1.  I need to see the Blank Act.
    Is it Federal, Washington, or other?
        Federal:
            Do you want to see the law as it looked when it passed or the way it looks now?
                When it passed: Statutes At Large (HeinOnline or Government Information Reference AE 2.111:) or  THOMAS
                Now:  U.S. Code Annotated   or U.S. Code
        Washington state:
    Do you want to see the law as it looked when it passed or the way it looks now?
            When it passed: Laws of Washington  (Gov. Info. Ref. Y4.J89/1: UN3/3/West)  or Washington State Legislature
                Now: Revised Code of Washington Annotated (Gov. Info. Ref. WA 340 W279ra) or Revised Code of Washington

                Other:  Try FindLaw, or the National Council of State Legislatures.
                Also try our hand-outs Studying a Federal Law and Finding the Law

    No success:
        Are you sure the law passed? Many federal bills have names ending with Act or Law, even if they never pass and therefore never BECAME law.  To make it worse, some laws are popularly known as bills even after they  pass: the Paycheck Fairness Act  died as a bill (never became a law); but the Brady Bill is an act (it became a law).
        To see if the bill passed:
            Federal: Congressional Information Service (Gov. Info. Ref. GP3.6/70:) or THOMAS.
            Washington: Legislative Digest and History of Bills (Gov. Info. Wa 328.3 L52Le-d)

2.  I want to see pending legislation or the current status of a bill...
     Federal, Washington, or other?
        Federal: THOMAS.
        Washington: State Legislature Online (also works for Initiatives)
        Other:  Try FindLaw, or the National Council of State Legislatures.

3.  I want to see a congressional publication on...
     Is this a statement by a congressperson?
        Yes:  Congressional Record (Gov. Info. Ref. Congressional Record) or Congressional Record
        No:  Was this published after 1969?
            Yes: Congressional Information Service (CIS)  (Gov. Info. Ref. 
            No:  Is this part of the Serial Set (a House or Senate Report or Document)?
                Yes: CIS U.S. Serial Set Index  (Gov. Info. Ref. GP 3.6/76:) 
                No: Cumulative Subject Index to the Monthly Catalog (Gov. Info. Ref.) or GPO Monthly Catalog

4.  I need to know how my congressperson voted on...
       See this website.

5.  I need to find a rule or regulation on...
    NOTE: Laws/Acts/Bills are passed by the legislative branch (U.S. Congress, state legislature).
    Rules/Regulations/Executive Orders are produced by the executive branch (President, cabinet departments, independent agencies, Governor, state agencies, etc.)
       Federal? Code of Federal Regulations    (Gov. Info. Ref. AE2.106/3:)
       Washington? Washington Administrative Code    (Gov. Info. Ref. WA 344 W279w)

6.  I need the court decision on...
    Federal?
        Yes:  Supreme Court?
            Yes: U.S. Reports alias Supreme Court Reporter or U.S. Supreme Court Reports (Gov. Info. Ref. JU 6.8:) or Supreme Court Collection
            No:  Federal Court Locator
        No:  Washington?
            Yes: Washington Reporter (Gov. Info. Ref.  WA 347.9 Su7w-r) or Washington Courts Page
            No:  Westlaw Campus Research

7.  I need to see the Treaty on...
       Did the U.S. sign the treaty and is it still in force?
        Yes: U.S. Treaties in Force (Gov. Info. Ref. S9.14:) will refer you to:
            UST (Wilson 6, JX231.A34)
            UNTS (Wilson 6, JX170.U35)
            TIAS (Government Information, S9.10)
        No: UNTS (Wilson 6, JX170.U35)

8.  I need information of this country.

      Globus & National Trade Data Bank.

9.  I need information on the exporting or importing of...
    National Trade Data Bank (on the LIS)
    U.S. Imports (U.S. Government CD-ROM C 3.278/2)

    U.S. Exports (U.S. Government CD-ROM C 3.278/3)

10.  I need statistics on...
    Is it in Statistical Abstract?
        Yes:  Statistical Abstract  (Gov. Info. Ref. C3.134:)
        No:  Is it published by the Census Bureau?
            Yes: When?
                Recently: Census homepage
                Older: C3. in Gov. Info.
            No: Try this webpage.

11.  I need information on the weather or climate in...
    Climate Change and Climatology Resources

    Weather Data available at Western Libraries

12.  I need an official number for a merchant vessel.

    Merchant Vessels of the United States (Gov. Inf. Ref. TD 5.12/2:)

13.  I need to find an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on...
       Is this a Huxley College Project (Problem Paper, Intern Report, etc? )
        Yes: It should be in the main collection. Try the online catalog.
        No: Is it about some part of Washington state (doesn't matter whether it is a local, state or federal document)?
            Yes: Finding List of Environmental Impact Statements
            No: GPO Monthly Catalog 

14.  I want to file or search a Patent or Trademark or Copyright...
    Patent or Trademark:
        Patent Information
        Patent Information: UW Engineering Library  (Note: This is the closest library set up to do patent and trademark searches.)

        U.S.  Patent and Trademark Office          

    Copyright:

        Copyright Office

15.  How do I get an ISBN or ISSN number for my publication?
    Generally ISBN is for books and ISSN is for serials.
    If the patron isn't sure what they need,  give them information for both:
        ISBN
        ISSN

16.  I need a tax form.
    Federal?
        Display rack in Government Information.
        Reproducible Tax Forms (Reference  Desk)
        IRS Forms Page
    State?
        Washington has no state income tax.

        For other states, try the Federation of Tax Administrators page.

17.  I need the Consumer Price Index (or the Cost of Living Index).   

    The Consumer Price Index is created by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

    Paper copies of the CPI Detailed Report can be found in the Government Information stacks under the call number: L2.38/3:

    The government says that the Consumer Price Index is not a true Cost of Living Index, although many people call it that.

R. Lopresti
7/08
 

return to Government Information page