MLA Government Document Citations

    Learn to cite government documents, reports, legislation, and official publications in MLA format with detailed examples and best practices.

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    Published: September 15, 2025
    By heypaperhero Team

    Basic Government Document Format

    MLA format for government documents follows a specific pattern emphasizing the issuing agency and document type.

    MLA Government Document Format:

    Government Agency. Title of Document. Publisher, Date, URL (if applicable).

    Federal Documents

    Federal government documents include reports, studies, and publications from executive agencies.

    Example:

    United States, Department of Education. A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform. U.S. Government Printing Office, 1983.

    In-text citation: (United States, Department of Education)

    Elements:

    • Country: United States
    • Agency: Department of Education
    • Title: A Nation at Risk (italicized)
    • Publisher: U.S. Government Printing Office
    • Date: 1983

    Legislation and Laws

    For bills, acts, and other legislation, include the legislative body and relevant details.

    Federal Law Example:

    Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Public Law 101-336, 101st Congress, 26 July 1990, www.ada.gov/pubs/adastatute08.htm.

    Congressional Bill Example:

    United States, Congress, House. Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. H.R. 3684, 117th Congress, 15 Nov. 2021, www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3684.

    In-text citation: (Americans with Disabilities Act) or (United States, Congress, House)

    Court Cases

    Legal cases follow a specific format with case name, court, and decision date.

    Supreme Court Example:

    Brown v. Board of Education. Supreme Court of the United States, 17 May 1954. Legal Information Institute, www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/347/483.

    In-text citation: (Brown v. Board of Education)

    State and Local Documents

    State and local government documents follow similar patterns but specify the state or locality.

    State Document Example:

    California, Department of Public Health. California Cancer Registry Annual Report. State of California, 2023, www.ccrcal.org/learn-about-ccr/publications/annual-report/.

    Local Government Example:

    City of Austin, Planning and Zoning Department. Austin Climate Equity Plan. City of Austin, 2023, www.austintexas.gov/climate-equity-plan.

    International Documents

    Documents from international organizations or foreign governments.

    UN Document Example:

    United Nations, General Assembly. Universal Declaration of Human Rights. United Nations, 10 Dec. 1948, www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights.

    Foreign Government Example:

    Canada, Statistics Canada. Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population. Government of Canada, 9 Feb. 2022, www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/.

    Government Websites

    For information from government websites without a specific document title.

    Example:

    United States, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "COVID-19 Vaccination." CDC, 15 Mar. 2023, www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/.

    Key Citation Elements

    Required Elements:

    • • Government/agency name
    • • Document title
    • • Publisher
    • • Publication date
    • • URL (for online sources)

    Optional Elements:

    • • Document number
    • • Congress session
    • • Public law number
    • • Court information
    • • Page numbers

    Best Practices

    MLA Government Citation Tips:

    • Official Sources: Use official government websites when possible
    • Hierarchy: Start with the largest governmental unit (country, state, city)
    • Abbreviations: Use standard abbreviations for well-known agencies
    • Updates: Government documents may be updated; note the version date
    • Access: Ensure URLs lead to permanent, stable links when possible