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Directories of Government AgenciesAccess to government often appears to be overwhelming. There are at least 80,000 unitsof government in the United States--of which the federal government is only one; otherunits include states, a commonwealth, territories, counties; cities; towns, villages, anddistricts with the independent ability to raise taxes for schools, water systems, firedepartments and similar specific functions. For purposes of research, it is not sufficient tocontact the largest governmental units--the federal government, each state, or a large cityof 100,000+. It is also necessary to contact their component departments, agencies,bureaus, and offices, thus multiplying the scope of potential contacts. If research involvessurveys or interviews, contacts with individual officials are necessary; yet there areapproximately seventeen million public sector employees in the U.S. Even at theappointed policy levels, there are easily in excess of one million individuals.How can such organizations and individuals be identified? Fortunately, excellentdirectories are available. Most are updated on an annual basis. Although they areprohibitively costly (with few exceptions) for an individual, they are readily available inresearch libraries. Those described below should be taken as representative of theavailable resources and not as a comprehensive listing. They are an excellent startingpoint for organization-based research.In addition to the national directories cited below, many state and municipal governmentdirectories are published.FEDERALBiographical Directory of the United States Executive Branch. 1774-1989, N.Y.,Greenwood Press, 1990.http://info.greenwood.com/books/0313265/0313265933.htmlhttp://www.greenwood.comCompletely revised and updated, this Directory now includes biographies of members ofthe executive branch who have served since 1977. A one-page preface introduces thealphabetically arranged career biographies of all cabinet heads confirmed in office by theSenate-thus, acting cabinet officials are omitted. Also included are presidents, vicepresidents,and presidents of the Continental Congress. The biographies written by a teamof 32 historical researchers give significant dates in the person's life, family and personalinformation, religion, career activities before and after cabinet service, and place of deathand interment.Keywords: biographical, directory, executive branch71