How to Cite a Government Document in Bluebook (21st Edition)

This guide explains how to format a government document citation in Bluebook (21st Edition). 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 government document in Bluebook (21st Edition):

Template

Agency, Title (Year).

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

See footnote 11 (superscript in text).

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your reference list:

Reference list entry

U.S. Dep't of Educ., Digest of Education Statistics (2024), https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/.

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Write the agency name
Abbreviate the agency name according to Bluebook Table T6 conventions (e.g., U.S. Dep't of Educ.).
2
Write the document title
Italicise the title in law review footnotes. Use title case.
3
Add the report or document number
Include the report number, publication number, or catalogue number after the title.
4
Include the year
Place the year of publication in parentheses. End with a period.
5
Add the URL
If accessed online, include the URL after the parenthetical year.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not abbreviating agency names according to Bluebook conventions (e.g., 'Department' should be 'Dep't').
Omitting the document or report number.
Placing the year outside the parentheses.
Failing to use Bluebook abbreviation rules for institutional authors.
Not italicising the document title in law review footnotes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I abbreviate agency names in Bluebook?

Use Bluebook abbreviation conventions: 'Department' becomes 'Dep't,' 'Commission' becomes 'Comm'n,' etc. Consult Tables T6 and T10 in the Bluebook.

Do I cite government reports like legislative documents?

No. Government reports use a different format from statutes or legislative histories. Reports follow the Bluebook Rule 15 (books, reports, and other nonperiodic materials).

How do I cite a Congressional Research Service report?

Use: Cong. Rsch. Serv., Title, CRS Report No. (Year). Include the URL if accessed online.

Information You Will Need

Before creating your citation, gather the following information from your government document:

Author/Agency
Title
Publication Number
Publisher
Year
URL

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Step-by-Step Guide

Write the agency name

Abbreviate the agency name according to Bluebook Table T6 conventions (e.g., U.S. Dep't of Educ.).

Write the document title

Italicise the title in law review footnotes. Use title case.

Add the report or document number

Include the report number, publication number, or catalogue number after the title.

Include the year

Place the year of publication in parentheses. End with a period.

Add the URL

If accessed online, include the URL after the parenthetical year.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not abbreviating agency names according to Bluebook conventions (e.g., 'Department' should be 'Dep't').

Omitting the document or report number.

Placing the year outside the parentheses.

Failing to use Bluebook abbreviation rules for institutional authors.

Not italicising the document title in law review footnotes.