A Basic Citation Guide for Citing Federal & State Statutes(APA/Bluebook)
The main parts of a reference list entry for statutes include: the name of the statute, the code abbreviation, the title number, section symbol & number, and the publication year of the code.
Name of the statute: the popular or official name of a piece of legislation (e.g. The Affordable Care Act)
Code abbreviation: a code is a compilation of statutes that can be found in print or online. In other words, a code is a primary source where statutes are located (e.g. the Nebraska Revised Statutes [abbreviated as Neb. Rev. Stat.] or the United States Code [abbreviated as U.S.C.]).
Title number: Some codes, like the United States Code, are organized using titles. Titles are portions of text in a code.
Section symbol & number: The symbol, §, is a section symbol. A section is also a specific portion of text in a code. To insert the section symbol in Microsoft-Word go to Insert, Advanced Symbol, Special Characters, and select.
Publication year of the code: The publication year is the year the edition of the code used as a source was updated/published, NOT the year it was enacted.
Definitions and symbols to know: et. seq. refers to the entire act, § refers to section(s)
Reference Page Formatting Examples
State Statutes and Administrative Codes/Rules/Regulations
Nebraska Revised Statute, section 38-2201 Nurse Practice Act, 2012
Example: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 38-2201 et seq., Nurse Practice Act (2012)
Nebraska Revised Statute, section 38-2201, practice of nursing defined, 2012
Example: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 38-2210, practice of nursing defined (2012).
172 Nebraska Administrative Code Regulation, Title 172, Chapter 10, Section 003, initial credential (2019)
Example: 172 Neb. Admin. Code R. §172-10-003, initial credential (2019)
Iowa Code, Chapter 52, section 1.6, definitions, practice of the profession of registered nurse, (2011)
Example: Iowa Code § 152.1.6, definitions, practice of the profession of the registered nurse
(2011).
Iowa Administrative Code Regulation 655, Section 5.6, Grounds for discipline (2012)
Example: Iowa Admin. Code r. 655-4.6, Grounds for discipline (2012)
Listing a legal resource with multiple sections:
Consective sections example
Uniform Credentialing Act. Neb. Rev. Stat §§ 38-2210-2302 (2016)
Non-consectutive sections example
Uniform Credentialing Act, Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 38-2210, 2323 (2016)
State Constitution
State Constitution Article 1, Section 12, Double Jeopardy Clause
Example: S.C. Const. art. 1 §12, Double Jeopardy Clause
Federal Statutes
United States Constitution 8, section 629, Federal Judicial Center Foundation (1998)
8 U.S.C. § 629, Federal Judicial Center Foundation (1998)
Federal Constitution
United States Constitutional Article IV, Section 1, Full Faith and Credit Clause
U.S Const. art. IV, § 1, Full Faith and Credit Clause
Case Law
Smith v. Jones, 452 N.W. 2d 255 (Minn. 1998)
In-Text Citation Examples
State Statutes/Administrative Rules
Citing at end of sentence example for entire practice act or a whole section with the Act:
(Neb. Rev. stat. § 38-2201 et seq., 2012).
Citing at end of sentence example for one specific statute:
(Neb. Rev. Stat. § 38-2201, 2012)
(Iowa Admin. Code r. 655-4.6, 2012)
Citing within a sentence example:
The scene of the accident in Washington is defined by state statutes (Wash. Rev. Code § 4.24.310, 1998) to include an emergency an accident or other sudden or unexpected even or combination of circumstances which calls for immediate action.
Multiple legal citations in-text example:
Currently there are a number of states that specifically exclude in-hospital emergencies under state Good Samaritan laws (Fla. Stat. Ann. § 768.13, 1997; Idaho Code § 34-30-12-1, 1998; Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 411.148, 1992).
**Note that the cited references are listed alphabetically**
Case Law In-text citation example:
The court dismissed the action against the defendant due to lack of credible evidence (St. Barnabas Hospital v. Black, 1990).
In St. Barnabas Hospital v. Black (1990) the court dismissed the action against the defendant due to lack of credible evidence.
**Note that if you cite more than one Case Law, list them alphabetically**
U.S. Constitution or Amendments in-text citation format examples:
U.S. Const. art. 1 § 9, cl. 2
U.S Const. Amend. IV § 2
**Note that there is no date required in the format for the U.S. Constitution or Amendnents**
Federal Statutes in-text citation format examples:
One section: 28 U.S.C § 629 (1998)
Multiple sections: 22 U.S.C. §§ 604-608 (1998)
Federal Codes/Regulations in-text citation format example:
20 C.F.R. § 636.7 (2006)
Formatting Guidelines for citing Statutes & Administrative Rules/Regulations State Table
The table below contains the terms that each state uses for their statutes and administrative rules or regulations. It also provides the formatting for citing those statutes and administrative rules/regulations.
Statutes and Administrative Code/Regulation Citation Formats
When you have a statute or administrative rule/code that you need to cite, use the format listed below. This table lists how states have titled their statutes and administrative codes or rules. Closely follow the formatting outline in the chart and plug in the numbers or sometimes “subject”. This is only one of several ways to correctly cite statutes and administrative codes. So, if you see different formats, don’t let that confuse you. Use the formats in the table for the purposes of this class. Remember the date at end of the citations should be the year when the statutes or codes were most recently published – not when they were first enacted. Generally, states republish all of their laws every 2-3 years.
Abbreviations used in citations: (§ = section) (§§ = more than one section) (X = numbers)
(R or r = rule) (tit. = title) (no = number) (ch. = chapter) (name = name of section)
***Citations are in bold for better viewing of the format – However, do not bold when citing
States Statutes
(State Title and Format) Administrative Codes/Rules & Regulations
(State Title and Format
Alabama Code of Alabama Alabama Administrative Code
Cite as: Ala.Code § x-x-x, name(year) Ala.Admin. Code r. x-X-x.x, name(year)
Alaska Alaska Statutes Alaska Administrative Code
Cite as: Alaska Stat. § x.x.x, name(year) Alaska Admin. Code tit. x, § x.x, name(year)
Arizona Arizona Revised Statutes Annotated Arizona Administrative Code
Cite as: Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § x-x, name(year) Ariz. Admin. Code § x-x-x, name(year)
Arkansas Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated Code or Arkansas Rules
Cite as: Ark. Code Ann. § x-x-x, name (year) 067.00-1 Ark. Code R. § x, name (year)
California Business of Professions Code of California California Code of Regulations
Cite as: Cal. Nursing Code § x, name (year) Cal. Code Regs. tit. X, § x, name (year)
Colorado Colorado Revised Statutes Code of Colorado Regulations
Cite as: Colo. Rev. Stat. § x-x-x, name (year) 3 Colo. Code Regs. 716-1, chap. X, § x.x., name (year)
Connecticut General Statutes of Connecticut Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies
Cite as: Conn. Gen. Stat § x-x, name (year) Conn. Admin. Regs. § x-x-x, name (year)
Delaware Delaware Code Annotated Code of Delaware Regulations
Cite as: Del. Code Ann. tit. 24, § x, name (year) 24-1900 Del. Admin. Code § x, name (year)
District of Columbia District of Columbia Official Code Municipal Regulations
Cite as: D.C. Code § x-x, name (year) D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. x § x, name (year)
Florida Florida Statutes Administrative Compilations
Cite as: Fla. Stat. § x.x, name (year) Fla. Admin. Code Ann. r. x-x-x, name (year)
Georgia Official Code of Georgia Official Compilation Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia
Cite as: Ga. Code Ann. § x-x-x, name (year) Ga. Com. R. & regs. X-x-x, name (year)
Hawaii Hawaii Revised Statutes Weii’s Code of Hawaii Rules
Cite as: Haw. Rev. Stat. § x-x, name (year) Haw. Admin. R. § x-x-x, name (year)
Idaho Idaho Code Annotated Idaho Administrative Code
Cite as: Idaho Code Ann. § x-x, name (year) Idaho Admin. Code r. x.x.x.x, name(year)
Illinois Illinois Complied Statutes Illinois Administrative Code
Cite as: 225 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. x/xx, name(year) Ill. Admin. Code tit. x, § x, name(year)
Indiana Indiana Code Indiana Administrative Code
Cite as: Ind. Code § x-x-x-x, name(year) 848 Ind, Admin. Code x-x-x, name(year)
Iowa Code of Iowa Iowa Administrative Code
Cite as: Iowa Code § x.x, name(year) Iowa Admin. Code r. x-x-x, nane(year)
Kansas Kansas Statutes Annotated Kansas Administrative Regulations
Cite as: Kan. Stat. Ann § x-x, name(year) Kan. Admin. Regs. § x-x-x, name(year)
Kentucky Kentucky Revised Statutes Kentucky Administrative Regulation Service
Cite as: Ky. Rev. Stat. § x.x, name(year) 201 Ky. Admin. Regs. x:x, name(year)
Louisiana Louisiana Revised Statutes Annotated Louisiana Administrative Code
Cite as: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § x, name(year) La. Admin. Code tit. x, § x, name(year)
Maine Maine Revised Statutes Annotated Code of Main Rules
Cite as: Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. x, § x, name(year) 02-380 Me. Code R. ch. x, § x, name(year)
Maryland Annotated Code of Maryland Code of Maryland Regulations
Cite as: Md. Code Ann., [Health Occupations] § x-x, name(year) Md. Code Regs. x.x.x, name(year)
Massachusetts General Law of Massachusetts Code of Massachusetts Regulations
Cite as: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. x, §x, name(year) 244 Mass. Code Regs. § x.x, name(year)
Michigan Michigan Public Act 368 of 1978 Michigan Administrative Code
Cite as: Mich. Comp. Laws 368-1978-Article-Part § x.x (year) Mich. Admin. Code r. x.x, name(year)
Minnesota Minnesota Statutes Minnesota Administrative Rules
Cite as: Minn.Stat. § x.x, name(year) Minn. Admin. R. x.x, name (year)
Mississippi Mississippi Code 1972 Annotated Mississippi Administrative Code
Cite as: Miss. Code Ann. § x-x-x, name(year) 30-Part-Chapter Miss. Admin. Code R. § x.x, name(year)
Missouri Missouri Revised Statutes Missouri Code of State Regulations Annotated
Cite as: Mo. Rev. Stat. § x.x, name(year) Mo. Code Regs. Ann. tit. 20, § x-x-x name(year)
Montana Montana Code Annotated Administrative Rules of Montana
Cite as: Mont. Code Ann. § x-x-x, name(year) Mont. Admin. R. x.x.x, name(year)
Nebraska Revised Statutes of Nebraska Nebraska Administrative Code
Cite as: Neb. Rev. Stat. § x-x, name(year) 172 Neb. Admin. Code R. § x-x, name (year)
Nevada Nevada Revised Statutes Nevada Administrative Code
Cite as: Nev. Rev. Stat. § x-x, name (year) Nev. Admin, Code § x.x, name (year)
New Hampshire New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated New Hampshire Code Administrative Rules Annotatted
Cite as: N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § xx, name (year) N.H. Admin. Code § x.x.x.x (year)
New Jersey New Jersey Statutes Annotated New Jersey Administrative Code
Cite as: N.J. Stat. Ann. § x:x-x, name(year) N.J. Admin. Code § x:x-x.x, name (year)
New Mexico New Mexica Statutes (1998) Code of New Mexico Rules
Cite as: N.M. Stat. § x-x-x, name (year) N.M. Admin. Code R. x.x.x.x (year)
New York Consolidated Laws of New York Annotated Official Compilation of Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York
Cite As: N.Y. Education Law, art. 139, § x, name (year) N.Y. Comp, Codes R. & Regs. tit. 8, ch. x § x, name (year)
North Carolina General Statutes of North Carolina North Carolina Administrative Code
Cite as: N.C. Gen. Stat. § x-x.x, name year) 21 N.C. Admin. Code x.x, name (year)
North Dakota North Dakota Century Code North Dakota Administrative Code
Cite as: N.D. Cent. Code § x-x-x, name (year) N.D. Admin. Code § x-x-x-x, name (year)
Ohio Ohio Revised Code Ohio Administrative Code
Cite as: Ohio Rev. Code, §, x.x, name(year) Ohio Admin. Code x-x-x, name (year)
Oklahoma Oklahoma Statutes Oklahoma Administrative Code
Cite as: Okla. Stat. tit. 59, §, name (year) Okla. Admin. Code x-x-x, name (year)
Oregon Oregon Revised Statutes Oregon Administrative Rules
Cite as: Or. Rev. Stat. § x.x, name (year) Or. Admin. R. x-x-x, name (year)
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Pennsylvania Code
Cite as: 63 Pa. Cons. Stat. § x, name (year) 49 Pa. Code § x.x, name (year)
Rhode Island General Laws of Rhode Island Code of Rhode Island Rules
Cite as: R.I. Gen. Laws § x-x-x, name (year) R5-34 R.I. Code R. § x, name (year)
South Carolina Code of Laws of South Carolina Code of Laws of South Carolina 1976 Annotated: Code of Regulations
Cite as: S. C. Code Ann. § x-x-x, name (year) S.C. Code Ann. Regs. x-x, name (year)
South Dakota South Dakota Codified Laws Administrative Rules of South Dakota
Cite as: S.D. Codified Laws § x-x-x, name (year) S.D. Admin R. x:x:x:x, name (year)
Tennessee Tennessee Code Annotated Official Compilation Rules & Regulations: State of Tennessee
Cite as: Tenn. Code Ann. § x-x-x, name (year) Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. x-x-x, name (year)
Texas Texas Statutes and Codes Annotated Texas Administrative Code
Cites as: Tex. [Occupation] Code Ann. § x.x, name (year) 22 Tex. Admin Code § x.x, name (year)
Utah Utah Code Annotated Utah Administrative Code
Cite as: Utah Code Ann. § x-x-x, name (year) Utah Admin. Code 4. x-x-x, name (year)
Vermont Vermont Statutes Annotated Code of Vermont Rules
Cite as: Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. x, § x, name (year) 04-030-170 Vt. Code R. § x, name (year)
Virginia Code of Virginia 1950 Annotated Virginia Administrative Code
Cite as: Va. Code Ann. § x-x-, name (year) 18 Va. Admin. Code § x-x-x, name (year)
Washington Revised Code of Washington Washington Administrative Code
Cite as: Wash. Rev, Code § x.x.x, name (year) Wash. Admin, Code x-x-x, name (year)
West Virginia West Virginia Code West Virginia Code of State Rules
Cite as: W. Va. Code § x-x-x, name (year) W. Va. Code R. § x-x-x, name (year)
Wisconsin Wisconsin Statutes Wisconsin Administrative Code
Cite as: Wis. Stat. § x.x, name (year) Wis. Admin. Code [N] § x.x, name (year)
Wyoming Wyoming Statutes Annotated Code of Wyoming Rules
Cite as: Wyo. Stat. Ann. § x-x-x, name (year) Wyo. Code R. § x, name (year)
