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Northern Illinois University
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David C. Shapiro Memorial Law Library

Federal Legal Websites: President & Administration

President & Administration

White House - Contains biographical information on the President and Vice President, government and economic statistics, press releases, federal, government information and services, history and virtual tours, and documents, speeches, and photos.

Presidential Documents - a LibGuide created by the Federal Depository Library Program that includes information about offices under the Office of the President, Presidential history and Presidential libraries, museums, monuments and historic sites.

  • CFR - (govinfo/FDsys) Searchable database of regulations with some titles going back to 1996
  • e-CFR - Searchable database of regulations
  • Federal Register - (govinfo/FDsys) Searchable database of Federal Registers going back to 1995
  • List of CFR Sections Affected - (govinfo/FDsys) Searchable database of LSAs going back to 1997

Federal Agencies

Key to Federal Agency abbreviations (for tabs above)

  • Agriculture, Department of: USDA
  • Commerce, Department of: DOC
  • Defense, Department of: DOD
  • Education, Department of: DOED
  • Energy, Department of: DOE
  • Health & Human Services, Department of: HHS
  • Homeland Security, Department of: DHS
  • Housing & Urban Development, Department of: HUD
  • Interior, Department of the: DOI
  • Justice, Department of: DOJ
  • Labor, Department of: DOL
  • State, Department of: State
  • Transportation, Department of: DOT
  • Treasury, Department of the: Treas
  • Veterans' Affairs, Department of: VA

Department of Commerce - Calendar of happenings, speeches, press releases, publications, and links to online information servers

Department of Defense - Contains news and information on organizations, the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the National Guard, branches of the armed forces, publications, and more

Department of Education - Contains information on the mission, goals, programs and services, news, publications, financial aid and grants

Department of Housing and Urban Development - Contains information for and about communities, home buying and renting, fair housing, forms and schedules, and links to downloadable documents

Department of Veterans Affairs - Contains a benefits manual, press releases, special programs, organizational and statistical data, and links to other veterans sites

Veteran Resources - A LibGuide created by the Federal Depository Library Program covering educational, health/wellness, employment and other resources available to veterans.

Independent Agencies

Key to Independent Agency abbreviations (for tabs above)

  • Environmental Protection Agency: EPA
  • Federal Communications Commission: FCC
  • Federal Trade Commission: FTC
  • Securities & Exchange Commission: SEC
  • Social Security Administration: SSA

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) - Contains news releases, commission actions, speeches, consumer information, federal register documents, and information on the FTC and how it brings an action

List and descriptions are from the US Branches of Government.

  • Administrative Conference of the United States - an independent federal agency dedicated to improving federal agency administrative processes and procedures
  • African Development Foundation - provides grants to community groups and small enterprises that benefit under-served and marginalized groups in Africa
  • Central Intelligence Agency - collects, evaluates, and disseminates vital information on economic, military, political, scientific, and other developments abroad to safeguard national security
  • Commission on Civil Rights - an independent, bipartisan agency charged with monitoring federal civil rights enforcement
  • Commission on Presidential Scholars - selects and honors the Presidential Scholars, a group of graduating high school seniors of exceptional talent and commitment to public service
  • Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission) - monitors and encourages compliance with the Helsinki Final Act and other Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe commitments
  • Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - helps consumers by providing educational materials and accepting complaints. It supervises banks, lenders, and large non-bank entities, such as credit reporting agencies and debt collection companies. The Bureau also works to make credit card, mortgage, and other loan disclosures clearer, so consumers can understand their rights and responsibilities
  • Consumer Product Safety Commission - protects the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under its jurisdiction, including products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children
  • Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board - reviews the content and implementation of health and safety standards at Department of Energy Defense Nuclear Facilities. The board also makes recommendations to the President and Secretary of Energy regarding health and safety issues at Defense Nuclear Facilities
  • Denali Commission - provides critical utilities, infrastructure, and economic support throughout Alaska
  • Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - enforces laws that make discrimination illegal in the workplace. The commission oversees all types of work situations including hiring, firing, promotions, harassment, training, wages, and benefits
  • Export-Import Bank of the United States - assists American businesses export their goods by providing financial assistance in the form of loans, loan guarantees and insurance. The focus of the Export-Import Bank is on assisting small businesses
  • Farm Credit Administration - an independent financial regulatory agency that oversees the various lending institutions and banks serving agricultural and rural America
  • Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation - answers questions about federal deposit insurance coverage, and handles complaints and inquiries about FDIC-insured state banks which are not members of the Federal Reserve System
  • Federal Election Commission - enforces federal campaign finance laws, including monitoring donation prohibitions, and limits and oversees public funding for presidential campaigns
  • Federal Housing Finance Agency - provides supervision, regulation, and housing mission oversight of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banks
  • Federal Labor Relations Authority - a quasi-judicial body that manages relations between federal agencies and employees
  • Federal Maritime Commission - responsible for regulating the U.S. international ocean transportation system for the benefit of U.S. exporters, importers, and the U.S. consumer
  • Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service - provides mediation and other conflict resolution services for managing and enhancing labor-management relationships
  • Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission - an independent agency that administers trials and hears appeals of disputes relating directly to the Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977
  • Federal Reserve System - the central bank of the United States. It formulates and administers credit and monetary policy
  • Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board - administers the Thrift Savings Plan, a tax-deferred retirement account similar to a 401(k)
  • General Services Administration - manages federal property and provides contracting options for government agencies
  • Indoor Air Quality - part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and aims to raise public awareness of information related to indoor air quality
  • Institute of Museum and Library Services - a grant making organization that also conducts research and develops policy. The Institute helps libraries and museums innovate, fosters lifelong learning and cultural and civic engagement
  • Inter-American Foundation - provides grant support to Latin American and Caribbean grass-roots groups and non-governmental organizations with creative self-help ideas
  • Merit Systems Protection Board - hears appeals from federal employees, and studies federal merit systems in an effort to protect the rights of federal employees
  • Millennium Challenge Corporation - partners with the best-governed poor countries worldwide to promote economic growth and help people lift themselves out of poverty
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration - explores space, and researches Earth systems, the solar system, and the universe
  • National Archives and Records Administration - preserves U.S. government records, manages the Presidential Libraries system, and publishes laws, regulations, Presidential, and other public documents
  • National Capital Planning Commission - crafts long-range plans and policies for the National Capital Region. The Commission provides building and zoning advice to Washington, DC and the surrounding area, and approves various federal construction plans
  • National Credit Union Administration - charters and supervises federal credit unions, and insures savings in federal and most state-chartered credit unions
  • National Endowment for the Arts - funds, promotes, and strengthens the creative capacity of our communities by providing all Americans with opportunities for arts participation
  • National Endowment for the Humanities - funds humanities programs in the United States such as museums, archives, libraries, colleges, universities, public television, radio stations, and individual scholars
  • National Labor Relations Board - enforces the National Labor Relations Act by investigating allegations of wrong-doing brought by workers, unions, or employers, conducting elections, and deciding and resolving cases
  • National Mediation Board - facilitates the resolution of labor-management disputes in the rail and airline industries
  • National Railroad Passenger Corporation (AMTRAK) - provides intercity rail passenger service
  • National Science Foundation - supports research and education across all fields of science and technology, primarily through grants
  • National Transportation Safety Board - investigates every civil aviation accident in the U.S. and significant accidents in other modes of transportation. Based on their investigative findings and special studies, the board makes recommendations aimed at preventing future accidents
  • Office of Government Ethics - provides oversight, policy, and guidance to the Executive Branch regarding ethics laws and policies
  • Office of Personnel Management - manages the civil service of the federal government, coordinates recruiting of new government employees, and manages their health insurance and retirement benefits programs. They also provide resources for locating student jobs, summer jobs, scholarships, and internships
  • Office of Special Counsel - an investigative and prosecutorial office that works to end government and political corruption, and to protect government employees and whistleblowers
  • Office of the Director of National Intelligence - integrates the intelligence gathering and analysis functions performed across the intelligence community to provide intelligence to decision makers
  • Peace Corps - volunteers travel to developing countries all over the world to assist with many ongoing efforts including AIDS education, business training, and information infrastructure development
  • Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation - insures and guarantees private sector workers' pensions
  • Postal Regulatory Commission - is responsible for oversight of the U.S. Postal Service, including oversight of rates and services, and ensuring the Postal Service meets all of its legal requirements
  • Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board - ensures that the federal government’s efforts to prevent terrorism are balanced with the need to protect privacy and civil liberties
  • Railroad Retirement Board - administers retirement, survivor, unemployment, and sickness benefits for U.S. railroad workers and their families
  • Selective Service System - provides the Department of Defense personnel in the event of a national emergency. Male citizens and immigrants are required to register with the Selective Service when they turn 18
  • Small Business Administration - helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships, the Small Business Administration assists and protects the interests of small business concerns
  • Tennessee Valley Authority - provides low-cost electricity in seven southeastern states, and provides flood control, navigation, and land management for the Tennessee River system
  • U.S. Agency for Global Media - formerly known as the Broadcasting Board of Governors, broadcasts news and information about the United States and the world to audiences abroad
  • U.S. Agency for International Development - the principal U.S. agency to extend assistance to countries recovering from disaster, trying to escape poverty, and engaging in democratic reforms
  • U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission - protects the public from fraud, manipulation, and abusive practices related to the sale of commodity and financial futures and options, and to fosters open, competitive, and financially sound futures and option markets. They investigate and prosecute commodities fraud, including foreign currency schemes, energy manipulation and hedge fund fraud, and works with other federal and state agencies to bring criminal and other actions
  • U.S. International Development Finance Corporation - America’s development bank. DFC partners with the private sector to finance solutions to the most critical challenges facing the developing world
  • U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission - regulates commercial nuclear power plants, and other uses of nuclear materials
  • U.S. Postal Service - provides mail processing and delivery services to individuals and businesses in the U.S.
  • U.S. Trade and Development Agency - links U.S. businesses to export opportunities by funding project planning activities, pilot projects, and reverse trade missions

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