There is a central page that has links to many online resources of the Executive Branch of the Government, (President, Cabinet, Departments, etc.). After a law is passed by Congress, it becomes the job of the Executive Branch to write rules and regulations that describe how it will be implemented. You will find access here to the rules which have been developed as well as to the Federal Budget.

http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/executive.html

There are some specific resources which are particularly important to the policy making process, each of which will be briefly described below, with links to the databases which can help you in your study.

EXECUTIVE BRANCH: FEDERAL REGISTER

The Federal Register is the official daily publication for Rules, Proposed Rules, and Notices of Federal agencies and organizations, as well as Executive Orders and other Presidential Documents. As of 2001, the online database includes Volume 60 (1995), Volume 61 (1996), Volume 62 (1997), Volume 63 (1998), Volume 64 (1999), Volume 65 (2000), and Volume 66 (2001). A new volume is added to the database each year.

It is found at:

http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/aces140.html

Helpful access hints are found at:

http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/help/hints/fr.html

EXECUTIVE BRANCH: CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR)

The Code of Federal Regulations is the codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the Executive Department and agencies of the Federal Government. Some CFR records on GPO Access date back to 1996; all titles are available from 1997 to the current year.

The CFR is divided into 50 titles that represent broad areas subject to Federal regulation.

Often the rules in this code are derived from newly passed laws.

This database is found at:

http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/index.html

Helpful hints for this one are found at:

http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/help/hints/cfr.html

Each volume of the CFR is revised once each calendar year and is issued on a quarterly basis approximately as follows:

Title 1 through Title 16........................as of January 1
Title 17 through Title 27.........................as of April 1
Title 28 through Title 41.........................as of July 1
Title 42 through Title 50.........................as of October 1

CFR volumes are added to GPO Access concurrent with the release of the paper editions. When revised CFR volumes are added, the prior editions remain on GPO Access as a historical set. Some CFR records on GPO Access date back to 1996; all titles are available from 1997 to the current year.