LibGuides: Finding Statistics: Government & Politics

Places to Find Government Information

Bureau of Labor Statistics
The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor is the principal Federal agency responsible for measuring labor market activity, working conditions, and price changes in the economy. Its mission is to collect, analyze, and disseminate essential economic information to support public and private decision-making.
Bureau of Transportation Statistics
RITA brings together important data, research and technology transfer assets of the Department of Transportation, including:Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Library, Intelligent Transportation Systems, Positioning, Navigation and Timing, Research, Development and Technology, University Transportation Centers, Transportation Safety Institute, Volpe National Transportation Systems Center.
IRS (Internal Revenue Service)
Here you will find a wide range of tables, articles, and data that describe and measure elements of the U.S. tax system.
NHGIS: National Historical Geographic Information System
The National Historical Geographic Information System (NHGIS) provides, free of charge, aggregate census data and GIS-compatible boundary files for the United States between 1790 and 2011.
Profile Ohio
Learn about Ohio's business, arts, history, education and more.
Stark County Online Indexes
Historical indexes unique to Stark County including Canton Female Seminary, Stark County Military Enrollment and Stark County Tax Index.
U.S. Department of the Treasury
Resource center includes U.S. economy in charts, interest rate statistics, TARP reports, fiscal policy information and more.
USA.gov
Search the Internet for government web pages
USDA Agricultural Statistics
(Hold the cursor over "Data & Statistics" and review the choices.) Producers, farm organizations, agribusinesses, lawmakers, and government agencies all rely heavily on the information produced by NASS. Statistical information on acreage, production, stocks, prices, and income is essential for the smooth operation of Federal farm programs. It is also indispensable for planning and administering related Federal and State programs in consumer protection, conservation and environmental quality, trade, education, and recreation.
Department of Homeland Security
Created in the wake of the September 11, 2001, attacks, the Department of Homeland Security has absorbed many federal agencies over the last ten years and now provides information on a variety of topics related to the domestic security of the United States. Statistics on immigration to the United States (most notably the annual Yearbook of Immigration Statistics), statistics from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and maritime information from the U.S. Coast Guard are all provided through DHS.
Social Security Administration Office of Research Evaluation and Statistics (ORES)
The Social Security Administration’s ORES is probably the most focused of all the principal statistical agencies of the U.S. government, focusing almost solely on the topic of the U.S. Social Security programs. If you are looking for information about Social Security, ORES should be your first destination.
Statistical Programs and Standards
Published by the Office of Management and Budget, Statistical Programs of the United States Government is an annual publication listing the 13 principal statistical agency programs of the United States and the nearly 100 smaller programs run as part of various federal agencies.
more...less...
Statistical Programs of the United States provides a topical listing of programs as well as a breakdown of programs by top level federal agencies. With more than 100 programs listed, if a principal statistical agency does not have the information you are looking for, chances are one of the more specialized programs listed here will.

While not every federal agency is responsible for a principal statistical agency, just about every federal agency runs some manner of statistical program, and generally more than just one. These bureaus, programs, departments, and agencies generally focus on narrow topics related in some way to the agencies they are a part of.

Money and Economics

Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED)
Download, graph, and track 148,000 US and international time series from 59 sources.

Public Policy

Comparative Agendas Project
enables scholars, students, policy-makers and the media to investigate trends in policy-making across time and between countries