Top Law Schools

Hey,

Does anybody have a simple explanation of how to cite federal statutes? I read the blue book, but I guess I just don't get it. It looks to me like almost everything could be cited as U.S.C. ... (2006) since it is the last official update year or as U.S.C.A. ... (West 2012) if the currentness date is 2012. Any advice?

Thanks.

VanillaBear wrote:Hey,

Does anybody have a simple explanation of how to cite federal statutes? I read the blue book, but I guess I just don't get it. It looks to me like almost everything could be cited as U.S.C. ... (2006) since it is the last official update year or as U.S.C.A. ... (West 2012) if the currentness date is 2012. Any advice?

Thanks.

USC = I looked at a paper copy.
USCA = I looked at Westlaw.

USC is prefered to USCA. The USC is published roughly every 6 years, with supplements in between, so generally speaking if it was enacted in 2006 or earlier should be cited as (2006). What statute are you trying to cite?

All the statutes I'm citing were enacted in 2006 or before. One statute was amended in 2011 but enacted before 2006. Does that have to be cited as U.S.C.A.? Thanks for the help.

VanillaBear wrote:All the statutes I'm citing were enacted in 2006 or before. One statute was amended in 2011 but enacted before 2006. Does that have to be cited as U.S.C.A.? Thanks for the help.

Well then it would be (Supp. V 2011) I think, depending on how much the amendment is. No one is really going to care though if you cite USCA instead, I don't think, so I would just cite that.

Check to see if it the particular title of the United States Code is positive law, i.e., is legal evidence of the law. If it is, cite to that title. If not, cite to the Statutes at Large.

.