Information Resource Center

The year 2009 marks the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, the nation’s 16th president, and the man often considered its greatest leader.

Free At Last

Among the antiquities displayed at the United Nations headquarters in New York is a replica
of the Cyrus Cylinder. Named for Cyrus the Great, ruler of the Persian Empire and conqueror of Babylonia, the document dates to about 539 B.C. Cyrus guaranteed to his subjects many of what we today call civil rights, among them freedom of religion and protection of personal property.

Justice for All: The Legacy of Thurgood Marshall

The name of Thurgood Marshall may not be as well-known outside the United States as that of his fellow civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr. And yet, Marshall's achievement in demolishing the legal structure that sustained racial segregation in the American South advanced the civil rights cause as profoundly as the nonviolent protests led by King. (January 2007)

About America: The Constitution of the United States of America With Explanatory Notes

This illustrated publication includes the complete text of the U.S. Constitution (preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments), as well an updated introduction and explanatory notes by J.W. Peltason, author of Understanding the Constitution and Government by the People. The introduction includes sections explaining how the Constitution set up the U.S. federal system, the background to the Constitutional Convention and how the participants arrived at a final version of the document, its ratification, and sections on the call for a Bill of Rights and the need for additional amendments over the years. Dr. Peltason is currently professor of Political Science Emeritus, University of California, Irvine, as well as President Emeritus, University of California.  (July 2004)

About America: How the United States Is Governed

This joint publication of the State Department's Bureau of International Information Programs and Braddock Communications presents a comprehensive yet easy-to-read overview of the various levels of and institutions related to government in the U.S. "How the United States Is Governed" describes how federal, state, and local governments are elected, how they operate, and how the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government relate under the U.S. constitutional system. It also highlights how nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and other institutions allow Americans to influence and shape government policy. This publication contains a glossary and a list of useful Web sites.  (October 2005)

About America: Women of Influence

This collection chronicles how 21 notable American women broke new ground, some by championing equal rights for all and others by their accomplishments in fields such as government, literature, and even in war. It consists of seven mini-chapters featuring: Pocahontas, Sacagawea, Anne Marbury Hutchinson, Anne Dudley Bradstreet, Abigail Adams, Margaret Cochran Corbin, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Jeannette Rankin, Hattie Ophelia Wyatt Caraway, a Eleanor Roosevelt, Sandra Day O'Connor, Wilma Mankiller, Clara Barton, Jane Addams, Nellie Bly, Rosalyn Yalow, Sheila C. Johnson, and Maya Lin.  (Revised November 2006)

Basic Readings in U.S. Democracy

Presents court decisions, legislative acts, and presidential decrees that form the bedrock of American democracy, as well as letters, essays, speeches, and poems that chart the country's search for itself as a democratic society.  (September 2001, originally published in 1994)

Democracy Papers

This series of 12 essays on democracy-building is the successor to the "Freedom Papers" series published by USIA in the early 1990s. It was edited by Melvin Urofsky, a professor of constitutional law at Virginia Commonwealth University and the editor of the USIA publication "Basic Readings in U.S. Democracy." Topics are: Introduction: Root Principles of Democracy; Constitutionalism: America and Beyond; Principles of Democratic Elections; Federalism and Democracy; Creation of Law in a Democratic Society; Role of an Independent Judiciary; Powers of the Presidency; Role of a Free Media; Protecting Minority Rights; Role of Interest Groups; Civilian Control of the Military; The Public's Right to Know: Transparency in Government.  (November 2001)

Introduction to Human Rights

Traces the development of human rights from their origins as political theory in 17th-century Europe to their present-day acceptance as an international standard; examines the historic contributions of heroic individuals to the course of human rights history.  (April 2001)

Principles of Democracy

Explains fundamental principles that contribute to making a democratic government work effectively. This series of one-page primers provides the reader with a concise definition of democracy and expands on supporting elements such as good governance and the rights and responsibilities of people living in democracies.  (Updated March 2005)

Rights of the People: Individual Freedom and the Bill of Rights

"Rights of the People" is a history of American law and justice, written by Constitutional historian Melvin Urofsky. By focusing on the Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution, and the legal interpretations, many of them written by America's finest jurists, that refined and expanded the Bill of Rights, Urofsky presents a history of the United States from the standpoint of individual liberty.  (December 2003)

Transparency in Government

Discusses the importance of opening government deliberations and rule-making processes to the public and of making government documents available to concerned citizens. While using, for the most part, American examples, the pamphlet suggests the universal advantages of an open society with a vibrant civic infrastructure.  (December 1999)

An Unfettered Press

The media in America...constitutional protections, right-to-know laws, editing and managing newspapers, radio and television broadcasting, electronic newspapers, and libel law.  (April 2001, originally published in 1994)

What Is Democracy?

Highlights such aspects of democratic society as rights of the individual, the rule of law, elections, the democratic culture and government, and politics, economics, and pluralism. Emphasizes how the citizens of a democracy must take responsibility for the fate of the society in which they live.  (September 1998, originally published in 1992)

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Economics and Trade

Principles of Entrepreneurship

Economists and business people differ in their definitions of entrepreneurship. Most, however, agree that entrepreneurship is vital for stimulating economic growth and employment opportunities in all societies. This is particularly true in the developing world, where successful small businesses are the primary engines of job creation and poverty reduction. This page introduces the first eight of what eventually will be a series of 21 one-page primers on the fundamentals of entrepreneurship. It discusses the essentials for building and running a business from the planning stages to marketing a product.

Focus on: Intellectual Property Rights

Essays by government, academic, and industry experts introduce intellectual property rights issues and key concepts -- patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and new forms of IP. Articles also explain why countries need effective intellectual property systems, and what governments in each region are doing to enforce IPR. Includes a glossary of IP terms, a list of print and Internet IP resources, and a separate resource list for children and young adults.  (January 2006)

Language of Trade

An annotated glossary, updated in 1999, of some 1,000 terms commonly used in international trade, along with a chronology of major developments impacting U.S. trade policy during the past 80 years.  (July 2000)

What Is a Market Economy?

Why modern private enterprise and entrepreneurial spirit, coupled with political democracy, offer the best prospect for preserving freedom and providing the widest avenues for economic growth and prosperity for all.  (September 1998, originally published in 1992)

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Environment and Communication

Rachel Carson: Pen Against Poison

Rachel Carson was a quiet woman who stirred extraordinary controversy that persists decades after her death. Her 1962 book Silent Spring brought worldwide attention to the harm to human health and the environment wrought by mishandling of a powerful pesticide, fomenting the environmental movement. In the 100th anniversary year of Carson's birth, this publication examines how occasionally in history a book with a powerful idea can bring about peaceful but dramatic change in a democratic society. (March 2007)

About America: Edward R. Murrow, Journalism at Its Best

The career of Edward R. Murrow, the eminent broadcast journalist, is discussed in this publication as an example of the essential role the free press plays in a democratic society. With his reports from London during World War II and his exposé of Senator McCarthy's anti-Communist campaign in the 1950s, Murrow showed how a fearless reporter can use journalistic skills in the public's service in times of crisis. The publication also highlights Murrow's creativity in developing reporting formats for the new media of his day — first radio, then TV. Audio of Murrow's broadcasts and a photo gallery are also included.  (April 2006)

Biodiversity Series

These five publications discuss the systemic crisis facing living things on earth at the beginning of the 21st century. The numbers of both plant and animal species in diverse ecosystems are declining due to the impact of increased human population and the transport of pollutants to all regions of the globe. The essays in the series argue that these developments constitute a global crisis, a cataclysmic loss of diverse living genomes that cannot be re-created.  (April 2001)

Handbook of Independent Journalism

This handbook covers the ins and outs of what every professional journalist should know — from how to research, write, and edit a story to how to write headlines, choose graphics, and select quotes and sound bites. Print, radio, TV, and Web-based or online journalism forms are discussed in detail, as well as the skills required in beat reporting. One chapter focuses on ethical principles, codes, community standards, and internationally endorsed journalism norms. The "Journalism Resources" section lists membership groups, resource sites for reporting and editing, and sample ethics codes. The author, Deborah Potter, is the director of NewsLab in Washington, D.C., and a former network correspondent for CBS News and CNN.  (July 2006)

Issue in Focus: Desertification

Discusses a major ecological issue that has worldwide consequences: the creeping impoverishment and marginalization of once-fertile land due to natural weather cycles, population increases, overcultivation, or even poorly planned irrigation. This publication defines the international scope of desertification, discusses its appearance in the American Midwest of the 1930s and the remedies applied, pinpoints early warning signs, and details how it is profoundly affected by land management and water distribution. Finally, the book describes how constructive practices can lead to reversal of this grave ecological problem.  (September 2004)

A Responsible Press Office: An Insiders Guide

A how-to publication for government leaders and public information officials who want to create an effective mechanism of communication between the media and the government. This handbook offers practical advice based on the significant professional experience of author Marguerite Hoxie Sullivan and other top-level U.S. government spokespersons. The book's 12 chapters cover, among other things, the roles and characteristics of a press spokesperson, the day-to-day activities of a press office, how to mount a media campaign, the tools available to a press office, how to ensure that the government's message is communicated effectively to the people, how to handle unexpected events that require a quick response, and how to conduct media events.  (September 2001)

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Foreign Policy and National Security

The Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI)

This publication explains the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), a response to the growing challenge posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), their delivery systems, and related materials worldwide. The goal of the PSI is to create a more dynamic, creative, and proactive approach to preventing WMD proliferation to or from nation states and non-state actors. The initiative was announced by President Bush, May 31, 2003, and adopted by 11 countries in Paris, September 4, 2003. PSI does not create formal "obligations" for participating states, but does represent a political commitment to establish "best practices" to stop proliferation-related shipments.  (June 2004)

The United States of America and UNESCO: Building Knowledge, Bridging Cultures

This pamphlet, commemorating the return on October 1, 2003, of the United States to a reformed UNESCO, lays out the U.S. priorities for working with this international institution to expand and improve education, promote scientific progress and press freedom, enhance understanding, and protect cultural heritage around the world. Color photographs highlight U.S. and UNESCO projects that promote education, press freedom, science and cultural preservation. The pamphlet includes a brief history of the U.S. participation in the creation of UNESCO, the reasons behind the decision to withdraw in 1984, and the reforms undertaken by UNESCO since then that prompted the U.S. decision to rejoin.  (August 2003)

Working for Women, Worldwide: The U.S. Commitment

Published to mark the 10th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration at the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women, this full-color publication combines overview essays and success stories that detail U.S. achievements in helping women abroad and in the United States. Text and photos focus on the areas of education and training, health, economic empowerment, political empowerment, helping women in conflict situations, and in combating violence against women. This publication is a collaboration between the Bureau of International Organization Affairs and IIP.  (February 2005) 

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U.S. Society and Values

Barack Obama, elected the 44th President of the United States, has lived a truly American life, and has opened a new chapter in American politics. This publication tells the story of Obama’s life, describes how he captured the presidency, and portrays his vision for the future. It also introduces readers to the Obama family and to the new Vice President, Joseph Biden.

Sketchbook USA

This book is a 21st-century version of Portrait USA, providing a sweeping look at the United States in six chapters: As a Nation, As Citizens, At Work, At School, In Communities, and At Play. It offers background on the principles of government, the responsibilities of the voters, the diversity of the population, the accessibility of education, the strength of communities, and the pursuit of happiness. With an emphasis on brief articles, features, photo-stories, graphs and tables, the publication is both substantive and accessible, appealing to both elite audiences and young readers. More than 150 photographs are featured in a vibrant, colorful layout.

Growing in Courage Stories for yound readers

What is children’s or young adult literature? The answer is: Any story or characters created for an audience under adult age. Usually, members of this audience are beginning to face choices and issues that will determine their future — their work, their relationships, their standing in the community.

American Popular Music

Popular music, like so much of American culture, reflects a kaleidoscope of contributions, a cross-fertilization of styles, and a blending of dreams. It could hardly be otherwise in this nation of immigrants.

Women in Politics

The average woman in the United States — just like those in other countries — wakes each morning to a myriad of responsibilities and concerns. These concerns range from the quality of her children’s education to the stability of the family’s source of income to her ability to safely walk the streets near her home.

America Is

America Is, a photo essay. It depicts facets of the United States' cherished values, as well as the variety and diversity of its people. The photos are grouped by values: love of family, community, individuality, liberty and freedom, justice, democracy, freedom of faith, freedom of speech, compassion, diversity, equal rights, education, innovation, opportunity, and hope.

USA Map with Facts in Brief

This brochure features a full-color map of the United States. It includes plenty of facts and statistics about the United States -- its government, geography, environment, sports and entertainment, the economy and employment, education, transportation, and population.

Historians on America

Historians on America is a series of individual essays that selects specific moments, decisions, and intellectual or legislative or legal developments and explains how they altered the course of U.S. history. The book consists of 11 separate essays by major historians, ranging from The Trial of John Peter Zenger in 1735 to The Immigration Act of 1965. (September 2007)

About America: The Constitution of the United States of America With Explanatory Notes

This illustrated publication includes the complete text of the U.S. Constitution (preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments), as well an updated introduction and explanatory notes by J.W. Peltason, author of Understanding the Constitution and Government by the People. The introduction includes sections explaining how the Constitution set up the U.S. federal system, the background to the Constitutional Convention and how the participants arrived at a final version of the document, its ratification, and sections on the call for a Bill of Rights and the need for additional amendments over the years. Dr. Peltason is currently professor of Political Science Emeritus, University of California, Irvine, as well as President Emeritus, University of California.  (July 2004)

About America: Edward R. Murrow, Journalism at Its Best

The career of Edward R. Murrow, the eminent broadcast journalist, is discussed in this publication as an example of the essential role the free press plays in a democratic society. With his reports from London during World War II and his exposé of Senator McCarthy's anti-Communist campaign in the 1950s, Murrow showed how a fearless reporter can use journalistic skills in the public's service in times of crisis. The publication also highlights Murrow's creativity in developing reporting formats for the new media of his day — first radio, then TV. Audio of Murrow's broadcasts and a photo gallery are also included.  (April 2006)

About America: How the United States Is Governed

This joint publication of the State Department's Bureau of International Information Programs and Braddock Communications presents a comprehensive yet easy-to-read overview of the various levels of and institutions related to government in the U.S. "How the United States Is Governed" describes how federal, state, and local governments are elected, how they operate, and how the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government relate under the U.S. constitutional system. It also highlights how nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and other institutions allow Americans to influence and shape government policy. This publication contains a glossary and a list of useful Web sites.  (October 2005)

About America: Women of Influence

Prepared to commemorate International Women's Day, this electronic offering chronicles how 12 notable American women broke new ground, some by championing equal rights for all and others by their accomplishments in fields such as government, literature, and even in war. It consists of six mini-chapters: "Guiding Lights to a New World" (Sacagawea and Pocahontas), "The Colonial Era" (Anne Bradstreet and Anne Hutchinson), "Birth of a Nation" (Abigail Adams and Margaret Corbin), "Breaking the Chains of Slavery" (Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth), "A Woman's Right to Vote" (Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony), and "A Role in Government" (Jeannette Rankin and Hattie Caraway).  (February 2006)

Art on the Edge: 17 Contemporary American Artists

This joint publication of the State Department's ART in Embassies Program and its Bureau of International Information Programs showcases the work of 17 contemporary American artists. All have made their art available in U.S. ambassador's residences in countries around the world. As a group, these up-and-comers exemplify such bedrock American values as innovation, diversity, freedom, individualism, and competitive excellence.  (November 2004)

The Civil Rights Movement and the Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.

A history of the contemporary civil rights movement in the United States, including a chronology of key events, brief biographical information on two centuries of African-American leaders, and excerpts from King's speeches and writings.  (November 1998 )

George W. Bush: 43rd President of the United States

This illustrated publication features biographic information on President Bush, including his early life, schooling and college years, business ventures, entry into politics, and the road to the White House and re-election. Additional biographies cover First Lady Laura Bush, Vice President Richard Cheney, and Lynne Cheney. Other features include a listing of the president's first-term policy priorities, a historical brief on the inaugural process, and photo galleries featuring the president and vice president's global travels and meetings with world leaders and ordinary citizens.  (November 2004)

If You Want to Study in the United States

An update and revision of the popular series of booklets for students considering higher education in the United States. Click on the title above to view those booklets. Check back in the coming months for the fourth booklet in the series: Getting Ready to Go: Practical Information for Living and Studying in the United States.

Undergraduate Study

Discusses bachelor's and associate degree programs, as well as technical and vocational education opportunities in the United States. It takes the prospective student step-by-step through the process of choosing colleges, completing applications, and obtaining a student visa.  (2003)

Graduate and Professional Study and Research

Covers master's and doctoral degrees and postdoctoral programs, plus certification and licensing procedures for professionals and programs for scholars. It also includes information on the application and visa processes.  (2003)

Short-Term Study, English Language Programs, Distance Education, and Accreditation

Provides information on opportunities to study in the United States for up to one year; descriptions of programs available for acquiring or improving English language skills; an overview of studying towards a degree, diploma, or certificate from outside the United States through distance education programs; and an explanation of accreditation, the system used to ensure quality of U.S. institutions of higher education.  (2002)

Muslim Life in America

This pamphlet is a collection of stories, profiles, graphics, and more than 80 photographs that show Muslims living as part of mainstream American life. Features range from an account of how a Muslim community in Massachusetts built its own mosque, to a history of Muslim settlement in the United States, to the story of a popular young rap group that performs songs incorporating Muslim values.  (October 2002)

Portrait of the USA

An introduction, in words and pictures, to the United States — people, geography, history, government, business, education, science and medicine, religion, social services, the arts, sports and entertainment, and the media.  (March 1999)

USA History in Brief

The first title in the new "In Brief" series, this publication summarizes in a few thousand words the history of how the United States was founded and the forces and events that shaped the dynamic and varied country that it has become today.  (March 2007)

Writers on America

Presents 15 essays by a diverse group of contemporary American writers, poets, essayists, and intellectuals, on how being an American has affected their decision to write and what they have written during successful careers. Their meditations illuminate in an interesting way certain American values — freedom, diversity, democracy, in the context of individual development. Frequently, for this group of writers, the sense of home means an immigrant culture, with a parent or grandparent from another land; however, the central concept for many of these authors, no matter what their backgrounds, is "possibility," both in personal and creative terms.  (December 2002)

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Outline Series

Outline of American Geography

Considers the physical environment of the United States — landforms, climate, soils, and vegetation — in terms of its impact on the country's cultural, regional, and political development.  (November 1998)

Outline of American Literature

The Outline of American literature, newly revised, traces the paths of American narrative, fiction, poetry and drama as they move from pre-colonial times into the present, through such literary movements as romanticism, realism and experimentation.  (December 2006)

Outline of the U.S. Economy

Examines how the U.S. economy works and how it has evolved over the past 225 years. Considers forms of business enterprise, the role of financial markets, how government shapes the economy and seeks to manage the pace of economic activity, the agricultural sector and U.S. farm policy, the changing role of labor, and current U.S. policies on trade and international economic affairs.  (February 2001)

Outline of the U.S. Government

What makes U.S. government uniquely American...its Constitution, the separation of powers, the concept of “checks and balances,” the decentralized roles of state and local governments, and a citizenry with wide opportunity to be part of it all.  (September 2000)

Outline of U.S. History

A chronological look at how the United States took shape -- from its origins as an obscure set of colonies on the Atlantic coast a little more than 200 years ago into what one political analyst today calls "the first universal nation." This fully illustrated edition has been completely revised and updated by Alonzo L. Hamby, Distinguished Professor of History at Ohio University.  (November 2005)

Outline of the U.S. Legal System

This Outline covers the history and organization of the federal and state judicial systems; the criminal and civil court processes; the background, qualifications, and selection of federal judges; the role of other participants (lawyers, defendants, interest groups) in the judicial process; and the implementation and impact of judicial policies. It is based on the Congressional Quarterly Press' Judicial Process in America, 5th edition, by political science professors Robert A. Carp and Ronald Stidham.  (December 2004) 

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Brief Series

Education-in-brief

All societies must wrestle with fundamental questions about the nature and purpose of their educational system, but the United States was the first nation to face these questions as a democracy.

Elections-in-brief

Free and fair elections are the keystone of any democracy. They are essential for the peaceful transfer of power.

Democracy-in-Brief

Contents: What Is Democracy? Characteristics of Democracy. Rights and Responsibilities. Democratic Elections. Rule of Law. Constitutionalism. Three Pillars of Government. Free and Independent Media. Political Parties, Interest Groups, NGOs. Civil-Military Relations. The Culture of Democracy.  (December 2007)

When the United States sneezes, an economists’ proverb says, the rest of the world catches a cold. Between 1995 and 2005, the United States accounted directly for one-third of global economic expansion, according to the nonprofit Council on Competitiveness.