Cite Executive Order APA: Pro Guide (2024)

Executive Orders, as directives issued by the President of the United States, hold significant legal and policy authority, requiring meticulous citation in academic and professional contexts. The American Psychological Association (APA) offers specific guidelines for documenting these governmental instruments to ensure accuracy and credibility in scholarly work. Understanding how to cite an executive order APA is crucial for researchers and practitioners alike, particularly when referencing pivotal policy shifts enacted through presidential authority. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) serves as the official repository for these documents, providing a critical resource for accessing the full text and relevant metadata needed for proper citation.

Navigating the Labyrinth: Mastering APA Style for Executive Orders

Executive Orders, a cornerstone of presidential authority in the United States, present a unique challenge when adhering to the rigorous standards of APA style. As a form of legally binding directive issued by the President, they occupy a distinct space within government documents, demanding meticulous citation practices. This section initiates a journey into the intricacies of correctly formatting these critical sources in academic and professional writing.

Defining the Executive Order

An Executive Order represents a written directive issued by the President of the United States to manage operations of the federal government. These orders, while not requiring Congressional approval to take effect, hold significant legal weight.

They can direct federal agencies, modify administrative policies, or implement legislative statutes. Consequently, understanding their function and appropriate citation is paramount in legal, political science, and public administration research.

The Imperative of Accurate Legal Citation

In academic and professional spheres, credibility hinges on the accuracy and consistency of source citations. Legal citations, in particular, demand precision.

This provides readers with the means to verify the information presented and evaluate the soundness of your arguments. Erroneous or incomplete citations can undermine your authority and damage your reputation.

Furthermore, inaccurate legal citations can even have implications in legal contexts, where the precise wording and origin of a document are of utmost importance.

Overcoming the Challenges of APA Style with Legal Sources

Applying standard APA guidelines to legal documents like Executive Orders often presents considerable difficulties. APA style is primarily designed for social sciences and humanities, and adapts to legal citation rules less readily.

Legal resources frequently have unique identifying features, such as order numbers and official publication locations, that do not neatly fit into the typical APA citation template. The challenge lies in adapting APA principles to these specific attributes while maintaining clarity and adhering to the core principles of the style.

Furthermore, locating official sources for Executive Orders can be a hurdle, as they are often accessed through legal databases or government websites, each potentially requiring slightly different citation formats.

Essential Resources: The APA Manual and Style Website

Navigating these complexities requires leveraging the definitive resources provided by the American Psychological Association. The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.) serves as the primary guide for all aspects of APA style.

Additionally, the APA Style website offers a wealth of supplemental information, including tutorials, FAQs, and updated guidelines on various citation scenarios. These resources provide crucial support in understanding and applying APA standards to the nuanced context of Executive Orders.

By consulting these authoritative sources, you can confidently and accurately cite Executive Orders in your academic and professional work.

Understanding Executive Orders: Purpose and Publication

To accurately cite Executive Orders in APA style, a foundational understanding of their purpose and publication is essential. These directives, issued by the President of the United States, carry significant legal weight and play a crucial role in the functioning of the government. Understanding where they are officially published and archived is paramount to locating the necessary information for proper citation.

Defining and Explaining the Purpose of Executive Orders

Executive Orders are official documents issued by the President that manage operations of the Executive Branch and have the force of law. They are a vital tool for presidents to implement policy, manage the federal government, and address pressing national issues.

Executive Orders do not require congressional approval to take effect, but they must be rooted in the President’s constitutional authority or delegated authority by Congress.

These orders can be used to direct federal agencies, set regulatory policy, or create task forces. Their impact is substantial and can affect various aspects of American life, from environmental regulations to national security measures.

The Federal Register as the Official Source

The Federal Register serves as the official journal of the U.S. government, publishing rules, proposed rules, and notices of federal agencies and organizations, as well as Executive Orders. It is the authoritative source for the full text and official details of these directives.

Citing the Federal Register ensures accuracy and provides readers with a reliable source to verify the information. Researchers and legal professionals rely on the Federal Register as the primary record for legal and regulatory changes.

When crafting APA-style citations, information obtained from the Federal Register carries greater weight than secondary sources.

The Role of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) plays a critical role in preserving and providing access to government documents, including Executive Orders. NARA archives and makes accessible these records, ensuring their availability for historical research and legal reference.

NARA’s function is vital for maintaining transparency and accountability in government. Researchers can access archived Executive Orders through NARA’s online resources or physical archives.

This access is crucial for understanding the evolution of policy and legal precedents. NARA's preservation efforts ensure that future generations can study and learn from these important documents.

When historical context or older Executive Orders are required, NARA is the invaluable resource for accurate and verifiable information.

APA Citation Principles: The Foundation for Executive Order Citations

To accurately cite Executive Orders in APA style, a foundational understanding of their purpose and publication is essential. These directives, issued by the President of the United States, carry significant legal weight and play a crucial role in the functioning of the government. Understanding the core principles guiding APA citation practices is therefore paramount when dealing with these unique legal documents.

This section will delve into these principles, emphasizing the need for official source citations, differentiating between primary and secondary sources, ensuring retrievability, and introducing the fundamental elements that form a complete and reliable APA citation.

The Primacy of Official Sources: Citing the Federal Register

When citing Executive Orders, adhering to APA guidelines demands a commitment to utilizing official sources whenever feasible. The Federal Register stands as the gold standard for Executive Order citations.

It is the official journal of the federal government, containing all Executive Orders in their definitive form. Relying on unofficial sources introduces the risk of inaccuracies or omissions, thereby undermining the credibility of your research.

Accessing and citing the Federal Register directly ensures the highest level of accuracy and allows your readers to easily verify your sources.

Distinguishing Between Official and Secondary Source Citations

Understanding the distinction between official and secondary source citations is crucial for maintaining academic rigor. While secondary sources may discuss or analyze Executive Orders, they should never be cited in place of the original document when referencing the order itself.

A secondary source citation is appropriate when you are specifically referencing the analysis or interpretation offered by that source, not the Executive Order itself.

If, however, you are directly quoting from or referring to the provisions of an Executive Order, the citation must point to the official source (i.e., the Federal Register).

Failure to differentiate can lead to misrepresentation and diminish the authority of your work.

Ensuring Retrievability: Providing Complete Information

The core tenet of APA style lies in facilitating retrievability. A properly constructed citation should provide sufficient information for readers to locate the original source without undue difficulty.

This principle is particularly vital when citing Executive Orders, as these documents may not be readily available in all databases or libraries.

Therefore, providing accurate volume and page numbers from the Federal Register is essential. Include persistent URLs when available, or any other relevant locator information that ensures accessibility.

Without complete information, the citation loses its value, rendering it impossible for readers to verify or explore your sources further.

Key Elements of an APA-Style Citation: A Foundation

APA citations adhere to a standardized format comprising essential elements. These elements, when accurately assembled, provide a comprehensive and unambiguous reference to the source material.

For Executive Orders, these key elements include:

• Issuing Body: Typically, "President of the United States."
• Year: The year the Executive Order was issued.
• Number: The unique identifying number assigned to the Executive Order.
• Title: The official title of the Executive Order.
• Source: The Federal Register, including volume and page numbers.

These elements collectively form the bedrock of an APA citation for Executive Orders. Mastering their application is crucial for creating citations that are both accurate and readily accessible.

Crafting the Reference List Entry: A Step-by-Step Guide

APA Citation Principles: The Foundation for Executive Order Citations To accurately cite Executive Orders in APA style, a foundational understanding of their purpose and publication is essential. These directives, issued by the President of the United States, carry significant legal weight and play a crucial role in the functioning of the government. Now, we will delve into the specifics of how to construct a proper APA-style reference list entry for these important documents.

Creating a reference list entry for an Executive Order requires meticulous attention to detail. This process involves extracting and formatting information like the issuing body, year, number, title, and source details. Emphasis will be placed on directly citing the Federal Register as the primary source.

Identifying the Issuing Body: The Role of the President

In almost all cases, the issuing body for an Executive Order is the President of the United States.

Therefore, the "author" element of the reference list entry will be "President of the United States." This clearly indicates the source of the directive and aligns with APA's emphasis on accurate attribution.

Formatting the Year and Executive Order Number

The year and number of the Executive Order are crucial identifiers. They allow readers to quickly locate the specific order being referenced.

The year should be the year the Executive Order was officially issued.

The number is typically presented as a sequential number assigned to each Executive Order within a given presidential administration.

The standard format is: (YYYY, Number XXXX). For example: (2023, Number 14082).

This format must be precise. Any deviation could lead to confusion and hinder the reader's ability to find the source.

Deconstructing and Formatting the Title of the Executive Order

The title of the Executive Order should be presented exactly as it appears in the Federal Register.

Capitalize the first word of the title and any proper nouns.

The title should be italicized, following APA guidelines for titles of longer works or documents.

For instance: Executive Order on Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy.

Retrieving and Citing Source Information from the Federal Register

The Federal Register is the official source for Executive Orders. Citing it accurately is paramount.

To properly cite the Federal Register, include the volume number, page number(s), and URL (if accessed online).

The format is: Federal Register, Volume(Page), URL.

For Example: Federal Register, 88(196), 66435-66447, https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2023-21034

The URL should link directly to the Executive Order's page on the Federal Register website. This allows readers to easily access the source document.

Example Reference List Entries for Executive Orders

Let's consolidate these principles with example reference list entries. This will provide concrete models for your own citations.

Example 1: Executive Order Found Directly in the Federal Register

President of the United States. (2023). Executive Order on Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy (Executive Order No. 14081). Federal Register, 88(196), 66435-66447. https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2023-21034

Example 2: Simplified Example President of the United States. (2021). Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science To Tackle the Climate Crisis (Executive Order No. 13990). Federal Register, 86(14), 7037-7043.

These examples demonstrate the proper formatting of all essential elements. They provide a reliable template for accurately citing Executive Orders in your academic and professional work. Careful adherence to these guidelines will ensure clarity, credibility, and ease of access for your readers.

In-Text Citation Mastery: Integrating Executive Orders into Your Work

Crafting meticulous reference list entries is only half the battle; effectively integrating Executive Orders into the body of your work through proper in-text citations is equally critical. This section delves into the nuances of APA-style in-text citations for Executive Orders, providing concrete examples and addressing complex scenarios to ensure seamless integration and scholarly rigor.

The Foundation: Basic In-Text Citation Format

The fundamental format for APA in-text citations follows the (Author, year) structure. This establishes immediate attribution and directs readers to the comprehensive reference list entry. Understanding this bedrock principle is crucial before addressing the specifics of Executive Order citations.

Parenthetical Citations: Concise Attribution

Parenthetical citations offer a concise way to acknowledge the Executive Order within the flow of your writing. The issuing body (typically the President of the United States) is treated as the author.

For example: "The establishment of the task force aimed to address critical infrastructure vulnerabilities (President of the United States, 2021)."

This clearly attributes the directive to its source without disrupting the narrative.

Narrative Citations: Integrating Authority into the Text

Narrative citations allow for a more integrated approach, seamlessly weaving the Executive Order's authority into your sentences. This often involves explicitly naming the President.

Consider: "President Biden's Executive Order (2021) sought to modernize the nation's cybersecurity defenses."

Here, the Executive Order becomes an integral part of the sentence, emphasizing its role and impact.

Citing Specific Sections or Paragraphs

Executive Orders are often lengthy and multifaceted. To pinpoint specific information, include section or paragraph numbers within the in-text citation.

For instance: "Section 3(a) of the Executive Order outlined specific responsibilities for federal agencies (President of the United States, 2020, sec. 3a)."

Be precise in referencing particular areas of the document to guide your reader. APA recommends using "sec." for section and "para." for paragraph.

When citing a range of sections use "secs."

For example: "(President of the United States, 2020, secs. 3-5)."

Citing Executive Orders via Secondary Sources

You might encounter discussions of Executive Orders in books, journal articles, or other secondary sources. In such cases, acknowledge both the original Executive Order and the secondary source.

Use the phrase "as cited in" to indicate the indirect source.

For example: "The study highlighted the economic impact of the Executive Order (President of the United States, 2019, as cited in Smith, 2022)."

This acknowledges the original source while giving credit to the author who brought it to your attention. Always strive to consult the original Executive Order whenever possible to ensure accuracy.

Common Pitfalls and Best Practices

• Avoid ambiguity: Be explicit in attributing the Executive Order to the President.
• Double-check accuracy: Ensure the year and any section/paragraph numbers are correct.
• Maintain consistency: Apply the same format throughout your document.
• Consult the APA Manual: When in doubt, refer to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.) for definitive guidance.

By mastering these techniques, you can confidently integrate Executive Orders into your work, bolstering your arguments with authoritative sources while adhering to the rigorous standards of APA style.

Navigating Special Cases: Databases, URLs, and the Government Printing Office

Crafting accurate APA citations for Executive Orders sometimes requires navigating beyond the standard scenarios. Accessing these documents through legal databases, utilizing persistent URLs, and understanding the role of the Government Printing Office (GPO) each present unique considerations. These nuances demand careful attention to detail to maintain scholarly rigor.

Citing Executive Orders from Legal Databases

Legal databases such as LexisNexis and Westlaw provide convenient access to a vast collection of legal materials, including Executive Orders. When citing an Executive Order retrieved from one of these databases, it is crucial to adapt the citation format accordingly.

The primary goal remains consistent: to provide the reader with sufficient information to locate the original source.

Adapting the Reference Entry

When citing from LexisNexis or Westlaw, the reference entry should still prioritize the official source information. This includes the President as the author, the year, the Executive Order number, and its title. However, append the database name and relevant database identifier information to the citation.

For Example:

Trump, D. J. (2017). Executive Order 13769 of January 27, 2017: Protecting the nation from foreign terrorist entry into the United States. Federal Register, 82(22), 8977-8982. Retrieved from LexisNexis Academic.

In-Text Citations for Database Sources

The in-text citation remains consistent with standard APA format, using the author (President's last name) and year.

For Example: (Trump, 2017).

It is imperative to prioritize citing the official source (Federal Register) whenever possible, even when accessing the document through a database. Legal databases often provide value-added content, but the core citation should reflect the original publication.

Utilizing URLs in the Absence of a DOI

A Digital Object Identifier (DOI) offers a persistent link to a document, ensuring its accessibility over time. However, many Executive Orders, particularly older ones, lack DOIs. In these instances, providing a stable URL is the next best option.

Best Practices for URL Citation

When using a URL, select a stable and persistent link, ideally one from the official government source (e.g., Federal Register website, NARA archives). Avoid using shortened URLs or links that are likely to change.

Always verify the URL's functionality before submitting your work.

Include the retrieval date if the source material is likely to change over time.

For Example:

Obama, B. (2012). Executive Order 13603 of March 16, 2012: National Defense Resources Preparedness. Federal Register, 77(54), 16651-16656. Retrieved from https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/executive-orders/obama.html

URL Display in Citations

Per APA guidelines, display the URL in plain text (not hyperlinked) unless the publication venue specifies otherwise.

The United States Government Printing Office (GPO)

The U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) plays a pivotal role in disseminating official government information. While the Federal Register serves as the primary source for Executive Orders, the GPO is involved in printing and distributing these documents.

Acknowledging the GPO's Role

While you will typically cite the Federal Register directly, understanding the GPO's function is valuable. The GPO provides access to government documents in various formats.

In cases where the Federal Register citation is unavailable, and you are using a GPO publication, cite the GPO as the source.

Always prioritize the most official and readily accessible source for your citation.

By carefully addressing these special cases, scholars and professionals can ensure the accuracy and reliability of their citations when working with Executive Orders. This reinforces the credibility of their research and analysis.

Practical Application: A Step-by-Step Citation Walkthrough

Navigating Special Cases: Databases, URLs, and the Government Printing Office Crafting accurate APA citations for Executive Orders sometimes requires navigating beyond the standard scenarios. Accessing these documents through legal databases, utilizing persistent URLs, and understanding the role of the Government Printing Office (GPO) each present unique considerations. To solidify understanding and promote accuracy, let's walk through a practical example of locating and citing a specific Executive Order.

A Detailed Citation Example: Executive Order 13985

This walkthrough demonstrates the process of locating and correctly citing Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.

The goal is to illustrate the process of building the citation from source information.

Step 1: Locating the Executive Order

First, locate the Executive Order through official channels. A reliable starting point is the Federal Register website, managed by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Alternatively, legal databases like LexisNexis or Westlaw can be used, but prioritize official sources when possible.

Step 2: Gathering Citation Information

Once you have located the Executive Order, extract the necessary information for the citation. This includes:

• Issuing body: The President of the United States.
• Year of issuance: 2021.
• Executive Order number: 13985.
• Full Title: Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.
• Federal Register citation details: Volume, page number, and date of publication.

Step 3: Constructing the Reference List Entry

Based on the gathered information, the APA-style reference list entry would be:

President of the United States. (2021, January 20). Executive Order 13985: Advancing racial equity and support for underserved communities through the Federal Government. 86 Federal Register 7009.

Notice the formatting of the date, title capitalization, and Federal Register details.

Step 4: Formulating the In-Text Citation

The corresponding in-text citation would take one of two forms:

• Parenthetical: (President of the United States, 2021).
• Narrative: President of the United States (2021) stated...

Choose the format that best fits the flow of your writing, ensuring clarity and conciseness.

Comparing Citations for Accuracy

It is prudent to cross-reference your citation with examples provided by reputable sources, such as the APA Style website or academic style guides. This helps confirm accuracy and identify any potential errors in formatting or information.

Verifying with Multiple Sources

Comparing citations from different sources can illuminate subtle discrepancies. For example, while most sources will agree on the basic elements (author, date, title), variations might arise in the formatting of the Federal Register details or the inclusion of a URL.

If discrepancies emerge, prioritize information from the official source (the Federal Register) and consult the APA Publication Manual for clarification.

Consistency is Key

Ultimately, the goal is to produce citations that are both accurate and consistent. By meticulously gathering information, adhering to APA guidelines, and cross-referencing with reputable sources, you can ensure the integrity of your citations and enhance the credibility of your work.

So, there you have it! Hopefully, this guide clears up any confusion you might have had about citing an executive order APA style. Remember to double-check the details and you'll be citing an executive order APA like a pro in no time. Happy writing!