Today in 1860, the United States Congress established the Government Printing Office. Congress passed the Joint Resolution (No. 25) which directed the Superintendent of Public Printing “to have executed the printing and binding authorized by the Senate and House of Representatives, the executive and judicial departments, and the Court of Claims,” and authorized him to “contract for the erection or purchase of the necessary buildings, machinery, and materials for that purpose.” Joint Resolution 25 stipulated that the new office would begin its working life on March 4, 1861, the first day of the new Presidential administration.