Question: What value lies in using government information and documents?
Answer: A government’s documents are direct evidence of its activities, functions, and policies. They are considered a government's official "voice."
A wide range of sources are found in government documents: the hearings and debates of legislative bodies; the official text of laws, regulations and treaties; records of government expenditures and finances; statistical compilations such as census data; investigative reports; scientific data; and many other sources that touch virtually all aspects of society and human endeavor. Government documents are produced by U.S. government agencies at local, state, national, and international levels and are considered authoritative and accurate.
