U.S. documents are publications
either written or sponsored by the federal government.
The citing of government documents can present unique challenges to a writer.
Many documents have only agencies as authors or do not give credit to the personal authors
of a work.
Titles may vary or there may be several possible titles on the cover.
Nevertheless, citations for federal publications are clearly outlined in many citation
manuals.
Proper citation is essential to
both the writer and the reader.
A clear citation lends authority to your work and also acknowledges the writers and their
ideas.
A good citation should provide accurate and all necessary information " that will
help the reader easily find the material cited.
This two-page worksheet was
designed to help you properly cite a government document.
For further information, consult "The Complete Guide to Citing Government Documents:
A Manual for Writers & Librarians." (Z 7164.G7 G37 1984). As always, speak with a
librarian if you are not sure of the proper way to cite a document.
Remember to carefully take notes
while you're doing your research.
Write down the issuing agency, publication's title, publisher and date so that when you
are ready to type your paper the material will be readily available in one place.
SINGLE ISSUING AGENCY
Always begin with "U.S.," followed by the name of the agency in hierarchical order.
EXAMPLE: U.S. Civil Rights Commission. Immigration Issues In Hawaii. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1980. (CR1.2:H31)
If the agency given on the document is composed of many bureaucratic levels, how do you decide which ones to include? Usually you need only the "MAIN" agency and the lowest level agency given. When in doubt include everything.
EXAMPLE: U.S. Department of Labor. Employment Standards Administration. Groups with Historically High Incidences of Unemployment. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1980. (L36.12:980)
CONGRESS AS ISSUING AGENCY
For Congressional publications, you do not need to include "Congress" in the hierarchical order since there is only one U.S. House or U.S. Senate.
EXAMPLE: U.S. House. Committee on Interior and Insular Affair. Entitled the "California Wilderness Act of 1983" (H.Rpt. 98-40). Washington: Government Printing - Office, 1983. (Y1.1/8:98-40)****
****This is the form that would be used for both House & Senate Reports. A Senate Report publication would substitute the word "H.Rpt." with the word "S. Rpt."
HEARINGS FROM CONGRESS
EXAMPLE: U.S. House. Committee on the Judiciary. Racially Motivated Violence Hearings, 4 Mar., 3 June, 12 Nov. 1981 (Serials No. 135). Washington: Government Printing Office, 1983. (Y4.J89/1:97/135)
CITING A PUBLIC LAW
To cite a public law found in the Statutes at Large, include the name of the law, its public law number (P.L.), date of passage, volume, and page numbers. The name of the law can usually be located in the first paragraph of the text or in the annotations on the side of the page.
EXAMPLE: "Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981" (PL 97- 35), United States Statues at Large 9, pp. 37-933.
CITING SUPREME COURT DECISIONS
Give the full name of the case (plaintiff v. defendant), U.S. Reports, volume, date of the decision, and page numbers.
EXAMPLE: Brown
v. the Board of Education of Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas, U.S. Reports 347
(17 May 1954) pp. 483-500.
Compiled by Shirley Cavanagh, Southern Connecticut State Univ.
.