Government Printing Office

Government Printing Office in the United States

The U.S. Government Printing Office has traditionally published on paper the U.S. Supreme Court decisions, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations and much else, and distributed them to the elaborate system of 1400 depository libraries (including most law schools).

Introduction to Government Printing Office

Government Printing Office (GPO), agency of the legislative branch of the United States government, created by a joint resolution of Congress in 1860. The functions of the GPO include the execution of all orders for printing and binding placed by Congress and the federal executive departments and agencies; distribution of government publications as required by law; publication, for public sale, of official documents as determined by the proper authorities; compilation and distribution of catalogs of government publications; and provision of paper, ink, and other supplies to all government divisions.

The GPO is administered by the Public Printer, who is appointed by the president with the approval of the Senate. The Joint Committee on Printing, consisting of five members from the Senate and five from the House of Representatives, sets the standards for paper used in public printing; passes on the wage agreements made by the Public Printer with the representatives of various employees of the GPO, according to legislation enacted in 1924; and, in general, acts as the board of directors of the GPO. Initially the equipment of the GPO consisted of a commercial printing plant acquired for $135,000 with funds appropriated by Congress. In 1989 the machinery and plant of the GPO, which is regarded as one of the largest, best equipped, and most nearly complete in the world, were valued at about $54 million. The office prints about 23,000 copies a day of the Congressional Record.” (1)

It is not an archive of digital information for long-term public access

The United States Government Printing Office, which has traditionally published on paper, has made a commitment to disseminate its publications in electronic form. But it has not committed to serve as an archive, because this
task is not in its mandate.

Government Printing Office

In Legislation

Government Printing Office in the U.S. Code: Title 44, Chapter 3

The current, permanent, in-force federal laws regulating government printing office are compiled in the United States Code under Title 44, Chapter 3. It constitutes “prima facie” evidence of statutes relating to Public Documents (including government printing office) of the United States. The reader can further narrow his/her legal research of the general topic (in this case, Printing of the US Code, including government printing office) by chapter and subchapter.

Resources

Notes and References

Guide to Government Printing Office


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