Guide to Government Information places to start in finding out about the activities and responsibilities of Federal agencies Determining what the Government does and how it affects the individual may not be easy, but it should not be impossible. This section of the U.S. Government Manual is designed as a basic introduction to some of the significant "information outlets" provided to aid citizens' access to Government. Initially, the reader is encouraged to use the "Sources of Information" sections provided by most agencies in the Manual for locating outlets of more specific information. Highlighted below are the Freedom of Information Act, the Privacy Act of 1974, and some of the transmitters of information it is the public's right to know. Freedom of Information Act The information section of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 552) was amended in 1966 by what has become popularly known as the "Freedom of Information Act". This act became effective on July 4, 1967, and was itself amended by Public Law 93-502 (88 Stat. 1561), effective November 21, 1974. The Freedom of Information Act provides for making information held by Federal agencies available to the public unless it comes within one of the specific categories of matters exempt from public disclosure. The legislative history of the act (particularly the recent amendments) makes it clear that the primary purpose was to make information maintained by the executive branch of the Federal Government more available to the public. At the same time, the act recognized that records which cannot be disclosed without impairing rights of privacy or important Government operations must be protected from disclosure. (See the following discussion of the Privacy Act of 1974.) Virtually all agencies of the executive branch of the Federal Government have issued regulations to implement the Freedom of Information Act. These regulations inform the public where certain types of information may be readily obtained, how other information may be obtained on request, and what internal agency appeals are available if a member of the public is refused requested information. To locate specific agency regulations pertaining to freedom of information, consult the Code of Federal Regulations index under "Information availability." (Many agencies give the location of reading rooms for public inspection of documents under the heading "Sources of Information." See specific agency descriptions in the Manual.) Agency decisions to withhold identifiable records requested under the act are subject to judicial review. The text of the Freedom of Information Act (Public Law 89-487, as amended by Public Law 93-502) is set forth in Appendix C of this Manual. Privacy Act of 1974 The Privacy Act of 1974 reasserts the fundamental right to privacy as derived from the Constitution of the United States and provides a series of basic safeguards for the individual to prevent the misuse of personal information by the Federal Government. The act provides for making known to the public the existence and characteristics of all personal information systems kept by every Federal agency. The act permits an individual to have access to records containing personal information on that individual and allows the individual to control the transfer of that information to other Federal agencies for nonroutine uses. The act also requires all Federal agencies to keep accurate accountings of transfers of personal records to other agencies and outsiders, and to make the accountings available to the individual. The act further provides for civil remedies for the individual whose records are kept or used in contravention of the requirements of the act. The Privacy Act also requires the agencies to adopt regulations that list and describe routine transfers of their personal records and to establish procedures for access to and amendment of such records. Virtually all agencies of the Federal Government have issued regulations implementing the Privacy Act. These regulations generally inform the public how to determine if a system of records contains information on themselves, how to gain access to such records, how to request amendment of such records, and the method of internal appeal of an adverse agency determination on such a request. The Office of the Federal Register publishes an annual compilation which includes descriptions of all the systems of records maintained by each agency of the Federal Government, the categories of individuals about whom each record system is maintained, and the agency rules and procedures whereby an individual may obtain further information. The most recent compilation, entitled Privacy Act Issuances, 1976 Compilation, is divided into five volumes as follows: Volume I-Department of Defense (Part I); Volume II-Department of Defense (Part II) and Department of Transportation; Volume III—Departments of Agriculture, Health, Education, and Welfare, and Treasury; Volume IV-the remainder of the departments and part of the independent agencies; and Volume V-the remainder of the independent agencies. The compilation is available at many public libraries or may be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. The text of the Privacy Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-579, as codified) is set forth in Appendix C of this Manual. Guide to Information About Family History and Genealogy The National Archives serves thousands of people each year, both in person and by mail, who are compiling their family history and genealogy; in fact this group of researchers has traditionally been the archives' highest volume of record users. Literally millions of records relating to persons who have had dealings with the Government are on deposit at the National Archives. Although the Archives was not established until the mid-1930's, its holdings date back to Revolutionary War times. They capture the sweep of the past of the United States. Many of the records are rich in providing the key elements in genealogy: names, dates, places, and relationships. The records consulted most frequently are the Federal census records, military service and related records, passenger arrival records, and Indian records. The place to begin a family history and genealogy search, however, is at home. At home one can find information in family Bibles, newspaper clippings, military certificates, birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, diaries, letters, scrapbooks, backs of photographs, baby books, etc. Relatives are also a good source of information. Visits or letters to family members, particularly older relatives, are usually quite fruitful. Although some States began to keep birth and death records before the turn of the century, for most of the United States birth and death registration became a requirement during the period between 1880 and 1920. Before that time, these events were generally recorded only in church records and in family Bibles. Marriages can be found recorded in most counties, often dating as early as the establishment of the county. Although few churches have records of important events in the lives of members, it is wise to investigate the possibility of finding genealogical data in the records of churches to which ancestors belonged. Records of property acquisition and disposition also can be good sources of genealogical data and are normally found in county courthouses. Often the earliest county records or copies of them are also available in State archives. Also, it is a must to visit the nearby State, regional, and local research institutions. Libraries, historical and genealogical societies, and archival depositories are all possible sources for genealogical and family history information. In addition to its headquarters depository in Washington, the National Archives has established 11 regional branches located in cities around the country. These regional archives branches preserve and make available for research use U.S. Government records of permanent value, created and maintained by field offices of Federal agencies, that are useful primarily for documenting regional and local activities. Certain series of records in these branches may be of value in genealogical research. Such records would include naturalization records created by U.S. courts, land title records created when individuals. acquired land from the public domain, and records of the different field installations of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. In addition to these original text records, the regional branches are receiving microfilm copies of many of the more important records in the National Archives Building in Washington, including the Federal population census schedules, 1790-1900. A list of the regional branches is given below. If an individual wishes to hire a genealogy researcher, he should write to the following organization which will provide a list: Board for Certification of Genealogists, 1307 New Hampshire Avenue NW., Washington, D.C. 20036. The National Archives provides free informational leaflets and forms to those who request them. The address is: Correspondence Branch (NNCC), National Archives (GSA), Washington, D.C. 20408. Microfilm publications in the following regional archives branches are available for use in the branches' research rooms and on interinstitutional loan. Individual users may borrow the microfilm through libraries and research institutions located within a particular region and in accordance with the "National Interlibrary Loan Code, 1968." Inquiries concerning microfilm publications should be directed to the appropriate branch. For each of the following, address inquiries to: Chief, Archives Branch, Federal Archives and Records Center. Regional Branches-National Archives 1 Region Address Phone BOSTON-Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, 380 Trapelo Rd., Waltham, Mass. 02154.... 617-223-2657 Rhode Island, Vermont. NEW YORK-New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands... Bldg. 22-MOT Bayonne, Bayonne, N.J. 201-858-7245 07002. PHILADELPHIA-Delaware, Pennsylvania, District of Columbia, 5000 Wissahickon Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 215-951-5591 Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia. 19144. ATLANTA-Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, 1557 St. Joseph Ave., East Point, Ga. 30344 404-763-7477 North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee. CHICAGO-Illinois, Indiana, Mischigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin 7358 S. Pulaski Rd., Chicago, III. 60629. 312-353-8541 FORT WORTH-Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, 4900 Hemphill St., P.O. Box 6216, Fort 817-334-5515 DENVER-Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Bldg. 48, Denver Federal Center, Denver, 303-234-5271 Colo. 80225. SAN FRANCISCO-California except southern California, Hawaii, 1000 Commodore Dr., San Bruno, Calif. 415-876-9001 LOS ANGELES-Arizona, southern California counties of Imperial, SEATTLE-Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington... 94066. 24000 Avila Rd., Laguna Niguel, Calif. 92677 714-831-4242 6125 Sand Point Way NE., Seattle, Wash. 206-442-4502 98115. 1 Archives branches accession records from field offices of U.S. Government agencies located in the area served except that agencies in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia retire records to the Washington National Records Center, Washington, D.C. 20409. Libraries and research institutions in each regional area may borrow microfilm publications from the archives branch serving that area. Institutions located in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia should borrow microfilm publications from the archives branch in Philadelphia. The Federal Register The Federal Register, published daily, is the medium for making available to the public Federal agency regulations and other legal documents of the execu tive branch. These documents cover a wide range of Government activities. Here, Government requirements are published which involve environmental protection, consumer product safety, food and drug standards, occupational health and safety, and many more areas of concern to the public. Perhaps more importantly, the Federal Register includes proposed changes in regulated areas. Each proposed change published carries an invitation for any citizen or group to participate in the consideration of the proposed regulation through the submission of written data, views, or arguments, and sometimes by oral presentations. The opportunity afforded citizens, through the publication of proposed rules and notices of public meetings, to be informed of and participate in the workings of their Government is significant. The Office of the Federal Register conducts educational workshops on how to use the Federal Register. "The Federal Register-What It Is and How To Use It" is open to the general public and Federal agency personnel and is designed as an introduction for the individual who needs to use Federal Register publications to keep track and gain understanding of Federal regulations. These sessions cover the following areas: a brief history of the Federal Register; the differences between legislation and regulations; an introduction to the finding aids of the Office of the Federal Register; the relationship between the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations; and the important elements of a typical Federal Register document. The Federal Register workshops are scheduled on a regular basis in Washington, D.C. Under certain circumstances and by special arrangement, these workshops may be scheduled in other cities. For further information on the Federal Register workshops, write to the Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Service, Washington, D.C. 20408. Phone, 202-523– 5282. Code of Federal Regulations The Code of Federal Regulations is the annual cumulation of executive agency regulations published in the daily Federal Register, combined with regulations issued previously that are still in effect. Divided into 50 titles, each representing a broad subject area, individual volumes of the Code of Federal Regulations are revised at least once each calendar year and issued on a staggered quarterly basis. An alphabetical listing by agency of subtitle and chapter assignments in the Code is provided in the back of each volume under the heading "Finding Aids" and is accurate for the revision date of that volume. The Code thus serves as a convenient reference for the citizen desiring a comprehensive source for general and permanent Federal regulations. Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents This systematic publication of Presidential items provides users with current information and a permanent reference source concerning Presidential policies and pronouncements. Containing available transcripts of the President's news conferences, messages to Congress, public speeches, remarks, statements, and other Presidential materials released by the White House, the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents helps to fulfill the public's information needs regarding Presidential actions. |