There are several free online citation generators that will make your Works Cited or Reference pages for you. Beware that these do not always format your sources correctly (there is a reason they are free). If you choose to use one of these tools, use the tabs at the top of the screen to check that they are correct before submitting your assignment. You don't want to lose points on your assignment because the AI generators were wrong!
We will focus on a couple of the most commonly cited government documents, but if you have questions about how to cite others, use the Ask the Library button on this page. We recommend you use the National Archives site when looking up the official records of federal laws, documents and court cases.
The Constitution of the United States. Name of site or database where you found a copy italicized, Link to the site, hyperlink removed.
The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription. National Archives, https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript.
In-Text: (The Constitution of the United States)
This format will work for most court decisions, but you will replace the name of the court at the beginning.
United States, Supreme Court. Name of Case Italicized. Date of decision. Name of Website, link to website, hyperlink removed.
United States, Supreme Court. Brown V. Board of Education. 17 May 1954. National Archives, https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/brown-v-board-of-education.
In-Text: (United States, Supreme Court)
State Bill:
Name of government body. Name of Bill. Name of website, Date, Link to site, hyperlink removed.
Wisconsin State, Legislature. Senate Bill 5. Wisconsin State Legislature, 20 Jan. 2017. https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2017/proposals/reg/sen/bill/sb5
In-Text: (Wisconsin State, Legislature)
Federal bills require additional information, which can be found when you look up the bill on Congress.gov.
United States, Congress, House. Improving Broadband Access for Veterans Act of 2016. Congress.gov, https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/6394. 114th Congress, 2nd Session, House Resolution 6394, passed 6 Dec. 2016.
In-Text: (United States, Congress)
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When you interview someone for your writing, you will need to cite the person that you interviewed. All you need for the citation is their name and the date you interviewed them.
Name of person you interviewed. Personal communication with author. Date.
Smith, Bob. Personal communication with author. 15 Feb. 2024.
(Smith)
You will abbreviate most months on your Works Cited. When you use the abbreviation, be sure to include the period.
January ----- Jan.
February ----- Feb.
March ----- Mar.
April ----- Apr.
May ----- May
June ----- June
July ----- July
August ----- Aug.
September ---- Sept.
October ----- Oct.
November ----- Nov.
December ----- Dec.