How to Cite a Statute or Legislation in APA, MLA & Chicago Format (2026 Guide)

Citing legislation correctly in your research paper shows academic rigor and helps readers verify your legal sources. Whether you're referencing a federal law, state statute, or international legislation, each citation style has specific rules.

This guide covers everything you need to know about citing statutes in APA, MLA, and Chicago format—with templates, real examples, and common mistakes to avoid.

Table of Contents

1. What Is a Statute?
2. How to Cite a Statute in APA Format
3. How to Cite a Statute in MLA Format
4. How to Cite a Statute in Chicago Format
5. Federal vs State Statutes
6. Citing International Legislation
7. Common Mistakes to Avoid
8. FAQ

What Is a Statute?

A statute is a written law passed by a legislative body. This includes:

• Federal laws (passed by Congress in the US)
• State laws (passed by state legislatures)
• Acts and bills that have become law
• Codified laws (organized into codes like the U.S. Code)

Unlike court cases (which interpret the law), statutes create the law. Citing them correctly is crucial for legal research, policy papers, and academic arguments about legislation.

How to Cite a Statute in APA Format

APA 7th edition uses a specific format for legal references, following The Bluebook legal citation system for US laws.

APA Statute Citation Template

Reference list format:

Name of Act, Title Source § Section Number (Year). URL

APA Statute Examples

Federal statute (U.S. Code):

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq. (1990). https://www.ada.gov/

In-text citation:

• First citation: Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)
• Subsequent citations: ADA

Another example:

Civil Rights Act of 1964, Pub. L. No. 88-352, 78 Stat. 241 (1964).

In-text: (Civil Rights Act of 1964)

Key APA Rules for Statutes

• Use the official name of the act if it has one
• Include the title number before U.S.C.
• Use the section symbol (§) for single sections
• Use §§ for multiple sections
• Include the year the statute was enacted or last amended
• Add a URL if accessed online

How to Cite a Statute in MLA Format

MLA 9th edition treats laws and statutes as works with government authors.

MLA Statute Citation Template

Works Cited format:

Government Body. "Title of Act." Title of Code, edition, Publisher, Year, Section. URL.

MLA Statute Examples

Federal statute:

United States Congress. "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990." United States Code, 2018 ed., Title 42, sec. 12101, Government Publishing Office. www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2018-title42/html/USCODE-2018-title42-chap126.htm.

In-text citation: (United States Congress, sec. 12101)

State statute:

California Legislature. "California Consumer Privacy Act." California Civil Code, 2020 ed., sec. 1798.100, California Legislative Information. leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.

Key MLA Rules for Statutes

• The government body is the author (United States Congress, California Legislature)
• Put the act name in quotation marks
• Italicize the code title
• Include the section number after "sec."
• Add access URL for online sources

How to Cite a Statute in Chicago Format

Chicago style offers two systems: Notes-Bibliography (humanities) and Author-Date (sciences). For legal citations, Notes-Bibliography is more common.

Chicago Statute Citation Template

Footnote/Endnote format:

Name of Act, Public Law Number, U.S. Statutes at Large Volume (Year): Page.

Or for codified laws:

Title number U.S.C. § Section number (Year).

Chicago Statute Examples

In a footnote:

1. Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Pub. L. No. 101-336, 104 Stat. 327 (1990), codified at 42 U.S.C. § 12101.

Shortened footnote (subsequent citations):

2. Americans with Disabilities Act § 12102.

Bibliography entry:

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Pub. L. No. 101-336. 104 Stat. 327. Codified at 42 U.S.C. § 12101.

Key Chicago Rules for Statutes

• Include both the session law citation and codified location when possible
• Use standard legal abbreviations (Pub. L., Stat., U.S.C.)
• Italicize names of acts in the bibliography
• Page numbers reference the Statutes at Large

Federal vs State Statutes

Federal Statutes

Federal laws are published in:

• U.S. Statutes at Large (session laws in chronological order)
• U.S. Code (U.S.C.) (organized by subject into 54 titles)

Example of the same law:

• Session law: Pub. L. No. 88-352, 78 Stat. 241
• Codified: 42 U.S.C. § 2000e

Tip: Cite the U.S. Code version when available—it's easier for readers to find.

State Statutes

State laws follow similar patterns but with different abbreviations:

• California: Cal. Civ. Code § 1798
• New York: N.Y. Penal Law § 120
• Texas: Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 6.001
• Florida: Fla. Stat. § 768.28

Always check your state's preferred abbreviation format.

Citing International Legislation

Treaties and International Agreements

APA format:

Title of Treaty, Parties, Date of Signing, Treaty Number. URL

Example:

Paris Agreement to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Dec. 12, 2015, T.I.A.S. No. 16-1104.

UK Legislation

Format: Title Year (UK), chapter number.

Example:

Data Protection Act 2018 (UK), c. 12.

EU Legislation

Format: Type Number/Year, OJ reference.

Example:

Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (General Data Protection Regulation), OJ L 119/1.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Confusing Session Laws and Codified Laws

Wrong: Citing Pub. L. No. when you should cite U.S.C.

Right: Use the codified citation (U.S.C.) for established laws; use session law citations (Stat.) for recent or uncodified legislation.

2. Missing Section Symbols

Wrong: 42 USC 12101 Right: 42 U.S.C. § 12101

3. Incorrect Year

The year should be:

• For session laws: the year enacted
• For codified laws: the year of the code edition you're citing

4. Forgetting to Update

Laws change! Always cite the most current version unless you're specifically discussing a historical version of the statute.

5. Not Including URLs for Online Sources

If you accessed the statute online, include the URL for reader convenience.

Quick Reference: Citation Comparison

| Element | APA | MLA | Chicago | |---------|-----|-----|---------|` | Act name | Not italicized | In quotes | Italicized | | Section symbol | § | sec. | § | | In-text | (Name of Act, Year) | (Author, sec.) | Footnote | | URL | Required if online | Required if online | Optional |

FAQ

Do I need to include statutes in my reference list?

Yes, in most cases. APA, MLA, and Chicago all require legal citations in the bibliography or references section. Some Chicago users put legal citations only in footnotes—check your professor's preference.

How do I cite a statute I found on a legal database like Westlaw or LexisNexis?

Cite the statute itself, not the database. However, you may add "available at Westlaw" or "available at LexisNexis" if your professor requires it.

What if the law has no official name?

Cite using the code title and section number only:

42 U.S.C. § 1983 (2018).

Should I cite federal or state law?

Cite whatever version applies to your argument. Federal law applies nationwide; state law applies within that state. If both exist on a topic, you may need to cite both and explain how they interact.

How do I cite a bill that hasn't become law yet?

APA: H.R. [or S.] number, Congress, Session (Year). Title of Bill.

Example:

H.R. 1234, 118th Cong., 1st Sess. (2023). Clean Energy Innovation Act.

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Key Takeaways

• APA follows Bluebook legal citation style with section symbols (§)
• MLA treats the government body as the author
• Chicago uses footnotes and allows both session and codified citations
• Always include the year and URL when citing online sources
• Double-check section symbols and abbreviations for accuracy

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