Delgado Community College Libraries: Government Information: Reference Books

What you will find in the Reference Room

This page includes examples of the types of government resources available in the Reference Collection. This collection is non-circulating and must remain in the Reference Room. Please continue your search in the online catalog.

Historical Dictionary of the U. S. Congress by Scot Schraufnagel Consisting of two houses-the Senate and the House of Representatives-and 535 members-100 Senators and 435 Representatives, the U.S. Congress forms the legislative branch of the United States Government. Primarily charged with composing the laws of the United States, the Congress also is responsible for creating all bills for revenue; laying and collecting taxes; borrowing money; printing money; regulating commerce; declaring war; administering postal services, military services, and lower courts; and promoting the progress of science and the arts through grants. The Historical Dictionary of the U.S. Congress is intended to provide greater civic understanding for young Americans and to provide a handy reference to more serious students of the legislative process in the United States. This is done through a chronology, an introductory essay, appendixes listing the dates Congress has been in session and all the people who have held leadership positions in Congress, a comprehensive bibliography, and over 500 cross-referenced dictionary entries on congressional leaders, elections, and legislative practices. This book is an excellent access point for high school students, college students, and anyone interested in a better understanding of the legislative process in the United States.
Call Number: 328.7309 S37h (City Park Library)
ISBN: 9780810871960
Publication Date: 2011-08-11
United States Government Manual by United States. Office of the Federal Register. The United States Government Manual provides information about the missions, programs, and activities of Federal agencies, as well as listings of the leadership of each agency of the Obama administration, the Members of Congress, Justices of the Supreme Court, and other officials throughout the Federal Government.
Call Number: 350 U58 (City Park Library)
United States Government Internet Directory 2011 by Shana Hertz Hattis (Editor) Discover the depth of government information and services available online. The United States Government Internet Directory serves as a guide to the changing landscape of government information online. The Directory is an indispensable guidebook for anyone who is looking for official U.S. government resources on the Web. The U.S. government's online information is massive and can be difficult to locate. Many government sites are part of the "Deep Web" with content that does not surface or surface easily with even the most popular search engines. It is more important than ever to have a source that serves as an authoritative guide to the federal Web. The United States Government Internet Directory navigates the maze of data and locate the materials that you seek. The subject-based approach of this book allows you to browse for relevant sites in your field of interest rather than sift through hundreds of search results or try to guess which federal agency to consult. Researchers, business people, teachers, students, and citizens in the United States and around the world can navigate the labyrinthine federal Web with The United States Government Internet Directory. The Directory: .contains more than 2,000 Web site records, organized into 20 subject themed chapters .includes topics on a wide-range of subjects including employment, energy, defense and intelligence, culture and recreation, and much more .provides descriptions and URLs for each site .describes sites to help you choose the proper resource .notes the useful or unique aspects of the site .lists some of the major government publications hosted on the site .contains useful, up-to-date organizational charts for the major federal government agencies .provides a roster of congressional members with member's Web sites .lists House and Senate Committees with committee URLs .includes a one-page Quick Guide to the major federal agencies and the leading online library, data source, and finding aid sites .identifies the major government Web sites related to the global recession and new government economic recovery programs .contains multiple indexes in the back of the book to help the user locate Web sites by agency, site name, subject, and government publication title"
Call Number: 353 U58 (City Park Library)
ISBN: 9781598884920
Publication Date: 2011-12-12
Public papers of the Presidents of the United States by Govt. Print. Off Each volume of the Public Papers of the Presidents contains the papers and speeches of the President of the United States that were issued by the Office of the Press Secretary during the specified time period. The material is presented in chronological order, and the dates shown in the headings are the dates of the documents or events.
Call Number: 353.03 U58p (City Park Library)
ISBN: 00797626
Publication Date: 1957-

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American Constitutional Law: The Structure of Government American Constitutional Law provides a comprehensive account of the nations defining document. Based on the premise that the study of the Constitution and constitutional law is of fundamental importance to understanding the principles, prospects, and problems of America, this text puts current events in terms of what those who initially drafted and ratified the Constitution sought to accomplish.
CIA World Factbook Contains extensive information on all the countries of the world.
Dictionary of American Government and Politics Major figures, events, ideas, movements and Supreme Court cases relevant to a study of the American political system are included with the aim of allowing readers to develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of the area. The Dictionary also raises key issues and areas of contention and academic debate.
Encyclopedia of American Studies Brings together a wide range of disciplines related to the history and cultures of the United States, from pre-colonial days to the present.
Encyclopedia of Religion and the Law in America Extensive A-Z entries provide coverage of key court decisions, case studies, concepts, individuals, religious groups, organizations, and agencies shaping religion and law in today's society.

The Oxford Companion to Comparative Politics Comparative Politics, the discipline devoted to the politics of other countries or peoples, has steadily gained prominence, allowing politics to be viewed from a wider foundation than a concentration on domestic affairs alone would permit. The Companion focuses on the major theories, concepts, and conclusions that define the field, analyzing the similarities and differences between political units. Entries cover such topics as failed states, grand strategies, soft power, capital punishment, gender and politics, and totalitarianism, as well as countries such as China and Afghanistan.
The Oxford Companion to United States History With over 1,400 entries written by some 900 historians and other scholars, it illuminates not only America's political, diplomatic, and military history, but also social, cultural, and intellectual trends; science, technology, and medicine; the arts; and religion.
Oxford Dictionary of Political Quotations This unique reference work not only charts the most influential political events of recent times via the things people said about them - including an international financial crisis and a watershed in American presidential politics - but also digs deeper than ever into the rich heritage of political history from around the world.
The Oxford Guide to the United States Government Compiled by three leading scholars, it contains the key figures, events, and structures that have animated U.S. government for more than 200 years.

Cities of the United States In four volumes, this reference book brings together a wide range of hard-to-locate data to answer questions concerning American cities. Each volume focuses on a different geographic region: South, West, Midwest and Northeast. Each volume covers the area's largest or fastest-growing cities, or those with a particular historical, political, industrial or commercial significance.
Encyclopedia of the American Constitution Contains new and updated original articles covering recent concepts (i.e. adoption, race, the Constitution, birthright citizenship) and court cases since 1992 offering comprehensive coverage of all aspects of constitutional law, as well as biographies of people who have had an impact on our government's legal framework (Supreme Court Justices, Presidents, Cabinet Members, Lawyers, and more).
Encyclopedia of the Supreme Court of the United States Focuses on the substance of American law, the processes that produce its legal principles, and the history of the Supreme Court, from its creation to the present. Overview essays address the history of such topics as citizenship, due process, Native Americans, racism, and contraception, emphasizing the social context of each and the social and political pressures that shaped interpretation.
Gale Encyclopedia of American Law Covers today's leading cases, major statutes, legal terms and concepts, notable persons involved with the law, and important documents. Includes topics such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, capital punishment, domestic violence, gay and lesbian rights, physician-assisted suicide and more.
Major Acts of Congress In 262 entries, this 3-vol. set examines landmark pieces of legislation, explaining the historical factors that led to the proposal of each act, looking at the adoption process and assessing each act's impact on American life.

Browse the Shelves

The Delgado Community College libraries shelve books by the Dewey Decimal system. Most of the books relating to government are located within the 320-350s call number range. Below are selected places to browse for books on governmental issues..

172 Political ethics
320 Political science
323 Civil & political rights
324 The political process
328 The legislative process
341 Law of nations
351 Public administration
364 Criminology

Government Information: Reference Books

What you will find in the Reference Room

Try the Reference Databases

Browse the Shelves

Reference Database Search Overview