Bruh, let's talk about citing government docs in that super-fancy, low-key intimidating Chicago style. Seriously, it sounds like something your history teacher says when they want to make your life harder, but it's actually not that deep. Think of it like giving a shout-out to the government for doing all that paperwork. It's just good manners!
The Mission: Citing Government Docs Like a Pro
Why do you even need to cite this stuff? Simple: you gotta show where you got your facts, especially when you're dropping truth bombs about policies, laws, or how many times the Senate argued about pizza toppings (just kidding... mostly). Chicago style is the classic, old-school way to do it, and it usually has two main flavors:
Notes and Bibliography (N-B): The fancy one with footnotes or endnotes and a list at the end. Use this for humanities stuff (history, literature).
Author-Date (A-D): The chill one with just a name and date in parentheses in the text, and a reference list. Use this for social sciences (poli-sci, economics).
For government docs, N-B is more common, so we'll focus on that flex.
 |
| How To Cite Government Documents Chicago |
Step 1: Getting Your Head Straight (Prep Work)
This is the warm-up, the pre-game huddle. Don't skip it!
1.1 Find the Deets (The 'Who, What, When')
Government docs are notorious for being a bit shady about who the 'author' is. It’s usually not "Gary from Accounting," it’s the agency or committee. You gotta hunt down these key pieces of info:
The Big Boss (Author/Sponsor): Which government body made this? (e.g., U.S. Congress, Department of Education, a specific Committee). This is often the most important part.
The Name of the Doc (Title): What's it called? (It's usually long and extra). Italics will be its destiny!
The When (Date): When was this thing published? (Year, usually).
The Where (Publisher Info): Usually the Government Publishing Office (GPO) or the name of the agency itself.
The Secret Code (Identifying Info): Is there a document number, session number (for Congress), or something unique? Grab it!
The URL (If online): If you snagged it from the web, you need the link (URL) or a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) if it has one.
1.2 Pick Your Poison (Note vs. Bibliography)
Remember, you gotta do this stuff twice—once in a footnote (or endnote) and once in the big list at the end (the Bibliography). The footnote is the quick peek; the Bibliography is the full-on bio.
Step 2: Crafting the Footnote (The Quick Shout-Out)
QuickTip: Focus on one line if it feels important.
This is the mini-me citation that goes at the bottom of the page where you used the info. It's usually slightly shorter and uses commas.
Format Vibe Check:
Note Number. Agency Name/Committee, Title of Document (Location: Publisher, Year), URL/Identifying Info.
2.1 The Congressional Chronicles (Laws, Reports, Hearings)
Congress is a citation nightmare. Their documents are all about sessions and numbers. Keep your chill.
Example for a Senate Hearing:
U.S. Congress, Senate, Committee on Foreign Relations, International Climate Change Programs: Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Relations, 116th Cong., 1st sess., March 20, 2019, S. Hrg. 116–382, ProQuest Congressional.
Bruh, that's a mouthful! See how we included the Congress number and session number? And that "S. Hrg. 116–382" is the key identifying info. You have to include that stuff.
2.2 The Agency Action (Reports, Regulations)
When a specific department (like the FBI or NASA) drops a report, it's a bit easier because they are the clear author.
Example for a Department Report:
U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Digest of Education Statistics, 2022, NCES 2023-010 (Washington, DC: GPO, 2023),
https://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2023010
The key here is that NCES number—it's like the document's social security number. Always throw the publisher (often the GPO) in there if you can find it.
Step 3: Getting Serious (The Bibliography Entry)
Tip: Let the key ideas stand out.
This is the full-send citation that goes in the list at the end of your paper. It's usually longer and uses periods instead of commas, like a grown-up.
Format Vibe Check:
Agency Name/Committee. Title of Document. Location: Publisher, Year. URL/Identifying Info.
 |
3.1 Flipping the Script
Notice how the author's name isn't flipped (like "Smith, John") because the author is an organization (a 'corporate author'). So, it's less awkward than citing a book. Sweet!
Example from Step 2.1 (The Senate Hearing):
U.S. Congress, Senate, Committee on Foreign Relations. International Climate Change Programs: Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Relations. 116th Cong., 1st sess. March 20, 2019. S. Hrg. 116–382. ProQuest Congressional.
3.2 The Final Polish (URL Time)
If you got it online, the URL (or DOI) goes at the very end. For government stuff, sometimes you use the name of the database (like ProQuest Congressional or HeinOnline) if it’s an official archive, and sometimes you just use the direct link. Pro-tip: Don't use those crazy-long Google search result links. Find the clean, direct link to the PDF or page.
Example from Step 2.2 (The Department Report):
U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. Digest of Education Statistics, 2022. NCES 2023-010. Washington, DC: GPO, 2023.
And that's the whole shebang! You've officially flexed on your history paper with some next-level citations. You're welcome.
QuickTip: Pause to connect ideas in your mind.
How to Cite Government Documents Chicago: FAQ
How to start a bibliography entry for a government report?
Start with the highest level government entity followed by the specific agency or committee, separated by commas (e.g., U.S. Department of State.).
How to handle a government document with no clear author?
The agency or department that published the document is considered the corporate author.
How to find the publisher of a federal document?
Look for the Government Publishing Office (GPO) or the name of the agency itself (e.g., Department of Health and Human Services).
How to cite a law or statute in Chicago style?
Cite laws by their popular or official name, Public Law number, and where it appears in the United States Statutes at Large (Stat.) or the United States Code (U.S.C.).
How to format the title of a government document?
QuickTip: Stop scrolling fast, start reading slow.
The title is usually put in italics in both the notes and the bibliography.
How to use a short form note after the first citation?
Use a shorter version of the citation, typically the agency/committee name and a shortened title, followed by the page number (e.g., Dept. of Education, Digest of Education Statistics, 45).
How to include a document number in the citation?
The identifying number (like an NCES number or a Report number) should be included after the title but before the publication information.
How to cite a state government document (not federal)?
Begin with the name of the state (e.g., California. Department of Motor Vehicles.), followed by the specific agency.
How to cite a congressional hearing transcript?
Include the Congress number and session number after the title, followed by the date and any hearing number (e.g., S. Hrg. 116–382).
How to cite a document accessed only online?
Include the URL or DOI at the very end of the citation. Use a direct, stable link.
 |
