How to Cite a Government Document in IEEE

This guide explains how to format a government document citation in IEEE. 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 IEEE:

Template

[1] Agency/Author, "Title of document," Report No., City, State/Country, Year.

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

[1]

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your reference list:

Reference list entry

[1] National Institute of Standards and Technology, "Framework for improving critical infrastructure cybersecurity," Version 1.1, Gaithersburg, MD, USA, 2018.

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Assign a reference number
Use the next sequential number in square brackets.
2
Identify the agency
Use the full name of the government agency or department as the author.
3
Write the document title
Place the title in double quotation marks using sentence case.
4
Include the report number
Add the report number, version, or publication number if available.
5
Add location and year
Include the city, state abbreviation (for US), and country, followed by the year of publication.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not placing the document title in quotation marks.
Omitting the report or publication number when one exists.
Forgetting to include the city and state/country of the issuing agency.
Using the full agency name inconsistently — use the same form throughout the paper.
Not including the year of publication.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a government document with no report number in IEEE?

Omit the report number field and proceed directly from the title to the city and year. Include as much identifying information as available.

Should I include a URL for government documents in IEEE?

If the document is available online, you may add '[Online]. Available:' followed by the URL at the end of the reference.

How do I handle multiple government agencies as authors?

List the primary issuing agency as the author. If multiple agencies co-authored the document, list them separated by 'and' (e.g., NIST and DHS).

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

Assign a reference number

Use the next sequential number in square brackets.

Identify the agency

Use the full name of the government agency or department as the author.

Write the document title

Place the title in double quotation marks using sentence case.

Include the report number

Add the report number, version, or publication number if available.

Add location and year

Include the city, state abbreviation (for US), and country, followed by the year of publication.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not placing the document title in quotation marks.

Omitting the report or publication number when one exists.

Forgetting to include the city and state/country of the issuing agency.

Using the full agency name inconsistently — use the same form throughout the paper.

Not including the year of publication.