THE FEDERAL RESERVE

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Government Documents

Primary sites

Federal Reserve System

Central site of the 12 banks plus the Board of Governers comprising the Federal Reserve System. Can search each site individually or filter by program responsibility.

 

Board of Governers of the Federal Reserve System

Main site of The Fed. Includes overview, mission, history, activities, news, etc.

Structure and Purpose

Fed 101

Interactive overview of history, structure, and functions of the Federal Reserve System.

 

The Federal Reserve System: Purposes and Function

How the Fed works and what it does. Thorough treatment of structure, monetary policy, policy tools, international influence, supervisory functions, and bank services.

In Plain English: Making Sense of the Federal Reserve

Informal, interactive summary.

 

Structure of the Federal Reserve System

Good overview of the elements of the system and what they do. Links to annual reports and meeting minutes of FOMC.

Monetary Policy

Federal Open Market Committee

Excellent summary of what the FOMC is and how it controls monetary policy.

 

A Day in the Life of the FOMC

"an insider's perspective on the inner workings of the Federal Reserve's monetary policymaking body"

Monetary Policy of the Federal Reserve Board

The who, what, and how of The Fed's money policies. Includes details on the three primary tools The Fed uses to influence the economy.

Beige Book

Reports by federal reserve banks on economic conditions in their district. Used by FOMC to track the economy and to make policy decisions. Beige Book is publishsed 8 times/year.

Annual Report to Congress

Discusses all operations of the Board; collects minutes of meetings; financial statements; actions takes and services provided.

 

Monetary Policy Report to Congress

Semiannual report summarizing the actions the Board took with respect to monetary policy. Describes what they were trying to achieve and why, and how they went about it.

Minutes of the FOMC

First place news of FOMC economic decisions is released. Gives a "sneak preview" of economic direction.

Federal Reserve Bulletin

Monthly journal of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors; articles on the economy and regulatory actions; searchable via Government Periodicals Index.

Ethics

Code of Federal Regulations

Ethical conduct prescribed by law is contained in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR):
5 CFR 6801 Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Supplemental Standards of Ethical Conduct
5 CFR 2635 Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch

Contents updated: Sept. 9, 2003