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GOVERNMENT INFORMATION ON THE

WORLD WIDE WEB




Federal and state governments sponsor nearly 500,000 different webpages, filled with all kinds of information. Some sites are highly technical, but many are designed to be used by the public.
 
 

To locate government information on the web, you will need:

Each webpage is identified by an "address" called a URL (Uniform Resource Locator). The bar at the top of most browsers includes a button or icon labeled "open." When this button is activated, a window appears in which a URL can be typed. Pressing "enter" then allows the page, whether stored on a computer next door or half a world away, to be displayed. Another way to locate an interesting page is by following "hotlinks." Underlined text within a webpage, usually displayed in a different color from surrounding text, identifies links which can be followed from webpage to webpage. Click on the link and see where it takes you. Other browser buttons allow you to go "back" (go back one step) or "home"(back to the initial page).

An example of a URL is this one (which will take you to the White House website):

http://www.whitehouse.gov
Accuracy in entering the URL, including any punctuation, will make it easier to successfully find the location you seek.
 
 

Of the thousands of government webpages, here are five you might want to visit:
 
 

THOMAS--Legislative Information on the Web http://thomas.loc.gov

If you like to keep up with what's happening in Washington, this is a good place to start. The "Congress This Week" section tells what legislation will be considered, and what committees will meet. You can track a bill from its introduction until it becomes law--or disappears. A new section allows you to read transcripts of selected committee hearings. There is also a good description of the legislative process.
 
 

White House http://www.whitehouse.gov

Always wanted to tour the White House (without the crowds)? Take a virtual tour that highlights individual rooms and furnishings. This page contains lots of biographical information about the Presidents and First Ladies, with an emphasis on history. Frequently updated information about conferences and initiatives. "White House for Kids" (hosted by Socks, the Clinton's cat) is fun for adults, too.
 
 

U.S. Census Bureau http://www.census.gov

The first source for statistical information is the Census Bureau. Want to know the population of the U.S. (or the world) right now? This webpage updates its estimates daily. Contains the latest economic information, too. The section labeled "Just for Fun" allows you to use maps to locate your own county, and provides population and other statistics for your local area.
 
 

The Villanova Center for Information Law and Policy  http://www.infoctr.edu/fwl/

This site contains a master list of U.S. government webpages, from all three branches. It also will take you to federal boards, commissions, and quasi-government bodies. Want to find the Forest Service (or even the IRS)? Hotlinks will take you there. Check "Latest Links" from time to time, to see which sites are new or updated.
 
 

State of Oklahoma http://www.oklaosf.state.ok.us/

Don't forget that states, as well as nations, distribute government information. The State of Oklahoma webpage has links to many state agencies, and provides the same statistical and demographic information found on federal pages. "Oklahoma's Job Net" (found on the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission site) lets you search for jobs in many fields.