how to cite a law in research paper

How to Cite U.S. Government Documents in APA Citation Style: Federal Laws/Statutes

• House and Senate Reports and Documents
• Congressional Hearings & Testimony
• Congressional Record
• Congressional Bills and Resolutions
• Federal Laws/Statutes

Statute (law/act) appears in a single section of the United States Code

Statute (act/law) spans a range of sections in the united states code, statute (public law/act) is spread out among different sections of the code, law (statute) does not yet appear in the united states code.

• Executive Documents -- Presidential Papers, Proclamations and Executive Orders
• Rules/Regulations -- Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) and the Federal Register
• Foreign Relations of the United States
• State Legislative Documents
• State Statutes (Laws)
• Court Cases
• Government Agencies
• Other legal citations

Statutes (laws/acts) are "codified" on a continuous basis in the online United States Code (U.S.C.) by the Office of Law Revision Counsel. In general, you should cite statutes (laws/act) to their location in the online United States Code (U.S.C.)

You can find the relevant U.S.C. title and section(s) in the text of the law. You can find official sources of the law in:

• Congress.Gov: Public Laws (1974 - current)
• Govinfo: Statutes at Large (1951- 2013) 
• Proquest Congressional Publications (library subscription database)

In the U.S.C., or in the Public Law, look for statements about where the law applies to the Code ( U.S.C. "Titles" and "sections" ) .

• If the law spans a ranges of sections, add "et seq." after the U.S.C. number to indicate "and what follows." Note: You do not include U.S.C. "chapters" in citations.
• If the statute (law/act) is spread out among scattered sections of the U.S.C . , and you wish to cite the law as a whole, cite using the Public Law number, and include the parallel citation to the law's location in the Statutes at Large , when available.
• If the statute (law/act) does not appear in the United States Code , cite using the Public Law number, and include the parallel citation to its location in Statutes at Large, when available.

See examples, below.

When a statute is codified in a single section of the United States Code (U.S.C.), cite to the U.S.C..

Example: Impact Aid Coronavirus Relief Act .

In the header for this Act, you will see the U.S.C. citation: 20 U.S.C. § 6301. This is the start of the range of sections it applies to, but if you read this Act closely, you will see that the Act itself appears in section 7705, Impact Aid .

In Reference List:

• Impact Aid Coronavirus Relief Act. 20 U.S.C § 7705 (2020).

Explanation: This Act appears (was codified) in a single section of the the U.S.C. in Title 20, section 7705, in 2020.

Note: You can find the section symbol in Word > Insert > Symbols > Special Characters

• (Impact Aid Coronavirus Relief Act, 2020)
• Impact Aid Coronavirus Relief Act (2020)

If the law spans a ranges of sections, add " et seq. " after the U.S.C. number to indicate "and what follows."

Tip: Browse and search the official United States Code to find the "reference notes: "

Pub. L. 111–260, §1(a), Oct. 8, 2010, 124 Stat. 2751 , provided that: "This Act [enacting sections 615c and 616 to 620 of this title , amending sections 153, 225, 303, 330, 402, 503, 610, and 613 of this title , and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 153, 303, 613, and 619 of this title ] may be cited as the 'Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010'."

• (Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, 2020)
• Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (2020)

Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2020. 47 USC 609  et seq. (2009). URL

When a statute applies to numerous sections of the Code , and you wish to cite the Act as a whole, cite using the Public law number.

To determine where the statute is codified (where it appears in the United States Code ), follow this process:

• Find the U.S.C. number listed in the header of the law. For example, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 includes this location in the United States Code: 42 U.S.C. § 15801 .

Energy Policy Act of 2005, Pub. L. No. 109-58, 119 Stat. 594 (2005). https://www.congress.gov/109/plaws/publ58/PLAW-109publ58.pdf

Explanation: In the example above, Pub. L. No. 109-58 refers to Public Law number 58  from the 109th Congress, with a parallel citation to its location in volume 119, page 594 of the US Statutes at Large (119 Stat. 594). Because I retrieved this from a publicly available website, rather than an academic database, the URL is appended to the end.

• (Energy Policy Act, 2005)
• Energy Policy Act (2005)

If the law has just passed and does not yet appear in the United States Code, cite to the Public Law Number with a parallel citation to its location in Statutes at Large.

Example: If you were citing this law shortly after it passed in 2005, and it had not yet appeared in the United States Code.*

* There may be only a few months lag between when a law is passed and when it appears in the United States Code. See Office of Law Revision Council, Currency and Updating .

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• Table of contents
• Citing Judicial Opinions ... in Brief
• Citing Constitutional and Statutory Provisions ... in Brief
• Citing Agency Material ... in Brief
• The Bluebook
• ALWD Citation Manual
• Introduction
• Purposes of Legal Citation
• Types of Citation Principles
• Levels of Mastery
• Citation in Transition
• Who Sets Citation Norms
• Electronic Resources
• Judicial Opinions
• Constitutions & Statutes
• Agency & Exec. Material
• Arbitrations
• Court Rules
• Law Journal Writing
• Case Documents
• Words in Case Names
• Case Histories
• Omissions in Case Names
• Reporters & Courts
• Spacing & Periods
• In Citations
• Items Not Italicized
• Citations & Related Text
• Short Form Citations
• Tables of Authorities
• Changes in The Bluebook
• Table: Bluebook
• Table: ALWD Manual
• Table: State-Specific Practices

Law - Legal Citation Guide

• Introduction
• Secondary Sources
• Government Publications
• Legislation
• International Law Sources

In-Text References & Footnotes

In-text references.

• Journal Abbreviations
• Law Report Abbreviations

Law Library at Allard Hall

The two most common forms of references in legal writing are in-text references and footnotes. The main difference between them is that in-text references are usually included in the text itself while footnotes are given at the bottom of the page.

Generally, in-text references are used for memoranda and facta while footnotes are used for other legal writing.

Include the full citation to the case immediately after the relevant text. If you plan to refer to this case later, provide the reader with a short form in brackets. This makes later references much more succinct. 

Here is a sample passage, illustrating how to provide in-text references:

The leading case in B.C. on the general test for the existence of a partnership is that of  Hayes v British Columbia Television Broadcasting System Ltd  (1992), 74 BCLR (2d) 120 (CA) [ Hayes ]. In determining whether a partnership has formed, the meaning of the words “carrying on business in common with a view of profit” should be considered ( ibid ).

The parties must intend a partnership to form ( Sproule v McConnell , [1925] 1 DLR 982 (Sask CA)). The analysis used to discern the intention of the parties is two-pronged. A court will first review the agreement between the parties, then will look to the conduct of the parties ( ibid) . Because there is no express contract in the present circumstances, a court would immediately turn to the second branch of the analysis, which was described as follows:

[It] requires the court to enquire into whether the conduct of the parties during the currency of their joint project constituted a partnership relationship notwithstanding their contrary intention and the provisions of their agreement ( Hayes  at 123).

The parties in  Hayes  did not meet the “business in common with a view to profit” test. While the parties all expected to obtain something of value from the enterprise in that case, the Court observed that it was:

not in the view of either that what would be obtained would be the profit of the business being carried on in common.  …   Whether either party realized a profit turned upon that party’s costs and that party’s revenue from that party’s market area (at 126).

As cited in  Hughes v Page , 1998 CarswellBC 216 (WL Can) (SC) [ Hughes ], it is the majority decision in  Hayes  which sets down the test used today in B.C. The emphasis placed on profit sharing in  Hayes  is not unique to that case. In B.C., see also  Hughes  and  Jenks v McCrory , [1998] BCJ no 995 (QL) (SC).

Here is another sample, incorporating legislation and secondary sources, provided by Kim Nayyer, Librarian and Legal Research and Writing Instructor at the University of Victoria:

If this bill becomes law, the effect of the ninth item of the proposed new s 7.0.2(4) (“paragraph 9”) of the  Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act , RSO 1990, c E.9 will be to give the Lieutenant Governor in Council the power to fix prices of certain necessaries during a declared emergency. Although a constitutionality analysis of paragraph 9 must be comprehensive, it can encompass an evaluation of the power to fix prices.

The courts have considered price-fixing regimes with respect to matters within the province to fall under provincial jurisdiction pursuant to s 92(13) of the  Constitution Act, 1867  (UK), 30 & 31 Victoria, c 3, as legislation in relation to property and civil rights within the province. Patrick Monahan,  Constitutional Law , 2d ed (Toronto: Irwin Law, 2002) lists price regulation among fields that are subject to exclusive provincial jurisdiction, so long as there is no relation to the matters within s 91 (at 313).

This was confirmed in  Home Oil Distributors v British Columbia (Attorney General) , [1940] SCR 444 (“ Home Oil ”). In  Home Oil , the impugned legislation authorized the fixing of prices of coal or petroleum products from time to time. The legislation was held to be  intra vires  the province, even though it affected the activities of extra-provincial corporations doing business within the province.

Footnotes should be placed on the same page as their accompanying text. Footnote numbers are placed in superscript, usually at the end of the sentence. If you are referring to a word, place the footnote number directly after the word.

If you cite one source multiple times, use  ibid  or  supra  after the first citation rather than repeating the full citation.

Ibid  is used when referring to the same source in the footnote  immediately above .  Ibid  may be used after another  ibid  or after a  supra .

Supra  is used when referring to the same source in a footnote that is  not immediately above .

Here is the first sample passage from the in-text references section above, illustrating how to provide the same references using footnotes.

The leading case in B.C. on the general test for the existence of a partnership is that of  Hayes v British Columbia Television Broadcasting System Ltd . 1  In determining whether a partnership has formed, the meaning of the words “carrying on business in common with a view of profit” 2  should be considered.

The parties must intend a partnership to form. 3  The analysis used to discern the intention of the parties is two-pronged.  A court will first review the agreement between the parties, then will look to the conduct of the parties. 4  Because there is no express contract in the present circumstances, a court would immediately turn to the second branch of the analysis, which was described as follows:

[It] requires the court to inquire into whether the conduct of the parties during the currency of their joint project constituted a partnership relationship notwithstanding their contrary intention and the provisions of their agreement. 5

The parties in  Hayes  did not meet the “business in common with a view to profit” test.  While the parties all expected to obtain something of value from the enterprise in that case, the Court observed that it was

not in the view of either that what would be obtained would be the profit of the business being carried on in common.  …   Whether either party realized a profit turned upon that party’s costs and that party’s revenue from that party’s market area. 6

As cited in  Hughes v Page , 7  it is the majority decision in  Hayes  which sets down the test used today in B.C.  The emphasis placed on profit sharing in  Hayes  is not unique to that case. In B.C., see also  Hughes  and  Jenks v McCrory . 8

`  Hayes v British Columbia Television Broadcasting System Ltd  (1992), 74 BCLR (2d) 120, [1993] 2 WWR 749 (CA) [Hayes].

2  Ibid .

3  Sproule v McConnell , [1925] 1 DLR 982, [1925] 1 WWR 609 (Sask CA). 

4  Ibid.

5  Hayes ,  supra  note 1 at 12.

6  Hayes ,  supra  note 1 at 18.

7  Hughes v Page (1998), 77 ACWS (3d) 432, 1998 CanLII 6580 (BCSC) [Hughes].

8  Jenks v McCrory , 1998 CanLII 4992 (BCSC).

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APA Style 7th Edition: Citing Your Sources

• Basics of APA Formatting
• In Text Quick View
• Block Quotes
• Books & eBooks
• Thesis/Dissertation
• Audiovisual
• Conference Presentations
• Social Media
• Legal References

Standard Format

Formatting rules, various examples.

• Reports and Gray Literature
• Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
• Additional Resources
• Reference Page
• Legal style order- Title, source, and date (What, Where, When)
• Optional- provide a URL for the version used
• Court Cases: Title or name of the case is written in standard type for reference entry (italics for in-text citation)
• Use this format for enacted bill or resolution not signed into law
• Bills and resolutions passed by Congress & signed by the President to become law should be cited as statutes

Additional Resources:

Legal Information Institute at Cornell Law School : Guidance on legal citations.  Verify legal references containing necessary information and reflect current statues of legal authority (so you're not using amended, repealed or overturned cases).

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• Research guides

Researching a Legal Topic

Citing to legal documents.

The most frequently used style manual for citing to Legal Documents is the The Bluebook : a uniform system of citation.  APA, MLA and Chicago Manual of Style all refer to the Bluebook for citing to certain documents such as cases. 

Below are links to online guides and information on accessing The Bluebook.  

• Introduction to Basic Legal Citation from Legal Information Institute This website, produced at Cornell Law School, provides a "how to cite" section which is very useful.

• The Bluebook : a uniform system of citation (PRINT O'Neill Reference KF245 .B58) The Bluebook is used by most legal practitioners for proper citations to legal materials. The front cover and first page have examples of citations to cases and law review articles.

Legal Citation Basics

A legal citation is a reference to a legal document such as a case, statute, law review article, etc.

Most legal citations consist of the name of the document (case, statute, law review article), an abbreviation for the legal series, and the date. 

The abbreviation for the legal series usually appears as a number followed by the abbreviated name of the series and ends in another number.

For example: Morse v. Frederick, 551 U.S. 393 (2007) is a citation to a Supreme Court case which can be found in volume 551 of the United States Reports (U.S.) beginning on page 393.

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• Subjects: Law
• Tags: law laws legal laws supreme_court federal state

• MJC Library & Learning Center
• Research Guides

Legal Research & Law

• Cite Your Sources
• Constitutions

Why Cite Your Sources?

How do i cite, what do i cite.

When you write a research paper, you use information and facts from a variety of resources to support your own ideas or to help you develop new ones. Books, articles, caselaw, videos, interviews, and Web sites are some examples of sources you might use. Citing these sources of information in your work is essential because:

• It gives credit to the author of the original work who provided you with the information or idea.
• It allows your audience to identify and find the source material in order to learn more about your topic.
• It gives your paper more credibility because it shows you're supporting your arguments with high-quality sources.

You will need to cite your sources in two places:

• Within your work at the place where you are incorporating the information.
• In a comprehensive list of all sources you’ve cited throughout the paper.

How you cite depends on which style manual you are using. For “in-text” references some styles require parenthetical citations, while others require footnotes/endnotes. The list of all sources used is also laid out depending on the style you use.

Legal materials have their own citation style

Your instructor may ask you to use that style, often referred to as  Blue Book style, or one of the other citation styles.

The important thing is to be consistent; whatever style you use, make sure you use it throughout the entire paper.

• Legal References (Laws & Cases)
• Format & Cite
• NoodleTools Express

Cite all outside sources you use in your research paper! Citing is required for sources you quote word-for-word, for sources you paraphrase (rewrite using your own words), and for sources from which you summarize ideas within your work.

Quote Example:

The quote below appears exactly as it does in Joanna Santa Barbara's article on child-rearing in the Encyclopedia of Violence Peace and Conflict .

“Adjusted data from seven U.S. surveys between 1968 and 1994 show a decline in approval of disciplinary spanking from 94% to 68%, or 26 percentage points in 26 years” (Santa Barbara 243).

Paraphrase Example:

This sentence takes the information above and puts it into the author’s own words.

Studies show that Americans are becoming more critical of the concept of spanking children. Between 1968 and 1994 the so-called “approval rating” of spanking children dropped from 94% to 68% (Santa Barbara 243).

Summarize Example:

The sentence below distills the main idea of the original information.

Studies have shown that Americans just don't approve of spanking like they used to (Santa Barbara 243).

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Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 and CC BY-NC 4.0 Licenses .

Documenting Legal Works in MLA Style

Gaining familiarity with the legal-citation practices used to document legal works may be impractical for student writers and sometimes even for scholars working in nonlegal fields. Nonspecialists can use MLA style to cite legal sources in one of two ways: strict adherence to the MLA format template or a hybrid method incorporating the standard legal citation into the works-cited-list entry. In either case, titles of legal works should be standardized in your prose and list of works cited according to the guidelines below.

Legal Style

Legal publications have traditionally followed the style set forth in the Harvard Law Review Association’s Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation , although some law reviews, such as the University of Chicago Law Review , have published their own style manuals. A more streamlined version of the Bluebook ’s legal-citation method, the ALWD Guide to Legal Citation , was introduced in 2000. The Legal Information Institute, a nonprofit associated with Cornell Law School, publishes an online guide to legal citation geared toward practitioners and nonspecialists instead of academics.

Those working in law are introduced to the conventions of legal citation during their professional training. Legal style is a highly complex shorthand code with specialized terminology that helps legal scholars and lawyers cite legal sources succinctly. It points specialists to the authoritative publication containing the legal opinion or law, regardless of the version the writer consulted.

Students and scholars working outside the legal profession and using MLA style should follow the MLA format template to cite laws, public documents, court cases, and other related material. Familiarize yourself with the guidelines in the MLA Handbook , sections 5.17–22, for corporate authors and government authors.

Following one of the fundamental principles of MLA style, writers citing legal works should document the version of the work they consult—not the canonical version of the law, as in legal style. As with any source in MLA style, how you document it will generally depend on the information provided by the version of the source you consulted.

Titles pose the greatest challenge to citing legal works in MLA style. Since MLA style keys references in the text to a list of works cited (unlike court filings, which cite works in the text of the brief, or academic legal writings, which cite works in footnotes ), writers should, with a few exceptions (noted below), standardize titles of legal sources in their prose and list of works cited. Following the MLA Handbook , italicize the names of court cases (70):

Marbury v. Madison

When you cite laws, acts, and political documents, capitalize their names like titles and set them in roman font (69):

Law of the Sea Treaty

Civil Rights Act

Code of Federal Regulations

When a legal source is contained within another work—for example, when the United States Code appears on a website that has a separate title—follow the MLA Handbook and treat the source as an independent publication (27). That is, style the title just as you would in prose—in italics if it is the name of a court case, in roman if it is a law or similar document; even though the legal source appears within a larger work, do not insert quotation marks around the title:

United States Code. Legal Information Institute , Cornell Law School, www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text.

For more on titles in legal citations in MLA style, see “Tips on Titles,” below.

Commonly Cited Sources

A few examples of using MLA style for commonly cited legal sources follow.

United States Supreme Court Decisions

United states supreme court dissenting opinions, federal statutes (united states code), public laws, federal appeals court decisions, federal bills, executive orders, state court of appeals, unpublished decisions, state senate bills, constitutions, international governing bodies.

Where you read the opinion of a United States Supreme Court decision will dictate how you cite it in MLA style. Legal-citation style, in contrast, points to the opinion published in the United States Reports , the authoritative legal source for the United States Supreme Court’s decisions, and cites the elements of that publication.

For example, the case Brown v. Board of Education is commonly abbreviated “347 U.S. 483” in legal citations: 347 is the volume number of United States Reports ; “U.S.” indicates that the opinion is found in United States Reports , which is the official reporter of the Supreme Court and indicates the opinion’s provenance; and the first page number of the decision is 483. (The American Bar Association has published a useful and concise overview of the components of a Supreme Court opinion .)

Regardless of the version you consult, you must understand a few basic things about the source: that it was written by a member of the United States Supreme Court on behalf of the majority and that, when you cite the opinion, the date on which the case was decided is the only date necessary to provide.

Following are examples of works-cited-list entries in MLA style for Brown v. Board of Education . The entries differ depending on whether the information was found on the Legal Information Institute website, published by Cornell University Law School, or on the Library of Congress website.

Legal Information Institute

The works-cited-list entry includes

• the government entity as author
• the name of the case (“Title of source” element)
• the year of the decision; it would also not be incorrect to include the day and month if it appears in your source
• the title of the website containing the case (“Title of container” element)
• the publisher of the website
• the website’s URL (“Location” element)

United States, Supreme Court. Brown v. Board of Education . 17 May 1954. Legal Information Institute , Cornell Law School, www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/347/483.

Library of Congress

The Library of Congress site allows researchers to link to or download a PDF of the opinion from the United States Reports . To locate the case, the researcher must know the volume number of the United States Reports in which Brown v. Board of Education was published. A works-cited-list entry in MLA style would include the author (the government entity) and the title of the case, as well as the following information for container 1:

• United States Reports (“Title of container” element)
• vol. 347 (“Number” element)
• the date of the decision (“Publication date” element)
• page range (“Location” element)

Container 2 includes the name of the website publishing the case and its location, the URL. The publisher of the site is omitted since its name is the same as that of the site.

United States, Supreme Court. Brown v. Board of Education . United States Reports , vol. 347, 17 May 1954, pp. 483-97. Library of Congress , tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/ll/usrep/usrep347/usrep347483/usrep347483.pdf.

Sometimes, Supreme Court justices write dissenting opinions that accompany the published majority opinion. They are part of the legal record but not part of the holding—that is, the court’s ruling. If you cite only the dissent, you can treat it as the work you are citing:

Ginsburg, Ruth Bader. Dissenting opinion. Lilly Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. United States Reports , vol. 550, 29 May 2007, pp. 643-61. Supreme Court of the United States , www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/boundvolumes/550bv.pdf.

In MLA style, it will generally be clearest to create an entry for the United States Code in its entirety and cite the title and section number in the text, especially if you are referring to more than one section of the code.

If an online search directs you to the web page for a specific section of the United States Code, it would not be incorrect to cite the page for that section alone. For example, if you want to use MLA style to document title 17, section 304, of the United States Code—commonly abbreviated 17 U.S.C. § 304 in legal citations—title 17 can be treated as the work and thus placed in the “Title of source” slot on the MLA template, or if you cite the United States Code in its entirety, title 17 can be placed in the “Number” slot.

Your entry will once again depend on the version you consult. Below are examples from various websites.

website for the United States Code

On the website for the United States Code, you would likely determine that the United States House of Representatives is the author of the code. The United States Code is the title of the source, and since the source constitutes the entire website, no container needs to be specified: the source is self-contained, like a book (see p. 34 of the MLA Handbook ). The site lists the Office of the Law Revision Counsel as publisher, so you would include that name in the “Publisher” slot, followed by the date on which the code was last updated, and the URL as the location:

United States, Congress, House. United States Code. Office of the Law Revision Counsel, 14 Jan. 2017, uscode.house.gov.

The body of your text or your in-text reference must mention title 17 and section 304 so the reader can locate the information you cite. It would not be wrong to include chapter 3 as well (title 17, ch. 3, sec. 304), although a discerning researcher will note that section numbers (304) incorporate chapter numbers (3), making “chapter 3” unnecessary to include.

If you do not include title 17 and section 304 in the text, you must include that information in the works-cited-list entry:

United States, Congress, House. United States Code. Title 17, section 304, Office of the Law Revision Counsel, 14 Jan. 2017, uscode.house.gov.

A nonspecialist would not be able to determine from the Legal Information Institute site that the United States House of Representatives is the author of the United States Code. A basic citation would include the title of the code as displayed on the site, the title of the website as the title of the container, the publisher of the website, and the location:

Government Publishing Office website

The website of the Government Publishing Office (variously referred to as the Government Printing Office) displays each statute heading (or “title”) as a web page:

You can treat title 17 as the work and the United States Code as the title of the container, as follows:

Title 17. United States Code, U.S. Government Publishing Office, 2011, www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2011-title17/html/USCODE-2011-title17.htm.

Or you can treat the United States Code as the title of the source and title 17 as a numbered section within the code, by placing title 17 in the “Number” slot on the MLA template:

United States Code. Title 17, U.S. Government Publishing Office, 2011, www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2011-title17/html/USCODE-2011-title17.htm.

Below are examples of how to cite other common legal sources in MLA style.

United States, Congress. Public Law 111-122. United States Statutes at Large , vol. 123, 2009, pp. 3480-82. U.S. Government Publishing Office , www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/STATUTE-123/pdf/STATUTE-123.pdf.

United States, Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Moss v. Colvin . Docket no. 15-2272, 9 Jan. 2017. United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit , www.ca2.uscourts.gov/decisions.html. PDF download.

It is customary to title court cases by using the last name of the first party on each side of the v . You may also wish to shorten a long URL, as we have done here .

United States, Congress, House. Improving Broadband Access for Veterans Act of 2016. Congress.gov , www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/6394/text. 114th Congress, 2nd session, House Resolution 6394, passed 6 Dec. 2016.

United States, Congress, House, Committee on Education and Labor. The Future of Learning: How Technology Is Transforming Public Schools . U.S. Government Publishing Office, 16 June 2009, www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CHRG-111hhrg50208/html/CHRG-111hhrg50208.htm. Text transcription of hearing.

After a president signs an executive order, the Office of the Federal Register gives it a number. It is then printed in the Federal Register and compiled in the Code of Federal Regulations. Executive orders usually also appear as press releases on the White House website upon signing.

United States, Executive Office of the President [Barack Obama]. Executive order 13717: Establishing a Federal Earthquake Risk Management Standard. 2 Feb. 2016. Federal Register , vol. 81, no. 24, 5 Feb. 2016, pp. 6405-10, www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-02-05/pdf/2016-02475.pdf.

Minnesota State, Court of Appeals. Minnesota v. McArthur . 28 Sept. 1999, mn.gov/law-library-stat/archive//ctapun/9909/502.htm. Unpublished opinion.

Wisconsin State, Legislature. Senate Bill 5. Wisconsin State Legislature , 20 Jan. 2017, docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2017/related/proposals/sb5.

If a constitution is published in a named edition, treat it like the title of a book:

The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription . National Archives , U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 28 Feb. 2017, www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript.

The Constitution of the United States, with Case Summaries . Edited by Edward Conrad Smith, 9th ed., Barnes and Noble Books, 1972.

References to the United States Constitution in your prose should follow the usual styling of titles of laws:

the Constitution

But your in-text reference should key readers to the appropriate entry:

( Constitution of the United States, with Case Summaries )

If the title does not indicate the country of origin, specify it in the entry:

France. Le constitution. 4 Oct. 1958. Legifrance , www.legifrance.gouv.fr/Droit-francais/Constitution/Constitution-du-4-octobre-1958.

Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. United Nations, 1998, nfccc.int/resource/docs/convkp/kpeng.pdf. Multilateral treaty.

United States, Senate. Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances. Congress.gov , www.congress.gov/114/cdoc/tdoc8/CDOC-114tdoc8.pdf. Treaty between the United States and the People’s Republic of China.

Swiss Confederation. Bundesverfassung der Schweizerischen Eidgenossenschaft. 18 Apr. 1999. Der Bundesrat , 1 Jan. 2016, www.admin.ch/opc/de/classified-compilation/19995395/index.html.

United Nations, General Assembly. Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Resolution 217 A, 10 Dec. 1948. United Nations , www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/. PDF download.

Writing for Specialists: A Hybrid Method

A writer using MLA style to document a legal work for a specialized readership that is likely to be familiar with the conventions of legal documentation may wish to adopt a hybrid method: in place of the author and title elements on the MLA format template, identify the work by using the Bluebook citation. Then, follow the MLA format template to list publication information for the version of the source you consulted.

For example, to cite the United States Code using the hybrid method, treat the section cited as the work. As above, you can omit the title of the website, United States Code , since the code constitutes the entire website and is thus a self-contained work.

17 U.S.C. § 304. Office of Law Revision Counsel, 14 Jan. 2017, uscode.house.gov.

If you are citing a court case, begin the entry with the title of the case before listing the Bluebook citation. In the hybrid style, cite Brown v. Board of Education as found on the Legal Information Institute website thus:

Brown v. Board of Education . 347 U.S. 483. Legal Information Institute , Cornell Law School, www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/347/483.

Other sources (public laws, federal appeals court decisions, etc.) can be handled similarly.

If using the hybrid method, do not follow the handbook’s recommendation to alphabetize works that start with a number as if the number is spelled out. Instead, list works beginning with numbers before the first lettered entry and order numbered works numerically.

TIPS ON TITLES Styling titles when you document legal sources in MLA style may be challenging. Below are some guidelines. Standardize titles of legal sources in your prose unless you refer to the published version: as the MLA Handbook indicates, italicize the names of court cases, but capitalize the names of laws, acts, and political documents like titles and set them in roman font. When a legal source is contained within another work—for example, when the United States Code appears on a website with another title—follow the MLA Handbook , page 27, and treat the work as an independent publication. That is, style the title just as you would in prose—in italics if it is the name of a court case, in roman if it is a law or similar document; even though the legal source appears in a larger work, do not insert quotation marks around the title. In the names of court cases, use the abbreviation v. consistently, regardless of which abbreviation is used in the version of the work you are citing. To determine the name of a court case, use only the name of the first party that appears on either side of “v.” or “vs.” in your source; if the name is a personal name, use only the surname. To shorten the name of a court case in your prose after introducing it in full or in parenthetical references, use the name of the first-listed nongovernmental party. Thus, the case NLRB v. Yeshiva University becomes Yeshiva . If your list of works cited includes more than one case beginning with the same governmental party, list entries under the governmental party but alphabetize them by the first nongovernmental party: NLRB v. Brown University

NLRB v. Yeshiva University

Refer to the nongovernmental party in your prose and parenthetical reference, alerting readers to this system of ordering in a note .

Special thanks to Noah Kupferberg, of Brooklyn Law School, for assistance with these guidelines.

36 Comments

Laurie nebeker 08 august 2017 at 02:08 pm.

My eleventh-grade English students write research papers about Supreme Court cases. In the MLA 7th edition (5.7.14) there was a note about italicizing case titles in the text but not in the list of works cited or in parenthetical references. Has this changed for the 8th edition? Also, you've given examples about formatting SCOTUS rulings, but most of the resources my students use are articles about the cases from news sources, specialty encyclopedias, etc. Should case titles be italicized when they appear within article titles? Thanks!

Your e-mail address will not be published

Angela Gibson 09 August 2017 AT 07:08 AM

You are correct to note this change. To make legal works a bit easier to cite, we now recommend that writers italicize the names of court cases both in the text and the list of works cited. When the name of a court case is contained within another work, style the title just as you would anywhere else. Thus, a SCOTUS ruling in the title of a news article would appear in italics. Thanks for reading; I hope this helps!

Nia Alexander 31 January 2018 AT 06:01 PM

How would I cite the 2015 National Content Report? It contains information similar to that of a census.

Angela Gibson 01 February 2018 AT 07:02 AM

There is an example here: https://style.mla.org/citing-tables/.

Nathan Hoepner 12 February 2018 AT 01:02 AM

One of my students wants to use the Versailles Treaty (officially, "Treaty of Peace with Germany"). The Library of Congress has a pdf copy posted. Should he list the treaty in his sources with the URL, or, since is just a copy of the official treaty, just list title, date, and "multilateral treaty"?

ben zuk 17 March 2018 AT 06:03 PM

how would I cite Supreme Court case from Justia?

Patricia Morris 27 March 2018 AT 10:03 AM

Can you give an example for citing the Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics?

Michael Park 03 May 2018 AT 12:05 PM

How do i cite a introduced bill into congress

ML Chilson 04 November 2018 AT 05:11 PM

How do I cite a pending case that is still at the trial court level, including citation to the briefs that have been filed by the various parties?

Blah 08 November 2018 AT 11:11 AM

how do you cite a complaint in mla format

Marlow Chapman 10 December 2018 AT 08:12 PM

How would one cite a Title (specifically Title VII) from the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

Angela Gibson 11 December 2018 AT 05:12 PM

How you cite it will depend on where you access it. Some points: following the MLA format template, your entry will start with the title of the law. This will either be Civil Rights Act or Title 7 (see the discussion of Federal Statutes above for considerations about which title to begin your entry with). Your in-text citation (whether in prose or parentheses) should direct the reader to the first element in your works-cited list (in other words, the title).

Jeff Jeskie 04 February 2019 AT 08:02 AM

How do my students properly list the Supreme Court cases that are linked on the Exploring Constitutional Law site by Doug LInder at UMKC Law School site?

http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/home.html?

Patricia Moseley 14 February 2019 AT 10:02 AM

I need help. My 8th grade history class is answering questions on the US Constitution and citing their answer.

There are five rights in the First Amendment, which include freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, the right to peaceably assemble, and the right to petition the government for a redress of their grievances (U.S. Constitution).

Is this in-text citation done correctly? Also, are the amendments spell out or does one use the Roman numeral in text?

Thank You!!!

Angela Gibson 15 February 2019 AT 10:02 AM

If U.S. Constitution is the first element in the works-cited-list entry, the in-text citation is correct. Spell out ordinal numbers (First Amendment), but use numerals for numbers of count (Amendment V) and, by convention, use Roman numerals for divisions of legal works that use them.

Ella 05 December 2019 AT 08:12 PM

How would you cite a state supreme court case?

Ana 06 December 2019 AT 09:12 AM

How would I cite an Act? More precisely, I want to cite The New York State Dignity for All Students Act. How would I do it on in-text citations and on the work cited page? Thanks!

Amanda 17 April 2020 AT 05:04 PM

How would I cite a tribal constitution? Do I use the date of the original publication or the most recent amendment or resolution?

most are found on their tribal government websites so would i treat it like this:

(italicized) Title of Document: Subtitle if Given (italicized) . Edition if given and is not first edition, Name of Government Department, Agency or Committee, Publication Date, URL. Accessed Day Month Year site was visited.

yet, I still do not know what date to use. Or should i just cite it from a print publication or Nat. Archives so I can use the example given in your list above?

Angela Gibson 20 April 2020 AT 09:04 AM

Cite the version you're looking at and use the date of access if it's the only date you can provide.

Marissa 25 October 2020 AT 05:10 PM

How would you cite The Declaration of Independence?

Jennifer A. Rappaport 26 October 2020 AT 08:10 PM

Thanks for your question. Please consult Ask the MLA: https://style.mla.org/category/ask-the-mla/

Carol Holyoke 19 January 2021 AT 10:01 PM

Could you please tell me how to cite the Declaration of Independence? Do I put it in the Works Cited List?

Angela Gibson 20 January 2021 AT 09:01 AM

It is generally a good idea to create a works-cited-list entry for the version of the document you are transcribing a quotation from (e.g., see our example for the Constitution). Create your entry just as you would for any other source--follow the template of core elements and list any relevant elements that apply.

Diane 23 February 2021 AT 07:02 PM

How do I correctly cite a Congressional public law In Text? I can only find how to cite in works cited pages. Thank you!

Rowena 28 April 2021 AT 09:04 AM

If I quote sections from a piece of legislation does it need to be italicised as well as quotation marks?

Charlotte Norcross 15 November 2021 AT 11:11 AM

How do I correctly cite the congressional record from a specific session? Thanks!

Carl Sandler 02 February 2022 AT 02:02 PM

I am submitting a report to an attorney consisting of investigative findings related to an automobile accident. Some of the information in my report will be technical in nature and other information will be in the form of my opinion(s) based on conclusions drawn from deposition testimony of witnesses and persons knowledgeable of the event. Considering the report will be read by both legal professionals and others not of the legal profession, what approach and format (with examples, please) should be used to cite deposition testimony and also Exhibits presented during the taking of the deposition? I am familiar with Bluebook style of legal citations, however not all persons reading my report would have this same understanding.

Lev 18 April 2022 AT 11:04 AM

Dear MLA Editor: When citing court cases in another language (French), should I keep the title of the case in the original language, translate it, or provide a translation in brackets? The same question goes for the name of the docket number, court, date of publication, and other elements. The MLA manual does not offer any guidance on this! Thanks in advance for any help.

Heidi 27 April 2023 AT 10:04 AM

What is the proper way to reference a recently filed lawsuit (a pending case) in legal writing (letters and memos)? Thanks!

Jennifer Washington 13 February 2024 AT 11:02 PM

How are state educational codes shaping standards for textbooks and materials cited in-text and on works cited?

Margaret Handrow 09 April 2024 AT 09:04 AM

How are state laws and state house bills cited? What would be the in-text citations for state laws and state house bills?

Laura Kiernan 09 April 2024 AT 03:04 PM

For guidance on citing state laws, see this post on the Style Center .

Margaret Handrow 11 April 2024 AT 08:04 PM

The Works Cited for state laws I have. What do the parenthetical and narrative in-text citations look like?

Margaret Handrow 11 April 2024 AT 09:04 PM

MLA Handbook 6.6 has the following example for in-text citations for U.S. Supreme Court cases - A recent case held that "the immunity enjoyed by foreign governments is a general rather than specific reference" (United States, Supreme Court).

How does MLA handle more than one court case? For example: United States, Supreme Court. Ableman v. Booth. United States Reports, vol. 62, 7 March 1859, pp. 506-525 Range. Fastcase, https://public.fastcase.com/jaEE2PXzRXmZ99jOLMt1Il18sGeib03xlSTGPHuTkMPJngvbMveRhemGzelvNShH. [62 US 506] and United States, Supreme Court. Miles v. United States. United States Reports, vol. 103, October Term, 1880, pp. 304-316 Range. Fastcase, https://public.fastcase.com/waZtJvSA54UAurM2rmIZz8tSNJfRFb72tc2JnYR%2b1g3S9cDguTf04pkUdcNTnFEq [103 US 304] Would the following work as parenthetical in-text citations? (United States, Supreme Court, Ableman v. Booth 520) and (United States, Supreme Court, Miles v. United States 311)? Or would using (Ableman v. Booth 520) and (Miles v. United States 311) be better?

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), for example - 28 CFR Part 551 Subpart G.

My best guess for the Works Cited would be something along this line - United States. Department of Justice. Bureau of Prisons. Department of Justice Institutional Management. “Miscellaneous, Administering of Polygraph Test, Purpose and Scope, Procedures,” Title 28, 29 June 1979, Part 551, Subpart G, https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-28/chapter-V/subchapter-C/part-551/subpart-G?toc=1.

Would the parenthetical in-text citation be - (United States. Department of Justice. Bureau of Prisons. Department of Justice Institutional Management 551)? This is for one source from 28 CFR Part 551 Subpart G. How would one differentiate a different Subpart that is on the same page?

Mustafa 15 May 2024 AT 10:05 AM

How do I cite a case a court case transcript? Like the Israel Vs South Africa "Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip" Case?

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MLA Style (9th Edition) Citation Guide: Government & Legal Documents

• Introduction to MLA Style
• Journal Articles
• Magazine/Newspaper Articles
• Books & Ebooks
• Government & Legal Documents
• Biblical Sources
• Secondary Sources
• Videos/DVDs/TV Shows
• How to Cite: Other
• 9th Edition Updates
• Additional Help

Table of Contents

Government document from a website.

Government Document In Print

Court Decision

Statute (legislation), unenacted bill or resolution.

Note: All citations should be double spaced and have a hanging indent in a Reference List.

A "hanging indent" means that each subsequent line after the first line of your citation should be indented by 0.5 inches.

In your works cited list, abbreviate months as follows: 

January = Jan. February = Feb. March = Mar. April = Apr. May = May June = June July = July August = Aug. September = Sept. October = Oct. November = Nov. December = Dec.

Spell out months fully in the body of your paper. 

Capitalize the first letter of every important word in the title. You do not need to capitalize words such as: in, of, or an.

If there is a colon (:) in the title, include what comes after the colon (also known as the subtitle).

The format of dates is: Day Month (shortened) Year. E.g. 5 Sept. 2012.

Whether to give the year alone or include a month and day depends on your source: write the full date as you find it there.

If no date is listed, omit it unless you can find that information available in a reliable source.

Access Date

Date of access is optional in MLA 8th/9th edition; it is recommended for pages that may change frequently or that do not have a copyright/publication date.

Legal Citations

From the MLA Style website: "Following one of the fundamental principles of MLA style, writers citing legal works should document the version of the work they consult—not the canonical version of the law, as in legal style. As with any source in MLA style, how you document it will generally depend on the information provided by the version of the source you consulted." See " Documenting Legal Works in MLA Style " on the MLA website.

Known Author

Cite the author of the publication if the author is identified. Otherwise, start with the name of the national government, followed by the agency (including any subdivisions or agencies) that serves as the organizational author. For congressional documents, be sure to include the number of the Congress and the session when the hearing was held or resolution passed as well as the report number. US government documents are typically published by the Government Printing Office.

Name of National Government, Agency, Subdivision. Title of Document: Subtitle if Given . Edition if given and is not first edition, Name of Government Department, Agency or Committee, Publication Date, URL. Accessed Access Date.

Works Cited List Example:

United States, Congress, House, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act. Government Publishing Office, 17 Apr. 2012, www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CHRG-111hhrg50208/html/CHRG-111hhrg50208.htm. 112th Congress, 2nd Session, House Report 112-445. Accessed 22 Oct. 2019.

In-Text Citation Example:

(Shortened Title of Document)

Unknown Author

If a personal author or a corporate author (e.g. government agency or organization) cannot be identified, start the citation with the title of the document.

Title of Document: Subtitle if Given . Edition if given and is not first edition, Name of Government Department, Agency or Committee, Publication Date, URL. Accessed Access Date.

  Healthy People 2020.  Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. 2011, www.healthypeople.gov/. Accessed 6 July 2016 .

 (Title of Document)

  Example : (Healthy People 2020)

Government Document in Print

Title of Document : Subtitle if Given . Edition if given and is not first edition, Name of Government Department, Agency or Committee, Publication Date.

Dictionary of Occupational Titles . Dept. of Labor. Employment and Training Administration, 1977.

( Title of Document )

Government Entity as Author. Name of the Case . Date of the Decision. Title of Container, Publisher, URL (if online).

United States, Supreme Court. Brown v. Board of Education . 17 May 1954. Legal Information Institute , Cornell U Law School, www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/347/483.

In-Text Paraphrase:

(United States, Supreme Court).

In-Text Quote:

(United States, Supreme Court Syllabus (d)).

Italicize the case name in the text of your paper also.

Government Entity as Author. Name of the Public Law. Title of Container , Date, Pages. Publisher , URL (if online).

United States, Congress. Public Law 104-191, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. govinfo.gov, 1996. U.S. Government Printing Office , https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/PLAW-104publ191.

(United States, Congress)

(United States, Congress Section 264)

Government Entity as Author. Name of the Bill or Resolution. Title of Container , URL. Congressional session, Bill/Resolution number, last status.

Example (Senate):

United States, Congress, Senate. Anti-Phishing Act of 2005. Congress.gov, https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-bill/472. 109th Congress, Senate Bill 472, Introduced 28 Feb. 2005.

Example: (House):

United States, Congress, House. Anti-Phishing Act of 2005. Congress.gov, https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-bill/1099. 109th Congress, House Resolution 1099, Introduced 03 Mar. 2005.

(United States, Congress, House)

(United States, Congress, House Section 1351 "Internet Fraud")

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Writing a law school research paper or law review note

• Books and articles

Basics of Format & Content

Research papers are not as strictly structured as legal memos, briefs, and other documents that you've learned about in legal writing and drafting courses. For example, there is no prescribed content/format similar to to the Questions Presented, Brief Answers, etc. that you learned for a legal memo.

A general approach to thinking about the content of a research paper is:

• Introduction in which you give some background and a clear statement of your thesis
• Status quo -- what is the existing law and why is it a problem
• Proposals for change

See this blog post by Jonathan Burns , an IU McKinney alum, for more on basic content.

If you're writing for a law review or seminar, you should get formatting instructions regarding things like margins, font size, line spacing. If you don't, or if you're doing an independent study, here are some basic guidelines to follow:

• Times New Roman or similar, 12 pt font.
• Double spaced lines.
• One inch margins all around.
• Footnotes in academic Bluebook style (use the rules on the main white pages instead of the light blue pages at the front of the Bluebook).
• Footnotes in same font as text, 10 pt font.
• Use Roman numerals and/or letters on headings and subheadings or style the fonts so that the difference between headings and subheadings is clear.   
• Page numbers in the footer, preferably centered, especially on first page. You could do bottom center on first page and then upper right in the header thereafter. Use the header and footer functions for this. If you don't know how to use headers and footers in Word, here is help:  https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/word2016/headers-and-footers/1/ . 

Headings and subheadings

Research papers should have headings and subheadings. These help your reader follow your logic--and a logical structure is very important. Headings and subheadings can also help you keep your thoughts organized. Just don't overuse them--you don't want every paragaph to have a subheading. 

Road map paragraph

Often, research papers will also include a paragraph at the end of the introduction that narrates the road map the paper will follow.   Here is an example of this kind of paragraph:

"The section that follows [this introduction] sets the stage by recounting two scenarios from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, with discussion of the knowledge and implementation of accessibility features in online instructional materials. The next section provides an overview of various impairments and their effects on a user's experience of the online environment. Next is a review of the laws relevant to accessibility with attention to their potential application to online instruction, along with standards used to guide accessibility compliance. The article then explores the concept of universal design and its guiding principles, followed by a discussion of how to use the universal design principles to organize and better understand accessibility standards and practices. The final section briefly summarizes the discussion and encourages law librarians and professors to become knowledgeable and skilled in universal design for online materials to benefit all their students."

Table of Contents

A table of contents can also be helpful, though it's not necessary. If you add a table of contents to your papers, put it right at the beginning, before the introduction. Here's part of the table of contents for the same paper the paragraph above was taken from--it really just lays out the heading and subheadings with page numbers: 

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Directed Research Projects

• Getting Started
• Preparing to Research
• The Research Process

Structuring Your Paper

Writing tips, writing resources.

• Checking your Sources
• Getting it Published

There is no strict structure to writing a legal research paper.  Unlike legal memos written for class or documents prepared for court proceedings that require formatted headings such as "Question Presented," "Statement of Facts," etc., legal research papers are not required to contain prescribed content or abide by a particular structure.

That said, below is a typical approach to organizing the content of your research project.

• Introduction (clear statement of your thesis)
• Background information (what is the existing law, if any)
• The problem (explain why the status quo does't work)
• Recommendation for change (what can be done to improve the field and how)
• Conclusion (tie back to your thesis)

If you have any questions about formatting your research project, you should seek advice from your faculty advisor.  Below are some basic guidelines, but keep in mind formatting requirements set forth by your faculty advisor will always supersede instructions provided here.

Generally, directed research papers are formatted as follows:

• 12-point font (Times New Roman or similar)
• Double-spaced lines
• One-inch margins on both sides, top, and bottom
• 10-point font for footnotes (same font as text)
• Bluebook style and rules for all footnotes citations
• Roman numerals and/or letter headings and subheadings (same font as text but bolded and/or underlined)
• Numbered pages in the footer (same font as text)

Table of Contents

Although not required (unless your faculty advisor states otherwise), a table of contents can be helpful to provide your reader with an overview of your research paper and direct them to certain sections.  Your table of contents should mirror your headings and subheadings.  Below is an example of a table of contents.

When to Cite

You must include a citation every time you refer to, paraphrase, or quote a law, case, or another's work.  Most of your sentences will include a citation.  Additionally, when you cite to a law, always cite to the primary source.

How to Cite

The Bluebook, formally titled  The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation , is the style manual for citing to legal documents within the United States.  You should use the Bluebook for all your citations in your legal paper.  The white page section contain the citation rules for legal academic publications.

Writing a Strong Introduction

Your introduction is arguably the most important section of your paper because many people will decide to continue reading based on the introduction.  It must grab the reader's attention and explain why what you are writing about is important.

Essentially, the reader should be able to skim the rest of your paper after reading your introduction and have a good understanding of its layout and arguments.  A good introduction should present the theme of the paper in a succinct manner while providing an overview of your paper.

Generally, a strong introduction will

• State the legal problem/issue;
• Describe why it is important and how your paper contributes to the discussion;
• Provide a road map of your paper; and
• State your conclusion.

Being Objective & Subjective

After your introduction, you should discuss background information on the issue you chose to write about.  This should be an objective overview of the relevant facts and existing law.  Your objective background information section should not be an all encompassing.  Keep this portion of your paper focused on the essential law and relevant facts that support your recommendation for change. 

The bulk of your paper lays in your discussion of the problem and recommendation for change.  This is the subjective portion of your paper.  In this section you should extract the relevant objective material to support your subjective analysis.

Writing a Strong Conclusion

Your conclusion should restate your thesis, summarize your major points, and remind the reader why the issue you've chosen is important.  The conclusion should essentially reword your introduction in a condensed fashion. 

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Citing and referencing legal resources using Harvard

• UK case law

UK statutes

Uk statutory instruments, devolved legislation.

• European Union resources
• Other legal resources

A statute is another name for an Act of Parliament. 

As explained in Cite them right UK statutes (Acts of Parliament) , you will need to reference a statute in the following way: Title of Act year, chapter number. Available at: URL (Accessed: date).

In-text citation: The legislation (Food Standards Act 1999) states that...

Reference list: Food Standards Act 1999, c. 28 . Available at: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1999/28/contents (Accessed: 30 January 2018).

Cite them right also provides guidance on UK statutory instruments  (also known as secondary or delegated legislation). Your reference will be made up of the following elements: Name/title of SI year (SI year and number). Available at: URL (Accessed: date).

In-text citation: In relation to the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013 ,....

Reference list: Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013 (SI 2013/2996). Available at: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/2996/made (Accessed: 24 January 2018).

Cite them right  gives details on how to cite and reference legislation from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland . You will need to consult this for details of how to cite Acts of the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Statutory Instruments; Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland; and legislation of the National Assembly for Wales and Welsh Statutory Instruments.

A Bill is a draft law. It needs to be approved in the Houses of Parliament and receive Royal Assent before it becomes an Act of Parliament.

As explained by Cite them right Bills from the House of Commons or House of Lords , the type of information you need to include in your reference list is as follows: Title (year of publication). Parliament: House of Commons OR Parliament: House of Lords. Bill no.[  ]. Place of publication: publisher.

In-text citation: The Sugar in Food and Drinks (Targets, Labelling and Advertising) Bill (2016) had its first reading on....

Reference list: Sugar in Food and Drinks (Targets, Labelling and Advertising) Bill (2016). Parliament: House of Commons. Bill no. 70. London: The Stationery Office.

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• How it works

How to Cite a Law in Harvard Style?

Published by Alaxendra Bets at August 30th, 2021 , Revised On August 23, 2023

In academic texts, laws might be cited. The term ‘law’ is an umbrella term, which is used to mean either one of the following:

• Legal cases: Legal cases are mostly included in the reference list, but only if they are highly important for the overall understanding of the text or what the text is claiming. In other words, to support a claim or suggestion made in the text, writers can include such references in the list; if they feel the text just can’t do without.

Note: The name of the case it written in italics. Its year of publication is written in brackets. However, some institutions prefer to italicise both the title and year of the case.

• Legislation acts and regulations: A lot of care must be taken while citing and referencing such official sources. Their names, capitalization and/or spellings are not changed to suit the referencing page layout or style etc. Everything must be cited and referenced in the way it was officially published.

Tip: While citing such sources, don’t forget to check the formal title of the act. Most legislative acts and regulations have a formal title that can be used in the in-text citation.

Jurisdiction: They also fall under the above category of legislation acts and regulations. While citing jurisdictions, it should be cited in such a way that the reader can instantly tell whether it is a jurisdiction act. For example, ‘Victoria’s Equal opportunity Act 1995 prohibits…’

Another method is to write the abbreviated information within brackets after the date, for example: ‘the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) … ‘Here, Cth refers to Commonwealth Acts. These are a collection of acts that are specific to Australia. Referencing them is done using Harvard style, too.

Units of division for Legal Acts: Just like books have chapters, acts have divisions too. They are in the form of sections, and they are numbered in Roman numerals. Citing and referencing legal acts involves mentioning the section number too. The abbreviations s. or ss. are used to refer to acts’ sections. However, they are never written at the beginning of a sentence. In Harvard, a section of a legal act is referenced in these ways, for instance:

• Section 4 of the Commonwealth’s Copyright Act 1968 … OR
• In ss. 4-7 of the Copyright Act (Cth) … OR
• The Copyright Act 1068, s. 4, …

Legal Bills: Governments and their officials often pass and publish many bills related to different departments. In Harvard, legal bills and acts are cited and referenced in much the same way, as the examples and formats below will show

Just like citing a journal article includes some unique elements, like the issue and volume numbers of the journal, laws also include such unique details. They are in the form of numbers corresponding to acts, their sections or both.

The basic format for citing any law in Harvard style is:

In-text citation: Title of the law in italics Year of Publication

Reference list entry: Title of the law in italics Year of Publication (Jurisdiction abbreviation)

For example:

In-text citation: …The Commonwealth’s Copyright Act 1968

Reference list entry: The Commonwealth’s Copyright Act 1968 (Vic)

In-text and Reference Formats with Examples

In Harvard referencing, the basic format for legal cases is:

In-text citation: Title of the case (Year) Reference details (including vol number, abbreviated reference series, starting p.#)

Reference list entry: References for legal case in Harvard style are only included if they are necessary to understand the general meaning(s) of implication(s) of the text(s). Otherwise, they are not needed. If they are indeed to be included, a separate sub-heading titled ‘Cases’ is made within the reference list, and the references for legal cases are written underneath it.

Note: During in-text citation in Harvard style for legal cases, the word ‘at’ is used instead of p.# for a page number. The Harvard in-text citation format in such a case is: Title of the case (Year) reference details at the page number.

An example of a legal case cited and referenced in Harvard style is:

In-text citation: The State of New South Wales v. The Commonwealth (1915) 20 CLR 54 Greutner v. Everard (1960) 103 CLR 177 at 181

Reference list entry: The State of New South Wales v. The Commonwealth (1915) 20 CLR 54

Legislations: Acts and Regulations

In-text citation: Tile of the Act in italics, Year of publication (may or may not be in italics), section number (if available)

Reference list entry: Title of the Act in italics, Year of Publication (may or may not be in italics), section number, reprint number, Publisher, Place of Publication.

In-text citation: Property Law Act 1974 (Qld), s 55

Reference list entry: Property law Act 1974 (Qld), 2014, Office of Queensland Parliamentary Counsel,

Queensland.

Some places also use the following Harvard format for referring to legal acts and legislations:

In-text citation: Title of the Act Year both in italics OR title of the Act Year both in italics (abbreviation of the jurisdiction)

Reference list entry: Title of the Act Year of publication (abbreviation of the jurisdiction)

In-text citation: Residential Tenancies Act 1997 OR Residential Tenancies Act 1997 (Vic) where Vic, short for Victoria, is the abbreviation for jurisdiction. As mentioned above, make the jurisdiction obvious. It can also be done in this way: ‘‘Victoria’s Residential Tenancies Act 1997 …’

Reference list entry: Residential Tenancies Act 1997 (Vic)

Legal Bills

Citing and referencing legal bills in Harvard style is perhaps the simplest out of all three law types. The format for citing such a source in Harvard is:

In-text citation: Title of the Bill Year (Jurisdiction) NO ITALICISATION in any of the elements while citing a legal bill.

Reference list entry: Title of the Bill (Title of the Regulation or Act if available) Bill Publication Year (abbreviation for jurisdiction if available).

Note: Since a bill before parliament is ‘unpublished,’ its title is NOT italicized in an in-text nor reference citation.

In-text citation: Migration Amendment (Regulation of Migration Agents) Bill 2017 (Cth)

Reference list entry: Migration Amendment (Regulation of Migration Agents) Bill 2017 (Cth)

Other Types of Laws and Their Citations with Examples

Here are some other not-so-common types of laws that might need to be cited according to Harvard style:

1.    Citing Laws not included in the Code

Here, the ‘code’ refers to the act or a section of an act. It’s cited in the same an act is cited, as mentioned above, for example: ( Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act 2009 ). The year of publication may or not be italicised, depending on which format is specified by one’s institution.

Note: Italics are not used for Acts of Parliament of other nations, e.g., Youth Work Act 2010 (Estonia).

2.    Citing Laws spread across different sections of the same Act

They’re cited in the same format as that given above for acts, for example: ( Civil Rights Act 1964 )

Note Mention section(s) number here also, if applicable, after year and jurisdiction abbreviation (if known).

3.    Citing state laws

The format for these, too, is the same as that given above for acts, for example: ( Community Action Act 2020 ).

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Frequently Asked Questions

To cite a law in Harvard Style:

• Include the law’s title.
• Year of enactment.
• Jurisdiction (if applicable).
• Section or regulation number.
• Italicize or underline the law’s title.
• Parenthetical citation in-text: (Title Year).
• Full details in the reference list.

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How to compile references in Harvard referencing style? Well, all items should be listed alphabetically by author or authorship, whether you are using books, websites or journal articles, etc.

Author Surname, Author Initial. (Year Published). Title. In: Publication Title. [online] City: Publisher, p.Pages Used. URL [Accessed Date Accessed].

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How to Cite Legal Research

Last Updated: March 29, 2019 References

This article was written by Jennifer Mueller, JD . Jennifer Mueller is an in-house legal expert at wikiHow. Jennifer reviews, fact-checks, and evaluates wikiHow's legal content to ensure thoroughness and accuracy. She received her JD from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2006. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 8,119 times.

To cite legal research, you typically must follow the rules contained in The Bluebook, which is the style manual used for legal citation in the United States. Any law library will have several copies of the Bluebook, as well as law librarians who may be able to assist you. Bluebook citation rules can be complex and highly technical, and provide a distinct method for every possible type of document you could possibly use in legal research. While this article can't possibly cover every rule used in every circumstance, it can walk you through some of the types of citation you will be most likely to encounter in your research. [1] X Research source

Citing Case Law

• Don't include the phrase "et al." to indicate there is more than one party to the suit.
• Italicize the phrases "In re." or "ex rel." If the reporter says "on behalf of," or "for the use of," change that to "ex rel." If the reporter says "In the matter of" or "Petition of," use "In re." in your citation.
• Table 6 of the Bluebook contains abbreviations that must be used. Any words in the name of the case that are listed on that table should be abbreviated according to that table.
• Generally, omit the word "the" from the beginning of a case name.
• Abbreviate states unless they are parties. Then you must spell them out. If you're referencing a state case, just use "State" or "Commonwealth." However, if it's a federal case and the state is a party, use just the name of the state.
• For example, if you were citing a U.S. Supreme Court case, the name would be "Virginia v. Smith," not "The Commonwealth of Virginia v. Mary Smith." However, if the case was a Virginia Supreme Court case, the name would be "Commonwealth v. Smith."
• If you're citing the case within the text rather than in a footnote, the case name should be italicized. In court documents such as briefs or motions, the case name typically is underlined.

• For U.S. Supreme Court opinions, you must use the U.S. reporter. The abbreviation is "U.S." with no spaces.
• For Federal Court of Appeals cases, use F., F.2d, or F.3d, with no spaces. Federal District Court decisions normally are cited from "F. Supp." Note that there is a space between the abbreviations.
• The volume number of the reporter is the first number after the comma following the case name. Then type the name of the reporter, followed by a space, followed by the page number on which the case starts.
• If you are citing a particular page of the case rather than the case as a whole, put a comma after the first page of the case, add a space, and then put the page number of your pinpoint cite.
• For example, at this point your citation might look something like this: "Virginia v. Smith, 60 F.2d 313, 327."
• If the material you are citing covers several pages, provide the first and last page of the excerpt with a hyphen between them: "Virginia v. Smith, 60 F.2d 313, 327-30." Note that you should only use the last two digits of the ending page if the first is identical.

• For example, the United States Reports only includes U.S. Supreme Court cases. So if your citation is to a Supreme Court case published in the U.S. Reports, you can just use the year, like so: "Virginia v. Smith, 24 U.S. 283, 287 (1982)."
• For federal Court of Appeals cases, you must provide the circuit. If you're citing a federal District Court case, identify the district. If the court is the highest court in the state, you would include the state abbreviation. Put a space after the court identification, then the year the case was decided.
• At this point, a federal Court of Appeals citation would look something like this: "Virginia v. Smith, 60 F.2d 313, 327 (2d Cir. 1979)."

• Descriptions having to do with the case itself are included in parentheses. For example, if the opinion had no author, you might put "(per curiam)" after the year, with a space between the parentheses, such as "Virginia v. Smith, 24 U.S. 283, 287 (1982) (per curiam).
• To add procedural history – that is, something that happened to the case after the opinion you're citing that may affect the authority of that particular case – put a comma after the parentheses, then a space, then write the applicable phrase.
• Keep in mind that the explanatory phrase should be italicized and followed by a comma. For example, suppose the federal appeals court decision you are citing was affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court. Your citation would look like this: "Virginia v. Smith, 60 F.2d 313, 327 (2d Cir. 1979), aff'd , 24 U.S. 283 (1982)."

• This information is never necessary, but you should consider adding it if you think it would enhance the citation for the reader.
• One circumstance where it arguably is necessary is if, in the portion of the case you're citing, the judge is paraphrasing or citing another case.
• Parenthetical information typically is a phrase beginning with a gerund, such as "(holding cupcakes are form of self-expression protected by the First Amendment)." If you're using such a phrase, there are no capitals, and the phrase is not italicized.
• In other instances, you may want to draw the reader's attention to a particular passage in the opinion. Put that in parentheses with quotes around it. For example, you might write "("Words written in icing are entitled to no less protection than words written in pen...")."

Citing Statutes or Regulations

• If you do include the title of the law, there is no special formatting such as italics required.
• If the law you're referencing is spread out over several sections of the code, you should cite to the session law instead of a code section if you intend to cite the entire law. The session law is the law itself as it was enacted by the legislative body, before it was recorded into the legislative code.
• This situation may occur if you are referencing a law such as The Patriot Act, which amended many other laws already on the books.

• For example, you would cite a federal law by writing "28 U.S.C.," which indicates the volume (28) of the U.S. Code (U.S.C.) where the law is located.
• Table 1 of the Bluebook lists the approved code compilations for state laws and their abbreviations.
• While there are official code compilations, there also are code compilations published by the legal publishers LexisNexis and West. If you are using one of these code compilations, this should be indicated accordingly.

• Use a "§" before the number to stand for "Section."
• If you are referencing multiple sections, this should be indicated by "§§." If you intend to reference several sections together in a series, connect the first and last section with a hyphen. To indicate a reference to two or more separate sections, put the section numbers separated by a comma and a space.
• An example of multiple sections in a series would be "28 U.S.C. §§ 402-407." In contrast, multiple sections not in series would look like this: "28 U.S.C. §§ 402, 409." You also can combine the two methods, for example: "28 U.S.C. §§ 402-407, 409."

• The purpose of this date is to allow your readers to find the same edition of the law that you used in your work.
• You can find the date you need by looking at the spine of the volume, the volume's title page, or the volume's copyright information. You should check these places for the year in that order. In other words, if the date isn't on the spine, check the title page. If you can't find the date on the title page, check the copyright information.
• Keep in mind that even if you're looking at a statute online, you technically should check the bound volume to find the information necessary for your citation. Compare the online text to the text in the volume to make sure you have the correct volume and the two versions are identical before citing.

Citing Books and Treatises

• The volume number is not followed by any punctuation such as a period or a comma. Rather, you simply type the volume number, then a space, then begin the next part of the citation, which will be the name of the author.

• If there is more than one author, connect their names with an ampersand. For more than two authors, you typically would only use the first author's name followed by the phrase "et al."
• However, include the other authors' names if they are somehow significant. For example, if you are citing a book during the course of your argument that Judge John J. Jameson, Jr. wrote extensively about cupcake decency laws and their implications on freedom of speech, you would want to include his name in your citation of a book he co-authored on the subject, even if he was the third author listed.
• If the author is a business or institution rather than a person, simply write the name of that entity where you would normally cite the author's name.

• All words in a title other than articles, prepositions, and conjunctions should be capitalized.
• There is no punctuation following the title of the book.

• Cite to sections using the symbol "§" for a single section or "§§" for multiple sections.
• If you're citing to a series of pages, the page numbers should be connected by a hyphen. If the first of three or more digits are repeating, only the last two digits are needed for the last page in the series, such as in " Cupcakes and First Amendment Freedom of Expression 290-95."
• If you are citing to multiple pages not in series, separate the page numbers with commas. You also can cite a series of pages and a single other page.
• To cite a footnote appearing on a particular page (or in a particular section), put a comma after the page (or section) number, add a space, and type "n." followed by the footnote number.
• There is no punctuation following the page number citations in Bluebook citation format.

• The year of publication typically can be found either on the book's title page or within the book's copyright information.
• A full citation of a book might look something like this example: John J. Jameson, Jr. Cupcakes and First Amendment Freedom of Expression 290-95 (2005).

Citing Articles from Periodicals

• Include any suffixes, such as "Jr." However, omit any initials or titles used to indicate degrees or affiliations, such as "Dr." or "Ph.D."
• If there are two authors, list them in the order listed on the article, connected by an ampersand.
• If there are more than two authors, you can cite them using the name of the first author followed by "et al." You also can list all authors if you choose to do so, or if the names of all authors carry some significance.
• Institutional authors should be listed using the same rules, such as if the article has a company or educational institution listed as the author rather than an individual person.
• Do not reduce middle names to middle initials unless that is how they appear in the article itself.

• All words should be capitalized, except articles, conjunctions, or prepositions, unless these are the first word in the title or the first word that follows a colon.
• Do not omit words or abbreviate any words in the title.

• If the periodical is a law review or journal, its name should be abbreviated using the rules in Table 13 of the Bluebook.
• How you format the page number depends on the way the periodical itself is paginated. Many law journals use consecutive pagination – while there may be four issues of a single volume, the volume starts with page one in the first issue and the pages continue in order for each issue.
• In other words, the journal doesn't start over with page one at the beginning of each issue, as most magazines and other periodicals do.
• If the periodical uses consecutive pagination, you simply follow the name of the periodical with the page number, as in "12 Case W. L. Rev. 392."
• For periodicals that do not use consecutive pagination, but instead start page numbers over with each issue, the page number on which the article appears should follow the date of the periodical and be preceded by the word "at," as in "National Geographic, Mar. 2005, at 17."

• For periodicals that use consecutive pagination, you will place the year of publication in parentheses immediately following the page numbers.
• If you're citing a periodical, such as a magazine, without consecutive pagination, the date of the issue should be included between commas before the page number.
• The citation for periodicals with consecutive pagination looks like, and follows many of the same rules, as a citation to a judicial opinion. You start with the volume number, then the name of the journal, then the page number where the article starts. If you're providing a pinpoint citation to a particular page, add a comma and a space and then follow with that information.

• As with a citation to a judicial opinion, you can add parenthetical information that assists your reader in understanding why you cited a particular article, or what relationship it has to your text.
• These descriptions typically are written as phrases beginning with a gerund such as "stating" or "arguing."
• You also can provide a brief quote or beginning of a quote from the text, particularly if you want to point your reader to specific language in the article.

Expert Q&A

• When citing legal research, you can use signals before you begin the cite to clarify or qualify its relation to the text. If you don't include a signal, it tells your reader that the work cited supports your text directly. For example, placing the "But see" signal before a citation tells the reader that the material you've cited takes a position contrary to the one you've taken in the text. [41] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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• ↑ http://guides.ll.georgetown.edu/bluebook/introduction
• ↑ http://guides.ll.georgetown.edu/bluebook/citing-cases
• ↑ http://www.suffolk.edu/law/library/19544.php
• ↑ https://www.law.cornell.edu/citation/
• ↑ http://www.suffolk.edu/law/library/Statutorycitation.php
• ↑ http://guides.ll.georgetown.edu/bluebook/citing-statutes
• ↑ http://www.suffolk.edu/law/library/citingBooks.php
• ↑ http://guides.ll.georgetown.edu/bluebook/citing-other
• ↑ http://www.suffolk.edu/law/library/citingArticles.php

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Citations to Articles

Locating law journal articles, locating non-law journal articles, articles available in print at nu, interlibrary loan - when to request a journal article via ill.

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Bluebook Rule 16 covers citations to articles.  A typical article citation follows the following format:

Author's name, Title of Article, Journal Volume #, Abbreviation of Journal, Page on which article begins, span of specific pages being cited, date of publication. 

HeinOnline's Law Journal Library contains the most complete coverage of law-related periodicals in PDF format. It contains complete runs of titles - from the first issue published through the most-currently published issues for most journals. 

If you are not on campus, connect to the VPN or select Northwestern from the drop-down menu after running your search.

Tip 1 : If you can't find the article by copying & pasting the citation, try browsing for the journal title in the Hein Law Journal Library and then narrow by volume and page number.

Tip 2:  If you're having trouble deciphering an abbreviation in a journal citation, you can try looking it up in the  Cardiff Index to Legal Abbreviations .  It will give you the name of the publication, and it's easier to use than the Bluebook tables.

To find an article published in a non-legal journal, use Northwestern's Journal Search tool . You can also access the tool using the Find a Journal button on the homepage of the library's website. This tool will let you see if we have access to the title in any of our databases. Note that one journal may be available in multiple databases and that the dates of coverage may vary between databases.

Students may also be interested in trying two new browser extensions which aim to help researchers gain free access to copies of articles by searching open access repositories.

• Open Access Button

Not all databases will provide PDFs copies of the articles. Some databases will provide the article in an html format and it is not generally easy to tell from the links what the format will be.  

Examples of databases that do include PDFs are:

• HeinOnline Hein Online provides access to a vast PDF collection of legal research materials, including law journals (many of which date back to the 1800s) and a wide range of primary sources on the history of Anglo-American law.
• JSTOR Digitized, full-text versions of core scholarly journals across disciplines.While coverage of these journals goes back to the first issue, for most journals the most recent issues will be for 3-5 years ago.
• Academic Search Complete Multidisciplinary coverage of journal literature, including biological sciences, economics, communications, computer sciences, engineering, language and linguistics, arts and literature, medical sciences and women's studies. Provides citations and abstracts for nearly 2900 scholarly journals (1666 peer-reviewed), as well as over 1250 full-text titles.

If an article is available only in print through any of Northwestern's campus libraries ,  ( e.g. , Law Library, Main Library, etc.), place a scan request in NUsearch .

• Sign in with your NetID
• Select Request
• Select Law Library as your pickup location
• Ex., NULR 117.1 Smith, need article by Reich, 73 Yale L.J. 733-738

Library staff will scan the relevant pages from the print journal volume and save them to a shared OneDrive folder for your journal. 

If Northwestern does not have access to the article and if you cannot find excerpts of the relevant pages through non-NU alternatives, request the article through Interlibrary Loan. See the Interlibrary Loan page for details on placing requests.

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• Last Updated: Aug 25, 2023 3:58 PM
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How to Cite a Research Paper

Last Updated: March 29, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was reviewed by Gerald Posner and by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD . Gerald Posner is an Author & Journalist based in Miami, Florida. With over 35 years of experience, he specializes in investigative journalism, nonfiction books, and editorials. He holds a law degree from UC College of the Law, San Francisco, and a BA in Political Science from the University of California-Berkeley. He’s the author of thirteen books, including several New York Times bestsellers, the winner of the Florida Book Award for General Nonfiction, and has been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in History. He was also shortlisted for the Best Business Book of 2020 by the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 416,165 times.

When writing a paper for a research project, you may need to cite a research paper you used as a reference. The basic information included in your citation will be the same across all styles. However, the format in which that information is presented is somewhat different depending on whether you're using American Psychological Association (APA), Modern Language Association (MLA), Chicago, or American Medical Association (AMA) style.

Referencing a Research Paper

• In APA style, cite the paper: Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Title. Publisher.
• In Chicago style, cite the paper: Last Name, First Name. “Title.” Publisher, Year.
• In MLA style, cite the paper: Last Name, First Name. “Title.” Publisher. Year.

Citation Help

• For example: "Kringle, K., & Frost, J."

• For example: "Kringle, K., & Frost, J. (2012)."
• If the date, or any other information, are not available, use the guide at https://blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/2012/05/missing-pieces.html .

• For example: "Kringle, K., & Frost, J. (2012). Red noses, warm hearts: The glowing phenomenon among North Pole reindeer."
• If you found the research paper in a database maintained by a university, corporation, or other organization, include any index number assigned to the paper in parentheses after the title. For example: "Kringle, K., & Frost, J. (2012). Red noses, warm hearts: The glowing phenomenon among North Pole reindeer. (Report No. 1234)."

• For example: "Kringle, K., & Frost, J. (2012). Red noses, warm hearts: The glowing phenomenon among North Pole reindeer. (Report No. 1234). Retrieved from Alaska University Library Archives, December 24, 2017."

• For example: "(Kringle & Frost, 2012)."
• If there was no date on the research paper, use the abbreviation n.d. : "(Kringle & Frost, n.d.)."

• For example: "Kringle, Kris, and Jack Frost."

• For example: "Kringle, Kris, and Jack Frost. "Red Noses, Warm Hearts: The Glowing Phenomenon among North Pole Reindeer." Master's thesis."

• For example: "Kringle, Kris, and Jack Frost. "Red Noses, Warm Hearts: The Glowing Phenomenon among North Pole Reindeer." Master's thesis, Alaska University, 2012."

• For example: "Kringle, Kris, and Jack Frost. "Red Noses, Warm Hearts: The Glowing Phenomenon among North Pole Reindeer." Master's thesis, Alaska University, 2012. Accessed at https://www.northpolemedical.com/raising_rudolf."

• Footnotes are essentially the same as the full citation, although the first and last names of the authors aren't inverted.
• For parenthetical citations, Chicago uses the Author-Date format. For example: "(Kringle and Frost 2012)."

• For example: "Kringle, Kris, and Frost, Jack."

• For example: "Kringle, Kris, and Frost, Jack. "Red Noses, Warm Hearts: The Glowing Phenomenon Among North Pole Reindeer.""

• For example, suppose you found the paper in a collection of paper housed in university archives. Your citation might be: "Kringle, Kris, and Frost, Jack. "Red Noses, Warm Hearts: The Glowing Phenomenon Among North Pole Reindeer." Master's Theses 2000-2010. University of Alaska Library Archives. Accessed December 24, 2017."

• For example: "(Kringle & Frost, p. 33)."

• For example: "Kringle K, Frost J."

• For example: "Kringle K, Frost J. Red noses, warm hearts: The glowing phenomenon among North Pole reindeer."

• For example: "Kringle K, Frost J. Red noses, warm hearts: The glowing phenomenon among North Pole reindeer. Nat Med. 2012; 18(9): 1429-1433."

• For example, if you're citing a paper presented at a conference, you'd write: "Kringle K, Frost J. Red noses, warm hearts: The glowing phenomenon among North Pole reindeer. Oral presentation at Arctic Health Association Annual Summit; December, 2017; Nome, Alaska."
• To cite a paper you read online, you'd write: "Kringle K, Frost J. Red noses, warm hearts: The glowing phenomenon among North Pole reindeer. https://www.northpolemedical.com/raising_rudolf"

• For example: "According to Kringle and Frost, these red noses indicate a subspecies of reindeer native to Alaska and Canada that have migrated to the North Pole and mingled with North Pole reindeer. 1 "

Community Q&A

• If you used a manual as a source in your research paper, you'll need to learn how to cite the manual also. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• If you use any figures in your research paper, you'll also need to know the proper way to cite them in MLA, APA, AMA, or Chicago. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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• ↑ https://askus.library.wwu.edu/faq/116659
• ↑ https://guides.libraries.psu.edu/apaquickguide/intext
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/chicago_manual_17th_edition/cmos_formatting_and_style_guide/general_format.html
• ↑ https://libanswers.snhu.edu/faq/48009
• ↑ https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide/citation-guide-2.html
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_in_text_citations_the_basics.html
• ↑ https://morningside.libguides.com/MLA8/location
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/ama_style/index.html

About This Article

To cite a paper APA style, start with the author's last name and first initial, and the year of publication. Then, list the title of the paper, where you found it, and the date that you accessed it. In a paper, use a parenthetical reference with the last name of the author and the publication year. For an MLA citation, list the author's last name and then first name and the title of the paper in quotations. Include where you accessed the paper and the date you retrieved it. In your paper, use a parenthetical reference with the author's last name and the page number. Keep reading for tips on Chicago and AMA citations and exceptions to the citation rules! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How To Cite Sources: In-depth Guide

Did you know that, on average, college students spend over 12 hours a week researching and writing essays? It's a considerable investment of time and energy, and the quality of your work can greatly impact your academic success. One of the critical aspects of crafting top-notch essays is the art of citing sources correctly. Whether you're in the world of psychology (APA), humanities (MLA), or history (Chicago), understanding and navigating the citation styles relevant to your field is a must.

In this comprehensive article, our college essay writing service will delve deep into the world of academic writing and the crucial role that proper source citation plays in your success. Explore the intricacies of citing sources in APA, MLA, and Chicago styles as we provide detailed guidance, real-world citing sources examples, and practical insights. Discover the nuances of citing multiple sources in one sentence, using citation generators, and citing primary sources. Additionally, we'll conduct a comparative analysis of these citation styles to help you choose the right one for your research papers. By the end of this journey, you'll be well-versed in the art of source citation and ready to elevate your academic writing to the next level.

When to Source Sources in Academic Writing?

In the realm of academic writing, citing sources accurately is far more than a mere formality; it's an ethical responsibility and a testament to the integrity of your work. Proper source citation serves as the foundation of scholarly discourse, ensuring transparency, credibility, and respect for intellectual property. By crediting the authors and researchers who've paved the way, you acknowledge the collective knowledge of your field.

Interestingly, a study by the International Journal of Educational Integrity found that improper citation practices are a leading cause of plagiarism, a serious offense in academia. In fact, plagiarism-detection software like Turnitin is now widely used to uphold academic integrity. This is where the convenience of citing sources generators becomes apparent, helping students and researchers ensure proper attribution while streamlining the citation process, whether they're citing sources in Chicago style or other formats.

Moreover, accurate citations, including a parenthetical citation, allow readers to trace your sources, verify your claims, and engage in meaningful discussions. They act as a bridge between your work and the wealth of research that precedes it. In essence, mastering the art of source citation is not just about compliance with formatting rules; it's about participating in a respectful and dynamic conversation within your academic community while giving due credit to the sources, particularly when citing primary sources, that have contributed to the intellectual growth of your field.

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APA Citation Style Basics

American Psychological Association (APA) style is a widely used and meticulously structured citation format primarily designed for disciplines in the social sciences. Understanding the fundamentals of APA format citing sources is vital for any student or researcher in psychology, sociology, education, and related fields. Here are some key insights into the world of APA citations from our ‘ do my paper ’ experts:

• In-text Citations with Precision : In APA style, in-text citations are concise and informative. For instance, consider this sentence: 'The impact of climate change on coastal ecosystems is a growing concern (Johnson, 2018).' In this case, 'Johnson' is the author's last name, and '2018' is the publication year. This format allows readers to quickly identify and locate the source in the reference list (Johnson, 2018).
• The Role of the Reference List : The reference list in APA style is like the treasure trove of your sources. It's a comprehensive list of all the materials you've cited in your work. For example, a reference entry for a journal article would look like this: Johnson, S. (2018). Climate Change Effects on Coastal Biodiversity . Environmental Studies, 36 (3), 255-269.
• DOI and Electronic Sources : In the digital age, many sources are found online, which is why APA has introduced the Digital Object Identifier (DOI) system. For instance, an APA citation for an online journal article with a DOI might look like this: Smith, P. (2021). Renewable Energy Solutions for Sustainable Future . Environmental Science Review, 45 (2), 101-120. https://doi.org/10.12345/esr.2021.2.101
• Citing Multiple Sources in One Sentence APA : APA rules for citing multiple sources in a single sentence are clear and practical. Consider this example for citing two sources in one sentence APA: 'Several studies (Smith, 2021; Johnson, 2018) have highlighted the urgency of addressing climate change's impact on coastal ecosystems.' Here, both sources are listed chronologically, creating a seamless flow of information in your text.
• The Power of Consistency : Consistency is a cornerstone of APA style. From the formatting of headings (e.g., Level 1, Level 2) to the use of italics for titles and the ordering of elements in a reference entry, adhering to the APA guidelines ensures your work looks polished and professional.
• Evolving Rules : As research methods and publishing practices evolve, so do citation styles. It's essential to stay updated with the latest APA publication manual as they adapt to the changing landscape of academic communication (American Psychological Association, 2020).

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MLA Citation Style Basics

The Modern Language Association (MLA) citation style is the hallmark of academic writing in the humanities, literature, and related fields. It's known for its simplicity, elegance, and focus on clarity. Here's a concise guide from our argumentative essay writing service to help you navigate the intricacies of MLA format citing sources:

• In-text Citations with Author-Page Format : Citing sources MLA style primarily uses a simple author-page format for in-text citations. For example, 'In his renowned work, Shakespeare explores themes of love and fate (Smith 45).' Here, 'Smith' is the author's last name, and '45' is the page number. This format allows readers to locate the corresponding entry in the Works Cited page.
• The Works Cited Page : The Works Cited page is the heart of MLA citation. It's a detailed list of all the sources you've referenced in your paper. Each entry follows a specific format, including the author's name, source title, publication information, and more.
• Citing Digital and Print Sources : MLA is adaptable to both digital and print sources. For a print book, an MLA citation would look like this: Smith, John. The Art of Writing . Random House, 2020. For an online article, you might format it as follows: Johnson, Sarah. 'The Digital Literary Landscape.' Digital Humanities Review , vol. 28, no. 3, 2021, www.example.com/dhr/28-3/johnson.
• Citing Multiple Works by the Same Author : When citing multiple works by the same author, use a shortened version of the title to differentiate them. For instance, (Smith, Art of Writing 34) and (Smith, 'Literary Exploration' 18).
• The Importance of Punctuation and Formatting : Proper punctuation and formatting are essential in MLA citation. Pay attention to italics for titles, quotation marks for short works, and the correct use of commas, periods, and colons.
• Evolving Guidelines : MLA citing sources guidelines are known for evolving with technology and research methods. Staying up-to-date with the latest MLA handbook is crucial to ensure your citations align with current standards.

Chicago Citation Style Basics

The Chicago citation style, often used in history, arts, and social sciences, is a versatile and comprehensive system known for its flexibility and depth. Here's a guide to help you embrace the intricacies of Chicago citation:

• Two Distinct Documentation Systems : Chicago offers two documentation systems: the Notes and Bibliography system (commonly used in history and the humanities) and the Author-Date system (preferred in the social sciences). Understanding which system your discipline employs is crucial.
• Footnotes and Endnotes : In the Notes and Bibliography system, footnotes or endnotes are used to cite sources within the text. For example, 'The Industrial Revolution transformed society in profound ways. [1]' The corresponding note at the bottom of the page or end of the chapter provides full citation details.
• Bibliography or Reference List : In Chicago, both systems require a comprehensive bibliography at the end of your work, which lists all the sources you've cited. Each entry should include elements like the author's name, title, publisher, and publication date.
• Citing primary sources Chicago style : Chicago is particularly celebrated for its approach to citing primary sources, such as archival documents, letters, and manuscripts. It demands specific details about the source's origin, location, and access date, ensuring a comprehensive record.
• Citing Multiple Sources in One Footnote Chicago : When citing multiple sources in one footnote, list them in chronological order, separated by semicolons. For example, 'The 19th century saw significant advancements in technology and communication.[1];[2].'
• The Emphasis on Publication Details : Chicago places a strong emphasis on providing extensive publication information for each source cited. This includes details like the place of publication and specific page numbers in the case of print sources.
• Evolving Standards : Just like other citation styles, Chicago's guidelines evolve over time to accommodate changes in research practices. Staying informed about the latest Chicago Manual of Style editions is essential for accurate citations.

APA vs. MLA vs. Chicago: Key Similarities and Differences

Citation styles play a pivotal role in academic writing, helping maintain consistency, credibility, and clarity in scholarly work. Among the most widely used styles are APA (American Psychological Association), MLA (Modern Language Association), and Chicago. Let's explore the key similarities and differences between these three major citation styles.

Similarities:

• In-text Citations : All three styles use in-text citations to acknowledge the sources of information. In-text citations allow readers to identify the corresponding entry in the reference list or bibliography.
• Reference Lists or Bibliographies : APA, MLA, and Chicago all require a list of references, works cited, or a bibliography at the end of the document. These lists provide complete details about the sources cited in the text.
• Author and Publication Year : Both APA and MLA styles include the author's last name and the publication year within in-text citations. This allows readers to easily locate the source in the reference list.
• Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) : APA and MLA provide guidelines for citing sources with DOIs, ensuring the accuracy and stability of online references.

Differences:

Disciplines and Focus:

• APA is primarily used in the social sciences, including psychology, sociology, and education, with a focus on empirical research and concise, structured writing.
• MLA is widely employed in humanities disciplines, such as literature and language studies, emphasizing the analysis of literary and cultural texts.
• Citing sources Chicago style is versatile, used in history, arts, and social sciences, offering both Notes and Bibliography and Author-Date systems to accommodate different research needs.

In-text Citation Styles:

• APA uses an author-date format, e.g., (Smith, 2020), for in-text citations.
• MLA uses an author-page format, e.g., (Smith 45), for in-text citations.
• Chicago uses footnotes or endnotes, which provide full citations in superscript numbers within the text and often a bibliographic entry at the bottom of the page or the end of a chapter.

Reference List/Bibliography Format:

• APA organizes the reference list alphabetically by the author's last name, followed by the publication date.
• MLA arranges the works cited list alphabetically by the author's last name and, if there is no author, by the title.
• Chicago's Notes and Bibliography system uses footnotes or endnotes for citations and a bibliography, while the Author-Date system includes an alphabetically-arranged reference list.

Handling Multiple Sources in One Citation:

• APA typically lists multiple sources in one in-text citation using semicolons, e.g., (Smith, 2020; Johnson, 2019).
• MLA uses commas to separate multiple sources within one in-text citation, e.g., (Smith 45, Johnson 22).
• Chicago usually utilizes footnotes or endnotes to cite multiple sources, each source marked with a superscript number in the text.

Citing Page Numbers:

• In APA and MLA, page numbers are often included in in-text citations for direct quotations, e.g., (Smith, 2020, p. 25) or (Smith 25).
• Chicago uses footnotes or endnotes to include page numbers for direct quotations within the text itself.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, mastering the nuances of APA, MLA, and Chicago citation styles, including the specific requirements for citing primary sources, is an invaluable skill for academic success. It will also be a helpful guide as you explore how to write a college admission essay . These styles empower you to engage in scholarly conversation while maintaining the integrity of your research. Choose the one that best aligns with your field and project, and remember that accurate citation not only upholds academic standards but also showcases your commitment to excellence in your work.

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Deterrence versus brutalization: capital punishment's differing impacts among states.

Joanna M. Shepherd , Emory University School of Law Follow

Author ORCID Identifier

0000-0002-1435-0197

Document Type

Publication date.

Capital punishment, Murder rates, States, Crime deterrence, Econometric analysis, Aggregation bias

Recent empirical studies by economists have shown, without exception, that capital punishment deters crime. Using large data sets that combine information from all fifty states over many years, the studies show that, on average, an additional execution deters many murders. The studies have received much publicity, and death penalty advocates often cite them to show that capital punishment is sound policy.

Indeed, deterrence is the central basis that many policymakers and courts cite for capital punishment. For example, President Bush believes that capital punishment deters crime and that deterrence is the only valid reason for capital punishment. Likewise, the Supreme Court, when it held in its landmark 1976 decision that capital punishment was constitutional, cited deterrence as one of its main reasons. Moreover, the Court confirmed that the main factor that motivated most state legislatures to prescribe capital punishment was deterrence. Similarly, a central issue in debates on whether federal law should include capital punishment is deterrence. We can also reasonably assume that juries and trial judges, in deciding whether to impose or overturn death sentences, will incorporate common understandings about deterrence. Governors may be similarly influenced in making decisions about clemency.

In contrast to the economic studies, recent studies by sociologists and law professors have reached an opposite conclusion. The studies are often restricted to a single state or small group of states rather than economists' examination of the average for the nation as a whole. They usually find no deterrence. Death penalty opponents cite these studies.

Each group tends to ignore the other's research. In this paper, I reconcile the results and show that both conclusions can be correct.

Using the same large data set of U.S. counties from 1977 to 1996 that many other crime studies use (and that I used in one of my earlier studies), I change the focus from national averages for deterrence. Instead, I examine whether capital punishment's impacts on murder rates differ among states.

The results are striking. Consider the twenty-seven states where at least one execution occurred during the sample period. Executions deter murder in only six states. Capital punishment, however, actually increases murder in thirteen states, more than twice as many as experience deterrence. In eight states, capital punishment has no effect on the murder rate. That is, executions have a deterrent effect in only twenty-two percent of states. In contrast, executions induce additional murders in forty-eight percent of states. In seventy- eight percent of states, executions do not deter murder.

Publication Title

Michigan Law Review

Recommended Citation

Joanna M. Shepherd, Deterrence versus Brutalization: Capital Punishment's Differing Impacts among States , 104 Mich. L. Rev. 203 (2005).

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