BISLEP 301: Law, Economics, and Public Policy (Walsh): Primary Sources

Class research guide for BISLEP 301 at UW Bothell in Autumn 2024.

Data Sources

Data.Census.Gov
Interface for data from U.S. Census, American Community Survey, Economic Census, and more. Tables and maps for U.S states, counties, cities, towns, by race, ethnic, ancestry, or tribal groups.
Data.gov
Provides publicly accessible data and datasets generated and held by the Federal Government.
United Nations Data
Databases by subject, statistics resources, country data services, and more...

Sage Data This link opens in a new window
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Social-science data and statistics from a variety of sources.
PolicyMap This link opens in a new window
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Online mapping with data on demographics, real estate, health, jobs and more in communities across the United States

Additional Primary Source locations

YouTube.com
Search for video footage related to your crisis.
APimages.com
Images from Associated Press photographers.

Locating Primary Sources Tips

Using relevant keywords in Google plus inurl:gov can bring you sources that are on .gov websites, potentially useful as primary sources. For example: homelessness inurl:gov

Consider searching social media platforms (often Twitter) that may provide information about your chosen crisis, both from survivors, responders, and observers. YouTube is another option.

Use relevant keywords in UW Libraries Search and limit your results to "Government Documents" on the left side of the screen.

Explore more potential primary sources with the UW Bothell Campus Library Data Research Guide, the UW Seattle Political Science and Public Policy Research Guide, and the UW Seattle Government Publications Research Guide.

Statistical Resources

Bureau of Economic Analysis
Select the Regional tab to search data related to a specific state or municipality
Economic Indicators
Available from April 1995 forward, this monthly publication is prepared by the Council of Economic Advisers for the Joint Economic Committee. It provides economic information on gross domestic product, income, employment, production, business activity, prices, money, credit, security markets, Federal finance, and international statistics.
Bureau of Labor & Statistics
Statistical information on employment, unemployment, prices and living conditions. Also has links to historical data.

Legal & Government Primary Sources

Westlaw Campus Research This link opens in a new window
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Federal and state court cases, statutes, & regulations; law reviews & journals; legal research encyclopedias; and some international legal resources, company information, and news. Campus Research is not available to the law school or the office of the general counsel.

ProQuest Congressional
Index to Congressional publications from 1789 to present plus fulltext hearings from 1824-1972 & fulltext bills & laws
Congress.gov
Current Congressional activities, including full text U.S. House and Senate bills, committee information and details of the legislative process.
USA.gov - the government's official search engine