<P> CRS reports are considered in - depth, accurate, objective, and timely, and topped the list of the "10 Most - Wanted Government Documents" survey by the Center for Democracy and Technology in 1996 . </P> <P> The New York Times has written that the reports contain neither classified information nor copyrighted information . </P> <P> The CRS has written: "CRS may incorporate preexisting material in its written responses to congressional requests . Although such material is often from public domain sources, in certain instances the material, appropriately credited, may be from copyrighted sources . To the extent that the material is copyrighted, CRS either: obtains permission for the use; (Footnote: Although CRS obtains permission to reproduce certain copyrighted works, the permissions are generally based on legislative use and the expectation that dissemination is limited to Members of Congress .) considers its information - gathering function protected by the speech or debate clause; or believes that the use falls under the' fair use' doctrine of the Copyright Act as applied in the context of the legislative process ." </P> <P> While CRS products are already available electronically to members of Congress, Congressional committees, and CRS's sister agencies (CBO and GAO) through the internal CRS Web system, there is no official public access, except in certain circumstances . For example, specifically identified individual products have been furnished to executive and judicial branch officials and employees, and state and local government officials . Products have been distributed when it has been deemed to enhance CRS service to Congress . Products have also been furnished to members of the media and foreign embassies on request, but only if the requester can make specific reference to the product number or title of the report . On occasion, CRS researchers have provided reports to non-congressional sources including individual researchers, corporations, law offices, private associations, libraries, law firms, and publishers . </P>

The congressional research service and congressional budget office are examples of