FAQ'S ABOUT GOVERNMENT INFORMATION

General: Tax--Recreation--Buying publications--History--Statistics--Full text publications on the web

Social and Business: Welfare and Social Security--Business--Consumer--Patent, Trademark,Copyright--Justice

Science and Health: Health--Environment--Earthquakes

Legal Resources: Laws--Propositions--Elected Officials

Education and Schools: Colleges and Universities--Curriculum help--Achievement scores

GENERAL:

1. TAX: I need tax forms and publications.

• Most forms and background publications are available on the web.

2. RECREATION:  My family needs recreation information, like campground facilities

• California has a site to help plan a trip
• Several federal agencies provide information. Here are some major ones:
• National Park Service
• U.S. Forest Service
• A coalition of federal agencies recreation information site
• INFOMINE searches by "Travel" or "Recreation" provides several useful sites for travel in California, the United States or around the world. 
• World Tourism Organization

3. BUYING PUBLICATIONS: I want to buy a government publication. How do I do it?

• U. S. Government publications
• California publications still in print, can sometimes be obtained directly for the agency that produced the publication.
• United Nations Publications and Sales

4. HISTORY: Can I find old, historical information and government publications on the web.

• Some important historical documents are beginning to appear from the federal government at such sites as:
• Library of Congress
• National Archives and Records Administration
• Browse under "History" or "Historical" on INFOMINE for numerous sites
• Core Documents of U.S. Democracy
• California Heritage Collection

5. STATISTICS: I need statistics on a topic

• There are several outstanding U.S. government sites. If you search by agency, select the one responsibile for the topic being searched.
• Many statistics about California, the United States and the world can be found on the U.S. government sites listed above, especially from the Census Bureau.
• California Statistical Abstract
• California Demographics
• International organizations compile statistics about specific topics and/or countries

6. FULL TEXT PUBLICATIONS ON THE WEB. I want to know where I can find a publication, full text, on the web.

SOCIAL AND BUSINESS

1. WELFARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY: How do I find information about Social Security and other benefits?

Social Security Administration
U. S. Administration for Children and Families
San Francisco Office of ACF
California Department of Social Services

2. BUSINESS: I am starting a new business. I need information on how to get help now and in the future to run the business.

• Small Business Administration Besides information, site has many links to related business sources.
• U. S. Department of Commerce
• Doing Business in California
• Sources of international trade and finance
• Selected other ways to find U. S. business and economic information
• Sometimes you need to contact a specific U.S. or California agency.

3. CONSUMER: I need to know what to do as a consumer about a product (e.g., a car) that does not work properly amd I think is a lemon.

• U. S. Consumer Gateway
• California consumer information

4. PATENT, TRADEMARK, COPYRIGHT: I just invented something and I want to know how I patent my invention.

Patent, Trademark and Copyright Offices.

5. JUSTICE: How do I find information about crimes, justice and law enforcement?

• U. S. justice information
• California law enforcement
• California Justice Department
• International justice web sites

SCIENCE AND HEALTH

1. HEALTH: How do I find information in Spanish on basic health care?

• U. S. Healthfinder Click on "espanol"
• California Health Care information (in English)
• World Health Organization

2. ENVIRONMENT: How do I find environmental information about my neighborhood? With a map?

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Search by zip code
• CERES (California Environmental Resources Evaluation System)

3. EARTHQUAKES: How can I find out about the seismic/earthquake hazards of a certain area?

• U.S. Geological Survey earthquake information
• California Seismic Hazard Zone Maps
• California earthquake preparedness

LEGAL RESOURCES

1. LAWS: There was a new law I heard about on child abuse. How do I find it?

• U.S. Laws/U.S. Code
• California:
• Offical California Legislative Information
• California Codes
• California Constitution
• California Statutes
• Other states

2. PROPOSITIONS:

• Current California ballot propositions.
• California Secretary of State. Pamphlets evaluating propositions, other election information
• Orange County Registrar of Voters

3. ELECTED OFFICIALS: How do I find information on my various representatives to state and federal governmental bodies?

• U. S. House of Representatives and Senators
• Other U. S. officials and their offices. Select database by title, scroll down to "Government Manual" and select it. Then click on the year wanted.
• California legislators
• Other California officials
• Officials elected to represent Orange County

EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS

1. COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES: I need information about colleges and universities and their requirements, scholarships and grants.

• College guides, scholarships, and grants.
• Orange County College and University web sites

2. CURRICULUM HELP: I am a teacher and need some help with developing my curriculum

• U. S. educational sites
• California Educational Resources

3. ACHIEVEMENT TEST SCORES: How do I know what the scholastic achievement is of specific schools in California?

California Department of Education reorts, programs and test scores