Manual for the US Federal Government (Think "RTFM.gov"), browse it online...

Government Book Talk - Browsing the U.S. Government Manual

"What with invisible ink, yetis, and earthquakes, the world of Government publications can be so diverse and intriguing that it’s easy to lose track of sober perennials like the U.S. Government Manual. I’ve used this great book throughout my career in the Federal Government to get contact information for the right part of a large Federal agency or verify that a smaller, more obscure one actually existed – and what it really did. Thanks to the diligent folks at the National Archives and Records Administration’s Office of the Federal Register, you can ferret out phone numbers, mailing addresses and URLs that really work, or just read through each agency entry to better understand its particular missions and activities. It’s perhaps the premier annual reference book for all three branches of Government.

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If you need a source of the latest information about any Government agency, or if you’re just curious about the innumerable nooks and crannies of the Federal establishment, the U.S. Government Manual is for you. You can browse it here, get a print copy of the 2011 edition here, or find it in a library."

The United States Government Manual

The United States Government Manual is the official handbook of the Federal Government. This special edition of the Federal Register is currently updated to provide comprehensive and authoritative descriptions of the programs and activities of the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. The Government Manual also includes information about quasi-official agencies, international organizations with U.S. membership, and Federal boards, commissions, and committees.

So what can you find here?

Well lets say there's a number of people loudly stating that they would do away with the Department of Education. Do you know what that department actually does? Now you do...

Even with a high level department org chart...

Or maybe you'd like a little bit of info on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)?

If you have any interest in the U.S. Government this is a resource just for you...

 

Related Past Post XRef:
U.S. Government Manual: 2004-2005 Edition and GPO Access