Introduction
This guide provides general principles for citing US Government documents in student research papers in APA format, along with examples by type of document.
Please note: There are some types of government documents that are not addressed in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.
In cases where the APA style manual does not specifically address the type of document in question, suggested examples in this guide are based on The Bluebook: A uniform system of citation, adapted to APA style.
For more in-depth guidelines on citing legal materials users are referred to The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation.
For additional guidance on citing court cases, statutes and regulations, see also: Introduction to Basic Legal Citation (online ed. 2020), by Peter W. Martin.
For MLA Citation Style, see Documenting Legal Works in MLA Style.
Style Manuals Consulted -- Print Editions
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Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association by
Publication Date: 2020Chaper 11: Legal References (p.355) -
The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citaton
Call Number: KF245 .U58, Latest ed in ReferencePublication Date: 21st ed. 2020The definitive style guide for legal citation.
A note on the Chicago Manual of Style
The Chicago Manual of Style offers extensive guidance for citing US and some international and foreign documents, beginning with section 14.281.