MLA Guide: Government Documents

Works Cited

More often than not, an author is not listed for government publications. Instead of using an author's name, then, use the name of the office that is responsible for the piece's publication. State the name of the government first. Use the publication information found on the first pages of the document.

Connecticut. Dept. of Higher Education. Community Colleges. 
         Hartford: State Publishing Office, 1999.

United States. Dept. of Education. Feral Children in American Classrooms. 
         Washington: GPO, 1998.

Dept. of Small Appliances. The Effect of Asbestos Use in Hair Dryers. 4 vols. 
         Washington: GPO, 1998.

Note that "Washington" is allowed to stand for "Washington, D.C." in citing federal government publications. GPO stands for Government Printing Office, a common source of federal government publications. HMSO would stand for Her Majesty's Stationery Office, a common source of British government publications (London).

In citing the U.S. Congressional Record, only date and page numbers are required:

Cong. Rec. 9 Mar. 2000: 3240-48.

Congressional publications can include bills, resolutions, reports, and documents. Refer to these documents by number, using S, H or HR for abbreviations (for Senate and House of Representatives, respectively).

United States. Cong. Subcommittee on Small Appliance Safety. Hearings on the Three-Pronged Plug. 
         84th Cong., 2nd sess. S. Res. 45. 
         Washington: GPO, 1985.

In-Text Citation

The sale of so-called durable goods has lagged behind projected sales of big-ticket items for more than a decade (CT Department of Commerce 72).