Email libgpdGuide: Citing U.S. Government Publications
GUIDE TO CITING GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS
Basic Citation Form | Issuing Agency as Author | Congress as Author | Forms for Specific Publications | Microform Collections | Electronic Information | Basic Citation Form for CD-ROM Database Sources | Basic Citation Form for World Wide Web Sources | Forms for Specific Electronic Publications | Forms for Online Subscription Databases | Links | Bibliography
Citing publications used in research papers, articles, etc. are not exercises designed to strain the patience of writers. They are locators for material used and should be as precise and succinct as good road directions. The form of the citation is not sacrosanct but is used for uniformity and is a valuable tool for communication.
This guide provides examples of the most common examples of U.S. Government document citations. These examples are based on the Chicago/Turabian standard bibliographic style. You may need to modify the citation to conform to the manual/form you are required to use. If your publication does not fall into any of these categories, please see the Reference Staff for more detailed guidance.
The forms of these citations were patterned after the following:
Garner, Diane and Diane H. Smith. The Complete Guide to Citing Government Documents: A Manual for Writers & Librarians. Bethesda, MD: Congressional Information Service, 1984.
Citing Electronic Resources using MLA Style. Prepared by the Indiana University Libraries.
U.S.Government publications are written by federal officials and their staff. They are printed, not published, by the Government Printing Office. Very often these publications will not follow a standard title page arrangement and some publishing elements will be eliminated. However, use the following citation example to find as many elements as possible and arrange them as shown.
Author (Agency). Title, edition, statement. Place of publication: Publisher, Date. (Series elements). (Notes).
The following are examples of some of the most common types of citations for government publications:
Single issuing agency
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Home Safety Tips: You Can Keep Your Baby Safe. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1995.
Different bureaucratic levels
Each agency usually has many bureaucratic levels. Use the "parent" agency and the lowest level given as the author.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. National Center for Health Statistics. Disability Among Older Persons: United States and Canada. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1995.
Well-known agency
Some lower levels of agencies can be well-known on their own. You may choose to eliminate the "parent" as part of the author.
U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation. The FBI Mission: To Uphold the Law. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1990.
Use the full Committee name as the author even though a sub-committee might have actually held the hearing or issued the report.
Committee Prints
U.S. Congress. Senate. Committee on Foreign Relations. Annual Report on International Religious Freedom: 2000. 106th Cong., 2d sess., 2000. Committee Print, 106-61.
Debates and Proceedings
Sen. Cranston (CA). "U.S. Policy Toward Central America," Congressional Record 129, Pt. 13 (28 June 1983) pp. 17597-17599.
Hearings
U.S. House. Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities. Child Care and Child Welfare Hearing, 3 February 1995. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1995.
Reports
U.S. Senate. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Franklin D. Roosevelt's Family Lands: Report Together with Minority Views (to accompany S. 134). (S. Rpt.104-32). Washington: Government Printing Office, 1995.
FORMS FOR SPECIFIC PUBLICATIONS
Census of Population and Housing
U.S. Census of Population and Housing, 1990: Summary Population and Housing Characteristics: Indiana. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1991.
Code of Federal Regulations
Legal citation: 18 CFR 157.17 (1995).
Bibliographic citation: "Application for Temporary Certificates in Cases of Emergency." Code of Federal Regulations Title 18, Pt. 157.17, 1995 ed.
Constitution
U.S. Constitution. Art.II, Sec.2.
Federal Register
Legal citation: 60 Fed. Reg. 210 (31 October 1995).
Bibliographic citation: "Suspension of Community Eligibility, Final Rule." Federal Register 60:210 (31 October 1995) p. 55329.
Statistical Abstract of the United States
Statistical Abstract of the United States 1995. 115th ed. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1995.
Statutes at Large
"Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994." (P.L. 103-78), United States Statutes at Large. 107 Stat. 2024.
For pre-1875 statutes, please refer to the The Chicago Manual of Style, sections 15.357 and 16.166.
U.S. Code
Legal citation: 10 USC 577.
Bibliographic citation: "Promotions: effect of failure of selection for," Title 10 U.S. Code, Pts. 577. 1994 ed.
U.S. Reports
Legal citation: Burns v. Reed, 500 U.S. 478 (1990).
Bibliographic citation: Burns v. Reed, U.S. Reports 500 pp. 478-506.
American Statistics Index (ASI)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 1992 AFDC Recipient Characteristics Study. Washington: The Department, 1994. (1994 ASI microfiche 4584-7).
Major Studies & Issue Briefs of the Congressional Research Service Index (CRSI)
U.S. Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service. Shared Housing: A Possible Alternative for Housing the Elderly? by Susan Vanhorenbeck. Washington: The Service, 1983. (1983/84 CRSI Reel 10, Frame 681).
Statistical Reference Index (SRI)
Delaware. Department of Labor. Snapshot Delaware 93. Newark: Delaware Department of Labor, 1994. (1994 SRI Microfiche S1405-4).
The federal government is moving toward more information being distributed and available only in machine-readable form. You must document full-text electronic resources (including World Wide Web) just as you must document print sources. The reason for documentation is to credit the author and publisher for their original work and to enable your readers to consult the same sources you did. This also helps avoid plagiarism. Refer to The Indiana University Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct for more information on the issue of plagiarism.
When citing a full-text electronic source, a good rule of thumb is to follow the format used for print sources, then provide "access points" for your readers. Access points usually include the name of the full-text service, an indication of the type of service (CD-ROM, Online) and the URL for World Wide Web resources.
Electronic information and the products on which they are disseminated can change hourly. Please see Librarian for additional help in citing these government publications.
BASIC CITATION FORM For CD-ROM DATABASE SOURCES
A citation to data or full-text documents from such files should include, as applicable: issuing agency, title, statements of responsibility for production, medium designation; edition statement; place of publication, producer, and date.
Author. Title, edition statement [TYPE OF MEDIUM]. Place of publication: Producer, Date.
U.S. Bureau of the Census. Census of Population and Housing, 1990: Summary Tape File 3A: Indiana. CD-ROM. Washington: The Bureau, [1992].
U.S. International Trade Administration. Market Research Reports: France--Euro Disney. 1992. In U.S. Department of Commerce. Office of Business Analysis. The National Trade Data Bank: The Export Connection CD-ROM. Washington: Government Printing Office, February, 1992.
BASIC CITATION FORM FOR WORLD WIDE WEB SOURCES
The basic form of a document retrieved via the WWW should include the author, title and edition, type of medium, date, availability of directories and files as needed. (Some addresses, directories, and files may lead to a search engine. However, the citation should contain enough specific information about the publication to retrieve it.) Use minimal punctuation because periods or commas may be mistaken for part of an electronic address. If you have obtained the file using a browser, you may use the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) and directories and files as needed
Chicago Style
Author. Title. Edition. Date of publication. Supplier. URL (accessed on DATE).
Census Document: Bureau of the Census. 1990 Census of Population and Housing: Population and Housing Unit Costs: Alabama. CPH-2-2. Washington, DC: Bureau of the Census, 1992. http://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-2.pdf (accessed February 18, 2004).
Document in a series: Bureau of the Census. "United States in International Context: 2000," by Thomas M. McDevitt and Patricia M. Rowe. Census Brief, 01-11 (Feb. 2002). http://www.census.gov/prod/2002pubs/c2kbr01-11.pdf (accessed February 18, 2004).
Annual Report: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service. Dairy Market Statistics: Annual Summary. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, 2003. http://www.ams.usda.gov/dairy/mncs/2002ann.pdf (accessed February 18, 2004).
MLA Style
Tirey, Jacqueline."Scholars Reflect on Death, Life of Wells." Indiana Daily Student 20 Mar. 2000.
Welcome to the White House. 2004. White House. 2 Mar. 2004.
FORMS FOR SPECIFIC ELECTRONIC PUBLICATIONS
The first citation under each heading is based on Chicago style. The second is based on MLA style.
Code of Federal Regulations
"Cotton Classification under Cotton Futures Legislation." Code of Federal Regulations. Title 7, sec. 27 (2003). http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/7cfr27_03.html (accessed February 14, 2004).
"Cotton Classification under Cotton Futures Legislation." Code of Federal Regulations. 9 January 2001.
Congressional Bills
U.S. Congress. House. Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act of 1995. H.R. 1950. 104th Cong., 1st sess. (June 28, 1995). http://www.gpoaccess.gov/bills/index.html (accessed February 14, 2004).
United States. Cong. House. H.R. 1950, Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act of 1995. 104th cong. 1st sess. 8 June 1995. 14 Feb. 2004
Congressional Record
Ford, Rep. [TN]. "Tribute to Rhodes College Mock Trial Team." Congressional Record 142 (May 25, 1995): E1125. http://www.gpoaccess.gov/crecord/index.html (accessed February 18, 2004).
Ford, Rep. [TN]. "Tribute to Rhodes College Mock Trail Team." Cong. Rec.. 25 May 1995: E1125. 18 Feb. 2004.
Constitution
U.S. Constitution. Art. I, Sec. 7. http://www.archives.gov/national_archives_experience/constitution_transcript.html (accessed on February 18, 2004).
U.S. Constitution. Art. I, Sec 7. 9 January 2001.
Federal Register
"Sentencing Guidelines for U.S. Courts; Notice." Federal Register 66 (January 26, 2001). http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html (accessed on February 18, 2004).
"Sentencing Guidelines for U.S. Courts; Notice." 66 Federal Register (26 Jan. 2001). 27 January 2001.
GAO Reports
U.S. General Accounting Office. U.S. Vietnam Relations: Issues and Implications, NSIAD-95-42. Washington, DC: General Accounting Office, 1995. http://www.gao.gov (accessed February 18, 2004).
U.S. General Accounting Office. U.S. Vietnam Relations: Issues and Implications. 30 December 1995.
U.S. Code
Abandoned Shipwrecks. U.S. Code 43 (2000), § 39. http://www.gpoaccess.gov/uscode/index.html (accessed February 18, 2004).
Abandoned Shipwrecks 43 U.S.C 39, 1995. 27 January 2001.
FORMS FOR ONLINE SUBSCRIPTION DATABASES
Cite according to standard style, and then add name of the database, date of access and the URL for the main page, unless there is a persistant URL for the article. The first citation under each heading is based on Chicago style. The second is based on MLA style.
Lexis-Nexis's Academic Universe
Hinson v. Clinch County Bd. of Educ. (U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, 231 F.3d 821; October 25, 2000). http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/ (accessed January 16, 2001).
Hinson v. Clinch County Bd. of Educ. (U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, 231 F.3d 821; October 25, 2000). Academic Universe. Lexis-Nexis. Indiana University Library, Bloomington. 16 January 2001
ProQuest Congressional
Sen. Robb (VA). "Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century- Conference Report," Congressional Record. 106th Cong., 2d sess., 2000. Vol. 146, no. 25 (March 8, 2000). http://web.lexis-nexis.com/congcomp/ (accessed February 18, 2004).
Sen. Robb (VA). "Wendell Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century- Conference Report," Congressional Record vol. 146, no. 25 March 8, 2000. ProQuest Congressional. ProQuest. n.d. Web. 16 January 2001
Lexis-Nexis's Statistical Universe
"Animals Used in Research, Experiments, Testing, and Teaching FY 1998." Animal Welfare Report FY99. Riverdale, MD: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, 1999. http://web.lexis-nexis.com/statuniv (acccessed on February 18, 2004).
"Animals Used in Research, Experiments, Testing, and Teaching FY 1998," in Animal and Plant Inspection Service. Animal Welfare Report FY99. Statistical Universe. Lexis-Nexis. Indiana University Library, Bloomington. 16 January 2001
STATUSA
"Foreign Exchange rates for the Week Ending February 13, 2004." Washington, DC: Federal Reserve System, 2004. http://www.stat-usa.gov/ (accessed February 18, 2004).
"Foreign Exchange Rates for the Week Ending January 12, 2001." STATUSA. Indiana University Library, Bloomington. 16 January 2001
For other source information, please try these sites:
DocsCite Arizona State University Library Citation Creator.
Citation Guide: U.S. Congressional Documents Library of Congress.
How to Cite Electronic Sources. Links to official guides of MLA and APA as well as guides developed by the IUB Libraries.
Internet Citation Guides. University of Wisconsin.
Introduction to Basic Legal Citation by Peter W. Martin (Cornell Law School).
List of Citation Guides for Electronic Documents. International Federation of Library Association.
Citing Government Information Sources Using MLA University of Nevada, Reno Libraries.
Citing Maps Ohio Wesleyan University.
The Chicago Manual of Style: for Authors, Editors, and Copywriters. 15th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003. [Z253.U69 2003 ET2 Reference Desk, Main Reference, Information Commons Reference]
Garner, Diane L. and Diane H. Smith. The Complete Guide to Citing Government Information Resources: a Manual for Writers and Librarians. Bethesda, MD: Congressional Information Service, 1993. [Z7164.G7 G37 1993]
Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 6th ed. New York: Modern Language Association, 2003. [LB2369.G53 2003]
Turabian, Kate L. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. 6th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996. [LB2369.T8 1996]
