FEDERAL

The United States Government's official web portal.  Whatever you want or need from the U.S. government, it's here on FirstGov.gov. You'll find a rich treasure of online information, services and resources.

Government Printing Office informs the Nation by producing, procuring, and disseminating printed and electronic publications of the Congress as well as the executive departments and establishments of the Federal Government.

FedStats is the gateway to statistics from over 100 U.S. federal agencies.

FedWorld gives access to thousands of US Government web sites, more than a 1/2 million US Government documents, and a plethora of resources.

USAJOBS is the official job site of the United States Federal Government.
It's your one-stop source for Federal jobs and employment information.

United States General Accounting Office is the audit, evaluation, and investigative arm of Congress. GAO exists to support the Congress in meeting its Constitutional responsibilities and to help improve the performance and ensure the accountability of the federal government for the American people. GAO examines the use of public funds, evaluates federal programs and activities, and provides analyses, options, recommendations, and other assistance to help the Congress make effective oversight, policy, and funding decisions. In this context, GAO works to continuously improve the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of the federal government through financial audits, program reviews and evaluations, analyses, legal opinions, investigations, and other services. GAO's activities are designed to ensure the executive branch's accountability to the Congress under the Constitution and the government's accountability to the American people.

Unites States Department of Commerce is focused on promoting and advocating for American business, both at home and abroad. The Department also gathers vast quantities of economic and demographic data, issues patents and trademarks, helps set industrial standards, forecasts the weather, researches the oceans and oversees telecommunications policy.

Freedom of Information Act Handbook/Guide has information regarding individuals and organizations having access to government records.  It contains all information needed to make a request.

Unites States Copyright Office is the office of public record for copyright registration and deposit of copyright material.

United States Patent and Trademark Office  has the basic role to promote the progress of science and the useful arts by securing for limited times to inventors the exclusive right to their respective discoveries (Article 1, Section 8 of the United States Constitution).  The PTO is a non-commercial federal entity and one of 14 bureaus in the Department of Commerce (DOC).

Travel Warnings

U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs American Citizens Services issue travel warnings, provide consular information sheets, and disseminate public announcements.

National Contact Center of the Federal Consumer Information Center.  Also see About Us.

Abbreviations and Acronyms of the U.S. Government

The Official U.S. Time public service is cooperatively provided by the two time agencies of United States: a Department of Commerce agency, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and its military counterpart, the U. S. Naval Observatory (USNO). Readings from the clocks of these agencies contribute to world time, called Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The time maintained by both agencies should never differ by more than 0.000 0001 seconds from UTC (see recent comparisons).

NORTH CAROLINA

North Carolina Institute of Government in Chapel Hill has, for sixty-two years, been a major resource for local and state officials in North Carolina who depend upon it to help them get the information and hone the skills they need to conduct public business.  The Institute has helped them learn what the law requires them to do and  what the law prohibits them from doing; how best to manage their departments and agencies; how to ensure fiscal soundness and how to prepare proper financial reports; how to plan effectively for development; and how to make informed policy decisions. (cited)

NC Center for Public Policy Research is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to the goals of a better-informed public and more effective, accountable, and responsive government. The Center identifies public policy issues facing North Carolina and enriches the dialogue among citizens, the media, and policymakers. Based on its research, the Center makes recommendations for improving the way government serves the people of this state. In all its efforts, the Center values reliable and objective research as a basis for analyzing public policy, independence from partisan bias and political ideology, the richness of the states diverse population, and a belief in the importance of citizen involvement in public life.

HOKE COUNTY/RAEFORD

OTHER

National Governors Association is the collective voice of the nation's governors and one of Washington, D.C.'s, most respected public policy organizations. NGA provides governors and their senior staff members with services that range from representing states on Capitol Hill and before the Administration on key federal issues to developing policy reports on innovative state programs and hosting networking seminars for state government executive branch officials. The NGA Center for Best Practices focuses on state innovations and best practices on issues that range from education and health to technology, welfare reform, and the environment. NGA also provides management and technical assistance to both new and incumbent governors.

National Conference of State Legislatures is your forum for advancing ideas in your home state, across other states, and on Capitol Hill; for promoting information-sharing, one-on-one and collectively; and for providing you with the knowledge and resources you need to get America's ideas working.

US Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of the nation's 1183 U.S. cities with populations of 30,000 or more. Each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. The primary roles of the Conference of Mayors are to - promote the development of effective national urban/suburban policy, strengthen federal-city relationships, ensure that federal policy meets urban needs, provide mayors with leadership and management tools, and create a forum in which mayors can share ideas and information.