how to cite congressional research service bluebook

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Bluebook Legal Citation

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Legislative Materials

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Bluebook Rule (21st): 13

Citation of legislative material is covered by rule 13. The Bluebook states that when citing United States legislative material (except debates), you should include the title, if relevant, the abbreviated name of the chamber, the number of the Congress, the number assigned to the material, and the year of publication. State materials are typically cited the same way.

Bills and Resolutions Bluebook Rule (21st): 13.2

Rule 13.2 holds that you should include in your citation the name of the bill, if relevant, the abbreviated name of the house, the number of the bill, the number of the Congress, the section, and the publication year. If there are multiple versions of the same bill, you can indicate such in a parenthetical.

Enacted bills are considered "statutes" for Bluebook purposes, and should be cited as such (except when documenting legislative history).

Example : Orphan Works Act of 2008, H.R. 5889, 110th Cong. § 2 (2008).

Hearings Bluebook Rule (21st): 13.3

To cite committee hearings, you should include the entire title as it appears on the cover, the bill number, the subcommittee name, the committee name, the number of the Congress, the page number of the material cited, and the year of publication. State and federal materials follow the same form. Subcommittee and committee names may be abbreviated according to tables T6 , T9 , and T10 .

Example : Promoting the Use of Orphan Works: Balancing the Interests of Copyright Owners and Users: Hearing Before the Subcomm. on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property, 110 Cong. 52 (2008) (Statement of Corinne P. Kevorkian). 

Reports, documents, and committee prints Bluebook Rule (21st): 13.4

Citations to reports should include the name of the house, the number of the Congress with the number of the report, the part or page number, and the year of publication.

Legislative reports, like reports from the Congressional Research Service, are cited as reports with institutional authors according to rule 15.1(c) .

Example : H.R. Rep No. 105-452, at 5 (1998).

State materials generally follow the same rules. However, if it is not clear, provide the name of the state parenthetically.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do i cite a congressional research service report.

A Congressional Research Service report with an individual author:

Woolf, Amy F. (2021, December 14).  U.S. strategic nuclear forces: Background, development, and issues. (CRS Report No. RL33640).  https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/RL/RL33640 . 

A Congressional Research Services report without an individual author:

Congressional Research Services. (Date). Title.  (CRS Report No. RLxxxxx). https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdfRLxxxxx.

• Government Documents
• Congressional Research Service report citation
• Last Updated Dec 13, 2022
• Answered By Marsha Stacey

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U.S. Federal Government: Citing Government Publications

• Legislative
• Citing Government Publications

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Citing government information can be a daunting task. Citation managers do not always know how to handle government documents and there isn't really an agreed-upon standard for citing all types of government publications. Always check the style manual for your particular citation style and use this guide for general advice.

The following information was taken from The Complete Guide to Citing Government Information Resources (ed. 3) Revised by Debora Cheney, 2002 . The examples were taken from various resources found at the Government Information Library at the University of Colorado-Boulder.

If your project or assignment requires citations in MLA style , please see the following document:

• Citing Samples for Government Information Sources: MLA This guide to citing Government Publications is provided by the University of Nevada, Reno and provides guidance on citing Government Information resources in MLA

Citing Government Publications by Type

• Legislation (Bills)
• Congressional Research Service Reports
• Laws & Regulations
• Books & Reports

General Format Should Include:

• Legislative body
• Session number
• Bill number
• Title (may be abbreviated)
• Version with date (if known)
• Accession source and date of accession

U.S. Congress

State Congress

• Legislative body, committee
• Title of Hearing
• Date of hearing/testimony
• Unique identifying numbers
• Publishing information (if print)
• Source information and date accessed

House of Representatives Hearing

• Congressional Research Service
• (Publication/Report Number)
• Prepared by Personal Author
• Publishing information
• Abbreviation (P.L. for public law, Pvt. L for private law)
• Popular title or abbreviated title

P.L. 113-5 -- Pandemic and All- Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act of 2013

• Section heading
• Title number
• U.S. Code or Code of Federal Regulations
• Section number (within title number)
• Edition/date of the last update, if known
• Publishing information, if print
• Source of information and date accessed

“Time for election of senators,” Title 2 U.S. Code , Pt. 1. 1934 ed. Available at: FDsys, http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collectionUScode; Accessed: 7/22/2013

Code of Federal Regulations

“Equal Access to Justice Act,” Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations , Sec. 16. Revised as of 7/1/2007. Available at: FDsys; http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collectionCfr.action?collectionCode=CFR; Accessed: 7/16/2013.

For Government Publications, the citation generally begins with the issuing agency rather than the author. One exception is if the work is part of a larger piece.

General Format

Geographic or Political Designation. Issuing Agency. Title: Subtitle (Medium). (Publication/Report Number). Edition. By Personal Author. (Series).(Notes).

Work by the Issuing Agency

U.S. Department of the Interior. Craters of the Moon: a guide to Craters of the Moon National Monument , Idaho. (Handbook).Washington: National Park Service, Division of Publications, 1991 (139).

One Personal Author

U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. On the Moon with Apollo 16, guidebook to Descartes region [with bibliographies] . By Gene Simmons. Washington, Apr. 1972. (NASA EP Series  No. 95).

More than Three Authors

U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Project Fog Drops 5, Task 1, Numerical model of advection fog, Task 2, Recommendation for simplified individual zero-gravity cloud physics experiments (Paper). By C. William Rogers et. al. Washington D.C., Dec. 1975. (NASA contractor report series No. 2633).

Chapter in a Larger Work

“Eastern Europe Region: Memorandum from Director of Central Intelligence to Helms to President Johnson,” pp. 65-66. In Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964-1968 . (Vol. XVII). Washington: Government Printing Office, 1996.

Website as the Source of Information

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. Advances in HIV/AIDS Research . Feb. 25, 2011. Available at: http://www.nih.gov/science/hiv/index.htm . Accessed: 6/20/2013.

For citing local, state, and federal court decisions, consult the Blue Book: A Uniform System of Citation . The following websites will take you to citation guides for the Blue Book.

• Georgetown Library Bluebook Guide The purpose of this guide is to introduce The Bluebook and basic concepts of legal citation to new law students.
• Introduction to Basic Legal Citation: Cornell The content of this guide is available in three different eBook versions, and the website also provides video tutorials
• Suffolk University Boston: Bluebook Guide for Students This guide provides commentary, models and tips on the Bluebook (19th Edition) for law students.
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Turabian Citation Style Guide: Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports

• Bills or Resolutions (Federal unenacted)
• Book Chapters (in edited books)
• Books (electronic)
• Books (print)
• Congressional Hearings

Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports

• Court Cases – U.S. Supreme Court
• Executive Orders
• Government Agency Reports and Technical Reports
• Journal Articles (in electronic databases)
• Journal Articles (print)
• Personal Communications and Interviews
• Public Laws: U.S. Statutes at Large/U.S. Code
• Secondary Sources
• Websites and Web Documents
• Turabin Citation Quick Guide
• Color Coded Citation Examples
• Citing Government Documents

N:  1 U.S. Library of Congress, CRS, Intelligence Issues for Congress , by Richard A. Best Jr., CRS Report RL33539 (Washington, DC: Office of Congressional Information and Publishing, June 1, 2010).      B:  U.S. Library of Congress.  Congressional Research Service.   Intelligence Issues for Congress , by Richard A. Best Jr. CRS Report RL33539. Washington, DC: Office of Congressional Information and Publishing, June 1, 2010.

P:  (U.S. Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service 2010, 10) R:  U.S. Library of Congress.  Congressional Research Service.  2010. Intelligence Issues for Congress , by Richard A. Best Jr. CRS Report RL33539. Washington, DC: Office of Congressional Information and Publishing, June 1, 2010.

*Cross –referencing between author and department may be appropriate in the bibliography. B:  Best, Richard A., Jr. See U.S. Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.

B: = Biblography

P: =  In-text citations which are enclosed in parentheses.

R: = Reference List

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Bluebook Guide: Legislative Materials

• Introduction
• Sentences & Clauses
• Signals & Parentheticals
• Typeface for Law Reviews
• Typeface for Court Documents
• Abbreviations
• Other Mechanics
• Basic Case Citation
• Federal Cases
• State Cases
• Illinois Cases
• Unpublished Opinions
• Parallel Citations
• Short Form Citation
• Id., Supra & “Hereinafter”
• Random Examples
• Citing Slavery
• Constitutions
• Legislative Materials
• Administrative & Executive Materials
• General Whitepage Rules
• Whitepages Special Citations
• More Whitepage Specifics
• Bluepage Directions
• Periodicals
• Electronic & Nonprint
• Foreign Materials
• International Materials
• UIC Law Review

In some instances, extensive research into legislative materials may be necessary for completing a law review article or court document.

A full citation to legislative materials will include the following components (but not necessarily) in the following order:  (1) the title of the material;  (2) the abbreviated name of the legislative body;  (3) the number assigned to the material;  (4) the number of the Congress and/or legislative session; and  (5) the year of publication.

The Bluepages provide a short overview with examples for citation of legislative materials.  See B13, pp. 21-22.  As noted previously in this guide, a Whitepage Rule may be used to supplement a corresponding Bluepage Rule.  The Whitepages provide a more comprehensive approach to citation legislative materials.  See R13, pp. 135-42. 

Of course, Illinois practitioners must be wary of citation practices under local rules.

For more information on legislative research, consult the Law Library's research guides on Federal Legislative History Research and Illinois Legislative History Research .

Federal Bills and Resolutions

Enacted bills and joint resolutions are statutes, so they are cited as statutes except when used to document legislative history, in which case they are cited as unenacted bills.  Unenacted and enacted federal bills and resolutions will generally contain the same elements with the exception that unless otherwise clear in context, the fact of enactment should be noted parenthetically.  See R.13.2(a) & (b), pp. 136-37.

The Bluebook provides the following examples:

• S. 516, 105th Cong. § 2 (1997).
• H.R. 422, 106th Cong. (1999).
• S. 593, 101st Cong. § 2 (as passed by Senate, May 31, 1989).
• S. Res. 141, 106th Cong. (1999) (enacted).
• S. Con. Res. 97, 94th Cong., 90 Stat. 3024 (1976).

State Bills and Resolutions

When citing state bills and resolutions, include the name of the legislative body, abbreviated according to T6, T9, and T10, the number of the bill or resolution, the number of the legislative body (or, if not numbered, the year of the body), and the number or designation of the legislative session.  The parenthetical information will include the name of the state, abbreviated according to T10, and the year of enactment (for an enacted bill or resolution) or the year of publication (for an unenacted bill or resolution).  R13.2(c), p. 137.

• H.D. 636, 1999 Leg., 413th Sess. (Md. 1999).
• H.R. 189, 145th Gen. Assemb ., Reg. Sess. (Ga. 1999).

Federal Committee Hearings

Citations for hearing, in general, will be lengthy.  When citing committee hearings (both federal and state), the entire subject matter title (in italics) should be included, along with the bill number (if available), the subcommittee's name (if any), the committee's name, the number of the relevant legislative branch, the page number of the material cited, and the year of the publication.  The names for the subcommittee and committee should be abbreviated according to T6, T9, and T10.  A parenthetical may be included for a given individual's statement.  See R13.3(a), pp. 137-38.

• Protection from Personal Intrusion Act and Privacy Protection Act of 1998:  Hearing on H.R. 2448 and H.R. 3224 Before the H. Comm. on the Judiciary , 105th Cong. 56–57 (1998) (statement of Richard Masur, President, Screen Actors Guild).
• Copyright Protection for Semiconductor Chips: Hearing on H.R. 1028 Before the Subcomm . on Cts ., C.L. & the Admin. of Just. of the H. Comm. on the Judiciary , 98th Cong. 14 (1983) (statement of Jon A. Baumgarten, Copyright Counsel, Association of American Publishers).
• Tribal Energy Self-Sufficiency Act and the Native American Energy Development and Self-Determination Act: Hearing on S. 424 and S. 522 Before the S. Comm. on Indian Affs . , 108th Cong. 1 (2003) (statement of Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Chairman, S. Comm. on Indian Aff .).

State Committee Hearings

The citation for state committee hearings will follow the same format as set forth above.  R13.3(b), p. 138.   The Bluebook provides the following citation example for a state committee hearing.

Tax Credit for Cost of Providing Commuter Benefits to Employees: Hearing on H.D. 636 Before the H. Comm. on Ways & Means , 1999 Leg., 413th Sess. 5–8 (Md. 1999) (statement of Del. Paul Carlson, Member, H. Comm. on Ways & Means).

Numbered Federal Reports and Documents

The Bluebook provides noteworthy specifics for citation of federal and state reports, documents, and committee prints.   Federal reports and documents may be numbered or unnumbered, and The Bluebook addresses both instances.  See R13.4(a) & (b), pp. 138-39.

When citing a numbered federal report, include the name of the house, the number of the Congress connected by a hyphen to the number of the report, the part and/or page number on which the material being cited appears, and the year of publication.  It must be noted that large and small caps for the house, abbreviation of report, and abbreviation of number must be used.  Parenthetical information may be included to note if the pertinent report is a conference report.

The Bluebook provides the following examples for clarification:

• H.R. Rep. No. 99-253, pt. 1, at 54 (1985).
• S. Rep. No. 84-2, at 7 (1955).
• H.R. Rep. No. 98-1037, at 3 (1984) (Conf. Rep.).
• S. Rep. No. 95-601, at 5 (1977) (Conf. Rep.).

With respect to federal documents and international agreements, The Bluebook sets forth the following formulations.

• House Document   >   H.R. Doc. No.
• Senate Document   >   S. Doc. No.
• House Miscellaneous Document   >   H.R. Misc. Doc. No.
• Senate Executive Document   >   S. Exec. Doc. No.
• Senate Treaty Doc.   >   S. Treaty Doc. No.

For reports and documents published after 1974, provide a parallel citation to the permanent edition of United States Code Congressional and Administrative News (U.S.C.C.A.N.).  See also R12.6, pp. 127-128.   The Bluebook provides an example of a parallel citation in this circumstance:

S. Rep. No. 95-797, at 4 (1978), as reprinted in 1978 U.S.C.C.A.N. 9260, 9263.

When available, the title and author (whether as an individual or institution) of numbered reports or documents may be indicated in large and small caps.   The Bluebook provides the following examples for this scenario:

• Carlton Koepge , The Road to Industrial Peace , H.R. Doc. No. 82-563, at 29–30 (1953).
• U.S. Immigr . Comm'n, Immigration Legislation, S. Doc. No. 61-758, at 613 (3d Sess. 1911).

Unnumbered Federal Reports and Documents (R13.4(c), p. 139)

Turning to unnumbered federal documents and committee prints, The Bluebook directs that citation to these materials must be to that of an institutional author.  Also note that the number of Congress will be part of the author's name.  Further, in the case, where the document or committee print is the work of a specific person or group, that may be noted parenthetically.   The Bluebook provides the following example of a citation for an unnumbered committee print.  See R13.4(c), p. 139.

Staff of S. Comm. on the Judiciary, 81st Cong., Rep. on Antitrust Law 17 (Comm. Print 1950).

Federal Legislative Agency Reports and Federal Legislative Journals

Federal legislative agency reports, i.e., Congressional Research Service (CRS) or Government Accountability Office (GAO), must be cited as a work of an institutional author.  The report number (as given by the pertinent agency) will be included as part of the title with all of this information being presented in large and small caps.  See R13.4(d) & (e), p. 139.   The Bluebook provides examples of citations for federal legislative agency reports.

• Louis Fisher, Cong. Rsch . Serv., RL31340, Military Tribunals: The Quirin Precedent 30 (2002).
• U.S. Gov't Accountability Off., GAO-08-751, Food and Drug Administration: Approval and Oversight of the Drug Mifeprex 27 (2008).

Finally, with respect to federal materials in this subcategory, The Bluebook provides the following citation model for federal legislative journals.  Note that only the title will be presented in large and small caps in this case.

S. Journal, 24th Cong., 2d Sess. 123–24 (1836).

State Materials

Citations to state materials generally follow the same citation of their federal analogs.  As such, the citation will include the name of the legislative body (abbreviated in accordance with T6, T9, and T10), the number of the legislative body connected by a hyphen to the number of the report or document, the number of the legislative session, the part or page number on which the material being cited appears, and the year of publication (in the parenthetical).  A state abbreviation (in accordance with T10) will also be necessary for the parenthetical unless it is clear from the title or author information appearing in the citation.  See R13.4(f), p. 139.

The Bluebook provides a general example of a citation for a state legislative document:

S. 178-247, 1st Sess., at 4 (Pa. 1994).

The Bluebook also indicates that the author (whether as an individual or an institution) and title of numbered reports or documents may be indicated.  Note that the author and title will be presented in large and small caps.

The Bluebook provides the following pertinent example for this sort of citation:

Commonwealth of Pa. Dep't of Agric., Annual Report of the State Food Purchase Program , S. 178-247, 1st Sess., at 4 (1994).

Debates, Legislative Histories & Electronic Sources

The Bluebook covers citations and provides relevant examples for congressional debates (R13.5, p. 140), separately bound legislative histories (R13.6, p. 140), and electronic media and online sources (R13.7, pp. 140-41) in the rules noted above. 

Short Forms for Legislative Materials

As always, proper short citation forms are essential for academic legal writing.  See R13.8, p. 141-42.  The Bluebook gives directions on how to cite legislative materials in the text or footnotes of a law review article.  See R13.8(a), (b) & (c), p. 141.  The following table from The Bluebook contains examples of a full citation, a "text" form, and a "short"  citation form.  The use of large and small caps in some of the examples should be noted.

Basic Citation Forms for Legislative Materials

The Bluebook , at 135-36 provides this table as an example of basic citation forms for legislative materials for academic legal writing.  

The committee hearing and committee print examples might be good candidates for the use of  “hereinafter.”  

The Bluepages generally follow the same format with the exception of large and small caps are not used.  Examples for the Bluepages are provided at B13, pp. 21-22.  

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Sample Bluebook Citations

• Citing Federal Legislative History Sources
• Introduction to Sample Bluebook Citations
• Citing Secondary Sources
• Citing Case Law
• Citing Codes & Statutes
• Citing Session Laws

Citing to Committee Reports

• Citing Administrative Law Sources
• Go to Basic Legal Research Guide

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Citation to Entire Committee Report:  R. 13.4(a) (p. 138).

Cite to the report type, report number, year.

• S. Rep. No. 95-797, at 1 (1978).
• H.R. Rep. No. 105-796, at 14 (1998) (Conf. Rep.).
• H.R. Rep. No. 102-40 (1991).

Citation to Entire Committee Report (reprinted by a private publisher) : R. 13.4(a) (p. 138).

Cite to the report type, report number, year, use the phrase ‘ reprinted in ’, year on volume, set name abbreviated properly, and beginning page number of the report.

• S. Rep. No. 95-797 (1978), reprinted in 1978 U.S.C.C.A.N. 9260.
• H.R. Rep. No. 102-40 (1991), reprinted in 1991 U.S.C.C.A.N. 549.
• H.R. Rep. No. 105-796 (1998) (Conf. Rep.), reprinted in 1998 U.S.C.C.A.N. 639.

Pinpoint Citation to Committee Report (reprinted by a private publisher):

Same as above, but add pinpoint page references for the original document and the "reprinted in U.S.C.C.A.N."

• S. Rep. No. 95-797, at 4 (1978), reprinted in 1978 U.S.C.C.A.N. 9260, 9263.
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Citing Your Sources Guide

Congressional record.

• Introduction to Citations
• APA In-text Citations - The Basics
• APA Reference List - The Basics
• APA Reference List - Examples
• APA Handouts
• Citing AI in APA Style
• House and Senate Reports and Documents
• Congressional Bills and Resolutions
• Federal Laws/Statutes
• 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 (decisions/opinions)
• Government Agencies
• MLA In-Text Citations - The Basics
• MLA Works Cited List - The Basics
• MLA Works Cited - Examples
• Chicago/Turabian - The Basics
• Chicago/Turabian in-text citations
• Chicago/Turabian Bibliography - Examples
• APA Art Citations
• MLA Art Citations
• Chicago Art Citations
• ArtSTOR Citations
• AMA reference list
• Citing Business Resources This link opens in a new window
• Citation Managers

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The Publication Manual of the APA does not specifically address citing the Congressional Record . For materials not covered in the  Publication Manual , the APA refers users to  The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation . The recommendations below are based on the 21st edition of  The Bluebook :

The Congressional Record is issued in two editions -- the Daily Edition and the Permanent Edition. Writers should "use the Daily Edition only for matters not yet appearing in the permanent collection." ( The Bluebook , 2020)

Citing to the Permanent Bound Edition:

In text citation:

Following the general APA and Bluebook principles for citing legislative materials, the in-text citation would look like this:

• (142 Cong. Rec. 14979, 1996)

Reference list:

Cite to the volume and page number of the permanent edition of the Congressional Record:

• 142 Cong. Rec. 14979 (1996)
• 142 Cong. Rec 14982 (1996) (statement of Sen. John McCain).

In the example, above, 142 is the volume, 14979 is the page number.

For proceedings that have not yet appeared in the Permanent Edition of the Congressional Record:

*If the text is not yet published in the permanent edition, you will need to cite to the Daily Edition. The Daily Edition includes the prefixes H, S and E.* before page numbers. (The Bluebook, 2020, p. 140).

Citing this in text is not specifically addressed in either The Bluebook or the APA Publication Manual. Following general APA and Bluebook principles for citing legislative materials:

• (159 Cong. Rec. H227, 2013)
• 159 Cong. Rec. H227 (daily ed. Jan. 23, 2013) (statement of  Rep. Yarmuth)  

These abbreviations refer to sections of the Daily Edition: H=House; S=Senate; E=Extension of Remarks

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Bluebook Legal Citation System Guide

Getting started, six steps to creating a citation, bluebook navigation, bluebook troubleshooting, beyond the bluebook, citing & bluebooking faqs, getting help, what is the bluebook.

The Bluebook is a guide to a system of legal citation frequently used by law schools and law journals. This guide will introduce you to how to use the Bluebook. 

Print copies of the Bluebook are available in the Library in Reference and on Reserve at circulation. Copies can also be purchased in print or online at https://www.legalbluebook.com/ .

References to page numbers in this guide are from the 21st edition.

Before You Start

• There are other citation formats.
• Pick the correct one for your project.
• There are gaps in the Bluebook, particularly for non-traditional and non-U.S. sources.
• Use the closest analogous rule.
• Make sure that you are citing the same source or types of sources in the same way. 
• Keep in mind that the main goal for all citation systems is to make it easy for your reader to find the source you are citing. 

Six Steps to Your Citation

To create a Bluebook citation follow this six step process:

1. Identify the Type of Source

What  type of source do you want to cite?

• The Bluebook rules are organized by source type
• Common types include cases, statutes, books and book chapters,  journal articles, web pages, etc.

2. Find the Bluebook Rule

Go to the  Bluebook rule  for that source type. 

• Check the Quick Guides on the inside cover to identify major source types
• Use the index to find rules for other types of sources not included in the Quick Guides
• If you found a traditionally printed source online, review both the rules for the print source and the rules for online sources
• The print and online rules are often used together

3. Read the Rule & Examples

• Read the rule carefully
• Study any examples provided closely
• Examples are provided inside the front cover, at the beginning of each rule, and within the text of the rules
• Note which components are required to create a citation for a specific type of source

4. Gather the Citation Components

• Gather the required components of the citation from your source

5. Draft a Citation

• Draft a citation that looks like the most relevant example
• Do your best, but don't worry if your first draft isn't perfect

6. Edit the Citation

• Edit your draft citation using the Bluebook's style rules and tables
• Note typeface and punctuation conventions for different types of sources
• Note the rules for abbreviations and use the tables to abbreviate your citation

The Six-Step Process in Action

To see an example of how this process works with an article from the NY Times website, check out the powerpoint below.

• PowerPoint Slides: Six-Step Citation Creation Process

Organization & Blue and White Pages

The Bluebook is organized into sections:

• Style Rules
• Primary Law
• Secondary Law
• Internet & Electronic Sources
• Foreign & International Materials
• Tables: Jurisdictions & Abbreviations

Use the Bluepages   when drafting citations that will appear in documents like legal memoranda and court filings. 

Use the Whitepages  when drafting citations that will appear in legal academic publications.

Quick Guides

The Quick Reference inside front and back covers of the print include rule cross references and sample citations for common citation types:

• Inside Front: Quick Reference: Citations in Law Review Footnotes
• Inside Back: Quick Reference: Citations in Court Documents & Legal Memoranda

There is also a Quick Style Guide online for common citation types used in law reviews:

• Online: Quick Style Guide for Citations in Law Review Footnotes

Finding Aids

Consult the following to find the appropriate rule or table for your citation

• Back cover compact table of contents
• Full table of contents (pp. IX-XVI)
• Index (pp. 329-365)

Solving Citation Problems

The Bluebook isn't always clear.  Try the following if you're having difficulty with a citation:

• Make sure you have the correct rule for your type of resource
• If your type of resource isn't specifically included, find the one that is most similar
• If you are citing material for a country that isn't in the Bluebook, find a country with a similar legal system to base your citation on
• Search recent articles in law reviews on Hein, Westlaw and Lexis. Has anyone else cited this material?
• Check the resources linked in Beyond the Bluebook 
• Be consistent with the citation format you pick
• Make sure to include enough information for a reader to follow in your footsteps.

Library Help

We are not Bluebook experts, but we're happy to help guide you through the Bluebooking process.

• Provide access to Library copies of the Bluebook
• Assist you as you navigate Bluebook rules
• Help you locate supplemental citation guides and self-help materials

We cannot check footnotes for you, proofread your paper or provide authoritative Bluebook interpretations. 

Bluebook Orders, Comments & Corrections

• The Harvard Law School Library is not affiliated directly with  The Bluebook or the Harvard Law Review Association
• The Bluebook is compiled by the editors of the Columbia Law Review , the Harvard Law Review, the University of Pennsylvania Law Review , and the Yale Law Journal  and is published and distributed by the Harvard Law Review Association

Please contact the editors of The Bluebook directly ( https://www.legalbluebook.com/ ) with orders, questions, comments or corrections. 

Additional Bluebook Help

• Bluebook Guide (Georgetown Law Library)
• Foreign Law by Jurisdiction: Citation (NYU Law) List of citation guides and abbreviation dictionaries for foreign and international law sources.
• Cornell LII: Introduction to Basic Legal Citation

Over It? Here Are Some Other Options...

• ALWD Guide to Legal Citation The ALWD (Association of Legal Writing Directors) Guide to Legal Citation explains legal citation formats for all types of legal documents in a clear, pedagogically sound manner. The Guide’s plain language, numerous examples, and clear, integrated structure to explaining the legal system of citation for legal materials is easy for students, professors, practitioners, and judges to understand and use.
• The Indigo Book The Indigo Book is a free, Creative Commons-dedicated implementation of The Bluebook’s Uniform System of Citation. The Indigo Book was compiled by a team of students at the New York University School of Law, working under the direction of Professor Christopher Jon Sprigman.
• OSCOLA: Oxford University Standard for Citation of Legal Authorities The Oxford University Standard for Citation of Legal Authorities is designed to facilitate accurate citation of authorities, legislation, and other legal materials. It is widely used in law schools and by journal and book publishers in the UK and beyond.

All Citation/Bluebook FAQs

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United States Government Documents: The Presidency, Congress, the Courts, & Agency Regulations: Citing Government Documents

• American State Papers
• Presidents' Public Papers
• Readex microform
• Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations
• Statutes at Large (Stat.) and United States Code (U.S.C.)
• Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS)
• Bills (H.R. __ / S.___)
• Resolutions (H.Res._ / S.Res._)
• Committee Reports (H. Rpt. __ / S. Rpt.__)
• Committee Prints
• Committee Documents (H.Doc.__ / S.Doc __)
• Congressional Record/ Proceedings, Debates
• Congressional Hearings
• Public Laws (P.L.__ Pub.L__)
• United States Code (__USC__ / __U.S.C.__)
• Congressional Research Service (CRS)
• Legislative Histories
• Supreme Court Opinions
• Presidential Executive Orders (E.O.____)
• Regulations ( Fed. Reg. / C.F.R.)
• GAO Government Accounting Office
• Declassified Documents
• Treaties (U.S.)
• How to Cite US Government Documents in APA Citation Style Cornell library guide to APA principles for citing legal documents.
• Documenting Legal Works in MLA Style.

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Bluebook Citation: Legislative Resources

• Case Location
• Court & Date
• Parallel Citations
• Short Forms
• Prior & Subsequent Case History
• Federal Statutes
• State Statutes
• Cases & Statutes Review
• Parentheticals
• When Do I Cite?
• Secondary Sources
• Legislative Resources
• Electronic and Audiovisual Sources
• Court Documents
• Scholarly Publication
• Guides to the Bluebook

Bluebook Quick Reference

B21  (p.17):  Bluepages example for Administrative Rules and Regulations

Rule 13 (p. 135):  Rule for Legislative Materials.

Rule 14 (p. 143): Rule for Administrative and Executive Materials.

T1.2 (p. 236): Table of abbreviations and guidance for citing Federal Administrative and Executive Materials.

Legislative resources can be split into two components:   legislative history and administrative resources .   Legislative history documents provide background and information about whether a bill becomes a law or not.   Administrative resources are documents published by governement agencies that make approved bills operational.

Legislative History

Whether citing to federal or state materials, citing legislative history usually follows the same rules since state materials will generally mirror federal materials in composition. In general, a bill follows a certain path to become a law (see the Library of Congress' site " How our Laws are Made " for a detailed explanation).  Rule 13 of the Bluebook indicates that you will generally include:

• Abbreviated name of the house
• The number of the congress
• The number assigned to the material
• The year of publication

However, what stage the document (bill) is in when you cite it will determine how the Bluebook says to cite.  The different stages are (and corresponding Bluebook sections):

• Bill is introduced ( unenacted bill ) --> Rule 13.2(a)
• At this stage the unenacted bill can be reprinted in USCCAN, so be sure to give a parallel citation.
• Bill goes to committee hearing --> Rule 13.3
• Bill goes to Senate for approval ( session law ) --> Rule 12.4
• Bill is then added to US Statutes at Large, so include a parallel citation.
• If the bill is approved and codified, add a parenthetical citation enumerating this --> Rule 12.4(f)

NOTE: Table 9 will provide reference to abbreviations for words used in legislative citation.

Administrative Materials

These usually consist of bills that have become rules and regulations of the federal administrative agencies, or executive materials like presidential proclamations and executive orders.  The primary sources for administrative law are the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and the Federal Register (FR) .  The CFR is composed of codified rules and regulations, and is organized very similarly to the USC.  Therefore, the citation style, found in Rule 14.2(a) , will be very close to that of the USC:

• Title number
• Section number

The Bluebook requires that you cite to the CFR when possible.  If this is not possible, cite to the FR and indicate when the rule will be codified.  Rule 14.2(b) says to cite just as you would the codified rule, but include the full date of the rule proposal to the date parenthetical:

NOTE:  Sometimes a pinpoint page number is needed if you are referring to a specific part of the rule.  Add an explanatory note to the end of the citation if the pinpoint cite does not obviously indicate your point.

Proclamations and executive orders are also considered administrative materials.   T1.2 explains the rules for citing these documents.  The citation format will be similar to that of the CFR and FR (where these will also be published).  The only difference will be that instead of a section number in the citation you will have a page number .  This is because executive orders are not assigned section numbers in the CFR and FR.

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Q. How do I cite a Congressional Research Services report in APA?

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Was this helpful? Yes 26 No 2

Answered By: Katie Hutchison Last Updated: Mar 27, 2020     Views: 36682

Author, A. A. (Year).  Title of report in sentence case and italics  (CRS Report No. xxxxxxx). Retrieved from Congressional Research Service website: URL

Example: 

Erwin, M. C. (2011).  Intelligence issues for Congress  (CRS Report No. RL33539). Retrieved from Congressional Research Service website: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/intel/RL33539.pdf

Comments (1)

• APA 7th doesn't use "retrieved from" and "website" anymore. by Peter Coogan on Sep 24, 2020

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Related topics.

• Citing Sources

Washington State Legislative History

• Legislative Intent
• Research Guides and Secondary Sources
• Free Online Sources
• Print Sources
• Commercial Online Sources

Bluebook Rules

• Initiatives & Referenda

Legislative materials are addressed in Rule 13 (beginning at page 135).

While most of this rule deals with citing sources from the U.S. Congress, look for subsections dealing with comparable state sources, including:

• bills and resolutions--Rule 13.2(c) at pp. 136-37
• hearings--Rule 13.3(b), at p. 138
• Internet sources--Rule 13.7(b), at p. 141

The rule governing debates only covers the federal Congressional Record  and its predecessors. But debates held in the Washington House or Senate may be important.Refer to Rule 18, The Internet, Electronic Media, and Other Nonprint Resources, pp. 178-89.

• Style Sheet [WA Office of Reporter of Decisions] Exceptions from the Bluebook for citing Washington sources in documents submitted to Washington courts.
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Congressional Information

• Legislative Process
• Legislation
• News Resources
• Government Information
• Think Tanks
• Congressional Research Service
• Congressional Budget Office
• Government Accountability Office
• Citing Gov Info

Citing Sources

Citation manuals, citation managers, citation guides.

The primary reasons for citing sources in a research paper are to give credit to the authors whose work you have drawn upon and to allow readers to track down your sources , should they wish to do so.

There are many style guides for formatting citations and creating bibliographies.  Turabian (a simplified version of Chicago) is frequently used, but you may be called upon to use others.

See the box at the right for tools to help you format citations and bibliographies.

• Bluebook: a Uniform System of Citation by Harvard Law Review Association Call Number: KF246 .U5 ISBN: 1062-9971 The authoritative guide for citing legal materials.
• RefWorks This link opens in a new window RefWorks is an online research management, writing, and collaboration tool designed to help researchers gather, manage, store, and share information and generate citations and bibliographies.
• Zotero Zotero is a free tool designed to help you gather, manage and share information about books, articles, web pages and other digital objects that you are using in your research, and to generate citations and bibliographies. Zotero is a Mozilla browser plugin. You can choose to gather your data on your hard drive (if you are working mainly from one computer), or on a flash drive or a network (if you frequently access your data at multiple workstations).
• Mendeley Mendeley is a free reference manager and academic social network that can help you organize your research, collaborate with others online, and discover the latest research. You can automatically generate bibliographies, collaborate with other researchers online, import papers from other research software, find relevant papers based on what you’re reading, and access your papers from anywhere online.

Many libraries and other institutions have compiled guides of best practices for citing government information in various styles. Although the "official" manuals of style remain the authoritative source, you might find the guides below have helpful examples:

• Purdue's OWL Purdue's OWL (Online Writing Lab) provides guides to MLA, APA, and Chicago styles, as well as advice on research, writing and citation.
• How to Cite US Government Documents in MLA, APA Citation Style This guide from Cornell University Library covers a variety of government documents for both MLA and APA styles.
• APA Style - Government Report PDF from Trinity College on citing government reports in APA format.
• Citing Government Information Sources Using MLA Style This style sheet from the University of Nevado Reno Library details how to cite government information using the Modern Language Association.
• Uncle Sam: Brief Guide to Citing Government Publications Citation examples for laws, agency reports, and other types of government publications. In Chicago/Turabian format. From the University of Memphis.
• Chicago Quick Guide to Government Documents A 9-page PDF on citing government publications according to the Chicago Manual of Style (15th). From Bowdoin College.
• Citing Records in the National Archives of the United States In response to frequent requests from researchers, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) offers the following guidelines for citing unpublished records it holds. The guidelines cover citations to textual records, microform records, nontextual archives (i.e., photographic records, posters, motion pictures, tape recordings, cartographic records, and architectural drawings), electronic records, and online references.
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Federal Legislative History: Bluebook Citations

• Pre-Research
• Bills (Ref. # 1)
• Committees (Ref. # 2, 4, 6)
• Hearings (Ref. # 3)
• Floor Debates (Ref. # 5)
• Presidential Signing Statements (Ref. # 7)
• Public Laws, U.S. Code (Ref. # 8, 9)
• Legislative Histories
• Statutory Interpretation
• Links to Resources
• Locating Microfiche
• Bluebook Citations
• I want to find ...

Bluebook Citation for Bills

In the 20th edition of The Bluebook, legislative materials are found in Rule 13.  A Bill is unenacted legislation. Often, you will need to include a parenthetical to indicate the date and stage of the bill especially if there are multiple versions of it in the same Congress.

Researching the legislative history of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the following information is found in the history of the statute:

Dec. 8, 2004, Pub.L. 108-447 , Div. E, Title I, § 143(b), 118 Stat. 3071.

Using Pub. L. 108-447, locate the bill number using Westlaw, Lexis Advance, or Congressional (Proquest) (UH logins only). 

It is H.R. 4818, in the 108th Congress.  It passed on Dec. 8, 2004.  We would cite this using Rule 13.2(a) as:

H.R. 4818, 108th Cong. Div. E, Title I, § 143(b) (2004).

Bluebook Citation for Hearings

Generally, follow Rule 13.3 in the 20th ed. of The Bluebook, and look for ways to use abbreviations found in the Tables. 

For example, say we want to cite to testimony from a hearing on Exotic Bird Species and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act given by David H. Pardoe, Board Member of the National Audubon Society about the need to exclude mute swans from the MBTA.  Testimony was taken Dec. 16, 2003, in the House Committee on Resources, Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans.  Pardoe's statement is on pages 34-66.  The citation would be:

Exotic Bird Species and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Hearing on H.R. 4818 Before the Subcomm. on  Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife, and Oceans of the H. Comm. on Resources , 108th Cong. 34-66 (2003) (statement of David H. Pardoe, Bd. Member, Nat'l Audubon Soc'y).

Bluebook Citations for Committee Documents

Committee reports.

Generally, follow Rule 13.4 in the 20th ed. of The Bluebook.

For example, in Bills, we tracked Pub. L. 108-447.  On Nov. 20, 2004, House Report 108-792, a Conference Committee Report for H.R. 4818, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005, was reported.  Division E, b mentions the amendment to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.  We would cite this as:

H.R. Rep. No. 108-792, Div. E, b (2004) (Conf. Rep.).

Note here that online resources often will cite this as H. Rpt. 108-792.  The abbreviation is incorrect for a Bluebook citation.  Other information is also needed.

Committee Prints

Generally, follow Rule 13.4(c).

For example, the House Committee on the Budget had its staff prepare an Appropriations Update, Vol. 4, No. 9: Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill for FY2005--H.R. 4818.  This document was written by Tiffany R. Blair.  We would cite this as:

Staff of H. Comm. on the Budget, 108th Cong., Appropriations Update, Vol. 4, No. 9: Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill for FY2005-H.R. 4818 (Comm. Print 2004 by Tiffany R. Blair).

Bluebook Citation for Public Laws, Statutes at Large

Public laws.

Public Laws are statutes.  Generally, follow Rule 12.4 of the 20th ed. of The Bluebook. Abbreviated:  Pub. L. No.

Statutes at Large

The Statutes at Large are the Session Laws of the U.S. Congress.  Session laws are uncodified laws that gather the Public Laws of a session of Congress together.  Statutes at Large is arranged chronologically. Generally, follow Rule 12.4 of the 19th ed. of The Bluebook.  Abbreviated:  Stat.

When a specific act was passed as a subdivision (such as one title or one section) of a broader statute, the session law citation of the specific act should list the subdivision of broad statute in which the specific act is found, but should treat the first page of that subdivision as the page on which the act begins. A pincite to a section of the specific act should both include the subdivision reference to the specific act as a whole and the exact section number in question. Both of the following examples are correct :  See Violence Against Women Act, Pub. L. No. 103-322, tit. IV, 108 Stat. 1902 (1994) (codified as amended in scattered sections of 8, 16, 18, 28, and 42 U.S.C.). See Violence Against Women Act, Pub. L. No. 103-322, tit. IV, § 40302, 108 Stat. 1902, 1941–42 (1994) (codified at 42 U.S.C. § 13981 (2000)), invalidated by United States v. Morrison, 529 U.S. 598 (2000).

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Bluebook Citation 101 -- Practitioner Format

Secondary sources, constitutions, statutes & legislative materials, internet citation, commercial databases, administrative law, law library useful links, get help & about the author.

The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation is generally the default legal citation manual. It is compiled by the editors of the Columbia Law Review , the Harvard Law Review , the University of Pennsylvania Law Review , and The Yale Law Journal and began in 1926 . It is now in its 21st edition. Other general legal citation manuals include ALWD , and The Redbook . Additionally, each jurisdiction and court may have its own citation rules. Ohio, for example, has its own writing manual.

Bluebook Organization

• Quick Reference:  Law Review Footnotes
• Blue Pages (these are practitioner oriented)
• General Rules (R. 1 – 9)
• Specific Source Rules (R. 10-21)
• Tables (T. 1-16)
• Quick Reference: Court Documents and Legal Memoranda

Style Guides

Citation Help (mostly practitioner format but useful for rules)

• The Indigo Book: A Manual of Legal Citation The Indigo Book is a free, Creative Commons-dedicated implementation of The Bluebook’s Uniform System of Citation. The Indigo Book was compiled by a team of students at the New York University School of Law, working under the direction of Professor Christopher Jon Sprigman. The scope is comparable to the Bluepages in The Bluebook.

Dictionaries

Rule 15.8 of  The Bluebook (21st ed. 2020) governs the citation of dictionaries. You may also find it helpful to look at B16.

The citation should include the following:

• Title of entry (italicized or underlined)
• Title of dictionary (italicized or underlined)

Example: 

Replevin, Black's Law Dictionary (10th ed. 2014).

Encyclopedias

Rule 15.8 and BT.1 of The Bluebook (21st ed. 2020) covers the citation of encyclopedias. 

• Encyclopedia abbeviation
• Article title (underlined or italicized)
• Copyright date of the volume (in the parenthetical)

88 C.J.S. Trial § 192 (1955).

17 Am. Jur. 2d Contracts § 74 (1964).

14 Ohio Jur. 3d Civil Rights § 82 (2006).

American Law Reports

Rule 16.7.6 of The Bluebook (21st ed. 2020) covers how to cite ALRs. 

The citation should contain:

• the word "Annotation"
• Title (italicized or underlined)
• Page number
• Copyright date of volume

William B. Johnson, Annotation, Use of Plea Bargain or Grant of Immunity as Improper Vouching for Credibility of Witness in Federal Cases , 76 A.L.R. Fed. 409 (1986 & Supp. 2017).

Restatements

Rule 12.9 of The Bluebook (21st ed. 2020) covers the citation of restatements.

• Restatement series (italicized or underlined)
• Copyright date of the volume

Restatement (Third) of Torts § 46 (2012).

Rule 23 of the ALWD Citation Manual (7th ed.) covers the citation of restatements.

• Copyright date

Legal Periodicals

Rule 16 of  The Bluebook (21st ed. 2020) covers the citation of law reviews.

Consecutively paginated law reviews and journals (R. 16.4)

• Author's name
• If the article is written by a student author, the designation of the piece (see R. 16.7.1)
• Title of the article (in italics or underlined)
• Volume number (if no volume, use the year as the volume and don't put the year at the end)
• Abbreviation of journal name (Tables 10,13, and 13.2 in the Bluebook )
• The beginning page number (if pinpoint citing, include the beginning page number and the pinpoint cite)
• Year (in parenthesis)

Charles A. Reich, The New Property , 73 Yale L.J. 733, 737-38 (1964).

Nonconsecutively paginated periodicals (R. 16.5)

• Abbreviation of journal name (see Tables 10 and 13 in the Bluebook )
• Date as it appears on the cover (if no date of issue is available, provide the issue number and indicate the volume number before the title)
• the word "at"

Susan A. Berson, Starting Up: If You're Hanging a Shingle in 2011 , A.B.A. J., Jan. 2011, at 40.

Newspapers (R. 16.6)

  The citation format for newspapers and newsletters is largely the same as for nonconsecutively paginated periodicals. See your Bluebook for specific exceptions involving special designations, place of publication etc.

Rule 21 of the ALWD Citation Manual (7th ed.) covers the citation of periodicals.

Consecutively paginated law reviews and journals

• If the author is a student, insert "student author" after the name.
• Volume (if no volume put the year and don't repeat the year at the end)
• Periodical Abbreviation (see Appendix 5)
• Page (if pinpoint citing, include the beginning page number and the pinpoint cite)

Nonconsecutively paginated periodicals

• Volume number (if exists)
• Publication Date
• Date (use exact date and if there is no specific date, include the abbreviation "no." and the issue number followed by the year)

Susan A. Berson, Starting Up: If You're Hanging a Shingle in 2011 , 97 A.B.A. J., Jan. 2011, at 40.

Rule 15 of the Bluebook (20th ed.) covers citing treatises. There are many variables in citing a treatise so definitely consult the rule for its many permutations. 

Generally, a citation to a treatise should contain the following elements:

• Volume (if applicable)
• Author (see R. 15(b) for more than 2 authors and R. 15(c) for institutional authors)
• Section and/or Page
• Editor, translators (if applicable)
• Copyright Date

2 Joseph M. Perillo & Helen Hadjiyannakis Bender, Corbin on Contracts § 1.1 (1993).

Rule 20.3 of the ALWD Citation Manual (5th ed.) covers the citation of books.

• Volume number (if applicable)
• Author (see R. 20.1(b)(2) for multiple authors and R. 20.1(b)(3) for institutional authors

Constitutions

Rule 11 of The Bluebook (21st ed. 2020) covers the citation of Constitutions.

• U.S. or the abbreviated name of the state (see T. 10)
• Abbreviate any subdivisions per Table 16

U.S. Const. amend. XIII, § 1.

Ohio Const. art. I.

Session Laws

Rule 12.4 of  The Bluebook (21st ed. 2020) covers the citation of session laws. The Bluepages B12.1.1 and Table 1 should also be consulted. The citation should include the following:

• Use official or popular name if one exists
• Otherwise identify the act with the date of enactment or effectiveness (abbreviated per T. 12)
• Volume (if no volume, give the year)
• Abbreviated name of session law publication (see  T. 1)
• Pages and sections (if pinpoint citing give the beginning page and the relevant page to which you are citing)
• Year of enactment (if no date of enactment, use effective date)
• Codification information (as a parenthetical)

Immigration and Nationality Act, Pub. L. No. 82-414, § 101, 66 Stat. 163, 167 (1952) (codified as amended at 8 U.S.C. § 1101).

Act of Dec. 31, 1996, Pub. Act 89-685, 1996 Ill. Laws 685 (codified as amended at 735 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/3-107).

Act of Apr. 12, 1994, § 2, 1993-1994 Ohio Laws 6546, 6548-50.

Am. S. B. No. 47, 2013 Ohio Legis. Serv. Ann. L-13, L-23 (West) (codified as amended at Ohio Rev. Stat. § 3503.06).

Am. S. B. No. 47, 2013 Ohio Legis. Bull. 24, 39, (Lexis) (codified as amended at Ohio Rev. Stat. § 3503.06).

Rule 14.6 & 14.8 in the ALWD Citation Manual (7th ed.) covers the citation of session laws.

• Use official or popular name if one exists (omit "the")
• Otherwise identify the act with the date of enactment or effectiveness (abbreviated per Appx. 3(A))
• Law abbreviation
• The abbreviation "No."
• Pinpoint reference (if applicable)
• Abbreviated name of session law publication (See Appx. 1)

Rule 12 of The Bluebook (21st ed. 2020) covers the citation of statutes.

• Name and original section number as it appears in the session laws (only if the statute is commonly cited that way)
• Title, Chapter, or Volume (see  T. 1, 1.3)
• Code (cite to the official code if at all possible)
• Publisher, editor or compiler (unless the code is published by or under the supervision of government officials)
• Year (optional for federal codes) (on spine or title page if available, otherwise year on title page, and if not that, the copyright year)
• Supplements (see Rule 3.1 to cite any material appearing in supplements)

42 U.S.C.§ 1983.

8 U.S.C. §§ 1187-89.

Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3503.06 (West 2007).

Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3503.06 (LexisNexis 2009).

Citing to Online Codes -- Rule 12.5 and 18.3:

The Bluebook requires you to cite to the official code if it is available. If citing to a statute that is available on a commercial online service such as Lexis or Westlaw, provide the following:

• Title, Chapter, or Volume (see  T. 1)
• Publisher, editor or compiler
• Name of the database
• Currency of the database

Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3503.06 (Lexis, Lexis Advance current with legis. passed by the 132d General Assemb. and filed with the Sec. of State through file 178 (HB 532)).

Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3503.06 (West, Westlaw through File 42 of the 132d General Assemb. (2017-2018) and 2017 State Issue 1).

Rule 14 of the ALWD Citation Manual (7th ed.) covers the citations to codes.

A citation to the Federal statutes should include the following:

• Title number (if applicable)
• Code Abbreviation (cite to official code where possible - see Appendix 1)
• Publisher (if unofficial)

42 U.S.C.§ 1983 (2006).

8 U.S.C. §§ 1187-89 (2006 & Supp. IV 2011).

Online Codes

• Use regular citation form but add the name of the database provider and currency information

Citation Format

Rule 10 of The Bluebook (21st ed. 2020) governs the citation of cases.

• Case Name - first listed parties on each side (italicized or underlined) (use T. 6)
• Reporter (see T. 1)
• Court and jurisdiction in parenthetical (see T.1, T.7, T.10)
• Year in parenthetical
• Subsequent History after parenthetical (if applicable)

United States v. Prince Line, Ltd. , 189 F.2d 386, 387 (2d Cir. 1951).

Explanation:

• Case Name:  Note there is no abbreviation of United States per 10.2.2.  Abbreviate Ltd. Per R. 10.2.1(c), T.6. 
• Reporter:  Abbreviate the F.2d reporter per R. 6 (single adjacent caps), R. 6.2(b)(ii) (no superscript, use 2d instead of 2nd) & T.1.
• Court:  Abbreviate Second Circuit per R. 6, T.1, T.7.  Note that there is no superscript per R. 6.2(b)(ii).

Rule 12 of the ALWD Citation Manual (7th ed.) covers the citation of cases.

• Case Name - first listed parties on each side (italicized or underlined) (see chart 12.1)
• Reporter (see chart 12.2, local court rules - Appendix 2, )
• Court and jurisdiction (see Appendices 1 and 4 for court abbreviations)
• Subsequent History (if applicable)

The Bluebook requires citation to printed material (provided it is available), unless there is an authenticated, official, or exact digital copy of the printed sources.  See R. 18.2 . 

• Authenticated :  those sources using encryption based authentication such as digital signatures and public key infrastructure (preferred by The Bluebook - look for certificates, seals,or logos )
• Official :  materials that a jurisdiction has designated as "official"
• Exact Copy :  unaltered copy of the printed source in a format that preserves pagination and other format attributes (most likely PDF)

Example:  The Ohio Supreme Court has designated the Supreme Court website as the Ohio Official Reports for opinions of the courts of appeals and the Court of Claims. See Ohio Rep. Op. R. 3.2 , http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/LegalResources/rules/reporting/Report.pdf .  These opinions are in PDF format and bear a watermark.

Rule 18.2.2 Direct Citation to Internet Sources

If there is no print format or if the print format is obscure and is, for all practical purposes unavailable, cite to the most stable Internet source available.

Elements of citation:

• Author (if available)
• Use title bar or page-identifying heading (use descriptive title if needed)
• Include main page title and abbreviate it per T. 13
• Use dates that refer clearly to the material cited
• Otherwise use last updated or last modified
• Or last visited
• URL (but not too long or complicated)

Eric Goldman, When Should Search Engines Ignore Court Orders To Remove Search Results? ,Tech. & Marketing L. Blog (Sept. 4, 2013), http://blog.ericgoldman.org/archives/2013/09/when_should_sea.htm.

Bill Ong Hing, Understanding SB1070 from the Lens of Institutionalized Racism and Civil Rights , Legal Services N. Cal., http://www.equity.lsnc.net/understanding-sb1070-from-the-lens-of-institutionalized-racism-and-civil-rights (last visited Sept. 5, 2013).

Rule 18.2.3 Parallel Citation to Internet Sources

A parallel citation to an Internet source may be provided if it substantially improves access to the source.  Follow the regular rules for citing the source and then add the parallel Internet citation.

Elements of Citation

• Original print citation
• Introduce the parallel citation with available at

Commission on Women in the Profession, American Bar Association, From Visible Invisibility to Visibly Successful: Success Strategies for Law Firms and Women of Color in Law Firms (2008), available at http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/migrated/women/woc/VisiblySuccessful.authcheckdam.pdf.

D. Andrew Austin & Mindy R. Levit, Cong. Research Serv., The Debt Limit: History and Recent Increases (Aug. 27, 2013), available at http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/213995.pdf.

Haw. Rev. Stat. § 201-1 (date), available at http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol04_Ch0201-0257/HRS0201/HRS_0201-0001.htm.

Traton News, L.L.C. v. Traton Corp. , No. 12-4139 (6th Cir. June 11, 2013),  available at  http://federal-circuits.vlex.com/vid/traton-news-llc-v-corp-440553998.

• Id. , per R. 4.1
• Supra per R. 4.2

Rule 18.3 of The Bluebook covers the commercial databases such as Lexis, Westlaw, and Bloomberg Law. The Bluebook still requires the use and citation of printed sources where available ( see R. 18.2). Commercial databases should be cited in preference to other, general Internet resources.

Codes should be cited according to R. 12.3, but if citing to an electronic database, additional information is required.

• Title (for Federal)
• Abbreviated name of the code per T. 1
• Subject (where applicable)
• Title, Chapter, Volume (where applicable)
• Section and/or paragraph
• Currency of the database (as opposed to year of the code)

Cal. Bus. & Prof. § 1670.2 (West, Westlaw through Ch. 202 of 2013 Reg.Sess. and all 2013-2014 1st Ex.Sess. laws).

Cal. Bus. & Prof. § 1670.2 (Deering, Lexis through Ch. 129 of  2013 Reg. Sess.).

Secondary sources should be cited according to the rules for that source, but add a parallel cite to an electronic database. Include the database identifer if it is available.

Nicole Perlroth et al.,  N.S.A. Able To Foil Basic Safeguards Of Privacy On Web ,  N.Y. Times, Sept. 6, 2013, at A1, available at 2013 WLNR 22171198 .

According to Rule 18.3.1, an "unreported" case may be cited to an electronic database. 

• Case name (see R. 10)
• Docket number
• Database identifier (if unavailable, add information on the specific collection in a parenthetical)
• Page or paragraph numbers
• Court name (see R. 6, R. 10, T. 7, T. 10)

Beaven v. U.S. Dep't of Justice , No. 03-84-JBC, 2007 WL 1032301, at *3 (E.D. Ky. Mar. 30, 2007).

Beaven v. U.S. Dep't of Justice , No. 03-84-JBC, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 24459, at *3 (E.D. Ky. Mar. 30, 2007).

Beaven v. Ridley-Turner , No. 3:04-CV-160 RM (N.D. Ind. Apr. 18. 2005) (CaseMaker, U.S. District Court Case Law).

Use the database identifier in the short form.

Beaven , 2007 WL 1032301, at *3.

Beaven , 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 24459, at *3.

Rule 1.2 of The Bluebook (21st ed. 2020) covers the use of signals.  Signals are used in front of citations to alert the reader as to how that citation is being used.  They can be quite confusing!

Do not use a signal with a citation when you have directly borrowed someone else’s words or have paraphrased her words or ideas.

Signals can also be used as verbs in text.

Signals Used for Supportive Citations

• E.g. , – string cites, multiple examples but not an exhaustive list.  Here are a few examples to illustrate /support my statement.  You can combine this with other signals such as See.
•   Accord – 2 or more in agreement. The signal accord comes after another citation that supports the proposition.  The first citation here directly supports the statement and the accord signal and second citation indicates another source that supports it.   A common use of this signal is to show that two different jurisdictions agree.
•   See – clearly supports (obviously follows but not directly stated).  Slightly less direct support than no signal.
•   See also – additional material supporting the proposition.  Parenthetical explanation is encouraged.

Signals Used for Comparative Citations

• Cf. – compare (different but analogous – it doesn’t exactly support your statement but it is close).  Parenthetical explanation encouraged.
•   Compare -- To actually compare two authorities directly.  You must use “ with ,” and another citation  with this signal.  Parenthetical explanation encouraged.

Signals Used for Contradictory Citations

• Contra –  directly states the contrary.  The opposite of using no signal at all
• But See – authority supports proposition contrary to main proposition
•   But cf. – analogous to the contrary of the main proposition.  Parenthetical strongly encouraged.

Signals Used for Citation to Background Material

See generally – Background.  Parenthetical explanation encouraged.

Adminstrative Law

Regulations.

Rule 14 and Table 1 of  The Bluebook (21st ed. 2020) covers Administrative and Executive Materials. Rule 14.2 is specific regarding regulations .

A citation to the CFR would look like this:  

29 C.F.R. § 825.112 (2015).

The 29 refers to the CFR title.  The CFR part is 825.  The CFR section is 825.112.

A citation to the Federal Register would look like this:

Office of the Attorney General; Applicability of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, 75 Fed. Reg. 81,849 (Dec. 29, 2010) (codified at 28 C.F.R. Pt. 72).

The 75 is the Federal Register volume.  The 81,849 is the Federal Register page number.  The Federal Register issue date is December 29, 2010.

Adjudications

Rule 14.3 is specific regarding administrative adjudications and arbitrations.  Generally, they should conform to Rule 10 for cases but apply Rule 14.3.1 exceptions.

Executive Orders & Proclamations

See T.1. Generally you will cite to Title 3 of the CFR when available. The citation elements consist of:

• Exec. Order abbreviation or Proclamation
• No. followed by the order or proclamation number
• Original Year Promulgated

Exec. Order No. 13827, 3 C.F.R. 794 (2018).

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Susan Boland is the Interim Director for the University of Cincinnati Robert. S. Marx Law Library. She teaches legal research and offers reference and research support services to all law library users. Prior to joining the law library faculty, she was the Head of Information Services for the Ruth Lilly Law Library at the Robert H. McKinney School of Law and the Research & Instructional Services librarian at Northern Illinois University College of Law. She has also held positions at a public library and community college library and served as a judicial clerk for the Iowa District Court for the Fifth Judicial District.  She is a member of various professional associations both regionally and nationally. She has served as Chair of the Computing Services Special Interest Section of the American Association of Law Libraries and President of the Mid-America Association of Law Libraries. She is currently Vice-President of the American Association of Law Libraries Animal Law Caucus. She has presented at regional and national conferences, as well as at continuing legal education programs. Her publications include annotated bibliographies on the death penalty and election law, as well as articles on legal research, technology, and teaching.

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Bluebook 101

• Introduction
• Constitutions
• Legislative Materials
• Law Reviews & Journals
• Rules & Regulations
• Books & Reports
• Unpublished Materials
• Internet Sources
• March Bluebook Madness
• Lexis Interactive Citation Workshop
• Citation & Style Manuals

Tutorial: Useful Tips on Statutes (rule 12) and Legislative Materials (rule 13)

• Useful Tips on Statutes and Legislative Materials Extra tips to help get you ready for the cite-on or write-on

The Legislative Process

Prior to examining citation rules, it is important to have a basic understanding of how federal statutes are made. 

This visual, produced by Loyola Marymount University , gives an overview of the legislative process. 

Rules 12 & 13: Bills, Public Laws and Session Laws

Bills and Resolutions:  proposed laws. Bluebook Rule 13.2 addresses citation of proposed federal laws.

• This refers to Senate Bill 516 (the number of the bill and the chamber of origin), which was offered in the 105th Congress (Congress runs in two year sessions, so this session took place from 1997-1999), the section of the bill (if any), and the year of publication. 
• This refers to House Resolution 422, which was offered in the 106th Congress, and the year of publication. 

Public Law :  if a bill is passed by both chambers and signed by the President, it is assigned a public law number.  Public laws are described by the congress in which they were enacted and their sequential number.  

• This refers to the 91st Congress and the190 identifies it as the 190th law passed in that Congress. 

Session Laws: Public laws from each Congress are printed in the United States Statues at Large (abbreviated as Stat. ), a hard bound multi-volume set.  There is often considerable lag time between the publication of a Public Law and its consolidation in the United States Statutes at Large volumes. 

Bluebook Rule 12.4 states that when you are citing an entire legislative act, give the first page of the session law where the act begins. 

• National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, Pub. L. No. 91-190, 83 Stat. 852 (1970)

Hearings & Debates: Rule 13

Prior to passage, many laws go through a series of congressional hearings and debates. These are a rich source of legislative history.  

Committee Hearings.  Bluebook Rule 13.1 and 13.3.  Provide the subject matter title, the bill number(s), the subcommittee name (if any), the committee name, the number of the Congress, the page number(s), and the year of publication. 

Committee names can be abbreviated according to Tables 6, 9 and 10. 

Congressional Debates:  Bluebook Rule 13.5 directs you to cite to the Congressional Record for any debates taking place after 1873. 

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I have a Congressional Record citation. Is there a way to use that citation to find what I need?

• Categories: HeinOnline Tools
• Tags: U.S. Congressional Documents

Many collections in HeinOnline offer a Citation Navigator feature; also, HeinOnline uses Bluebook citation format.

For example, if you need 148 Cong. Rec. 10265, you would begin by entering the U.S. Congressional Documents database . Once you do this, you will click on the Citation Navigator option underneath the main search bar.

From here, you would enter 148 in the Vol. box, and 10265 in the Page box. You can use the drop-down menu to select your abbreviation.

• U.S. Congressional Documents

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