CUL - Header

CLIO is currently experiencing interruptions in access for some library users. Read more about access.

Citing Government Documents


Government documents can be more difficult to cite properly than standard books and journals, due to the specific nature of some of the documents. This is a short bibliography of guides to citation format which are useful for the researcher using government documents.

Resources marked with this symbol are restricted to Columbia affiliates.

  • The Bluebook: a Uniform System of Citation. 16th ed.
    KF 245 .B58 1996g - Lehman Reference The authoritative guide for citing legal materials.
  • Cheney, Debora.
    The Complete Guide to Citing Government Information Resources: a Manual for Social Science
    & Business Research.

    3rd ed. Bethesda, MD : LexisNexis ; Congressional Information Service, c2002.
    J 9.5 .G37 2002g - Lehman Reference Desk
    The best, most comprehensive guide to citing government documents at all levels -- U.S. federal, state, and local; IGO; and foreign -- and in all formats. Includes extensive coverage of electronic formats (website files, data files, e-mail messages, webcasts, image files, etc.)
  • Citing U.S. Government Publications
    A detailed guide from the Indiana University - Bloomington Libraries, based on the Cheney guide, above.
  • Citing Records in the National Archives of the United States.
    Washington, DC : National Archives and Records Administration, 2007.
    AE 1.113:17/2007 - Offsite
  • DocsCite
    DocsCite is a step-by-step guide to putting government publication citations into proper style format (APA or MLA) using a template; from Arizona State University.
  • Guide to Citing Government Information Sources in a Bibliography (Modern Language Association Style)
    Good basic examples, including an electronic bill via GPO, and a file from a CD-ROM; from the University of Montana.
  • Harnack, Andrew.
    Online!: a Reference Guide to Using Internet Sources.
    New York : St. Martins Press, 2001.
    TK 5105.875 .I57 H364 2001g - Lehman Reference
    The section on "Citation Styles" has examples using APA, Chicago, CBE, and MLA styles, and includes examples of government publications.
  • How to Cite
    An extensive series of pages from ProQuest Congressional, with examples of all types of government documents.
  • Li, Xia.
    Electronic Styles: a Handbook for Citing Electronic Information.
    PN 171 .F56 L5 1996 - Lehman Reference
  • Walker, Janice R.
    The Columbia Guide to Online Style. 2nd ed.
    New York : Columbia University Press, c2006.
    PN 171.F56 W35 2006 - Lehman