Citing a bill

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Published February 4, 2021. Updated October 20, 2021.

To create a bill reference or citation, you will need to know the bill title, contributors and production details.

The templates and examples below will show you how to cite a bill in MLA style, APA style, Chicago style, and Harvard referencing style.

Easily cite a bill in the style of your choice using the Chegg Writing citation generator.

Help protect your paper against accidental plagiarism with the Chegg Writing plagiarism checker and citation generator.

Citing a bill in MLA style

The title of the bill, volume, Congress/Federal, and URL are used.


In-text citation template and example:

Bill Name (# Congress, # session, Resolution #)

The Securing America’s Critical Minerals Supply Act  (116th Congress, Resolution 9056) . . .


Works cited entry template and example:

United States, Congress. Senat OR House. Bill Title. Website Title, URL. # Congress, # session, House/Senate Resolution #, action taken on Day Mon. Year.

United States, Congress, Senate. Securing America’s Critical Minerals Supply Act. Congress.gov, www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/9056. 116th Congress, 1st session, House Resolution 9056, referred on 28 Dec. 2020.


For more examples and information, view our citing a bill in MLA guide.



Citing a bill in APA style


The title of the bill, Congress/Federal, and URL are used.


In-text citation template and example:

(Bill Title, Year)

(Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program Extension Act, 2019)


Reference list entry template and example:

Bill Title, Congress/Federal(Year). URL.

Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program Extension Act, H.R. 251, 166th Cong. (2019). https://www.congress.gov/116/plaws/publ2/PLAW-116publ2.pdf.


For more examples and information, view our citing a bill in APA guide.



Citing a bill in Chicago style, notes-bibliography

The title of the bill and Congress/Federal are used.


Footnotes template and example:

Note

  1. Title of the Bill, episode number, Congress/Federal (Year).

  2. Medicaid Extenders Act of 2019, H.R. 259, 116th Cong. (2019).


Shortened note

  1. Title of the Bill (Year).

  2. Medicaid Extenders Act of 2019 (2019).


Bibliography entry template and example:

Title of the Bill, Congress/Federal. (year).

Medicaid Extenders Act of 2019, H.R. 259, 116th Cong. (2019).


For more examples and information, view our citing a bill in Chicago Style guide.



Citing a bill in Chicago style, author-date

The title of the bill and Congress/Federal are used.


In-text citation template and example:

(Title of the Bill, Year)

(TANF Extension Act, 2019)


Reference list entry template and example:

Title of the Bill, Congress/Federal. (year).

TANF Extension Act of 2019, H.R. 430, 116th Cong. (2019).


For more examples and information, view our citing a bill in Chicago Style guide.



How to cite a bill in Harvard referencing style

The title of the bill, the name of the governing body, the bill number, and the URL are used.


In-text citation template and example:

(Bill Name, Publication Year)

(Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019)


Reference list entry template and example:

Bill Title (Publication Year). Name of Governing Body. Bill no. Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).

Consolidated Appropriations Act (2019)116th Congress. Bill no. H.J. Res. 31. Available at: https://www.congress.gov/116/plaws/publ6/PLAW-116publ6.pdf (Accessed: 26 January 2021).


For more examples and information, view our citing a bill in Harvard Referencing Style guide.

Writing a paper? Don’t forget to include a bibliography.

Citation Examples

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Chegg Writing » Citations » Citing a bill