The Federal Register is a valuable resource for citing public laws, executive orders, administrative rules, and regulatory requirements. Properly citing the Federal Register is important for presenting well-researched writing and maintaining academic credibility. In this article, we will explore three easy ways to cite the Federal Register using three different citation styles: APA, MLA, and Bluebook.

1. APA (American Psychological Association) Style

APA citation style is commonly used in social science research and writing. When you cite an entry from the Federal Register in APA style, follow this format:

Author/Agency. (Year). Title of the document (Volume Number FR Page Number). Retrieved from URL

Example:

U.S. Department of Education. (2015). Program integrity: Gainful employment (80 FR 45689). Retrieved from https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2015/07/31/2015-18821/program-integrity-gainful-employment

2. MLA (Modern Language Association) Style

MLA citation style is widely used in humanities and liberal arts research and writing. To cite the Federal Register in MLA style, use this format:

Author/Agency. “Title of the Document.” Federal Register, vol. Volume Number, Year, pp. Page Numbers, URL.

Example:

U.S. Department of Education. “Program Integrity: Gainful Employment.” Federal Register, vol. 80, 2015, pp. 45689-45928, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2015/07/31/2015-18821/program-integrity-gainful-employment.

3. Bluebook Style

Bluebook citation style is designed primarily for legal documents and writing within the legal field but can still be used for citing Federal Register entries as well. Here’s how to cite in Bluebook format:

Title of the Document, Volume Number Fed. Reg. Page Number (Year).

Example:

Program Integrity: Gainful Employment, 80 Fed. Reg. 45689 (2015).

In conclusion, citing the Federal Register can be done easily using APA, MLA, or Bluebook citation styles. Each style has its own unique format which can be mastered quickly through practice and application. To ensure accuracy and credibility in your writing, always follow the specific citation guidelines for each style when referencing sources like the Federal Register.