Government Documents
Government Documents are a valuable primary source. Governments around the world publish a huge amount of material. Publications range from records of parliamentary debate to legislation, accounts, reports, statistics, periodicals and miscellaneous papers. Material is published for a variety of reasons. e.g. to support the work of government bodies and individuals, and to satisfy the demand for accountability.
The Library's collection of Government Documents is extensive. It is particularly strong with regard to Australia, Britain, United States, and the European Community. The bulk of the collection is housed in the Baillieu Library (3rd Floor Government Documents Collection, and Lower Ground Floor Microforms Collections) and the Law Library. Indexes are available to much of the material.
Great Britain
Great Britain was one of the first nations to devise an effective parliamentary system. Two of the major series of British Government Documents are:
Parliamentary Papers - Papers laid before Parliament such as Bills, Reports, Budget Papers, Policy Statements and Depatmental Reports.
Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) - A published account of the proceedings of the Houses of Parliament. Reporting was fragmentary before 1660 (Members of Parliament were reluctant to allow their opinions to be publicly recorded due to the struggle for power between Commons and Crown!) From 1660 privately issued reports were published in the form of pamphlets, newspaper articles and periodicals. It was not until 1909 that complete official reporting commenced.
Other British Government Documents issued include Laws and Statutes, Votes and Proceedings and Journals.
Australia
Britain "exported" its parliamentary system to the Australian Colonies. With the exception of the A.C.T. all the Australian States were settled and had acquired responsible government prior to Federation on the 1st of January 1901. Government Documents were published by each of the individual States. Since Federation Government Documents have been issued by the Commonwealth Government in addition to the States.
Parliamentary Papers and Parliamentary Debates are two of the major Australian (and State) Government Documents. Other Australian (and State) Government Documents include Votes and Proceedings, Government Gazettes, Laws and Statutes, Rules and Regulations and Year Books.
Links to selected Australian government documents is provided at Government Documents@Library
United States of America
The United States Congress has produced / produces a huge volume of Government Documents including Hearings, Journals, Debates & Proceedings, and Law & Legislation. (The Library holds an extensive collection on microfiche, which is published by the Congressional Information Service)
European Community
The EC, established in 1952, also produces a large volume of material including Documents and Periodicals.
Indexes
Indexes are available for many of the larger series of Government Documents. Inquire at the Baillieu Library Information Desk for further details.
Government Resources on the www
Increasingly Governments are making information available via the www.
Selection of sites:
Australia - Commonwealth Government
Australian State and Territory Governments
European Parliament
United Kingdom Parliament
United States of America - Congress
See also:
National Library of Australia - International Government Links
