United States Government Manual
U.S. Government Manual
Comprehensive information on the agencies of the Legislative, Judicial, and Executive branches.
The United States Government Manual is available:
- As an electronic publication, free of charge, on the GPO Access Service, maintained by the U.S. Government Printing Office
- As a paper publication, by individual copy purchase from the Superintendent of Documents, or at any Federal Depository Library
The United States Government Manual provides comprehensive information on the agencies of the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. It also includes information on quasi-official agencies; international organizations in which the United States participates; and boards, commissions, and committees.
The Manual, one of GPO's top selling publications, is published annually as a special edition of the Federal Register (1 CFR 9.1). The new edition of the Manual is available to the Public each year in the late summer.
A typical agency description includes:
- A list of officials heading major operating units
- A summary statement of the agency's purpose and role in the Federal Government
- A brief history of the agency, including its legislative or executive authority
- A description of its programs and activities
- Information, addresses, and phone numbers to help users locate detailed information on consumer activities, contracts and grants, employment, publications, and other matters of public interest
The Office of the Federal Register is also required to prepare an annual report entitled "Agencies and Functions of the Federal Government Established, Abolished, or Renamed by Legislative or Executive Action During the Calendar Year" and submit it by March 31 to the Senate Committee on Government Affairs and to NARA. Information for this report is developed from the information collected in preparing the Manual.
