U.S. Government Information 

Government Information Services and Collections

Vision and Mission of the Federal Depository Library Program: "The vision of the Federal Depository Library Program is to provide Government information when and where you need it... The mission of the Federal Depository Library Program is to provide for no-fee ready and permanent public access to Federal Government information, now and for future generations..." GPO Study of Regional Depositories available at http://www.fdlp.gov/regionals/study.html.

The UCI Libraries are a selective depository for United States government publications. Though the collection focuses on subjects in the social and political sciences, there are considerable collections of statistical, scientific and environmental resources. Approximately 70% of the material available for acquisition is selected.

For the last few years the majority of those publications have been in electronic format and are linked through either ANTPAC or MELVYL.

There is still a substantial collection of paper, microfiche and DVDs or CD-ROMs. This collection is arranged by Superintendent of Documents (SuDoc) classification. An explanation of the SuDoc system is available at the Federal Depository Library Program Desktop.

The U. S. Government depository collection is open to the public. This includes computers to access electronic documents on the internet, machines to read and copy microfiche, and photocopiers. Standard fees apply to these services (See, UCI Libraries Copy Services). Many documents may be checked out with a valid UCI Library card (See, UCI Libraries Cards, PINS & Renewals).

Hein Online provides access to the Debates of Congress.  To access the Congressional Record and its precursors, go to http://heinonline.org/HOL/Welcome

Then, from within Hein Online, select U.S. Congressional Documents (towards page bottom). There you will find the full text, pdf image databases of the following:

Annals of the Congress of the United States
1st Congress to 18th Congress, 1st Session (1789-1824) All Published
 
Register of Debates in Congress
Vols. 1-14 (1825-1837) All Published
 
Congressional Globe
Vols. 1-46 pt. 3 (1833-1873) All Published
 
Congressional Record
Vols. 1-150 pt. 12 (1873-2004) (43rd Congress, Special Session to 108th Congress, 2nd Session )
 
Congressional Record Daily
Vols. 140-155 No. 79 (1994-2009)

A hearing is a meeting or session of a Senate, House, joint, or special committee of Congress, usually open to the public, to obtain information and opinions on proposed legislation, conduct an investigation, or evaluate/oversee the activities of a government department or the implementation of a Federal law. In addition, hearings may also be purely exploratory in nature, providing testimony and data about topics of current interest. Most congressional hearings are published two months to two years after they are held.