How to Cite a Report in APSA Style Manual

This guide explains how to format a report citation in APSA Style Manual. Follow the format template below, refer to the real example, and use the step-by-step instructions to build your citation correctly.

Format Template

The general pattern for citing a report in APSA Style Manual:

Template

Author (or Organization). Year. *Title of Report*. Report type/number. Place: Publisher.

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

(Congressional Research Service 2024)

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your reference list:

Reference list entry

Congressional Research Service. 2024. *The War Powers Resolution: Concepts and Practice*. Report R42699. Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service.

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Identify the author or organization
Use the individual author or issuing organization. Government agencies are common authors in political science.
2
Add the year
Write the year followed by a period.
3
Write the report title
Italicize the title. Use headline-style capitalization.
4
Include the report identifier
Add the report type and number (e.g., Report R42699, Working Paper No. 15).
5
Add place and publisher
Write the place of publication, colon, and publisher name. End with a period.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Omitting the report number or identifier.
Not italicizing the report title.
Forgetting the place of publication.
Using initials instead of full organizational names.
Omitting the year for recurring government reports.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a Congressional Research Service report?

Use CRS as the author: Congressional Research Service. Year. *Title*. Report Number. Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service.

How do I cite a think tank report?

Use the author (if individual) or think tank name as author, then the standard format: Author. Year. *Title*. Place: Think Tank Name.

Do I include the URL for online government reports?

Yes. If accessed online, include the URL and access date at the end of the entry.

Information You Will Need

Before creating your citation, gather the following information from your report:

Author(s) or Organization
Year of publication
Title of report
Report number (if applicable)
Publisher or issuing organization
URL or DOI

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Step-by-Step Guide

Identify the author or organization

Use the individual author or issuing organization. Government agencies are common authors in political science.

Add the year

Write the year followed by a period.

Write the report title

Italicize the title. Use headline-style capitalization.

Include the report identifier

Add the report type and number (e.g., Report R42699, Working Paper No. 15).

Add place and publisher

Write the place of publication, colon, and publisher name. End with a period.