Library Guides: PL SC 404: Analyzing Public Policy in the American States: Other Literature Sources

Policy Reports and Working Papers

Congressional Research Service Reports This link opens in a new window
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) provides members, committees, and congressional staff with nonpartisan and objective research and analysis on all public policy issues.
Research papers written by the Library of Congress for the use of Congress. Provide objective, non-partisan analysis of public policy issues before the legislature. Full text PDF of reports.
govinfo This link opens in a new window
The Federal Government’s official, digital, secure resource for producing, procuring, cataloging, indexing, authenticating, disseminating, and preserving the official information products of the U.S. Government.
The U.S. Government Printing Office disseminates official information from all three branches of the Federal Government.

GAO Reports and Comptroller General Decisions
Reports ("blue books") on audits, surveys, investigations, and evaluations of Federal programs conducted by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). GAO is an independent, nonpartisan agency that works for Congress. Often called the "congressional watchdog", GAO investigates how the federal government spends taxpayer dollars. Other GAO Reports can be found on the Government Printing Office website.
US Department of State Policy Issues
Find information about current major policy issues. Some (e.g., economic issues, women's issues) include access to archives for information about previous policies about the issue.

Writing White Papers

Tips for Writing Policy Papers
A comprehensive overview from Stanford University on crafting a white paper.

Finding white papers: White papers may be written by organizations seeking to influence policy or by those doing research for members of the legislature. Begin by identifying your target area for research, and then seek out organizations in that area. For example, the Pennsylvania State Education Association produces white papers on various topics of concern to educators and legislators in the state of Pennsylvania.

Penn State University Libraries

PL SC 404: Analyzing Public Policy in the American States

Policy Reports and Working Papers

Writing White Papers

Organizations