How to Cite a Policy in MLA

The Modern Language Association gives style and citation guidelines to writers working in the humanities in its "MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers." The "MLA Handbook" asks that writers cite sources both in-text and on a separate reference page. In-text citations generally include the author's last name and a page number, while entries appearing on the list of works cited generally include an author's full name and complete publication information the source you are citing.

Print Sources

Give an abbreviated version of the policy's name enclosed in quotation marks and parentheses to begin your in-text citation. For example:

Give the page number from which you are taking your information.

Refer to your source in the body of your sentence if possible.

Give the author or group responsible for the policy, the name of the policy in italics, the city and state of publication, the publisher and year of publication to complete your works cited entry.

Specify that you are citing a print source by putting "Print" at the end of your entry. (See References 1)

Web Sources

Give an abbreviated version of the policy title enclosed in quotation marks and parentheses to complete your in-text citation.

Give a page number if the web source you are using includes one -- this is very rare.

Give the web source's title enclosed in quotation marks, the publisher or operator of the site hosting the source in italics, the name of the site hosting the source, the date (if available), the word "Web" and the date you accessed the source to complete your works cited entry.