Manual of the apa refers users to bluebook rule 12. If you cant access the bluebook, ask your instructor or supervisor how to cite a state law. Table 1 provides a list of statutory codes for each state and indicates which is the officialpreferred code to cite as well as the abbreviations for each. For a statute without a common name, list the source, ch. Statutes bluebook basics libguides at university of. Citation to other legislative documents is covered in bluebook rule. A uniform system of citation guidelines abbreviations. Jan 27, 2020 give case name, volume of source, source name, page number. Jun 11, 2019 for federal statutes, list the title number followed by u. Cite state codes and legal statutes in apa style for college research or professionally written papers and reports.
If a statute has a common name, this is the first element of the apa style reference. Citation machine helps students and professionals properly credit the information that they use. A uniform system of citation, a popular legal citation style, to cite legal materials. A new citation format for the colorado revised statutes. If possible, cite statutes currently in force to the official code or its supplement r 12. Remember that when citing to an annotated code, cite only to the text of the statute, not to any of. This is usually done when the statute is an appropriation, has been repealed, or has its contents scattered in different parts of the code. The bluebook holds that if you cite a code in an electronic database, you should note the database and its currency in a parenthetical. For additional information on these sources, consult the usc law library guides finding federal statutes, regulations, and related cases and finding california statutes, regulations, and related cases. The 6th edition of the publication manual of the american psychological association 2010 outlines the citation style for legal materials in the appendix to chapter 7 pp. Code 1620 west, westlaw through 2012 portion of 20112012 reg.
If a statute doesnt have a name, omit this element, and start with the title number. Think of famous federal statutes like the family medical leave act. Citing legal materials in apa style the 6th edition of the publication manual of the american psychological association 2010 outlines the citation style for legal materials in the appendix to chapter 7 pp. For full information on citing state legislation, see rule 12 and table 1. Alternatively, cite the statute in its original publication in the statutes at large, rather than in the code. Jul 19, 2019 like federal statutes, state statutes may be published in both an official code and an unofficial code, and the bluebook requires you to cite to the official code, if possible rule 12. For court decisions, statutes, codes and other legal publications, apa uses the formats outlined in the bluebook. If you prefer to search by state supreme court or court of appeals exclusively, click on the links in the left hand navigation bar for supreme court or court of appeals abbreviations. Aug 09, 2019 a short primer on bluebook citation formats for federal and state cases and statutes, as well as books, journals, and other secondary sources.
Generations of law students, lawyers, scholars, judges, and other legal professionals have relied on the bluebook s unique system of citation in their writing. Jul 19, 2019 rule 12 and rule b12 in the bluepages governs how to cite statutes. Acts page number if citing to an act only found in baldwins kentucky revised. Statutes a statute is a formal written enactment of a legislative authority that governs a state, city, or country. Legal materials include federal and state statutes, court decisions and court cases, executive orders, legislative materials, federal hearings and testimony, federal regulations, patents, constitutions and charters, treaties, and international conventions.
In text, give the popular or official name of the act if any and the year of the act. Home legal citation guides and abbreviations research. Citation style law and legal research libguides at. Statutes are a collection of laws that are currently in force. This is the style used in the study and practice of law. Note that per bluebook rules, the code cited should be in small caps. Statutes, codes, regulations read and use a legal citation. Apa style is a method of citing references developed 80 years ago by the american psychological association and is designed to augment a straightforward, precision approach to academic and professional. Typically, statutes command or prohibit something, or declare policy. It contains extensive instructions on how to format statutory citations, and it also provides guidance on citing municipal ordinances, rules of evidence and procedure, and uniform and model laws. The word is often used to distinguish law made by legislative bodies from case law, decided by courts, and regulations issued by government agencies. State court abbreviations bluebook quick reference. How do i cite a state statute or law in the apa style. See page 220 of the publication manual 2010 for information on citing state statutes laws.
In general, follow the standard apa style for formatting citations, but when it comes to citations of court decisions, statutes and other legislative materials, follow the format of legal citations found in the bluebook. Some states organize their statutes by title, some organize by. Below are suggested formats for common types of legal publications california and federal sources. When creating legal references in apa style, most legal materials are cited using the standard legal citation style found in the bluebook, 20th edition.
Parts of the reference there are just five pieces of information that you need when creating an apa style reference for a basic federal statute. The publication manual of the apa refers users to bluebook rule 12. Statutes bluebook legal citation tarlton law library at. Examples provided in this guide reflect the bluebook.
For more information on how to cite supplements, please see bluebook rule 3. Name and original section number as it appears in the session laws only if the statute is commonly cited that way title, chapter, or volume see t. For state laws, use the correct abbreviation for that states code as listed in table 1 of the bluebook. Use citation sentences to cite sources and authorities that. Citing legal materials in apa style university library. Bluebook citation hamline university school of law. Cite your federal statute in american psychological association 6th edition format for free. Oct 16, 2019 the publication manual of the apa does not specifically address citing state legislative documents. Apr 09, 2020 when creating legal references in apa style, most legal materials are cited using the standard legal citation style found in the bluebook, 20th edition legal materials include federal and state statutes, court decisions and court cases, executive orders, legislative materials, federal hearings and testimony, federal regulations, patents, constitutions and charters, treaties, and. Below are standard abbreviations for the major federal and california statutory and regulatory sources. For statutes with common names, the references page entry begins with that name followed by a comma, the volume and the source with no punctuation between. Case name abbreviations table 6 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z. Statutes bluebook guide libguides at university of. So, just cite to either the lexis or westlaw edge unofficial code.
Below is a list of state supreme court and court of appeals abbreviations. How to cite state codes or statutes in apa style pen and. Like federal statutes, state statutes may be published in both an official code and an unofficial code, and the bluebook requires you to cite to the official code, if possible rule 12. Citation examples use nonacademic citation format i. Statutes, codes, and regulations are found in westlawnext, heinonline, and at government sites. Ohio does not have an official code the session laws are official. State legislative documents how to cite us government. Nov, 2019 session laws are statutes adopted during a single legislative session and published in chronological order.
Oct 16, 2019 how to cite us government documents in apa citation style. In a diverse and rapidly changing legal profession, the bluebook continues to provide a systematic method by which members of the profession communicate important information to one another about the sources and legal authorities upon. In general, follow the standard apa style for formatting citations, but when it comes to cit ations of court decisions, statutes and other legislative ma ter ials, follow the format of le gal citations found in the bluebook. When citing to one of the unofficial annotated codes you need to indicate which set you used by identifying the publisher at the end of the cite. Citations and abbreviations for statutes and regulations.
The reference and citation formats that youll find in appendix 7. However, state codes a code is a subject arrangement of the laws for that state differ. Legal materials citation help for apa, 7th edition. American psychological association apa style generally follows the bluebook citation format for legal resources, including laws. However, when states only publish their statutes online, the online source can be cited directly. Apa style is a method of citing references developed 80 years ago by the american psychological association and is designed to augment a straightforward, precision approach to academic and professional writing. Citing a state statute follows the same format used to cite a federal statute. The section symbol followed by a space and the section number containing the statute. Apr 12, 2019 part of doing legal research is citing your authorities properly and tracking down items with unfamiliar citations. Follow the bluebook on abbreviations for the published source, state, etc. All citations of kentucky statutes shall be made from the official edition of the kentucky revised statutes and may be abbreviated krs. For material not specifically covered in the publication manual, the apa refers users to the bluebook.
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