Research Guides: Researching American Politics and Government: The Executive Branch

Use these reference sources to get a start on your research on the executive branch, including the presidency and the federal bureaucracy.

The Presidency A to Z (5th ed.) by Gerhard Peters; John T. Woolley; Michael Nelson
Call Number: Sage ebook
Publication Date: 2013
This book has quick overviews of important topics, people, organizations, and issues related to the presidency and the executive branch at large.
Guide to the Presidency and the Executive Branch (5th ed.) by Michael Nelson
Call Number: Sage ebook
Publication Date: 2013
The essays in this collection explain the structure, powers, and operations of the executive branch and the president's relationship with Congress and the Supreme Court.
Vital Statistics on the Presidency (4th ed.) by Lyn Ragsdale
Call Number: Sage ebook
Publication Date: 2014
This collects comparative data on the presidents' background, their opinions and policies, the structure of the executive branch, and the relation between the executive and the other branches to allow for easy comparisons over time.

Find what the president, executive agencies, and other federal executive officials are doing.

WhiteHouse.gov
The official site of the president and the Executive Office of the President.
Compilation of Presidential Documents
The CPD collects together all official presidential publications put out by the White House Press Secretary, such as executive orders, signed and vetoed legislation, memos, proclamations, and transcripts of speeches and other remarks.
Regulations.gov
This allows you to search for existing and proposed federal regulations. You can also submit comments on proposed regulations.
Federal Register
The official source of all rules, proposed rules, and notices from executive regulatory agencies.

C-SPAN | Executive Branch
Videos and transcripts of the public appearances, speeches, and testimony to Congress of the president and the Cabinet.
Vote Smart
Collects information on politicians' votes, their stated beliefs on policy issues, public appearances, funding, and ratings from advocacy groups.

Researching American Politics and Government