Q. How do I cite government publications?

The guides recommended here are a good starting point for citing government publications. You can see more on the Government Documents page of our Citation Resources guide. 

The Bluebook

The Bluebook, which is the standard style manual for legal citations, has extensive coverage on how to cite government publications, especially laws, federal regulations, and court cases. A copy of The Bluebook and the support guide Understanding and Mastering The Bluebook are located in the McWherter Library Reference Collection. 

1. The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation McWherter Library 1st Floor Reference Collection KF245 B58 2020 
2. Understanding and Mastering The Bluebook: A Guide for Students and Practitioners McWherter Library 1st Floor Reference Collection KF245 .B37 2020

Citing Government Publications in APA, Chicago, and MLA

• APA: A Guide to APA Style 7th Edition: Citing Government Documents [opens in new tab]
• Chicago: Chicago Manual of Style 18th ed. Chapter 14 [opens in new tab]
  • Chapter 14, sections 14.170-14.207 cover legal and public documents. 
  • Section 14.170 notes that most of the examples in the manual are based on The Bluebook. 
• MLA: Documenting Legal Works in MLA Style [opens in new tab]
  • Official guidance from the MLA Style Center
  • This page has general advice for using the MLA elements with government publications with extensive examples.