CiteMatch
Get your free GovInfo access key
No cost. This is the account code CiteMatch needs to check citations to congressional reports, public laws, and the Congressional Record.
The short version
- It is free. GovInfo is run by the U.S. Government Publishing Office; the access key costs nothing.
- It arrives by email. A short federal signup form sends the key to your inbox.
- Stored locally, not logged.Word keeps the key in the pane, and the app saves it in the device's secure storage. It is sent only to authenticate each lookup. CiteMatch does not store or log it.
- Tested once you connect. CiteMatch tests the key once your app or Word installation is connected to an active trial or subscription.
Why a key?
Checking a citation to a congressional report, a public law, or the Congressional Record depends on GovInfo access. To retrieve that public text, GovInfo asks for your own free access key, issued through the federal api.data.gov service. The key lets CiteMatch ask GovInfo for public documents on your behalf. In the CiteMatch app, the same key also works for Congress.gov and Regulations.gov. See how CiteMatch handles keys in the privacy policy.
Three steps, a few minutes
- 01
Fill in the federal signup form
Open api.data.gov/signup and enter your name and email. The form is short and the key is free. In the CiteMatch app, Get free federal key opens a signup form for the same key.
- 02
Copy the key from the email
The access key arrives by email, usually within a few minutes. Copy the whole code, with no leading or trailing spaces.
- 03
Paste it into CiteMatch
In the CiteMatch app
Open Account, then Source access keys. Under Federal source key, choose Paste and connect. CiteMatch tests the key and saves it on this device.
In Word
In the CiteMatch pane, open More → Sources, then Source access. Paste the code under GovInfo access key and choose Test and save free keys. On a shared computer, turn off Keep these keys on this device.
Troubleshooting
- The signup email has not arrived. Check spam, then submit the form again. The same key works for every api.data.gov service, including GovInfo.
- In the CiteMatch app: “That key was not accepted. Check the key and try again.” Copy the whole key from the email again.
- In the CiteMatch app: “Reactivate your CiteMatch plan to check sources, then save this key.” Restore your trial or subscription in Account, then save the key again.
- In Word: “That key didn't work. Check that you copied the whole key, then try again.” Copy the whole code from the email again, without missing characters or adding a space.
- In Word: “CiteMatch couldn't test that key right now. It is saved and will be tested during your next review.” GovInfo may be busy. Run your review as usual, and CiteMatch tests the saved key then.
- Removing your key. In Word, open More → Sources and choose Remove saved keys. This removes every key saved in the pane.
- Want the technical details? The official GovInfo guide is at govinfo.gov/developers/api.