ELECTRONIC REFERENCE BOOKS 

• Checks and Balances: The Three Branches of the American Government 
• Gale Encyclopedia of US History: Government & Politics
• Gale Encyclopedia of World History: Governments

• Academic Search Premier
  Updated daily. Coverage spans virtually every area of academic study and offers information dating back to 1985.
   
• Discovering Collection
  A comprehensive database to retrieve in-depth encyclopedia and reference book articles for the core curriculum areas of Literature, History, Biographies, Science, and Social Studies.
   
• General Reference Center Gold
  Updated daily. Search Magazines, newspapers, and reference books, and trade publications for business, industry, current events, arts and sciences, sports, popular culture, and more.

Census

• County and City Data Book
  This website does not include the complete data book, but is useful for Cities with a population greater than 200,000.
   
• County Business Patterns
  1996 County Business Patterns data in pdf format. Tables include employment, payroll, number of establishments by SIC, etc.
   
• Historical United States Census Data Browser 1790-1970
  Includes county and state level information for all censuses from 1790-1970.
   
• State and Metropolitan Area Data Book
  Includes social and economic statistics for State and metropolitan areas.
   
• U.S. Bureau of the Census
  The most comprehensive source for demographic information for state and local governments. 

Elections

• 2008 Election Information
  Information from the University of Michigan Documents Center. Includes presidential match sites, political advertising, likely Congressional candidates, campaign finances, public opinion polls, election calendars, and historic Presidential votes by Congressional District.
   
• Colorado Revised Statutes
  Information from the Colorado Secretary of State, Elections Center website, through contractual arrangement with the LexisNexis Group.
   
• Federal Election Commission
  Provides contributions and financial reports filed by presidential, House campaigns, Parties, and PAC's.
   
• League of Women Voters
  Election information prepared by the League of Women Voters of Boulder Valley and the Longmont area.
   
• Opensecrets.org
  Online source for information about money in politics.
   
• Project Vote Smart
  Tracks the performance of more than 13,000 elected officials. Evaluative and issue information includes candidate responses to the National Political Awareness Test (NPRAT), voting records, performance evaluation by SIGs, and information on the candidates' campaign funding sources. 

Federal

• Congress.org
  A Guide to federal, state and local elected officials political issues, legislative actions, candidates and elections.
   
• Constitution of the United States
  Full-text and searchable.
   
• Contacting the Congress
  Phone numbers, fax numbers, and e-mail addresses for members of Congress.
   
• GPO Access Databases
  Includes Budget, Congressional Bills, Congressional Record, Federal Register, and more...
   
• THOMAS: Legislative Information on the Internet
  Includes the full text of bills from the current Congress back through the 101st Congress.
   
• Uncle Sam – Forms From the Feds
  Links to the most requested government electronic forms.
   
• USA.gov
  Links to 27 million United States Federal Government, state and local government web pages. 

International

• Background Notes
  Country information includes history, government, political conditions, and basic statistical and geographical data.
   
• Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members of Foreign Governments
  Lists rulers and heads of states. Updated monthly.
   
• Country Studies/Area Handbooks
  Description and analysis of country's political, economic, and social systems and institutions.
   
• Foreign Government Resources on the Web
  This resource is arranged geographically and provides links to government and and legal resources for countries.
   
• Internet Country Guides - INCORE
  The Initiative on Conflict Resolution and Ethnicity's site has guides available for conflict hot spots across the globe. There are some interesting links here that can provide alternative information.
   
• United Nations
  Provides information on treaties, international law, humanitarian affairs, economic and social development, human rights, peace and security, and U.N. publications.
   
• Project Visa
  Up to date visa and embassy information for all countries.
   
• World Factbook
  Published by the CIA, this Website contains basic statistical data on countries of the world. 

Local

• Boulder County
  Includes county government information, addresses, names of elected officials, boards and commissions, employment opportunities, school district information, requests for bids, and much more.
   
• City and County of Denver
  Provides information on local government, arts and attractions, and sports.
   
• City of Louisville
  Provides information on City government and departments. Information incudes meeting agendas and minutes for boards and commissions, contact information for City staff, City news, and a link to the Louisville Municipal Code. 

States

• 50 U.S. States and Capitals
  Quick, easy-to-use guide with basic information (text of state songs, birds, flags, maps, parks, etc.) on the states.
   
• Colorado by the Numbers
  Contains unique demographic information for the State of Colorado.
   
• Colorado Legislature – Bills
  Includes bills, session laws, rules and regulations, calendar, and status information.
   
• Colorado Demography Office
  Another source of statistical information for Colorado, its counties and municipalities.
   
• Cooperative Extension Online
  Fact sheets on gardening, aging, health, and other topics from Colorado State University.
   
• State and Local Government on the Net
  Links to State home pages and other state government pages.
   
• Stateline.org
  Provides comparative data on the public policies of all 50 states. Data tables include budget and taxes, crime and prisons, environment, highways and transportation, income and poverty, and population.
   
• State of Colorado
  Includes weather/road conditions, tax forms, employment opportunities, links to city and county pages, and information on elected officials, the Colorado General Assembly, BIDS, courts, state agencies, tourism and recreation, education, and business information.
   
• StateLINC
  Quick and easy access to Colorado state government information via the State Library. 

Statistics

• Bureau of Economic Analysis
  Includes national, regional and international statistics on various aspects of the U.S. economy.
   
• Bureau of Justice Crime Statistics
  Data on U.S. murder rate, drug use, and crime rates and reports on subjects such as violence against women, capital punishment, drugs, guns, and prison populations. Provided by the Bureau of Justice Statistics.
   
• Bureau of Labor Statistics
  Economic data and analysis by BLS such as employment and unemployment data, consumer price index, living conditions, compensation, and more.
   
• Colorado by the Numbers
  An online statistical abstract for the State of Colorado.
   
• Condition of Education – 2000-2005
  Indicators and analyses of education statistics.
   
• Digest of Education Statistics
  A range of statistical information covering kindergarten through graduate school.
   
• Fedstats: One-stop Shopping Federal Statistics
  Covers statistical information for over 100 Federal agencies, organized in a subject-based A-Z directory.
   
• International Data Base (IDB)
  U.S. Census Bureau statistical tables for demographic and socio-economic data for all countries of the world.
   
• Justice Information Center
  This site links to data on corrections, courts, crime prevention, juvenile justice, and criminal justice statistics. It includes an abstracts database that indexes more that 150,000 criminal justice publications.
   
• Population Clock
  Current population of the World and U.S.
   
• Statistical Abstract of the U.S.
  Comprehensive statistical database for U.S. and state social and economic conditions.
   
• Statistical Resources on the Web
  A comprehensive portal to online resources for ststistics on all topics from agriculture and business to transportation and weather.
   
• Toxics Release Inventory
  The Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) contains information about toxic chemicals that are being used, manufactured, treated, transported, or released into the environment. It also includes information about toxic chemicals and health matters such as risk screening and steps you may want to take if toxins are released in your community.
   
• U.S. Bureau of the Census
  The most comprehensive collection of U.S. demographic data.
   
• Vital Records Information
  Information on where to obtain vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce) for every county of every state.