Cecily Zamora
Citing acts and laws in APA (American Psychological Association) style requires attention to detail and adherence to specific formatting guidelines. When referencing legislation, it is essential to include key elements such as the title of the act, jurisdiction, year, and source. The general format involves listing the name of the act in italics, followed by the jurisdiction and year in parentheses. For example, *Affordable Care Act* (United States, 2010). Additionally, if citing a specific section or title, include this information after the year. Proper citation ensures clarity and credibility in academic or professional writing, allowing readers to locate the referenced legislation easily. For more detailed instructions, consult the APA Publication Manual or reliable online resources.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reference List Entry | Author (if applicable). (Year). Title of act. Title, Source (if applicable), Section (if applicable). URL (if online) |
| In-Text Citation | (Title of act, Year, Section) or (Author, Year, Section) if author is mentioned |
| Author | Usually not applicable for acts/laws. If a specific person is responsible, include their name. |
| Year | Year the act was enacted or last amended |
| Title of Act | Full title of the act in italics |
| Title | Official title of the publication where the act is found (e.g., United States Code) |
| Source | Publication or database where the act is retrieved (e.g., LexisNexis, Congress.gov) |
| Section | Specific section or subsection being cited |
| URL | Include a stable URL or DOI if accessed online |
| Example | Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. § 12112 (2018). |
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What You'll Learn
APA Format Basics for Legal Citations
When citing acts and laws in APA format, it's essential to follow specific guidelines to ensure accuracy and consistency. The American Psychological Association (APA) style, primarily used in social sciences, has distinct rules for legal citations. Understanding these basics is crucial for scholars, researchers, and students who need to reference legislation in their work. The key is to provide clear and retrievable information about the legal document, enabling readers to locate the source easily.
In APA format, citing a federal law or act involves including the title of the act, the source (if applicable), the year it was enacted, and the jurisdiction. For instance, the format typically starts with the name of the act, followed by the year in parentheses. If the act is part of a larger code or collection, the title of that collection should be included in italics, followed by the section or chapter number. For example: *The Affordable Care Act* (2010). When citing a specific section, include the title, year, and section number, such as *The Affordable Care Act*, 42 U.S.C. § 18001 (2010). This structure ensures that the citation is both precise and informative.
For state laws or acts, the citation process is similar but includes additional details to distinguish it from federal legislation. Begin with the title of the act, followed by the jurisdiction (state abbreviation), the year, and the specific code or section number. For example: *California Environmental Quality Act*, Cal. Pub. Res. Code § 21000 (2020). If the act is not part of a codified collection, include the session laws citation, such as *California Statutes*, 2020, c. 123. This approach ensures clarity and helps readers identify the exact legal document being referenced.
When citing legal cases alongside acts or laws, APA format requires a slightly different approach. For court decisions, include the case name in italics, the volume number, the reporter abbreviation, the page number, and the year. For example: *Brown v. Board of Education*, 347 U.S. 483 (1954). If referencing a case within the context of a law, ensure both citations are clearly distinguished. Additionally, when citing legal dictionaries or encyclopedias, follow the standard APA format for books or online sources, depending on the medium.
Finally, consistency and attention to detail are paramount in APA legal citations. Always verify the accuracy of titles, section numbers, and years using reliable legal databases or official publications. If the law has been amended, include the amendment year in the citation. For online sources, provide a DOI or stable URL if available. By adhering to these APA format basics for legal citations, you ensure that your work is professional, credible, and accessible to your audience.
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Citing Federal and State Acts
When citing federal and state acts in APA style, it is essential to follow specific guidelines to ensure accuracy and consistency. Federal acts, also known as public laws, are enacted by the U.S. Congress and apply nationwide. To cite a federal act, begin with the popular name of the act, followed by the year of enactment in parentheses. For example: *Affordable Care Act (2010)*. If the act is commonly referred to by its abbreviated name, include both the full name and the abbreviation in the first citation, such as: *Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) (2010)*. Subsequent citations can use the abbreviation alone.
For federal acts, APA style also requires the inclusion of the United States Code (U.S.C.) citation, which provides the permanent location of the law in the codified statutes. The U.S.C. citation consists of the title, section, and year of the code. For instance: *20 U.S.C. § 1070 (2018)*. If the act has not yet been codified, cite the public law number from the Statutes at Large, such as: *Pub. L. No. 111-148, 124 Stat. 119 (2010)*. This ensures that readers can locate the exact version of the law being referenced.
Citing state acts follows a similar structure but requires additional details to distinguish the jurisdiction. Begin with the popular name of the state act, followed by the year of enactment in parentheses. For example: *California Environmental Quality Act (1970)*. Include the state code citation, which consists of the state abbreviation, code title, section, and year. For instance: *Cal. Pub. Res. Code § 21000 (2020)*. If the state act is not codified, cite the session law or chapter number from the state statutes at large, such as: *1970 Cal. Stat. ch. 1250*. This provides clarity on the specific state law being referenced.
When referencing both federal and state acts within the same document, consistency is key. Use the same citation format throughout, ensuring that each citation includes the necessary elements for identification. In the reference list, entries for acts should be alphabetized by the popular name of the act. For example: *Affordable Care Act (2010)* would precede *California Environmental Quality Act (1970)*. Each entry should be single-spaced, with a hanging indent for readability.
Finally, it is important to verify the currency of the law being cited, as laws may be amended or updated over time. APA style encourages the use of the most current version of the law unless a specific historical version is being referenced. When in doubt, consult legal databases or official government sources to ensure the accuracy of the citation. By adhering to these guidelines, researchers and writers can effectively cite federal and state acts in APA style, providing clear and accessible references for their audience.
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In-Text Citation Rules for Laws
When citing laws and acts in APA style, the in-text citation rules are designed to clearly and concisely direct readers to the corresponding reference list entry. The primary goal is to provide enough information within the text to identify the source without disrupting the flow of the narrative. For laws, the in-text citation typically includes the name of the law (or a shortened version) and the year it was enacted. For example, if you are referencing the *Americans with Disabilities Act*, the in-text citation would appear as (*Americans with Disabilities Act*, 1990). This format ensures that the reader can easily locate the full citation in the reference list.
If the name of the law is mentioned in the sentence, only the year of enactment is required in parentheses. For instance, "The Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) prohibits discrimination based on disability." This approach avoids redundancy while maintaining clarity. When the law’s name is not included in the sentence, both the name (or a shortened version) and the year are placed in parentheses at the appropriate point in the text, such as: "Recent amendments have strengthened protections under the Act (*Americans with Disabilities Act*, 1990)." Consistency in this format is key to adhering to APA guidelines.
For laws that are part of a larger code or compilation, such as the *U.S. Code*, the in-text citation should include the title and section number, followed by the year. For example, "Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (42 U.S.C. § 2000e, 1964) addresses employment discrimination." If the law is frequently cited, you may use a shortened version of the title after the first mention to avoid repetition. For instance, after the initial full citation, subsequent references can be shortened to (*42 U.S.C. § 2000e, 1964*). This practice enhances readability while ensuring proper attribution.
When citing court decisions or legal cases that interpret a law, the in-text citation should follow APA’s standard format for legal cases, but the focus remains on the law itself if that is the primary source. For example, if discussing a case that interprets the *Affordable Care Act*, the citation would be: (*National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius*, 2012), but if the focus is on the Act itself, the citation would be (*Affordable Care Act*, 2010). This distinction ensures that the reader understands the primary source being referenced.
Finally, if multiple laws are cited within the same parentheses, they should be listed in alphabetical order by title, separated by semicolons. For example: (*Affordable Care Act*, 2010; *Americans with Disabilities Act*, 1990). This rule applies even if the laws were enacted in different years. By following these in-text citation rules, writers can accurately and efficiently reference laws in APA style, ensuring clarity and consistency throughout their work.
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Reference List Entry Structure
When creating a reference list entry for acts or laws in APA style, it is essential to follow a specific structure to ensure clarity and consistency. The general format for citing legislation includes key elements such as the name of the act, the jurisdiction, the year, and the source or publication information. Below is a detailed breakdown of the reference list entry structure for acts and laws in APA style.
The first element in the reference list entry is the name of the act or law, which should be written in full and italicized. For example, if citing the *Affordable Care Act*, the title would appear as *Affordable Care Act*. If the act is commonly known by an abbreviated name or acronym, include this in parentheses after the full title, such as *Affordable Care Act (ACA)*. This ensures that readers can easily identify the legislation being referenced.
Following the title, include the jurisdiction responsible for enacting the law. This is typically the country, state, or other governing body. For U.S. federal laws, use "United States" as the jurisdiction. For state laws, provide the full state name, such as "California" or "New York." The jurisdiction should be followed by the year the law was enacted in parentheses. For example, *Affordable Care Act (United States, 2010)*. If the law has been amended, include the year of the amendment in parentheses after the original year, such as *Affordable Care Act (United States, 2010, 2013)*.
Next, provide the source or publication information where the law can be located. This may include the title of the code, compilation, or database where the law appears. For example, if citing a U.S. federal law, you might include *United States Code* or *Public Law*. If using an online legal database like Westlaw or LexisNexis, include the database name and the URL or DOI if available. For instance, *Affordable Care Act, 2010, Public Law 111-148, 124 Stat. 119 (Codified in scattered sections of 42 U.S.C.)*. Retrieved from https://www.govinfo.gov.
Finally, ensure that the formatting of the reference list entry adheres to APA guidelines. Use a hanging indent for entries that wrap to a second line, and double-space the entire reference list. Alphabetize entries by the title of the act or law, ignoring articles like "a," "an," or "the." By following this structured approach, you can accurately and consistently cite acts and laws in APA style, making your references clear and accessible to readers.
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Examples of Act Citations in APA
When citing acts or laws in APA style, it is essential to follow a specific format to ensure clarity and accuracy. The general structure includes the name of the act, the jurisdiction (country or state), the year it was enacted, and the source where it can be found. Below are detailed examples of how to cite acts or laws in APA format, tailored to different scenarios.
Example 1: Citing a Federal Act in the United States
To cite a federal act in APA, begin with the full name of the act, followed by the year in parentheses. Next, include the title of the code or statute where the act is published, the section number, and the abbreviation for the United States Code (U.S.C.). For instance:
Affordable Care Act (2010). 42 U.S.C. § 18001 et seq.
In this example, "Affordable Care Act" is the name of the act, "2010" is the year it was enacted, "42 U.S.C." refers to Title 42 of the United States Code, and "§ 18001 et seq." indicates the specific section where the act begins.
Example 2: Citing a State Act in APA
When citing a state act, include the name of the act, the jurisdiction (state), the year, and the state code or statute reference. For example:
California Environmental Quality Act, Cal. Pub. Res. Code § 21000 et seq. (2020).
Here, "California Environmental Quality Act" is the act's name, "Cal. Pub. Res. Code" refers to the California Public Resources Code, "§ 21000 et seq." specifies the section, and "2020" indicates the year of the cited version.
Example 3: Citing an International Act or Treaty
For international acts or treaties, provide the full name of the treaty, the year, and the source where it can be found, such as a United Nations document. For example:
Paris Agreement (2015). United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2771, p. 3.
This citation includes the treaty's name, the year it was adopted, and the specific volume and page number in the United Nations Treaty Series.
Example 4: Citing an Act in an Online Database
If accessing the act through an online legal database like Westlaw or LexisNexis, include the database name and URL in the citation. For example:
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq. (1990). Retrieved from Westlaw.
Alternatively, if a direct URL is available:
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, 42 U.S.C. § 1301 et seq. (1996). https://www.congress.gov/104/plaws/publ191/PLAW-104publ191.pdf
This ensures the source is traceable and accessible to readers.
Example 5: Citing an Act in a Reference List
In the APA reference list, acts or laws are formatted similarly to the in-text citations but with additional details. For example:
Affordable Care Act. (2010). 42 U.S.C. § 18001 et seq.
Or for a state act:
California Environmental Quality Act. (2020). Cal. Pub. Res. Code § 21000 et seq.
These entries provide a clear and standardized way to reference legislation in academic or professional writing.
By following these examples, you can accurately cite acts or laws in APA style, ensuring your work is both credible and compliant with academic standards.
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Frequently asked questions
To cite a federal act or law in APA format, use the following structure:
*Name of Act, Title, Source, § Section (Year).*
Example: *Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12112 (1990).*
If the act or law does not have a section number, omit it and cite the act as a whole. Use the following format:
*Name of Act, Title, Source (Year).*
Example: *Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Pub. L. No. 111-148 (2010).*
To cite a state act or law in APA format, include the state abbreviation and the code or statute citation. Use the following structure:
*Name of Act, State Code § Section (Year).*
Example: *California Consumer Privacy Act, Cal. Civ. Code § 1798.100 (2018).*
