How to Cite U.S. Government Documents in APA Citation Style: Congressional Bills and Resolutions

Note: An enacted bill is a law and should be cited as a statute.

Template for citing an unenacted bill:
Title [if relevant], H.R. or S. bill or resolution number, xxx Cong. (year).

In Text:

• (We the People Act, 2016)
• We the People Act (2016)

Reference List:

• We the People Act of 2016, S.6, 114th Cong. (2016). URL

An unenacted joint resolution:

Note: Enacted (passed both Houses and signed by the President) bills and joint resolutions are laws and should be cited as statutes. There is one exception: Constitutional Amendments that pass both Houses of Congress do not go to the president, but instead are sent out to the states to be ratified.

In Text:

Because this is a very long title, it may be best to present it narratively, e.g.,

• To address this concern, Representative so-and-so introduced, "Proposing An Amendment To The Constitution Of The United States Limiting The Number Of Times Senators And Representatives May Be Elected" (2012).

Reference List:

• Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States limiting the number of times Senators and Representatives may be elected, H.R.J.Res. 105, 112th Cong. (2012). URL

A joint resolution originating in the Senate would be S.J.Res.