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The "Federal Register" of the United States: an alternative to an Official Gazette

Roger P. Mellen

The United States did not have a federal gazette or the equivalent for decades due to some unique characteristics of the people and the organization put in place after the American Revolution. An inherent fear of a potentially powerful and corrupt government led to an avoidance of official media, which in turn led to delays and confusion over executive rules and orders. In addition, the original design of the federal government did not anticipate a large and powerful executive branch that would be issuing orders, rules, and regulations. While the legislative branch did publish its activities in the Congressional Record, no such completion of actions by the many executive offices existed, leading to a great deal of confusion. Finally, in the 1930s, an unusual set of hidden lobbying within the judicial, executive, and ultimately the legislative branches of government brought about the overdue genesis of the United States’ Federal Register.


Palavras-chave: Gazette; Federal Register; press; America; United States