The City of Philadelphia has online resources about City budget and financial matters, demographic and neighborhood statistics, City and State government, the Court system, and public and private records.

The U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) website offers the following information:

• Electronic publications on benefit services, including forms
• Information about the SSA, including regional contact information
• Online Direct Services, including benefit information
• Laws, Regulations, Rulings, etc.
• Understanding Social Security

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation website.

Check out our Elected Officials guide.

The American FactFinder of the United State Census Bureau is the best place to start.  From this site, you may find data sets from the 2000 and 2010 Census.  The Social Science and History Department also has Census reports in paper format from 1790 to the present.

Yes, the U.S. Census Bureau published the Statistical Abstract of the United States which serves as the National Data Book.  It contains a collection of statistics on social and economic conditions in the United States. Selected international data are also included.

The Abstract is also your Guide to Sources of other data from the Census Bureau, other Federal agencies, and private organizations. The Social Science and History Department owns the Statistical Abstract in paper format from 1878 to the present. Online versions of the Statistical Abstract from 1878 - 2012 are also available.

Another source of statistical information from the Federal government is FedStats. FedStats provides easy access to statistics and information produced by more than 70 U.S. Federal Government agencies. All of the statistical information available through FedStats is maintained and updated solely by Federal agencies on their own Internet servers.

Since 1981 the Pennsylvania State Data Center has served as the Commonwealth's official source of demographic and economic data. The PSDC can provide you with population, social, housing and economic characteristics of the state of Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia Regional statistical data is available from the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

The U.S.Consumer Information Center in Pueblo, Co. provides consumer information on many topics including: cars, children, education, employment, food, and health.

Additional federal consumer information is available from the Federal Trade Commission.

Consumer information and protection in Pennsylvania is available from the Bureau of Consumer Protection, which is part of the Attorney General's Office.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was created under the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010, and its purpose is "make markets for consumer financial products and services work for Americans."

The Office of Human Resources of the City of Philadelphia maintains the Civil Service regulations online.

The Pennsylvania General Assembly website offers the following information:

• Welcome Information
• What's New
• House of Representatives
• The Senate
• Session Information

 The Philadelphia Empowerment Zone website offers the following information:

• Overview
• Financing
• Tax benefits
• Maps & data
• Contact information
• Business success stories

Louisiana State University Library has compiled a Federal Agencies Directory . The list separates agencies into:

• Executive Branch
• Judicial Branch
• Legislative Branch
• Independent Boards, Commissions and Committees
• Quasi-Official
• "Search"

The United States State Department maintains U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets and other foreign country information.

The Library of Congress Federal Research Division publishes Country Studies.

The United States Central Intelligence Agency's "World Factbook" includes valuable basic information about foreign countries.

The Social Science and History Department would like to refer you to The Committee of Seventy . "The Committee of Seventy is a not-for-profit, non-partisan political watchdog organization dedicated to advancing good government for the City of Philadelphia and its surrounding communities since 1904." You will find a wealth of political information and data about Philadelphia and the Region.

The laws of Pennsylvania are published in Purdon's Pennsylvania Statutes Annotated and the regulations are in the Pennsylvania Code.  The Pennsylvania Code and the Pennsylvania Statutes are available online. Purdon's Pennsylvania Statutes are available online in an unannotated version through Westlaw. Purdon's Pennsylvania Statutes Annotated and the Code are available in print in the Social Science and History Department.

You can find the State of Pennsylvania's website at www.pa.gov

The Pennsylvania Manual is available online in pdf format and is a comprehensive guide to Pennsylvania's government.  It includes Pennsylvania history, the Pennsylvania Constitution, and elections results. It profiles the executive, judicial, and legislative branches including information on the powers, functions, and duties of those offices.
 

The U.S. Government sponsors Ben's Guide to U.S. Government for Kids. "Ben's Guide" has resources divided by school grade groups K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12. Also featured is information for Parents & Educators , U.S. Government WebSites for Kids, and U.S. Government Information in Libraries.

For a list of Kids' pages of Pennsylvania government agencies, try Discover Pennsylvania.

The laws of the United States are in the United States Code and the regulations of federal agencies are in the Code of Federal Regulations. Both are available from FDSys. Both the United States Code and the Code of Federal Regulations are available in print in the Social Science and History Department.

Philadelphia laws are in the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter and the Philadelphia Code. The Charter and Code are also available in print in the Government Publications Department and many of the branches. For Philadelphia City Council bills and resolutions, visit City Council's Legislative Information Center.

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The Government Publications Department has current and historical hearings, reports, documents and bills dating back to the 18^th century. The Government Printing Office's Federal Digital System (FDsys), has current and recent historical publications.  The Free library subscribes to a database called the Readex United States Congressional Serial Set.  Here, you will find Congressional Bills, House and Senate Reports, House and Senate Documents, and more from 1817 - 1980.  This database is available from inside any Free Library location and from computers outside the library as long as you have a library card and know your PIN number.

The School District of Philadelphia's website has working papers application forms, instructions, and information.

Federal tax forms and publications from 1864 to the current tax year may be printed from the IRS Web site . Pennsylvania state tax forms and publications from 2010 to the current tax year may be printed from the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue website. The City of Philadelphia has a wage tax rather than an income tax and most employers deduct this tax out automatically.

There is a Philadelphia School Income Tax on non-wage income and forms that is available on the Philadelphia Department of Revenue website. Some basic Federal and State forms for the current year are available in the Social Science and History Department.

Listings, job descriptions and electronic or printable application forms are available online at USAJobs.gov, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Civil Service Job Listings, and City of Philadelphia Personnel Department for federal, state, and city jobs respectively. The Social Science and History Department has print listings of City of Philadelphia job opportunities.

The U.S. State Department website has:

• Passport information and application forms
• Foreign country visa requirements
• Travel warnings

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides current and historical indexes and change percentages for Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA), as well as the Philadelphia area Consumer Price Index.