Why Are Government Documents Important?

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The United States government was founded on the principle that a free and democratic society requires an informed citizenry. A “government of the people, by the people, for the people” must have open access to honest and meaningful information so that the public may stay responsibly engaged in the governing process. Our “right to know” as well as our “right to vote” are the most powerful tools we have to keep our political leaders accountable.

Published on various topics and in a variety of formats (paper, microform, video, electronic), government documents are essential to our daily lives. Not only do these resources offer important details on the laws and regulations that help govern us, but they also provide other valuable information on issues such as consumer rights, education, career planning, health, safety and recreation. These publications are important in helping us to both maintain our watch over the government’s activities and improve our quality of life.

Government documents are also vital to many types of research. The federal government is the leading producers of statistics and in many cases is the only source of primary information on certain subjects. Some examples include Census and trade data, which may be used in business planning, market research and grant writing. Then, government birth, death and military records, as well as other legal or historical materials, have proven valuable in the study of history, genealogy, political science, and sociology.

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