Facts, Opinions, and Statistics
The following web sites will lead you to quick facts, opinions, statistics, and background information on a variety of topics.
- 2010 Census
- American Factfinder (Population, housing, economic, and geographic data from the U.S. Census. Use their tutorials to learn more.)
- Credo Reference ("Online reference collection providing access to a selection of over 240 reference works, including encyclopedias, dictionaries, biographies and books of quotations.")
- Gale Virtual Reference Library (encyclopedias, almanacs, and specialized reference sources)
- Legal Research Sources (Links to sources of legislative, judicial, and administrative law, including periodical databases.)
- NewsBank Special Reports (Focus on topics of current interest, including current and background information, statistics, maps, images, websites, and suggested search terms. Updated daily.)
- Minority Links (Quick and easy links to the latest data on racial and ethnic populations in the United States)
- Public Opinion Polls and Surveys
- Public Records Directory
- RefDesk.com--Reference, Facts, News
- Roper Center for Public Opinion Research (Archives of public opinion surveys. Search the "iPOLL Databank," which is organized at the question level, from national public opinion surveys, 1935 to present. Search for datasets using "RoperExpress," which allows downloading of about 75% of public opinion studies conducted in the US and many recent studies from outside of the US.)
- San Fernando Valley Statistics & Facts
Politics, Government & Law
General
- Citizen Media Law Project's Legal Guide
- Election News
- Legal Research Sources (Links to sources of legislative, judicial, and administrative law, including periodical databases.)
- League of Women Voters
- MAPlight.org ("public database, illuminates the connection between campaign donations and legislative votes in unprecedented ways." Includes U.S., California, and Los Angeles information. )
- Political Science Research Sources (Links to library databases and websites for locating primary sources and periodical literature.)
- Yahoo--Public Policy Institutes (Links to various "think tanks" and other public policy research institutes.)
Government Websites
In addition to the links and information provided on the Library's Government Publications page, the following websites lead to more specific information on government at various levels.
United States
- USA.gov: The U.S. Government's Official Web Portal
- CIA Electronic Reading Room
- Federal Election Commission
- FDsys: Federal Digital System (GPO) provides access to official Federal Government information. Offers a collection of full-text databases and the text of federal bills, Congressional Record, the Federal Register, and other legal sources.
- Homeland Security Digital Library (HSDL)
- Library of Congress
- Recovery.org: Tracking Economic Recovery Spending
California
- State of California
- California Courts (includes CA Supreme, Appelate, and Superior courts)
- California Department of Finance (has downloadable statistics on population, households, etc. by counties, cities, etc. )
- California Secretary of State
- California State Senate
- California State Assembly
- California State University
- California Voter Foundation
- Legislative Analyst's Office ("California's Nonpartisan Fiscal and Policy Advisor.")
- Rough & Tumble ("A Daily Snapshot of California Public Policy and Politics")
- University of California
Local
- Los Angeles (City/County) Government Sources
- Los Angeles County (official website)
- City of Los Angeles (official website)
- San Fernando Valley Statistics and Facts
- Southern California Cities, Counties, and Subregions