The UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT MANUAL is a handbook which describes the major Federal departments and agencies. It gives a brief history of each and describes their functions and chief officers. It is aimed at the general public and is useful for learning the purposes and duties of agencies as well as addresses and current officials.

You can use the MANUAL to find the following kinds of information:

1. What departments handle certain jobs.
2. Governmental organization - including some organizational charts.
3. Addresses of government agencies.
4. Histories of government agencies including a list of those that have been terminated, transferred or had name changes.
5. A list of common abbreviations of governmental bodies.
6. A copy of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.
7. Descriptions of some international organizations, e .g., Organization of American States; federally-aided bodies, e.g. Gallaudet University; and quasi-official agencies, e.g., National Railroad Passenger Corp. (AMTRAK).
8. The regional offices of large departments and the geographical areas they cover.
9. Places to contact for more information on each department and for other types of governmental information.

The above types of information do become outdated, but change more slowly than the names of officeholders. You will have to use your own judgment on whether you should double check the accuracy of the information.

There are indexes by key personnel, agency name and subject. A list of frequently used abbreviations appears near the back.

Complete the U. S. Government Manual Practice Questions. .

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This page was last updated on April 17, 2003.