Legal Definitions - GPO

GPO stands for the Government Publishing Office.

The Government Publishing Office (GPO) is an agency of the U.S. federal government primarily responsible for producing, procuring, and disseminating official government information and publications. This includes a vast array of materials, from legislative documents like the Congressional Record and administrative regulations in the Federal Register, to government reports, official forms, and presidential documents, ensuring public access to the workings and decisions of the government.

• Example 1: Accessing New Federal Regulations

  A compliance officer for a manufacturing company needs to review the latest environmental regulations issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure their company's operations remain compliant. They access the official online version of the Federal Register to find the most current and legally authoritative text of these rules.

  Explanation: The Federal Register, which publishes all proposed and final federal regulations, is officially compiled, published, and disseminated by the GPO. This ensures that the compliance officer is consulting the definitive and legally binding version of the regulations, directly from the government's designated publisher.

• Example 2: Researching Historical Congressional Debates

  A political science student is writing a paper on a significant piece of legislation passed decades ago. To understand the legislative intent and the debates surrounding its passage, the student consults the Congressional Record from that specific period, available in their university library's government documents section.

  Explanation: The Congressional Record, which provides a substantially verbatim account of proceedings and debates in both the House and Senate, is a daily publication produced and distributed by the GPO. The GPO's role ensures the accurate and consistent recording and archiving of these crucial legislative discussions for public and historical research.

• Example 3: Obtaining Official Tax Forms

  An individual needs to file their annual income taxes and downloads the necessary forms, such as Form 1040 and its accompanying schedules, directly from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website, or picks up physical copies from a local post office.

  Explanation: While the IRS is responsible for tax policy, the actual printing and distribution of official government forms, including tax forms, are often handled or overseen by the GPO. This guarantees that citizens receive standardized, authentic, and legally valid forms for their tax obligations, maintaining uniformity and integrity across all official government paperwork.