet. Secretary of State, Treasury, Defense, Justice, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Energy, Education, Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security, Environmental Protection, Intelligence,
• Independent Agencies and Government Corporations -- examples: Peace Corps, U.S. Postal Service, NASA
• Quasi-Government Agencies -- boards and commissions, agencies created by Congressional mandate. For example: Boy Scouts (yes, created by federal charter), Smithsonian and United States institute of Peace.

Types of Documents

Where to Begin: Catalogs

Government Documents are often, but not always listed in libraries' catalogs. Use the sources below to look at Miami's catalog, in OhioLINK and Worldcat (libraries worldwide). Hathi Trust is most useful for full-text historical documents.

Miami's Catalog | OhioLINK | Worldcat | Hathi Trust