SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                (Amendment No. )



Filed by the Registrant                                 __X__
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant              _____


Check the appropriate box:


__X__  Preliminary Proxy Statement

_____  Confidential, for use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
          Rule 14a-6(e)(2)

_____  Definitive Proxy Statement

_____  Definitive Additional materials

_____  Soliciting Material Pursuant to ss.240.14a-l l(c) or ss.240.14a-12


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                    AMERICAN CENTURY GOVERNMENT INCOME TRUST

                (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)


Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

__X__  No fee required.

_____  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11

_____ Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.














[front cover]
[american century logo (reg.sm)]
[photo of hand holding pen and ballot]

                                 Proxy Statement
                    AMERICAN CENTURY GOVERNMENT INCOME TRUST
                             _________________, 2001

                      IMPORTANT VOTING INFORMATION INSIDE!


Table of Contents

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
DETAILED DISCUSSION OF PROXY ISSUES
SHARE OWNERSHIP
PROPOSAL 1: CHANGE AN INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE OF LONG-TERM TREASURY.
OTHER MATTERS


Letter From The President

                  American Century Investment Management, Inc.
                                4500 Main Street
                           Kansas City, Missouri 64111
_____________________, 2001

Dear American Century Shareholder,

    I am writing to inform you of the upcoming Special Meeting of the
shareholders of the American Century Long-Term Treasury Fund to be held on
Friday, November 16, 2001. At this meeting, you are being asked to vote on an
important proposal affecting your fund. If the proposal is approved at the
Special Meeting, the name of the fund will be changed to American Century
Government Bond Fund.

    Please don't put these materials aside thinking that you will return to them
at another time. If shareholders do not return their proxies, additional
expenses must be incurred to pay for follow-up mailings and telephone calls.
PLEASE TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO REVIEW THIS PROXY STATEMENT AND SIGN AND RETURN THE
PROXY CARD TODAY.

    The Board of Trustees of your fund has unanimously approved this proposal
and recommends a vote "FOR" it. If you have any questions regarding
the issues to be voted on or need assistance completing your proxy card, please
contact us at 1-800-331-8331. For business, not-for-profit, and
employer-sponsored retirement accounts, please call 1-800-345-3533, ext. 5004.

    To more efficiently handle this proxy solicitation, we have hired Alamo
Direct to act as our proxy solicitor. They might be calling you during the
solicitation process to ensure that you do not have questions or concerns about
the voting process and to assist you with your vote.

    I appreciate you taking the time to consider this important proposal. Thank
you for investing with American Century and for your continued support.

                                   Sincerely,
                                    /s/ William M. Lyons
                                    William M. Lyons
                                    President

Proxy Statement Summary

    The following Q&A is a brief summary of the proposal to be considered at
the Special Meeting. The information below is qualified in its entirety by more
detailed information contained elsewhere in this proxy statement. Please read
all the enclosed proxy materials before voting. PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE YOUR
SHARES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. If enough shareholders return their proxy cards
soon, additional costs for follow-up mailings and phone calls may be avoided.

Q.    When will the Special Meeting be held? Who is eligible to vote?

A.    The meeting will be held on Friday, November 16, 2001, at 10 a.m. Central
      time at American Century's offices at 4500 Main Street, Kansas City,
      Missouri. This will be a business meeting only. There will be no
      presentations about the fund. The record date for the meeting is the close
      of business August 10, 2001. Only shareholders who own shares of the fund
      on the record date are entitled to vote at the meeting.

Q.    Why is the fund having a Special Meeting?

A.    To consider a proposed change in the fund's investment objective.
      Long-Term Treasury currently invests in U.S. Treasury securities
      guaranteed by the direct full faith and credit pledge of the U.S.
      government. In addition, the fund may invest up to 35% of its assets in
      securities issued by the U.S. government and its agencies and
      instrumentalities other than the U.S. Treasury. The proposed change would
      allow the fund managers flexibility to invest an unlimited percentage of
      the fund's assets in securities issued by the U.S. government and its
      agencies and instrumentalities other than the U.S. Treasury. Shareholder
      approval is required for this investment policy change.

      A complete description of the proposed change begins on page _____.

Q.    Will this change substantially affect the way Long-Term Treasury is
      Managed?

A.    Only slightly. Long-Term Treasury currently invests in U.S. Treasury
      securities guaranteed by the direct full faith and credit pledge of the
      U.S. government. In addition, the fund may invest up to 35% of its assets
      in securities issued by the U.S.  government and its agencies and
      instrumentalities other than the U.S. Treasury. The  proposed change would
      allow fund managers flexibility to invest an unlimited percentage of the
      fund's assets in securities issued by the U.S. government and its agencies
      and instrumentalities other than the U.S. Treasury.

      In addition, the team that manages Long-Term Treasury, led by David
      Schroeder, Senior Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager, will
      continue to manage the fund if the proposed change is approved.

Q.    How do the Trustees recommend that I vote on this proposal?

A.    The Trustees unanimously recommend that you vote "FOR" the proposal.

Q.    When will the change to the fund's investment objective take effect if it
      is approved?

A.    If approved, the proposed change to the fund's investment objective will
      be effective on December 3, 2001. The change to the fund's name also will
      be effective on December 3, 2001.

Q.    Who is asking for my vote?

A.    Your Board of Trustees is asking you to sign and return the enclosed proxy
      card so your votes can be cast at the Special Meeting. In the event the
      meeting is adjourned, these proxies also would be voted at the reconvened
      meeting.

Q.    How do I vote my shares?

A.    We've made it easy for you. You can vote online, by mail or by fax. To
      vote by mail, complete, sign and send us the enclosed proxy voting card in
      the enclosed postage-paid envelope. To vote online, access the website
      listed on your proxy card (you will need the control number that appears
      on the right-hand side of your proxy card). To vote by fax, send your fax
      to the toll-free number listed on your proxy card.

      Your shares will be voted EXACTLY as you tell us. If you simply sign the
      enclosed proxy card and return it, we will follow the recommendation of
      your Board of Trustees and vote it "FOR" the proposal. You also
      may vote in person at the meeting on Friday, November 16, 2001.

Q.    If I send my proxy in now, can I change my vote later?

A.    A proxy can be revoked at any time by writing to us, by sending us another
      proxy card, or by attending the meeting and voting in person. Even if you
      plan to attend the meeting and vote in person, we ask that you return the
      enclosed proxy card. Doing so will help us ensure that an adequate number
      of shares are present at the meeting.

      If you have any questions regarding the proxy statement or need assistance
      in voting your shares, please call us at 1-800-331-8331. For business,
      not-for-profit, and employer-sponsored retirement accounts, please call
      1-800-345-3533, ext. 5004.

Notice of Special Meeting
of Shareholders

TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 16, 2001

American Century Investments
4500 Main Street
P.O. Box 419200
Kansas City, Missouri 64141-6200
1-800-331-8331

    NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Special Meeting of shareholders of the
American Century Long-Term Treasury Fund (the "fund"), a series of
American Century Government Income Trust, a Massachusetts business trust (the
"company"), will be held at the company's offices at 4500 Main Street,
Kansas City, Missouri, on Friday, November 16, 2001, at 10 a.m. Central time,
for the following purposes:

    1. To approve a change in the investment objective of the Long-Term Treasury
       Fund; and

    2. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting
       or any adjournment thereof.

    This is a Notice and proxy statement for the fund. Please complete, sign and
return the enclosed proxy card.

    Shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 10, 2001, are
the only persons entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting and any
adjournments thereof. Your attention is directed to the attached proxy
statement.

    We urge you to mark, sign, date and mail the enclosed proxy card in the
postage-paid envelope provided so you will be represented at the meeting.

    THE COMPANY'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU CAST YOUR
VOTE "FOR" THE PROPOSAL.

________, 2001        BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
                      David C. Tucker
                      Senior Vice President

Detailed Discussion
Of Proxy Issues

____________, 2001

    The enclosed proxy is solicited by the Board of Trustees of American Century
Government Income Trust in connection with a Special Meeting of shareholders of
the American Century Long-Term Treasury Fund. The Special Meeting will be held
Friday, November 16, 2001, at American Century's offices at 4500 Main Street,
Kansas City, Missouri, at 10 a.m. Central time, and any adjournments thereof. In
this proxy statement, the investment company will be referred to as the
"company." The series of capital stock of the company for which the
Special Meeting is called, the American Century Long-Term Treasury Fund, will be
referred to as the "fund."

    The costs of soliciting proxies, including the cost of preparing and mailing
the notice of meeting and this proxy statement, will be paid by American Century
Investment Management, Inc., the fund's investment manager (referred to in the
proxy statement as "ACIM"). This notice of meeting and proxy statement
are first being mailed to shareholders on or around August 22, 2001. ACIM, at
its expense, has hired the proxy solicitation firm of Alamo Direct to help
solicit proxies for the meeting. Supplemental solicitations for the meeting may
be made by Alamo Direct or by ACIM, either personally or by mail, telephone or
facsimile.

    VOTING OF PROXY. If you vote your proxy now, you may revoke it before the
meeting by mailing written notice of revocation to the Secretary of the company
before the meeting, or personally delivering your revocation to the Secretary
any time prior to the taking of the vote at the meeting. Unless revoked, proxies
that have been returned by shareholders without instructions will be voted in
favor of all proposals. In instances where choices are specified on the proxy,
those proxies will be voted as the shareholder has instructed.

    The fund is divided into two classes. Both classes of shares of the fund
have identical voting rights, except where a proposal affects only one class.
Where a proposal affects only one class, only that class gets to vote on the
proposal. Because the proposals affect both classes of a the fund equally, the
classes will not have separate votes. The number of outstanding votes of each
class of the fund, as of the close of business on July 20, 2001, is:

                     Inflation-Adjusted Bond Government Bond
Investor Class                  [TO COME] [TO COME]
Advisor Class

    Because the record date is August 10, 2001, the total number of votes by
class at the meeting may be different.

    Only those shareholders owning shares as of the close of business on August
10, 2001, may vote at the meeting or any adjournments thereof. Each share of the
fund gets one vote for each dollar of the fund's net asset value the share
represents. If a proposal being considered at the Special Meeting does not
receive enough "FOR" votes by November 16, 2001, to constitute
approval of the proposal, the named proxies may propose adjourning the Special
Meeting to allow the gathering of more proxy votes. An adjournment requires a
vote "FOR" by a majority of the votes present at the meeting (whether
in person or by proxy). The named proxies will vote the "FOR" votes
they have received in favor of the adjournment, and any "AGAINST" or
"ABSTAIN" votes will count as votes against adjournment.

    Abstentions and broker non-votes (i.e., proxies sent in by brokers and other
nominees that cannot vote on a proposal because instructions have not been
received from the beneficial owners) will be counted as "present" for
purposes of determining whether or not a quorum is present for the meeting.
Abstentions and broker non-votes will, however, be considered to be votes
"AGAINST" the proposals.

    QUORUM. A quorum is the number of shareholders legally required to be at a
meeting in order to conduct business. The quorum for the Special Shareholders
Meeting is 40% of the outstanding shares of the fund entitled to vote at the
meeting. Shares may be represented in person or by proxy. Proxies properly
executed and marked with a negative vote or an abstention will be considered to
be present at the meeting for the purposes of determining the existence of a
quorum for the transaction of business. If a quorum is not present at the
meeting, or if a quorum is present at the meeting but sufficient votes are not
received to approve the Proposal, the persons named as proxies may propose one
or more adjournments of the meeting to permit further solicitation of proxies.
Any such adjournment will require the affirmative vote of a majority of those
shares affected by the adjournment that are represented at the meeting in person
or by proxy. If a quorum is not present, the persons named as proxies will vote
those proxies for which they are required to vote FOR the Proposal in favor of
such adjournments, and will vote those proxies for which they are required to
vote AGAINST such proposals against any such adjournments.

    SHAREHOLDER VOTE REQUIRED. Approval of the Proposal requires the affirmative
vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the fund. For this
purpose, the term "majority of the outstanding shares" means the vote
of (i) 67% or more of the shares of the fund present at the meeting, so long as
the holders of more than 50% of the fund's outstanding shares are present or
represented by proxy; or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities
of the fund, whichever is less.

    In tallying shareholder votes, abstentions and broker non-votes (i.e.,
proxies sent in by brokers and other nominees that cannot be voted on a proposal
because instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners) will be
counted for purposes of determining whether or not a quorum is present for
purposes of convening the meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will,
however, be considered to be a vote against the Proposal.

    COST OF PROXY SOLICITATION. The cost of the proxy solicitation and
shareholder meeting will be borne by ACIM and NOT by the shareholders of the fund.

    INVESTMENT MANAGER. American Century Investment Management, Inc. is the
fund's investment manager. American Century Services Corporation provides the
fund with transfer agency services. Both companies are wholly owned subsidiaries
of American Century Companies, Inc. The mailing address for American Century and
the funds is P.O. Box 419200, Kansas City, Missouri 64141-6200.

    DISTRIBUTOR. American Century Investment Services, Inc. ("ACIS") is the
fund's principal underwriter. ACIS's mailing address is P.O. Box 419200, Kansas
City, Missouri 64141-6200.

    ANNUAL REPORT. The fund will furnish, without charge, a copy of its most
recent annual report and semiannual report upon request. To request these
materials, please call American Century at 1-800-331-8331.

    SHARE OWNERSHIP. The following table sets forth, as of the close of business
on July 20, 2001, the share ownership of those shareholders known by ACIM to own
more than 5% of the fund's outstanding shares.


                                                                      Percent of
Title of          Name and Address                               Outstanding
Class             of Record Owner          Shares Owned          Shares

                                    [TO COME]

    As of July 20, 2001, the officers and directors of the fund, as a group,
owned less than 1% of the fund's outstanding shares.

    Proposal 1: Change an Investment Objective of Long-Term Treasury

    Long-Term Treasury's current investment objective is to seek the highest
level of current income exempt from state income tax (the "Current
Investment Objective"). The proposed investment objective is to seek high
current income (the "Proposed Investment Objective"). If the proposed
change in investment objective is approved, the name of the fund will be changed
to "Government Bond Fund."

    Long-Term Treasury currently invests in U.S. Treasury securities guaranteed
by the direct full faith and credit pledge of the U.S. government. In addition,
the fund may invest up to 35% of its assets in securities issued by the U.S.
government and its agencies and instrumentalities other than the U.S. Treasury.
However, ACIM has proposed, and the Board of Trustees of the fund has approved,
a change to this investment policy in order to allow the fund flexibility to
invest an unlimited percentage of its assets in securities issued by the U.S.
government and its agencies and instrumentalities other than the U.S. Treasury.

    If the Proposed Investment Objective is approved by shareholders, the fund
will buy (i) U.S. Treasury securities guaranteed by the direct full faith and
credit pledge of the U.S. government; and (ii) securities issued by the U.S.
Government and its agencies and instrumentalities, including mortgage-backed
securities. The U.S. Government provides varying levels of financial support to
these agencies and instrumentalities. Under the Proposed Investment Objective,
there is no limit or predetermined ratio in which the fund may invest in these
securities.

    As under the Current Investment Objective, the fund may purchase securities
in a number of different ways to seek higher rates of return.

    The most significant additional risk associated with the Proposed Investment
Objective is prepayment risk. Under the Proposed Investment Objective, the fund
may invest a greater percentage of its assets in mortgage-backed securities.
When homeowners refinance their mortgages to take advantage of declining
interest rates, their existing mortgages are prepaid. The mortgages, which back
the securities purchased by the fund, may be prepaid in this fashion. When this
happens, the fund will be required to purchase new securities at current market
rates which will usually be lower. Because of this prepayment risk, the fund may
benefit less from declining interest rates than under the Current Investment
Objective.

    The proposed change to the Current Investment Objective will expand the
universe of securities in which the fund may invest. In the past, those
securities have been primarily securities that are issued by the U.S. Treasury
with a limited amount in securities issued by certain U.S. government agencies
and instrumentalities. The Proposed Investment Objective will permit portfolio
managers to invest an unlimited percentage of the fund's assets in
inflation-indexed securities issued by entities other than the U.S. Treasury or
the U.S. government and its agencies and instrumentalities.

    The proposed change to the Current Investment Objective will allow the fund
more flexibility in the potential mix of its investments. This change is being
proposed by ACIM with the intent of enhancing the long-term performance
potential of the fund. The fund was originally launched to provide small
investors easy access to treasury securities. A number of market changes have
prompted ACIM to revisit this purpose. First, the U.S. government's own
"Treasury Direct" program has made it possible for individual
investors to obtain easy access to Treasury securities that meet their
specific-term Treasury investment needs. Thus, while investors continue to need
exposure to government securities investments which feature professional
management and adjustment of average-weighted maturities and durations, their
need for targeted maturity investments (i.e., long-term, short-term,
limited-term) has declined considerably since the fund was established. Second,
the rapid elimination of U.S. Treasury debt in the late 1990s may ultimately
serve to limit the availability of securities in which the fund may invest.

    The Board of Trustees unanimously recommends that shareholders vote
"FOR" the Proposal.

Other Matters

    OTHER BUSINESS TO BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE MEETING. The Board of Trustees knows
of no other business to be brought before the meeting. However, if any other
matters are properly brought before the meeting, it is the intention that
proxies that do not contain specific restrictions to the contrary will be voted
on such matters in accordance with the judgment of the persons named in the
enclosed form of proxy.

    SUBMISSION OF SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS. The fund does not hold annual
shareholder  meetings. Shareholders wishing to submit proposals for inclusion in
a proxy statement for a subsequent shareholder meeting should send their written
proposals to Charles A. Etherington, Vice President, American Century
Investments, P.O. Box 419200, Kansas City, Missouri 64141-6200.

    NOTICE TO BANKS, BROKER-DEALERS, AND VOTING TRUSTEES AND THEIR NOMINEES.
Please advise the fund, in care of American Century Investments, P.O. Box
419200, Kansas City, Missouri 64141-6200, whether other people are beneficial
owners of shares for which proxies are being solicited and, if so, the number of
copies of the proxy statement you wish to receive in order to supply copies to
the beneficial owners of the respective shares.

________, 2001                  David C. Tucker
                                Senior Vice President














                                  FORM OF PROXY

                    American Century Long-Term Treasury Fund
             (A Series of American Century Government Income Trust)
               SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS - November 16, 2001

This Proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Trustees of American Century
Government Income Trust and relates to a proposal that applies to the American
Century Long-Term Treasury Fund. By signing below, I (we) appoint as proxies
Charles A. Etherington, Charles C.S. Park, Janet Nash, Brian Brogan, and Otis
Cowan and each of them (with power of substitution) to vote for the undersigned
all shares of common stock I (we) own in the fund. The authority I am (we are)
granting applies to the above-referenced meeting and any adjournments of that
meeting, with all the power (we) would have if personally present. The shares
represented by this proxy shall be deemed to grant authority to vote "FOR" all
proposals relating to the Company or the series or class, as applicable.

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. Please date and sign this proxy below and either return
it in the enclosed envelope to: American Century Investments, c/o Proxy
Tabulator, P.O. Box 9043, Smithtown, NY 11787-9831 or fax both sides to 1-888- .
If you prefer, you can vote online at https://vote.proxy-direct.com. This proxy
will not be voted unless it is dated and signed exactly as instructed on this
card.

                              VOTE VIA THE INTERNET: https://vote.proxy-direct.com
                                                     -----------------------------
                              CONTROL NUMBER: 999 9999 9999 999

                              If shares are held by an individual,
                              sign your name exactly as it appears
                              on this card. If shares are held
                              jointly, either party may sign, but
                              the name of the party signing should
                              conform exactly to the name shown on
                              this proxy card. If shares are held
                              by a corporation, partnership or
                              similar account, the name and the
                              capacity of the individual signing
                              the proxy card should be indicated -
                              for example: "ABC Corp.,
                              John Doe, Treasurer."


                              X
                              ----------------------------------------------------
                              Signature
                              X
                              ----------------------------------------------------
                              Signature of joint owner, if any
                              X
                              ----------------------------------------------------
                              Date





Please indicate your vote by marking the appropriate box below. Example:
The Board of Trustees recommends a vote "FOR" the proposal.

                                                                   FOR  AGAINST  ABSTAIN

1.       Approval of proposed change of investment objective       / /    / /      / /
         as described in the proxy statement.


                   PLEASE SIGN AND DATE THE FRONT OF THIS CARD