This document summarizes various online tools and resources for accessing and tracking government information and spending. It outlines websites like WhiteHouse.gov, THOMAS, Regulations.gov, USA.gov, Science.gov, and Recovery.gov that provide access to legislation, regulations, science research, and spending. It also discusses tools for following the money like the Office of Management and Budget, Federal Election Commission, and USASpending.gov. Finally, it explores accountability tools like ExpectMore.gov and the Government Accountability Office, as well as mashups and resources for staying updated on new government reports and information.

1. Government 2.0
Keep up, Talk Back

2. Legacy of Access
Historic model = distributed government

publications within reasonable travel distance
New model = government publications

available at any hour online
UM Library designated in 1909

 Maintains large print collection
 Provides expertise for tracking down government
information in any format

3. New
Transparency
Tools

4. White House
http://www.whitehouse.gov

 Blog, rapid posting of material
 Accountability websites
 Task Forces

5. THOMAS
http://thomas.loc.gov
 Access to current and recent legislation:
 Read the text of bills your Senators or
Representative are considering
 See how legislators voted on bills
 Read the text of speeches and debates in Congress
Great for materials 1989-present


6. Regulations.gov
http://www.regulations.gov
 Find proposed regulations
 Find accompanying documents
 Submit your comments

7. USA.gov
http://www.usa.gov

8. Government Science
3 favorites for following government-funded

science:
 Science.gov: http://www.science.gov
 ScienceAccelerator: http://www.scienceaccelerator.gov
 TreeSearch: http://www.treesearch.fs.fed.us

9. Follow the Money
What do these initiatives cost?

 What’s the budget for a specific program?
 Who gets government grant money and
contracts?
Office of Management & Budget (OMB)

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/

 Official Presidential budget
Recovery.gov

http://www.recovery.gov

 Accounting for the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act

10. Consolidated Federal Funds Report
(CFFR)
http://www.census.gov/govs/www/cffr.html
 Census Bureau database that breaks down funding
to state, county, & local governments/programs

11. How much will that legislation cost?
http://www.cbo.gov

12. Federal Election Commission
Who donated money to whom?
http://www.fec.gov/

13. What businesses have government contracts?
http://www.usaspending.gov/

14. Accountability Tools
ExpectMore.gov:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/expectmore

15. Government Accountability Office
http://www.gao.gov
Main watchdog of government programs

16. Gov Doc Mashups
Flip side of transparency: People inspired
to reuse government information
American Presidency Project Historical Census Browser
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/
collections/stats/histcensus

17. Mash-ups
Follow the Money Open Secrets
http://www.followthemoney.org http://www.opensecrets.org

18. Mash-Ups
GovTrack Open CRS
http://www.govtrack.us/ http://opencrs.com/

19. Keeping Up
Many new tools for staying apprised

of new government reports:
 Power of RSS
 Email lists
 Twitter
Government News Blog:

http://mt-govinfo.blogspot.com
 Keeping Up Guide:
http://libguides.lib.umt.edu/govrss

20. Questions?