Research Guides: U.S. Government: Executive

Presidential Resources

The White House
Locate news and updates from the current Presidential administration. Covers the history of all Presidents and the White House.

Hein Online U.S. Presidential Library
Find Presidential documents, papers, impeachment documentation, speeches, and other sources of information on U.S. Presidents.

The American Presidency Project
Find historical research over Presidential elections going back to 1840 through 2016.
Compilation of Presidential Documents (GPO)
Includes such material as: Proclamations; Executive orders; Speeches; Press conferences; Communications to Congress and Federal agencies; Statements regarding bill signings and vetoes; Appointments, nominations; Reorganization plans; Resignations; Retirements; Acts approved by the President; Nominations submitted to the Senate; White House announcements; and Press releases. Coverage begins 1993 - present.
Public Papers of the President of the United States (University of MIchigan)
Contains material compiled and published by the Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration. Includes volumes covering the administrations of Presidents Hoover, Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, and Obama. Subsequent volumes added as published.
Library Search for Presidential Documents
This search pulls results for books that contain primary source documents on U.S. presidents.
Budget of the United States Government
Access official presidential budget proposals by fiscal year, 1996 to present.

Resources for Departments and Agencies

A-Z Index of U.S. Government Departments and Agencies
This site provides an A-Z index of American government departments and agencies.

U.S. Declassified Documents Online
Declassified government documents from executive branch agencies including Defense; State; Treasury; CIA; and the White House. Find intelligence studies, policy papers, diplomatic correspondence, cabinet meeting minutes, briefing materials, and domestic surveillance and military reports that cover major policy issues from the period before the World War II into the twenty-first century.

Spending Explorer
Use this tool to get a better sense of how Congress distributes funding to agencies and how agencies spend that funding. Covers 2017-2020.
Congressional Budget Office
Find reports, policy options, and budgetary projections for various agencies and departments.
Federal Register
Official daily publication of proposed rules, final rules, public notices, and Presidential actions. Browse by agency or by topic to discover trending proposals from 1996 to present. Make sure to distinguish between proposals and final rules.
Regulations.gov
This is the easiest place for quick searches for proposed regulations. This site also allows you to officially comment on proposed regulation.
Code of Federal Regulations
Find all final regulations, as published by the U.S. Government and revised annually. Browse Titles by topic using the center drop down box.

Related Guides

United States Presidential & Political History
Websites, books, and links to presidential libraries

Guide to the Executive Branch

Information from the executive branch includes White House communications, regulations, press releases, statistics, policy documents, reports, and more.

For an overview, reports, or statistics on a specific topic, start at the corresponding agency website.

Regulations

Regulations are the rules set by executive agencies to specify how laws in Congress are to be executed.

Regulations are first proposed by the agency and listed in the Federal Register and at Regulations.gov for public comment.
The agency considers the comments, makes any necessary revisions, and then sets a final rule that is recorded in the Code of Federal Regulations.
The agency then works to ensure compliance and enforcement of those regulations.