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APA Style 7th Edition: Citing Your Sources

Provide guidance on APA format style based on the 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual.

Standard Format

Click on the categories below to see what types of information is included for that reference component for Legal References

Basic Format: What, Where (When = year). URL if available

Court Cases

Name v. Name
Volume and page of where published papers can be found (called reporters)
(year).
https://xxxx...

For Statutes (Laws and Acts)

Name of Act
Title Source § Section Number
(year).
https://xxxx....

Legislative Materials

Title of source
### Cong.
(year).
https://xxxx...

Formatting Rules

  • Legal materials deviate from APA's Who, When, What, Where formula
    • Legal style order- Title, source, and date (What, Where, When)
  • Provide the version of record as published in official legal publications (eg. United States Code or Federal Register)
    • Optional- provide a URL for the version used
  • Court Cases: Title or name of the case is written in standard type for reference entry (italics for in-text citation)
  • Legal Materials include: federal testimony, hearings, bills, resolutions, reports, and related documents.
    • Use this format for enacted bill or resolution not signed into law
    • Bills and resolutions passed by Congress & signed by the President to become law should be cited as statutes

 

Additional Resources:

Legal Information Institute at Cornell Law School: Guidance on legal citations.  Verify legal references containing necessary information and reflect current statues of legal authority (so you're not using amended, repealed or overturned cases).

Examples

Click on the categories below to see examples

Court Cases
United States v. Lane, 474 U.S. 438 (1986).
People v. Stockton Pregnancy Control Medical Clinic, 203 Cal. App. 3d 225 (Cal. App.3d 1988).

Statutes
Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act, Cal. Penal Code § 11164 et seq.
Nursing Practice Act, Cal Bus & Prof Code § 2700 (2019)
Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, Pub. L. No. 111-2, 123 Stat. 5 (2009). https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2008-04-24/pdf/CREC-2008-04-24-pt1-PgS3395.pdf

Legislative Materials
California Fostering Connections to Success Act, Cal. Assemb. B. 12 (2010-2011), Chapter 559 (Cal. Stat. 2010)
Equitable Health Care for Severe Mental Illnesses Act of 1993, S. 671, 103d Cong., 1st Sess. (1993).