The ''Official Congressional Directory'' (also known as ''Congressional Directory'') is the official directory of the
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the legislature of the federal government of the United States. It is bicameral, composed of a lower body, the House of Representatives, and an upper body, the Senate. It meets in the U.S. Capitol in Washing ...
, prepared by the
Joint Committee on Printing
The Joint Committee on Printing is a Joint committee (legislative), joint committee of the United States Congress devoted to overseeing the functions of the United States Government Publishing Office, Government Publishing Office and general printi ...
(JCP) and published by the
United States Government Printing Office
The United States Government Publishing Office (USGPO or GPO; formerly the United States Government Printing Office) is an agency of the legislative branch of the United States Federal government. The office produces and distributes information ...
(GPO) since 1887. Directories since the
104th Congress
The 104th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from January 3, 19 ...
(1995–1997) are available online from the
Government Publishing Office
The United States Government Publishing Office (USGPO or GPO; formerly the United States Government Printing Office) is an agency of the legislative branch of the United States Federal government. The office produces and distributes information ...
. Per federal statute (44 USC 721) the ''Directory'' is published and distributed during the first session of each new Congress. It is a designated essential title distributed to
Federal depository libraries
Federal or foederal (archaic) may refer to:
Politics
General
*Federal monarchy, a federation of monarchies
*Federation, or ''Federal state'' (federal system), a type of government characterized by both a central (federal) government and states or ...
and the current edition is available for purchase from GPO.
Description
The foreword notes: ''The Congressional Directory'' is one of the oldest working handbooks within the United States Government. While there were unofficial directories for Congress in one form or another beginning with the 1st Congress in 1789, the ''Congressional Directory'' published in 1847 for the 30th Congress is considered by scholars and historians to be the first official edition because it was the first to be ordered and paid for by Congress. With the addition of biographical sketches of legislators in 1867, the ''Congressional Directory'' attained its modern format.
Each bi-annual edition includes:
* Short biographies of each member of the Senate and House, listed by state or district.
* Committee memberships, terms of service, administrative assistants and/or secretaries, and room and telephone numbers for Members of Congress.
* Lists officials of the courts, military establishments, and other Federal departments and agencies, including D.C. government officials, governors of states and territories, foreign diplomats, and members of the press, radio, and television galleries.
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External links
* Hathi Trust
''Official Congressional Directory'' fulltext, various dates; als
here* Government Publishing Office
''Official Congressional Directory'' fulltext, various dates.
{{USCongress
American non-fiction books
Books about politics of the United States
Publications of the United States Congress
Reference works in the public domain