1. Determine what type of document you plan to cite. Is it a report, committee print, budget, executive order, U.S. Census data, court opinion or other type of United States Government Document? Each type will require different information to make it identifiable for your reader.
2. If you are using a major citation style, like APA, MLA, or Chicago, check that style manual for examples of how to cite government documents. These manuals often cover how to format commonly used documents.
3. For legal government documents, such as court cases or legislation, refer to The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, available in print.
Further online resources and guides to citing government documents are available below.
