JOUR 415 Journalism - Multimedia Reporting
This guide is designed to find primary government information (publications and records) for
JOUR 415 Journalism - Multimedia Reporting
This guide is for items in the Federal Depository Library collection as well as licensed databases and web resources. Many of these resources are not cataloged in the KU Online Catalog.
Please do not hesitate to ask for assistance.
Legislative History - contemporary
- ThomasUse for finding proposed legislation and then tracking the history of the bill.
- FDsys.govUse for official/authenticated publications:
-full text transcripts of Congressional Committee hearings;
-House/Senate documents/report that eventually are part of the US Congressional Serial Set
- debates on the floor of the House or Senate published in the Congressional Record
-Statutes at Large
-Compilation of Presidential Documents
-United States Code
--and MORE
Following the Money
The Center for Investigative Reporting suggestions that "to understand politicians, you need to "follow the money"." Here are some to websites and publications that help trace funds.
- Public Disclosure-- Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives"Reports and Filings" for lobbying, gifts and travel, legal expenses, mass mailings, and financial disclosures.
- Public Disclosure - United States SenateLobbying disclosure, gifts and travel, contributions reporting, etc.
- Campaign Finance Reports and Data -- Federal Election CommissionAccess to "actual financial disclosure reports filed by House, Senate and Presidential campaigns, Parties and PACs from 1993 to the present" and more.
- Earmarks -- Office of Management and BudgetDatabase of earmark "funds provided by the Congress for projects, programs, or grants where the purported congressional direction (whether in statutory text, report language, or other communication) circumvents otherwise applicable merit-based or competitive allocation processes, or specifies the location or recipient, or otherwise curtails the ability of the executive branch to manage its statutory and constitutional responsibilities pertaining to the funds allocation process."
- Recovery.gov -- Track the Money"Recovery.gov is the U.S. government’s official website that provides easy access to data related to Recovery Act spending and allows for the reporting of potential fraud, waste, and abuse."
Portals for Public Access
There is a concerted effort the provide the public with portals that cull together and provide easy access to government information. Here are a few.
Website for Internal Use
Options for searching the web for government information
- search.usa.gov -search box is also available from USA.gov
Other guides of interest
Fun Government Websites
Agencies fequently will have pages directed to children and learning. Here are a few examples.
- FREE -- Federal Resources for Educational ExcellenceTeaching Resources and Lessons Plans from the Federal Government
