How to Cite a Government Document in Chicago 17th Edition (Notes-Bibliography)

This guide explains how to format a government document citation in Chicago 17th Edition (Notes-Bibliography). 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 Chicago 17th Edition (Notes-Bibliography):

Template

Note: Agency or Author, Title of Document (Publication No. xxx) (Place: Publisher, Year), page, URL. Bibliography: Agency or Author. Title of Document. Publication No. xxx. Place: Publisher, Year. URL.

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

1. U.S. Department of Education, Digest of Education Statistics (NCES 2024-009) (Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics, 2024), 45.

Bibliography Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your bibliography:

Bibliography entry

U.S. Department of Education. Digest of Education Statistics. NCES 2024-009. Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics, 2024. https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/.

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Identify the issuing agency
Use the full name of the government agency or authoring body. List from the most specific to the broadest level if needed.
2
Write the document title
Italicize the title. Use headline-style capitalization. Include the document or publication number after the title.
3
Add publication information
Include the place of publication, the publisher (parent department if different from the author), and the year. In notes, enclose in parentheses. In bibliography, use periods.
4
Include page numbers (notes only)
In notes, include the specific page number(s) after the closing parenthesis.
5
Add the URL
Include the full URL where the document can be accessed. End with a period.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not italicizing the document title.
Omitting the place of publication, which Chicago requires for government documents.
Forgetting to include the publication or document number.
Using abbreviations for agency names without first spelling them out.
Not distinguishing between notes format (parenthetical publication info) and bibliography format (period-separated).

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Chicago handle government documents differently from regular reports?

Chicago treats government documents similarly to reports but always includes the place of publication and the full hierarchy of issuing agencies. Document numbers are included after the title.

How do I cite a congressional hearing or testimony in Chicago?

List the committee as the author, the title of the hearing in italics, the Congress and session numbers, the date, and the URL. Testimony by a specific witness can be noted in the text.

Do I need to include the place of publication for federal documents?

Yes. Chicago style includes the place of publication for government documents. For U.S. federal publications, this is typically Washington, DC.

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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Format Template

The general pattern for citing a government document in Chicago 17th Edition (Notes-Bibliography):

Template

Step-by-Step Guide

Identify the issuing agency

Use the full name of the government agency or authoring body. List from the most specific to the broadest level if needed.

Write the document title

Italicize the title. Use headline-style capitalization. Include the document or publication number after the title.

Add publication information

Include the place of publication, the publisher (parent department if different from the author), and the year. In notes, enclose in parentheses. In bibliography, use periods.

Include page numbers (notes only)

In notes, include the specific page number(s) after the closing parenthesis.

Add the URL

Include the full URL where the document can be accessed. End with a period.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not italicizing the document title.

Omitting the place of publication, which Chicago requires for government documents.

Forgetting to include the publication or document number.

Using abbreviations for agency names without first spelling them out.

Not distinguishing between notes format (parenthetical publication info) and bibliography format (period-separated).