Government Information: Some key official websites by jurisdiction (place)

Federal

• Government of Canada (main site)
  • About Government:  Quick access to information on the federal system of government, electoral process, etc.
• Departments and Agencies: Direct links to the Departments, Agencies, Crown Corporations, Special Operating Agencies and various affiliated organizations of the Government of Canada.
  • For annual, detailed updates on federal Departments & Agencies, check out:
    • Departmental Results Reports​​​​​​: a summation of the activities of the past year (formerly known as "Departmental Performance Reports");​
    • Departmental Plans: an overview of plans for the coming year (formerly known as "Reports on Plans and Priorities");
    • Auditor General's Reports: detailed information published in the Spring and Fall of each year, on selected departmental programs, services and spending.​​​​​​
• Federal Budget & Fiscal Updates:  Detailed plans, priorities and spending for the coming year.
• Publications

Ontario

• Government of Ontario (main site)
  • History of government (Government of Ontario): "A primer on how the Ontario government is organized and works."
  • Government (Government of Ontario): "Learn about the government services available to you and how government works."
• Ministries & Agencies, Boards and Commissions
  • For annual, detailed updates on Ontario Ministries, Agencies, Boards & Commissions, search for an "Annual Report" about them.​​
    • Auditor General's Reports: detailed analytical information on selected ministerial, agency, board or commission programs, services and spending.
• Ontario Budget (current & previous) & Ontario Economic Update:  Detailed plans, priorities and spending for past & coming years.
• Publications

Other Canadian Provinces & Territories

• Provinces and territories (from the Government of Canada's Intergovernmental Affairs)

N.B.> Click on the FLAG to access the main site for each provincial or territorial government; click on each COAT OF ARMS to access their Legislative Assembly.

• Publications

Regions, Counties & Municipalities

• Ontario Municipalities
  • Municipal 101 & How Local Government Works: explanations of how Municipal Government works in Ontario
• Publications

Federal

• USA.gov (main site)
  • Ben's Guide to the U.S. Government: From the Government Publishing Office (GPO), this site for young students, parents, and teachers, serves as a very good introduction for adults, to the U.S. system of government.
• A-Z index of U.S. government departments and agencies
  • United States Government Manual (1935, on -) Provides official, comprehensive information on the structure and history of the US government, its legislative, judicial, executive and quasi-official agencies, its boards, commissions and committees, and the international organizations in which the U.S. is a part. Also includes organizational charts.
• Budget of the United States Government
  • Budget Process
  • USASpending.gov: Information on federal spending, including contracts, grants, and loans.
  • Government Accountability Office (GAO): (1922, on -)  An independent agency that investigates how the federal government spends money.
• GovInfo: The digital repository for United States government publications and documents.
• Catalog of U.S. Government Publications (CGP): the search tool for print and electronic titles from the National Bibliography of U.S. Government Publications, which lists books, reports, studies, serials, maps and other publications from the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

States & Territories

• State governments: Official sites for U.S. state and territory governments.

Regions, Counties & Municipalities

• Local governments: Official sites for county or municipal governments, by U.S. state and territory.

• UN E-Government Knowledgebase (United Nations)
• Web Sites of National Parliaments (Inter-Parliamentary Union)
  "Only those countries where a National Parliament exists are included."
• List of Foreign Governments (Northwestern University)
• National Governments Worldwide (University of Alberta Library)

Official sites of selected IGOs: 

N.B. For publications, documents and reports from these specific IGOs & others, please see Government publications (documents) & databases - comprehensive sources.

• European Union (EU) 
• Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
• United Nations (UN) (& its subsidiaries) 
  • A to Z Site Index
  • Journal of the United Nations: outlines the daily agenda of the United Nations & its subsidiary bodies (organs).
  • Organization of the UN:
    • Main Bodies
    • UN System & organizational chart
• World Bank Group
• World Health Organization (WHO)

Comprehensive Lists & Search Engines:

• Europa World: The online version of the Europa World Year Book, this directory contains information (history, organization, major publications, contact details & URLs) for major and minor international organizations.
• Intergovernmental and Other Organizations (United Nations)
• List of intergovernmental organizations (Wikipedia)
• IGO Search (Union of International Associations, UIA): Using keywords, search over 3,000 intergovernmental organizations; may also find results with an IGO focus, from national governments, universities, and think tanks.

Custom Google Searches for Government Information:

Many sites now offer "customized" Google searches for government information (websites & publications) from specific jurisdictions.  You will find such an interface, BELOW.

• Be Aware: Results may completely vary from one hosting site to another, and from these sites to a search done directly in Google.
  • Tip When Using Google For Government Information Searches:
    • Try both a customized search site & then a direct search in Google; compare results.  

Not sure where to start or want the most recent information posted on a government website?

• Try these ideas first, before turning to Google:
  • Go directly to the AUTHORING GOVERNMENT AGENCY (i.e. the OECD, United Nations, etc.); &/OR
  • try one of the GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS PORTALS listed in Government publications (documents) & databases - comprehensive sources.
• Custom Google Searches for Government Information (as hosted on the Queen's University Library site): Choose "International Government Organizations (IGOs)" from their drop-down menu, before you try a search.