Using Local and National Government Directories

If you're trying to contact or find a local or national government office, one of many government directories will provide the information you're searching for. Using these directories will give you the phone number, fax number, email address, mailing address and website of any government office or department you need to contact.

Reasons to Contact a Government Office

Many times, you may need to conduct official or personal business with a local or national government office. Examples may include applying for a marriage license, paying property taxes, or renewing a professional license.

In order to find the appropriate office you need to contact, you need to peruse the government section of the local white pages, or search for them online. You may also simply visit your state or county website to contact them online. Online listings and databases often provide the address, phone number and physical address if you need to visit them in person.

Contacting Your Legislator

We have all seen the public service announcements urging us to contact our U.S. Senator or Representative to encourage them to vote a certain way on a currently debated topic in Congress. However, you may find yourself wanting to contact him or her at other times if you feel very strongly about a certain issue that has come to your attention. These offices are held by fellow citizens who have been voted for by the public, so voters are encouraged to contact and communicate with them to ensure they are carrying out the public's wishes.

Executive Offices

If you want to contact your mayor, governor or even the President or Vice President, you may find their contact information through government directories as well. Just as with your district's Congressmen and women, as a voter you have the right to contact these executive officials with questions or concerns at any time. Of course, you won't be able to reach the President or Vice President in person very easily, but you can send a letter or email to their office that may be forwarded by their personal staff.

Other Offices in Directories

Contacting the above named officials about specific topics such as homeland security, professional licensing, or even tax issues will likely end with you being forwarded to an individual agency or cabinet. Executive offices appoint and depend upon these smaller offices to take care of very specific issues, and are the best resource for information. In the future, you may want to use a government directory to contact these offices and agencies directly if you know which one handles the issue you're concerned with.

These directories are often provided through state or local government websites, or you may find federal directory information at USA.gov. These sites may provide you with direct links so you can contact them online from the comfort of your own home, or you may need to visit them in person-each locale is different, and you may need to conduct a little research to determine the best office to contact.