Introduction I - Information systems for government and public administration: general characteristics I.I - Historical background 1.2 - The ISGPA subsystem within the national information system 1.3 - Types of ISGPA 1.4 - The historical dimension 1.5 - The impact of the new technologies 2 - The flow of information in an ISGPA 2.1 - General introduction 2.2 - Gathering information 2.2.1 - Responding to needs 2.2.2 - The kinds of information required 2.2.3 - The sources of information 2.2.4 - Ways of obtaining information 2.3 - Information transmission channels 2.4 - Information processing 2.4.1 - Storage, conservation and reproduction 2.4.2 - Classification and indexing 2.4.3 - Analysis, evaluation and synthesis 2.4.4 - Updating and discarding superfluous and obsolete information 2.5 - The circulation and use of information 3 - National ISGPAs: some case-studies 3.1 - United States 3.2 - France 3.3 - Federal Republic of Germany 3.4 - United Kingdom 3.5 - Other Western European countries; the council of Europe and the European communities 3.6 - Eastern Europe 3.6.1 - USSR 3.6.2 - German Democratic Republic 3.6.3 - Bulgaria 3.6.4 - Hungary 3.6.5 - Poland 3.6.6 - Romania 3.6.7 - Czechoslovakia 3.6.8 - Council for mutual economic assistance (CMEA) 3.7 - Developing countries 4 - Planning information systems for government and public administration 4.1 - Models of ISGPA 4.2 - The ISGPA development plan: prelimnary phase 4.2.1 - Analysis and evaluation of the existing situation 4.2.2 - The development plan itself 4.2.3 - Technical requirements 4.2.4 - Economic and financial aspects 4.2.5 - Legislative and juridical aspects 4.2.6 - Public information and public participation 4.3 - The development plan: implementation 4.3.1 - The priorities 4.3.2 - Pilot projects 4.3.3 - Progressive development 4.3.4 - Manpower problems 4.3.5 - User information and training 4.4 - International links