citing a congressional research service report

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Q. How do I cite a Congressional Research Services report in APA?

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Answered By: Katie Hutchison Last Updated: Mar 27, 2020     Views: 36106

Author, A. A. (Year).  Title of report in sentence case and italics  (CRS Report No. xxxxxxx). Retrieved from Congressional Research Service website: URL

Example: 

Erwin, M. C. (2011).  Intelligence issues for Congress  (CRS Report No. RL33539). Retrieved from Congressional Research Service website: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/intel/RL33539.pdf

Comments (1)

• APA 7th doesn't use "retrieved from" and "website" anymore. by Peter Coogan on Sep 24, 2020

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Citing government documents, example legal references and citations in apa.

• Bill Digest or Bill Summary
• Federal Legislation and Laws
• Hearings and Testimonies
• House and Senate Reports
• Congressional Debates
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Bill summary from a database

Congressional Research Service. (1993, September 10). Violence Against Women Act of 1993: S. 11, 103rd Cong. Proquest Congressional.

(Congressional Research Service [CRS], 1993), successive citations as (CRS, 1993)

Congressional Research Service (1993)

Bill summary from Congress.gov

Congressional Research Service. (1993, September 10). Summary: S.11 - Violence Against Women Act of 1993. https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/senate-bill/11

Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, P.L. 103-322, 108 Stat. 1796. (1994).

Violence Against Women Act of 1994, P.L. 103-322, 108 Stat. 1902.

Violence Against Women Act, 42 U.S.C. § 13701 (1994).

(Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act [VCCLEA], 1994), successive citations as (VCCLEA, 1994)

Unenacted Bill

Violence Against Women Act, H.R. 1502, 102nd Cong. (1991).

H.R. 1502, 102nd Cong. (1991).

(Violence Against Women Act [VAWA], 1991), successive citations as (VAWA, 1991)

(H.R 1502, 1991)

Enacted Bill

Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, H.R. 3355, 103rd Cong. (1994) (enacted).

(Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, 1994)

Entire Hearing

Violence against women: Victims of the system: Hearings before the Committee on the Judiciary, Senate , 102nd Cong. 1 (1991).

( Violence Against Women , 1991)

Testimony during the Hearing:

Violence against women: Victims of the system: Hearings before the Committee on the Judiciary, Senate , 102nd Cong. 131 (1991) (testimony of Amy Kaylor).

( Violence Against Women , 1991, p. 131)

State Hearing

An Act Relative to Work and Family Mobility H.3012 & S.2061: A Public Hearing before the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Transportation , 191st Gen. Crt. (Mass. 2019, September 4). https://malegislature.gov/Events/Hearings/Detail/3261

( An Act Relative to Work , 2019)

Senate Report

S. Rep. No. 103-138 (1993).

Senate Report No. 103-138 (1993)

(S. Rep. No. 103-138, 1993)

House Report

H. Rep. No. 103-395 (1993).

House Report No. 103-395 (1993)

(H. Rep. No. 103-395, 1993)

Congressional Record Daily

140 Cong. Rec. E1,449 (daily ed. July 13, 1994) (statement of Rep. Schroeder).

(140 Cong. Rec. E1,449, 1994)

In her statements to Congress, Rep. Schroeder stated that, "VAWA would send an unequivocal message that police, prosecutors, and judges, the public can no longer cast aside domestic violence and stalking as personal problems" (140 Cong. Rec. E1449, 1994).

Permanent Bound Edition of Congressional Record

140 Cong. Rec. 16,496 (1994) (statement of Rep. Schroeder).

(140 Cong. Rec. 16,496, 1994)

State Journals or Records

H. 166-1, 2nd Sess., at 89 (Nh. 2020). http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/caljourns/journals/2020/HJ_1.pdf

(H. 166-1, 2020)

Code of Federal Regulations

8 C.F.R. § 101.1 (2018). https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/CFR-2018-title8-vol1/CFR-2018-title8-vol1-sec101-1

Presumption of Lawful Admission, 8 C.F.R. § 101.1 (2018). https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/CFR-2018-title8-vol1/CFR-2018-title8-vol1-sec101-1

8 C.F.R. § 101.1 (2018).

Presumption of Lawful Admission, 8 C.F.R. § 101.1 (2018).

Federal Register

Presumption of Lawful Admission, 68 Fed. Reg. 9832 (Feb. 28, 2003) (to be codified at 8 C.F.R. pt. 101). https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2003/02/28/03-4935/aliens-and-nationality-homeland-security-reorganization-of-regulations

Presumption of Lawful Admission, 68 Fed. Reg. 9832 (2003)

State Codes

603 C.M.R. § 28.00 (2018). http://www.doe.mass.edu/lawsregs/603cmr28.html

Special Education, 603 C.M.R. § 28.00 (2018). http://www.doe.mass.edu/lawsregs/603cmr28.html

Massachuesetts

603 C.M.R. § 28.00 (2018)

Special Education, 603 C.M.R. § 28.00 (2018)

Greenbook (Print/PDF)

Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of Representatives. (2004). 2004 green book: Background material and data on the programs within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means (18th ed.). U.S. Government Printing Office.

Committee on Ways and Means (2004) reported that enrollment in the AFDC soared in 1994, covering more than a fifth of children in the country (p. 7-2).

(Committee on Ways and Means, 2004, p. 7-2)

Greenbook (Web Version)

Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of Representatives. (2014). 2014 green book: Background material and data on the programs within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means (22nd ed.). http://greenbook.waysandmeans.house.gov/2014-green-book

According to the Committee on Ways and Means (2014) 50% of the Employee Benefits program is covered federally and the other half is covered by the state (chapter 4, Introduction section, para. 3).

(Committee on Ways and Means, 2014, chapter 4, Introduction section, para. 3)

Landmark education bill signed. (2002). CQ almanac 2001 (57th ed.). Congressional Quarterly.

"Landmark Education Bill" (2002)

("Landmark Education Bill," 2002, Highlights section)

Unnumbered Federal/ Committee Documents

Senate Committee on the Judiciary, 104th Cong., Rep. on Violence Against Women Act in action (Comm. Print 1995).

(Senate Committee on the Judiciary, 1995)

Senate Committee on the Judiciary (1995)

Unenacted State Bill

H. 199, 189 th Gen. Ct., Sess. (Mass. 2015). https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/House/H199

(H. 199, 2015) or H. 199 (2015)

Enacted State Bill

H. 199, 189 th Gen. Ct., Sess. (Mass. 2015) (enacted). https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/House/H199

State General Law

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 106, § 1-101 (2017). https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXV/Chapter106/Article1/Section1-101

Subscription Database

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 106, § 1-101 (LexisNexis 2013)

(Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 106, § 1-101, 2013)

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 106, § 1-101 (2013)

Association of Social Work Boards. (2012). Return of organization exempt from income tax [Form 990] . http://990s.foundationcenter.org/990_pdf_archive/222/222414510/222414510_201212_990.pdf

(Association of Social Work Boards, 2012)

Executive Order from Whitehouse.gov

Trump, D. (2017, February 9). Presidential executive order on enforcing federal law with respect to transnational criminal organizations and preventing international trafficking. White House Press Office. https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/02/09/presidential-executive-order-enforcing-federal-law-respect-transnational

Trump (2017)

(Trump, 2017, section 2(a))

Executive Orders in the Federal Register

Exec. Order. No. 13,515, 74 F.R. 53635 (2009). https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2009/10/19/E9-25268/increasing- participation-of-asian-americans-and-pacific-islanders-in-federal-programs

Exec. Order No. 13,515 (2009)

(Exec. Order No. 13,515, 2009, p. 53,637)

Memorandum From Other Departments or Agencies

Napolitano, J. (2012, June 15). Exercising prosecutorial discretion with respect to individuals who came to the United States as children [Memorandum]. United States Department of Homeland Security Digital Library. https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=712428

Napolitano (2012)

(Napolitano, 2012, para. 5)

Letter From One Department to Another

Letter from Jessica Shahin, Assoc. Admin., Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, to Elizabeth Berlin, Exec. Deputy Comm., New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (Aug. 18, 2011). https://www.foodpolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/SNAP-Waiver-Request-Decision.pdf

"Letter from Jessica Shahin" (2011)

("Letter from Jessica Shahin," 2011, para. 5)

Presidential Papers from the Public Papers of the Presidents

Remarks on a Parental Leave Initiative and an Exchange With Reporters, 2 Pub. Papers 2163 (Nov. 30, 1999). https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PPP-1999-book2/pdf/PPP-1999-book2-doc-pg2163.pdf

"Remarks on a Parental Leave" (1999)

("Remarks on a Parental Leave," 1999, p. 2165)

Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents

Presidential Statement on Signing S. 643 Into Law, 16 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 503 (Mar. 18, 1980). Hein Online.

"Presidential Statement" (1980)

("Presidential Statement",1980)

Congressional Research Services Reports

Sacco, L. (2014, March 6). Violence Against Women Act: Overview, legislation, and federal funding (CRS Report No. R42499). Hein Online.

Without author:

Congressional Research Services. (2015, May 26). Violence Against Women Act: Overview, legislation, and federal funding (CRS Report No. R42499). https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R42499

With author:

(Sacco, 2014)

Sacco (2014) stated that ... (p. 18)

(Congressional Research Services, 2014)

Congressional Research Services (2014) stated that... (p. 18)

Directive 2013/32 of the European Parliament and the Council of 26 June 2013 on Common Procedures for Granting and Withdrawing International Protection (recast), 2013 O.J. (L 108) 60.  http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L:2013:180:TOC

(Directive 2013/32, 2013)

Proposal of the European Parliament and of the Council Establishing a Common Procedure for International Protection in the Unionand Repealing Directive 2013/32/EU , COM (2016) 467 final (July 13, 2016). http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52016PC0467  

(Proposal of the European Parliament, 2016)  

Govtrack.us Comparing Bill Versions

Reference both bills that are being compared and indicate their stage in parenthesis with the date.

Improving Access to Maternity Care Act, H.R. 315, 115th Cong. (as passed by House, January 9, 2017). Civic Impulse. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr315/text/eh#compare=350473:is

Improving Access to Maternity Care Act, S. 783, 115th Cong. (as introduced by Senate, March 30, 2017). Civic Impulse. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr315/text/eh#compare=350473:is

(Improving Access to Maternity Care Act, H.R. 315, 2017)

(Improving Access to Maternity Care Act, S. 783, 2017)

Govtrack.us as a Website Tool

Govtrack.us [Web tool]. (n.d.). https://www.govtrack.us/

Govtrack.us (n.d.)

State Court Rule

Mass. Sup. Ct. R. 3:30. (2012). https://www.mass.gov/supreme-judicial-court-rules/supreme-judicial-court-rule-303-legal-assistance-to-the-commonwealth

Mass. Sup. Ct. R. 3:30. (2012)

United Nations Convention or Treaty

United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Optional Protocol, December, 13, 2006, http://www.un.org/disabilities/documents/convention/convoptprot-e.pdf

United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Optional Protocol (2006)

Common Symbols and Abbreviations

§ = section, refers to a particular part of a document, usually in legal materials

• To create the § use the Character Map on a PC or go to Edit then Emoji and Symbols and search for "section" on Mac.

ch. = Chapter

Cong. = Congress, usually refers to a specific session of congress, i.e. 101st Cong.

CRS = Congressional Research Service, an arm of the Library Congress that conducts research on policy for the US Congress

Gen. Ct. = General Court, usually refers to a state level congressional session

H.R. or H. = House of Representatives

P.L. = Public Law

Rep. or Rep. No. = Report or report number

S. or Sen. = Senate

Sess. = Session

Stat. = Statute, usually refers to session laws, a chronological compilation of laws organized by volume and page number

U.S.C. = United States Code

Citation Resources

The APA Publication Manual gives guidelines for referencing some legal resources on page 216, Appendix 7.1. For anything not represented in the Manual, APA recommends using The Bluebook.

We include as many citation examples as possible in this guide. If you don't find what you are looking for in this guide, ask a librarian for assistance.

Quick Links to Example Legal Citations in APA:

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U.S. Federal Government: Citing Government Publications

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• Citing Government Publications

Citing government information can be a daunting task. Citation managers do not always know how to handle government documents and there isn't really an agreed-upon standard for citing all types of government publications. Always check the style manual for your particular citation style and use this guide for general advice.

The following information was taken from The Complete Guide to Citing Government Information Resources (ed. 3) Revised by Debora Cheney, 2002 . The examples were taken from various resources found at the Government Information Library at the University of Colorado-Boulder.

If your project or assignment requires citations in MLA style , please see the following document:

• Citing Samples for Government Information Sources: MLA This guide to citing Government Publications is provided by the University of Nevada, Reno and provides guidance on citing Government Information resources in MLA

Government Publications by Type

• Legislation (Bills)
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• Laws & Regulations
• Books & Reports

General Format Should Include:

• Legislative body
• Session number
• Bill number
• Title (may be abbreviated)
• Version with date (if known)
• Accession source and date of accession

U.S. Congress

State Congress

• Legislative body, committee
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House of Representatives Hearing

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• (Publication/Report Number)
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• Abbreviation (P.L. for public law, Pvt. L for private law)
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P.L. 113-5 -- Pandemic and All- Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act of 2013

• Section heading
• Title number
• U.S. Code or Code of Federal Regulations
• Section number (within title number)
• Edition/date of the last update, if known
• Publishing information, if print
• Source of information and date accessed

“Time for election of senators,” Title 2 U.S. Code , Pt. 1. 1934 ed. Available at: FDsys, http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collectionUScode; Accessed: 7/22/2013

Code of Federal Regulations

“Equal Access to Justice Act,” Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations , Sec. 16. Revised as of 7/1/2007. Available at: FDsys; http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collectionCfr.action?collectionCode=CFR; Accessed: 7/16/2013.

For Government Publications, the citation generally begins with the issuing agency rather than the author. One exception is if the work is part of a larger piece.

General Format

Geographic or Political Designation. Issuing Agency. Title: Subtitle (Medium). (Publication/Report Number). Edition. By Personal Author. (Series).(Notes).

Work by the Issuing Agency

U.S. Department of the Interior. Craters of the Moon: a guide to Craters of the Moon National Monument , Idaho. (Handbook).Washington: National Park Service, Division of Publications, 1991 (139).

One Personal Author

U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. On the Moon with Apollo 16, guidebook to Descartes region [with bibliographies] . By Gene Simmons. Washington, Apr. 1972. (NASA EP Series  No. 95).

More than Three Authors

U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Project Fog Drops 5, Task 1, Numerical model of advection fog, Task 2, Recommendation for simplified individual zero-gravity cloud physics experiments (Paper). By C. William Rogers et. al. Washington D.C., Dec. 1975. (NASA contractor report series No. 2633).

Chapter in a Larger Work

“Eastern Europe Region: Memorandum from Director of Central Intelligence to Helms to President Johnson,” pp. 65-66. In Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964-1968 . (Vol. XVII). Washington: Government Printing Office, 1996.

Website as the Source of Information

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. Advances in HIV/AIDS Research . Feb. 25, 2011. Available at: http://www.nih.gov/science/hiv/index.htm . Accessed: 6/20/2013.

For citing local, state, and federal court decisions, consult the Blue Book: A Uniform System of Citation . The following websites will take you to citation guides for the Blue Book.

• Georgetown Library Bluebook Guide The purpose of this guide is to introduce The Bluebook and basic concepts of legal citation to new law students.
• Introduction to Basic Legal Citation: Cornell The content of this guide is available in three different eBook versions, and the website also provides video tutorials
• Suffolk University Boston: Bluebook Guide for Students This guide provides commentary, models and tips on the Bluebook (19th Edition) for law students.

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How to Cite U.S. Government Documents in APA Citation Style: Congressional Record

• House and Senate Reports and Documents
• Congressional Hearings & Testimony

Congressional Record

• A note about URLs
• Congressional Bills and Resolutions
• Federal Laws/Statutes
• Executive Documents -- Presidential Papers, Proclamations and Executive Orders
• Rules/Regulations -- Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) and the Federal Register
• Foreign Relations of the United States
• State Legislative Documents
• State Statutes (Laws)
• Court Cases
• Government Agencies
• Other legal citations

The Publication Manual of the APA does not specifically address citing the Congressional Record . For materials not covered in the Publication Manual , the APA refers users to The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation . The recommendations below are based on the 21st edition of The Bluebook :

The Congressional Record is issued in two editions -- the Daily Edition and the Permanent Edition. Writers should "use the Daily Edition only for matters not yet appearing in the permanent collection." ( The Bluebook , 2020)

Citing to the Permanent Bound Edition:

In text citation:.

Following the general APA and Bluebook principles for citing legislative materials, the in-text citation would look like this:

• (142 Cong. Rec. 14979, 1996)

Reference list:

Cite to the volume and page number of the permanent edition of the Congressional Record:

• 142 Cong. Rec. 14979 (1996)
• 142 Cong. Rec 14982 (1996) (statement of Sen. John McCain).

In the example, above, 142 is the volume, 14979 is the page number.

For proceedings that have not yet appeared in the Permanent Edition of the Congressional Record:

*If the text is not yet published in the permanent edition, you will need to cite to the Daily Edition. The Daily Edition includes the prefixes H, S and E.* before page numbers. (The Bluebook, 2020, p. 140).

Citing this in text is not specifically addressed in either The Bluebook or the APA Publication Manual. Following general APA and Bluebook principles for citing legislative materials:

• (159 Cong. Rec. H227, 2013)
• 159 Cong. Rec. H227 (daily ed. Jan. 23, 2013) (statement of  Rep. Yarmuth)  

These abbreviations refer to sections of the Daily Edition: H=House; S=Senate; E=Extension of Remarks

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do i cite a congressional research service report.

A Congressional Research Service report with an individual author:

Woolf, Amy F. (2021, December 14).  U.S. strategic nuclear forces: Background, development, and issues. (CRS Report No. RL33640).  https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/RL/RL33640 . 

A Congressional Research Services report without an individual author:

Congressional Research Services. (Date). Title.  (CRS Report No. RLxxxxx). https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdfRLxxxxx.

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Government Publications: United States: Citation Guides

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Helpful Hints

If you need citation help beyond what you find in The Chicago Manual of Style , Turabian or APA , check these guides out.

Additional Resources

• Chicago Manual of Style Quick Online Guide
• Turabian Quick Guide From the Publisher's website.
• APA Citation Style, 7th edition: Government Publication Citing Government Sources in APA, 7th edition. From the Douglas College Library
• The Bluebook: a Uniform System of Citation The authoritative guide for citing legal materials. Available at Ginn Library
• The Complete Guide to Citing Government Information Resources: a Manual for Social Science & Business Research Print: by Debora Cheney. 3rd Revised edition. Bethesda, MD: LexisNexis : Congressional Information Service, 2002. Ref J 9.5 .G37 2002.
• Guide: Citing U.S. Government Publications Indiana University guide for citing U.S. Government publications. Based on Garner and Cheney's The Complete Guide to Citing Government Documents: A Manual for Writers & Librarians (1993).
• Introduction to Basic Legal Citation (LII 2010 ed.) by Peter W. Martin
• User's Guide to the Bluebook Print: Rev. for the 19th ed. Tisch Ref KF 245 .D853 2010
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Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports

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Subject Guide

"CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material. "

https://crsreports.congress.gov/

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About CRS Reports  

CRS Reports are a source of information of all kinds - from historical research to current events, to information about how Congress works.   The researchers at CRS respond to requests for information from members of Congress on all topics - from information on economic indicators, the strategic petroleum reserve, public health issues, and international affairs.  CRS Rports are often the first place (within ProQuest Congressional) you'll see informative content about issues in the news, and they'll often also provide reviews of legislation, years after passage.

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) was established within the Library of Congress to provide members, committees, and congressional staff with nonpartisan and objective research and analysis on all public policy issues. Originally established in 1914 as the Legislative Reference Division, CRS was originally organized as a typical library reference service. Under the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, it was officially named the Legislative Reference Service, given permanent status as a separate department within the Library, and directed to employ senior specialists in various program areas. The Legislative Reference Service was renamed Congressional Research Service under the Legislative Reference Act of 1970.

Currently, the CRS research divisions are: American Law; Domestic Social Policy; Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade; Government and Finance; Knowledge Services; and Resources, Science and Industry. Many CRS reports are updated at varying intervals, so it is always important to note the exact date of issuance rather than just the title and the year of publication.

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The Advanced Search form allows you to search on specific segments of a document. The search segments below apply to Committee Prints.

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Some CRS reports have been issued as House or Senate documents, reports, or committee prints, while others are available as attachments to various types of publications.

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How do I cite a congressional document in print and online?

Note: This post relates to content in the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook . For up-to-date guidance, see the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook .

Cite a congressional document by following the MLA format template . Begin by listing the government entity as the author, followed by the title of the source. Then list the name of the publisher and the date:

United States, Congress, House, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Al-Qaeda: The Many Faces of an Islamist Extremist Threat. Government Printing Office, 2006.

Following 2.1.3 of the MLA Handbook , you might include information about the congressional session from which the document emerged or specify the document’s type and number in the optional-element slot at the end of the entry:

United States, Congress, House, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Al-Qaeda: The Many Faces of an Islamist Extremist Threat. Government Printing Office, 2006. 109th Congress, 2nd session, House Report 615.

To cite a congressional document found online, provide the information for the document in one container. Then provide the name of the website on which the document appears, along with the URL or DOI:

United States, Congress. Public Law 111-122.  United States Statutes at Large , vol. 123, 2009, pp. 3480-82.  U.S. Government Publishing Office , www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/STATUTE-123/pdf/STATUTE-123.pdf.

See more examples of citations for government and legal works .

Guide to APA Style 7th Edition

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Common Reference Examples

• Journal Articles
• Financial Documents/Form 990
• Test and Measures
• Codes of Conduct

Gast, L.E. (2012). Mastering approaches to diversity in social work . Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

(Gast, 2012)

Chapter in a Book or Encyclopedia (or textbook)

Kayser, K. & Johnson, J.K. (2008). Divorce. In T. Mizrahi & T.E. Davis (Eds.), The Encyclopedia of Social Work (20th ed., pp. 76-85). National Association of Social Workers; Oxford University Press.

(Kayser & Johnson, 2012)

More explanation on Citing an Article in a Textbook or Edited Book

General Format  

       In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):  

      (Author Surname [of Chapter or Article], Year)

       In-Text Citation (Quotation):

      (Author Surname [of Chapter or Article], Year, page number)

       Reference (Quotation):

      Author Surname [of Chapter or Article], First Initial. Second Initial. (Year). Article

            or chapter title. In Editor First Initial. Second Initial. Surname (Ed.),  Book title:

            Subtitle  (pp. page range of article or chapter) .  Publisher.

         In-Text Citation (Paraphrase):

      (Lawrence & Dodds, 2003)

      (Lawrence & Dodds, 2003, p. 526)

       Reference:

      Lawrence, J. A., &  Dodds, A. E. (2003). Goal-directed activities and life-span

            development. In J. Valsiner & K. Connolly (Eds.),  Handbook of developmental

            psychology  (pp. 517-533). Sage Publications.

Journal Article

Edwards, H.R. & Hoefer, R. (2010). Are social work advocacy groups using web 2.0 effectively? Journal of Policy Practice, 9 (3-4), 220-229. http://doi.org/10.1080/15588742.2010.489037

(Edwards & Hoefer, 2010)

Website with Authors Identified

National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). NIMH outreach partnership program. Retrieved January 10, 2020, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/outreach/partnership-program/index.shtml

(National Institute of Mental Health, n.d.)

Website with No Authors

(Use the title of the page in place of an author or organization)

Races in Waltham, MA. (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2020, from http://www.city-data.com/races/races- Waltham-Massachusetts.html

( Races in Waltham , n.d.)

Newspaper article:

Hernández, J.C. (2019, November 1). Professors, beware. A ‘Student Information Officer’ might be watching. New York Times . https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/01/world/asia/china-student-informers.html

(Hernández, 2019)

Non-Profit Tax Return:

Association of Social Work Boards. (2012). Return of organization exempt from income tax [Tax form]. Foundation Center. http://990s.foundationcenter.org/990_pdf_archive/222/222414510/222414510_201212_990.pdf

(Association of Social Work Boards, 2012)

Publicly Available Financial Statements:

James K. Smith & Associates. (2013, January 31). Homeless shelter non-profit: Consolidated financial statement . http://www.somewebsite.org

(James K. Smith Associates, 2013)

(use the Bookmark/Save link for your web address)

United States Census Bureau. (2018). American Community Survey, one year demographic and housing estimates: Massachusetts (Table DP05) [Data file]. https://bit.ly/2N4ZlwU

(United States Census Bureau, 2018)

Test or Instrument from PsycTESTS

McElroy, E., & Shevlin, M. (2014). Cyberchondria Severity Scale [Database record]. PsycTESTS. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/t34245-000

We used the McElroy and Shevlin (2014) Cyberchondra Severity Scale .

Test or Instrument from a Book:

Reference: .

Heiby, E. (2013). Frequency of Self-Reinforcement Questionnaire. In K. Corcoran & J. Fischer (Eds.), Measures for clinical practice and research: A sourcebook (5th ed, Vol. 2, pp. 313-314). Oxford University Press. (Original work published 1983).

We used the Heiby (1983/2013) Frequency of Self-Reinforcement Questionnaire .

Test or Measure Found Online:

RAND Corporation. (2001). Vulnerable Elders Survey . https://www.rand.org/health/projects/acove/survey.html

We used the RAND (2001) Vulnerable Elders Survey .

Published Test or Instrument:

Beck, A.T., Steer, R.A., & Brown, G.K. (1996). Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II): Manual and Questionnaire . The Psychological Corporation.

Beck et al. (1996) Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II)

NASW Code of Ethics

National Association of Social Workers. (2014). Code of ethics of the National Association of Social Workers . https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English

(National Association of Social Workers, 2014)

APA Code of Conduct

American Psychological Association. (2017). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct . http://www.apa.org/ethics/code/

(American Psychological Association, 2017)

Example Legal References and Citations in APA

• Unnumbered Federal/Committee Documents
• Symbols and Abbreviations
• Court Rules
• Govtrack.us
• European Union Directives and Proposals
• Congressional Research Service Reports
• Executive Orders, Memos, Letters, Proclamations
• State Legislation and Laws
• Bill Digest or Bill Summary
• CQ Databases
• Codes/Regulations
• Congressional Record
• House and Senate Reports
• Hearings and Testimonies
• Federal Legislation and Laws

Unnumbered Federal/ Committee Documents

Senate Committee on the Judiciary, 104th Cong., Rep. on Violence Against Women Act in action (Comm. Print 1995).

(Senate Committee on the Judiciary, 1995)

Senate Committee on the Judiciary (1995)

Common Symbols and Abbreviations

§ = section, refers to a particular part of a document, usually in legal materials

• To create the § use the Character Map on a PC or go to Edit then Emoji and Symbols and search for "section" on Mac.

ch. = Chapter

Cong. = Congress, usually refers to a specific session of congress, i.e. 101st Cong.

CRS = Congressional Research Service, an arm of the Library Congress that conducts research on policy for the US Congress

Gen. Ct. = General Court, usually refers to a state level congressional session

H.R. or H. = House of Representatives

P.L. = Public Law

Rep. or Rep. No. = Report or report number

S. or Sen. = Senate

Sess. = Session

Stat. = Statute, usually refers to a specific law or section of a larger law

U.S.C. = United States Code

State Court Rule

Mass. Sup. Ct. R. 3:30. (2012). https://www.mass.gov/supreme-judicial-court-rules/supreme-judicial-court-rule-303-legal-assistance-to-the-commonwealth

Mass. Sup. Ct. R. 3:30. (2012)

Govtrack.us Comparing Bill Versions

Reference both bills that are being compared and indicate their stage in parenthesis with the date.

Improving Access to Maternity Care Act, H.R. 315, 115th Cong. (as passed by House, January 9, 2017). Civic Impulse. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr315/text/eh#compare=350473:is

Improving Access to Maternity Care Act, S. 783, 115th Cong. (as introduced by Senate, March 30, 2017). Civic Impulse. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr315/text/eh#compare=350473:is

(Improving Access to Maternity Care Act, H.R. 315, 2017)

(Improving Access to Maternity Care Act, S. 783, 2017)

Govtrack.us as a Website Tool

Govtrack.us [Web tool]. (n.d.). https://www.govtrack.us/

Govtrack.us (n.d.)

Directive 2013/32 of the European Parliament and the Council of 26 June 2013 on Common Procedures for Granting and Withdrawing International Protection (recast), 2013 O.J. (L 108) 60.  http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L:2013:180:TOC

(Directive 2013/32, 2013)

Proposal of the European Parliament and of the Council Establishing a Common Procedure for International Protection in the Unionand Repealing Directive 2013/32/EU , COM (2016) 467 final (July 13, 2016). http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52016PC0467  

(Proposal of the European Parliament, 2016)  

Congressional Research Services Reports

Sacco, L. (2014, March 6). Violence Against Women Act: Overview, legislation, and federal funding (CRS Report No. R42499). Hein Online.

Without author:

Congressional Research Services. (2015, May 26). Violence Against Women Act: Overview, legislation, and federal funding (CRS Report No. R42499). https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R42499

With author:

(Sacco, 2014)

Sacco (2014) stated that ... (p. 18)

(Congressional Research Services, 2014)

Congressional Research Services (2014) stated that... (p. 18)

Executive Order from Whitehouse.gov

Trump, D. (2017, February 9). Presidential executive order on enforcing federal law with respect to transnational criminal organizations and preventing international trafficking. White House Press Office. https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/02/09/presidential-executive-order-enforcing-federal-law-respect-transnational

Trump (2017)

(Trump, 2017, section 2(a))

Executive Orders in the Federal Register

Exec. Order. No. 13,515, 74 F.R. 53635 (2009). https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2009/10/19/E9-25268/increasing- participation-of-asian-americans-and-pacific-islanders-in-federal-programs

Exec. Order No. 13,515 (2009)

(Exec. Order No. 13,515, 2009, p. 53,637)

Memorandum From Other Departments or Agencies

Napolitano, J. (2012, June 15). Exercising prosecutorial discretion with respect to individuals who came to the United States as children [Memorandum]. United States Department of Homeland Security Digital Library. https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=712428

Napolitano (2012)

(Napolitano, 2012, para. 5)

Letter From One Department to Another

Letter from Jessica Shahin, Assoc. Admin., Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, to Elizabeth Berlin, Exec. Deputy Comm., New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (Aug. 18, 2011). https://www.foodpolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/SNAP-Waiver-Request-Decision.pdf

"Letter from Jessica Shahin" (2011)

("Letter from Jessica Shahin," 2011, para. 5)

Association of Social Work Boards. (2012). Return of organization exempt from income tax [Form 990] . http://990s.foundationcenter.org/990_pdf_archive/222/222414510/222414510_201212_990.pdf

Unenacted State Bill

H. 199, 189 th Gen. Ct., Sess. (Ma. 2015). https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/House/H199

(H. 199, 2015) or H. 199 (2015)

Enacted State Bill

H. 199, 189 th Gen. Ct., Sess. (Ma. 2015) (enacted). https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/House/H199

State General Law

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 106, § 1-101 (2017). https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXV/Chapter106/Article1/Section1-101

Subscription Database

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 106, § 1-101 (LexisNexis 2013)

(Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 106, § 1-101, 2013)

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 106, § 1-101 (2013)

Bill summary from a database

Congressional Research Service. (1993, September 10). Violence Against Women Act of 1993: S. 11, 103rd Cong. Proquest Congressional.

(Congressional Research Service [CRS], 1993), successive citations as (CRS, 1993)

Congressional Research Service (1993)

Bill summary from Congress.gov

Congressional Research Service. (1993, September 10). Summary: S.11 - Violence Against Women Act of 1993. https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/senate-bill/11

Landmark education bill signed. (2002). CQ almanac 2001 (57th ed.). Congressional Quarterly.

"Landmark Education Bill" (2002)

("Landmark Education Bill," 2002, Highlights section)

Greenbook (Print/PDF)

Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of Representatives. (2004). 2004 green book: Background material and data on the programs within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means (18th ed.). U.S. Government Printing Office.

Committee on Ways and Means (2004) reported that enrollment in the AFDC soared in 1994, covering more than a fifth of children in the country (p. 7-2).

(Committee on Ways and Means, 2004, p. 7-2)

Greenbook (Web Version)

Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of Representatives. (2014). 2014 green book: Background material and data on the programs within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means (22nd ed.). http://greenbook.waysandmeans.house.gov/2014-green-book

According to the Committee on Ways and Means (2014) 50% of the Employee Benefits program is covered federally and the other half is covered by the state (chapter 4, Introduction section, para. 3).

(Committee on Ways and Means, 2014, chapter 4, Introduction section, para. 3)

Code of Federal Regulations

8 C.F.R. § 101.1 (2018). https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/CFR-2018-title8-vol1/CFR-2018-title8-vol1-sec101-1

Presumption of Lawful Admission, 8 C.F.R. § 101.1 (2018). https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/CFR-2018-title8-vol1/CFR-2018-title8-vol1-sec101-1

8 C.F.R. § 101.1 (2018).

Presumption of Lawful Admission, 8 C.F.R. § 101.1 (2018).

Federal Register

Presumption of Lawful Admission, 68 Fed. Reg. 9832 (Feb. 28, 2003) (to be codified at 8 C.F.R. pt. 101). https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2003/02/28/03-4935/aliens-and-nationality-homeland-security-reorganization-of-regulations

Presumption of Lawful Admission, 68 Fed. Reg. 9832 (2003)

State Codes

603 C.M.R. § 28.00 (2018). http://www.doe.mass.edu/lawsregs/603cmr28.html

Special Education, 603 C.M.R. § 28.00 (2018). http://www.doe.mass.edu/lawsregs/603cmr28.html

Massachuesetts

603 C.M.R. § 28.00 (2018)

Special Education, 603 C.M.R. § 28.00 (2018)

Congressional Record Daily

140 Cong. Rec. E1449 (daily ed. July 13, 1994) (statement of Rep. Schroeder).

(140 Cong. Rec. E1449, 1994)

In her statements to Congress, Rep. Schroeder stated that, "VAWA would send an unequivocal message that police, prosecutors, and judges, the public can no longer cast aside domestic violence and stalking as personal problems" (140 Cong. Rec. E1449, 1994).

Permanent Bound Edition of Congressional Record

140 Cong. Rec. 16496 (1994) (statement of Rep. Schroeder).

(140 Cong. Rec. 16496, 1994)

Senate Report

S. Rep. No. 103-138 (1993).

Senate Report No. 103-138 (1993)

(S. Rep. No. 103-138, 1993)

House Report

H. Rep. No. 103-395 (1993).

House Report No. 103-395 (1993)

(H. Rep. No. 103-395, 1993)

Entire Hearing

Violence against women: Victims of the system: Hearings before the Committee on the Judiciary, Senate , 102nd Cong. 1 (1991).

( Violence Against Women , 1991)

Testimony during the Hearing:

Violence against women: Victims of the system: Hearings before the Committee on the Judiciary, Senate , 102nd Cong. 131 (1991) (testimony of Amy Kaylor).

( Violence Against Women , 1991, p. 131)

Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, P.L. 103-322, 108 Stat. 1796. (1994).

Violence Against Women Act of 1994, P.L. 103-322, 108 Stat. 1902.

Violence Against Women Act, 42 U.S.C. § 13701 (1994).

(Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act [VCCLEA], 1994), successive citations as (VCCLEA, 1994)

Unenacted Bill

Violence Against Women Act, H.R. 1502, 102nd Cong. (1991).

H.R. 1502, 102nd Cong. (1991).

(Violence Against Women Act [VAWA], 1991), successive citations as (VAWA, 1991)

(H.R 1502, 1991)

Enacted Bill

Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, H.R. 3355, 103rd Cong. (1994) (enacted).

(Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, 1994)

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Turabian Citation Style Guide: Government Agency Reports and Technical Reports

• Bills or Resolutions (Federal unenacted)
• Book Chapters (in edited books)
• Books (electronic)
• Books (print)
• Congressional Hearings
• Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports
• Court Cases – U.S. Supreme Court
• Executive Orders

Government Agency Reports and Technical Reports

• Journal Articles (in electronic databases)
• Journal Articles (print)
• Personal Communications and Interviews
• Public Laws: U.S. Statutes at Large/U.S. Code
• Secondary Sources
• Websites and Web Documents
• Turabin Citation Quick Guide
• Color Coded Citation Examples
• Citing Government Documents

N:  1. Cathleen A. Berrick, Homeland Security, 7. *Cross –referencing between author and department may be appropriate in both the bibliography and reference list. B:  Berrick, Cathleen A. See U.S. Government Accountability Office. B:  U.S. Government Accountability Office. Homeland Security: DHS’s Progress and Challenges in Key Areas of Maritime, Aviation, and Cybersecurity, by Cathleen A. Berrick. GAO-10-106. 2009 . http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d10106.pdf (accessed March 1, 2010). P:  (Berrick 2009, 7) R:  Berrick, Cathleen A. See U.S. Government Accountability Office. R:  U.S. Government Accountability Office. 2009. Homeland Security: DHS’s Progress and Challenges in Key Areas of Maritime, Aviation, and Cybersecurity, by Cathleen A. Berrick. GAO-10-106. http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d10106.pdf (accessed March 1, 2010). N:  1. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), Joint Vision 2020, 36. B:  Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS). Joint Vision 2020. Washington, DC: GPO, June 2000. http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/LPS5598/jv2020.pdf (accessed March 1, 2010). P:  (Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) 2000, 36) R:  Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS). June 2000. Joint Vision 2020. Washington, DC: GPO. http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/LPS5598/jv2020.pdf (accessed March 1, 2010).

B: = Biblography

P: =  In-text citations which are enclosed in parentheses.

R: = Reference List

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