How do I cite legal documents?

How do I cite United States Code? How do I create a source list entry for United States Code? How do I cite US Code? How do I cite U.S.C.? How do I cite the US Constitution? How do I cite a legal case?


Answer

You will want to use Strayer Writing Standards guidelines when citing all sources, including government sources like laws, codes, and the US Constitution.

For the United States Code (U.S.C.), the author will always be the U.S. Congress because Congress passes the laws that comprise the U.S.C. For the publication date and the title, use the most recent version. You can use either the full publication title or the shortened title and you do not need page numbers for U.S.C.

The URL to the specific section of code on the governmental website that houses the code (such as https://uscode.house.gov/ or https://www.govinfo.gov/) will work for how to find the information.

Examples

  • United States Congress. 2021. 17 U.S.C. 108 - Limitations on exclusive rights: Reproduction by libraries and archives. https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/USCODE-2021-title17/USCODE-2021-title17-chap1-sec108
  • United States Supreme Court. 2022. West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency, 597 U.S. ___ (2022). https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/597/20-1530/

Media

  • Last Updated Jul 27, 2023
  • Views 521
  • Answered By Amber Eakin

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