APA: Government Documents

The examples found in the APA section are based on the style guide Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th ed., 2020.

Click on the section of your choice to learn how to cite different types of government documents.

Format

Author Last Name, Initials. (Date of publication). Title of document (additional information such as report number, volume number, publication number). Publisher. URL or DOI.

Example

Kunz, J. L. (2003). Being young and visible: Labor market access among immigrant and visible minority youth: Final report (Working paper: SP-581-08-03E). Human Resources Development Canada. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED505455

  • If the organization is also the publisher, omit the publisher.

Format

Name of government department. (Date of publication). Title of document (additional information such as report number, volume number, publication number). Publisher. URL or DOI.

Example:

National Council of Welfare. (2011). The dollars and sense of solving poverty (National Council of Welfare Rep. 130).  https://www.childcarecanada.org/documents/research-policy-practice/11/09/dollars-and-sense-solving-poverty

  • The author may be the name of a government agency or department.

Format

Author Last Name, Initials. (Date of publication). Title of document (additional information such as report number, volume number, publication number). Publisher. URL or DOI.

Examples:

Clarke, A. (2009, September 25). Youth and democracy: A dialogue session. http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/LOP/ResearchPublications/cp8-e.htm

Statistics Canada. (2010, January 11). Healthy people healthy places (Catalogue no. 82-229-XWE). http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-229-x/82-229-x2009001-eng.htm

Format

Name of Act, Title Source & Section Number. (year). http:xxxxxxx

Examples:

Criminal code, R.S.C., C-46 (1985). http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/FullText.html

Fair Elections Act, S.C., c. 12 (2014). http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/AnnualStatutes/2014_12/page-1.html#h-1