LibGuides: Government Information Guide: Citing Government Information

Citation Guides

Citing government information can be tricky as there are many different types of documents. In general, follow the citation style you are using for your paper (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.). Consult those manuals for specific instructions and examples of government information.

The issuing agency is the author (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). This is often followed by a lower level department (National Center for Health Statistics). If a personal author is included, include that following the title of the document.

Often, government documents are numbered. Document numbers usually follow the title.

Include the database, URL, or permalink when applicable.

Citing Government Information (GODORT)
Chicagon Citation Style Guide: Legal and Government (courtesy of West Virginia Libraries)
This is a quick guide to citing government information using Chicago style. This guide illustrates formats for notes, short notes, and bibliographic entries.
Citing Government Documents (courtesy of Ohio State University)
This guide provides instructions for citing various types of government information. The examples provided are based on the Chicago/Turabian standard bibliographic style. Check the APA or MLA guide for instructions on citing in those formats.

Congressional Publications This link opens in a new window
Congressional Publications offers citation guidance for congressional materials. Go to the HELP button (question mark in upper right corner of the screen) >>> Help >>> Other Help tab >>> Citing. Please note: Hofstra network account is required.