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APA: K. Government Publication

Government Publication (p. 205)

APA Citation Style does not have a separate category for government publications.

Helpful Tips:

  • Treat a government document as a book, report, or brochure.
  • If a person is named on the title page, use her or him as author.
  • If no person is named, use the government agency, department, or branch as a group author (Ex. 31, p.205).
  • Give the name of the group author exactly as it appears on the title page. If the branch or agency is not well known, include its higher department first.
  • If the group author is also the publisher, just use the word Author after the location (p. 203).
  • If there is a series or report number, include it after the title (p. 205).
General Format 
 
      In-Text Citation (Paraphrase): 
      (Author Surname OR Name of Government Organization, Year)
     
      In-Text Citation (Quotation):
      (Author Surname OR Name of Government Organization, Year, page number)
 
      References:
      Author Surname, First Initial. Second Initial. OR Government Name. Name of
            Government Agency. (Year). Title: Subtitle (Report No. xxx [if available]). Place of
            Publication: Publisher.
 
Example 1 
 
      In-Text Citation (Paraphrase): 
      (Fitch, Vinka, & Smith, 2008)
     
      In-Text Citation (Quotation):
      (Fitch, Vinka & Smith, 2008, p. 5)
             NOTE: A subsequent citation would appear as (Fitch et al., 2008)
 
      References:
      Fitch, M. G., Vinka, O. C., & Smith, J. A. (2008). Recycling of Salt-Contaminated
            Stormwater Runoff for Brine Production at Virginia Department of Transportation
            Road-Salt Storage Facilities. Charlottsville, VA: Virginia Transportation Research
            Council.
             
  Example 2
 
      In-Text Citation (Paraphrase): 
      (Edwards, Sims-Jones, Hotz, & Cushman, 1997)
     
      In-Text Citation (Quotation):
      (Edwards, Sims-Jones, Hotz, & Cushman, 1997, p. 2)
 
      References:
      Edwards, N., Sims-Jones, N., Hotz, S., & Cushman, R. (1997). Development and
            testing components of a multifaceted intervention program to reduce the
            incidence of smoking relapse during pregnancy and post-partum of both
            women and their partners. Report prepared for Health Canada at the Community
            Health Research Unit, University of Ottawa, Canada.
 
Example 3
 
      In-Text Citation (Paraphrase): 
      (Ontario Ministry of Health, 1994)
     
      In-Text Citation (Quotation):
      (Ontario Ministry of Health, 1994, p. 7)
 
      References:
      Ontario Ministry of Health. (1994). Selected findings from the mental health
            supplement of the Ontario Health Survey. Ottawa, ON: Queen's Printer
            for Ontario.
 
Example 4 
 
      In-Text Citation (Paraphrase): 
      (U. S. Food and Drug Administration, 2004)
     
      In-Text Citation (Quotation):
      (U. S. Food and Drug Administration, 2004, p. 8)
 
      References:
      U. S. Food and Drug Administration/Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. (2004).
            Worsening depression and suicidality in patients being treated with antidepressant
            medications: FDA public health advisory. Washington, DC: Author.

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