A Guide to APSA Style (American Political Science Association)

Your political science professor asks for “APSA style.” It looks like Chicago Author-Date, but you’ve heard it’s different. How so? What are the rules for in-text citations and the reference list?

APSA (American Political Science Association) style is the standard format for political science papers. It is an author-date system designed for clarity in social science writing.

This guide is your foundational resource for the latest APSA style (based on the 2018 manual). We will cover the “macro” context (what it is) and the “micro” skills (how to format your paper and citations). For thesis help, our experts are ready.

What is APSA Style?

APSA Style is the citation and formatting guide of the American Political Science Association, based on the *APSA Style Manual*. It is used for research papers, theses, and articles in political science, government, and international relations.

APSA vs. Chicago Author-Date

This is the most important concept: The 2018 APSA manual adopted the *Chicago Manual of Style* (17th ed.) Author-Date system.

If you know Chicago Author-Date, you know APSA. The in-text citations (Smith 2024, 15) and reference list format for books and journals are identical. The *only* major difference is that APSA provides its own specific rules for legal and government documents.

APSA vs. APA: Key Differences

Do not confuse APSA with APA. They are both author-date but have different punctuation.

Key Differences: APSA (like Chicago) does not use a comma between author and date, and does not use “p.” for page numbers. It also uses the author’s full first name in the reference list.

General Paper Formatting (APSA)

APSA formatting is straightforward, following Chicago style. For official rules, see the official 2018 APSA Manual.

• Font: A readable 12pt font (e.g., Times New Roman).
• Margins: 1-inch margins on all sides.
• Spacing: Double-space the entire paper, including the reference list and block quotes.
• Title Page: A separate title page is required, which includes the paper’s title, your name, and your affiliation (university). Your instructor may also require the course, date, and word count.

Headings

APSA (like Chicago) is flexible with headings, but a common system is to use decimal numbering for clarity (a common style in technical writing).

Example:
1. The Theoretical Framework
    1.1. Realist Theory
    1.2. Liberal Theory
2. Case Studies

APSA In-Text Citations (Author-Date)

This is how you cite sources in your text. It has two parts: (Author Year, Page).

The Basic Rule

The citation includes the author’s last name and the year of publication. You *must* add a page number for direct quotes, and you *should* add one for paraphrases.

• Parenthetical (no page): Recent research confirms this trend (Smith 2024).
• Parenthetical (with page): This trend is clear (Smith 2024, 15).
• Narrative: Smith (2024, 15) confirms this trend…

Citing by Number of Authors

This follows Chicago 17 rules.

• One Author: (Smith 2024, 15)
• Two Authors: (Smith and Jones 2024, 15)
• Three Authors: (Smith, Jones, and Davis 2024, 15)
• Four or More Authors: Use the first author’s last name followed by “et al.”

  Example: (Smith et al. 2024, 15)

Citing Legal or Government Sources

This is where APSA has its own specific rules. For court cases, use (Case Name Year). For government documents, use the authoring body.

• Court Case: (Marbury v. Madison 1803)
• Government Report: (U.S. Congress 2024)

How to Format the “References” List

The “References” list is your alphabetical list of all sources at the end of your paper.

Core Formatting Rules

1. New Page: Start on a new page after your main text.
2. Title: Center the title “References” at the top (not bold).
3. Alphabetical: Alphabetize all entries by the author’s last name.
4. Hanging Indent: Use a 0.5-inch hanging indent.
5. Spacing: The entire list should be double-spaced (this is a common preference, though some journals use single-spacing).

Common APSA Reference Examples

These formats are based on the Chicago 17th ed. which the APSA manual follows. For more, see this guide from Georgetown University.

Book

Journal Article (with DOI)

Note: Article titles are in “quotation marks.” Journal titles are in *italics*.

Webpage

Government Document (APSA Specific)