Organizations, Think Tanks, and Policy Information
See also: United States Elections
Back to: Subject Resources > Public Administration
General Sources
Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports (House.gov) | CRS Reports (UNT Libraries) | CRS Reports (National Agricultural Law Center)
CRS is a nonpartisan analytical, research, and reference arm of Congress. It serves Congress by providing comprehensive and reliable legislative research and analysis. Included on this website are written products tailored to specific issues requiring information, analysis, or legal interpretation. CRS reports are not currently distributed to the public for free, but some sites attempt to collect what is available.
A comprehensive listing of CRS reports is available at from Penny Hill Press, and reports not found on-line may be able to be obtained through Inter-Library Loan.
Think Tank Directory
Comprehensive list of U.S. and international organizations from the Documents Center (U. Michigan).
Almanac of Policy Issues
Background information, archived documents, and links on major U.S. public policy issues. Presents all sides of an issue in journalistic format.
National Center for Policy Analysis
Non-partisan public policy research organization. Contains many links to public policy issues from a variety of viewpoints.
Office of Management and Budget
Budget watchdog arm of the Executive Branch, the OMB writes reports and gives testimony on a wide variety of issues, much of which is available through their website. Some more documents may also be found using the Google US Government Search, by typing in the name of the document or "keyword +OMB."
PolicyArchive
A comprehensive
digital library of public policy research.
Public Agenda Online
Research organization that provides non-partisan reporting on public opinion and public policy issues.
Public Policy Issues and Groups
A-Z list of issues and organizations devoted to those issues from Vanderbilt University.
CQ Weekly 
- tracks legislation on the floor of the Congress as its happening and provides analysis.
CQ Researcher - provides in-depth look at the issues that are driving legislation in Congress.
Topic and Issue-driven Think Tanks and Organizations
Many nonprofit associations, think tanks, and institutions which analyze federal and state public policy issues, publish their working papers and research reports on their web sites. Some of these sites promote a distinct point of view and cannot be considered non partisan. It is up to the reader to be mindful of the ideological focus of the organization.
American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research
This institution is dedicated to research and education on issues of government, politics, economics, and social welfare. Scholars and researchers have had an affiliation with past Republican administrations.
Brookings Institute
Private nonpartisan research institute that conducts original research and provides analyses on a variety of international and national public policy issues. Many research reports are published on their web site.
Center for Economic and Policy Research
Nonprofit think tank dedicated to a "democratic debate on the most important economic and social issues that affect people's lives." Reports contain a liberal focus.
Center for Policy Alternatives
This think tank studies a variety of socioeconomic and political policy issues relevant to states.
Center for Responsive Politics
"Open Secrets" web site is a non-partisan, non-profit research group that tracks the political money to make a direct link from campaign donations to
votes and the public policy decisions of elected officials.
Center for Study of Responsive Law
Nonprofit Ralph Nader organization that studies a variety of political, economic, and social issues relevant to the citizen-consumer.
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Highly respected non-partisan research institute which works at the federal and
state levels on fiscal policy and public programs that affect low
and moderate income families and individuals.
Common Cause
Nonpartisan nonprofit advocacy organization founded as a "vehicle for citizens to make their voices heard in the political process and to hold their elected leaders accountable to the public interest."
Economic Policy Institute
Nonprofit nonpartisan organization that focuses on the economic condition of low- and middle-income Americans. It "conducts original research on economic issues, makes policy recommendations
based on its findings."
Global Policy Forum
GPF monitors international policy making at the United Nations, covering social and economic policies of a global nature.
Kaiser Family Foundation
Provides access to surveys, research reports, Congressional testimonies, fact sheets, press releases, and issue briefs related to health and health care issues back to 1994.
National Academy of Public Administration
Independent nonpartisan organization chartered by Congress to assist federal, state, and local governments to improve their effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability.
National Center for Public Performance (Rutgers University)
Organization devoted to improving productivity in the public sector. Web site contains some case studies, best practices information, performance measurement information, and the full text of their journal Public Voices.
Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government
The public policy research arm of the State University of New York, the Institute "conducts research on the role of state and local governments in American federalism and on the management and finances of states and localities."
Project Vote Smart
Non partisan organization that provides information on state and federal candidates for office. Includes issue positions, and information on state elections, initiatives, and referenda.
Stateline.org
Independent element of the Pew Research Center, it publishes weekly
news articles and research reports on all state governments and
public policy issues.