How to Cite Statutes in Bluebook Style

Bluebook Statute Citation Fundamentals

Legislation provides the statutory authority that courts interpret and apply. Bluebook statute citations must provide sufficient information for readers to locate specific statutes while following precise formatting conventions. Understanding these rules is essential for legal professionals.

The Bluebook system for statute citations emphasizes clarity while accommodating the structure of federal and state legal codes. Each citation includes the title number, code abbreviation, section number, and year.

Federal Statute Citation Format

The basic format for citing federal statutes is:

Title U.S.C. § Section (Year)

Example:

42 U.S.C. § 1983 (2012)

Components break down as:

• 42 = Title number (indicates subject matter)
• U.S.C. = United States Code (official compilation)
• § = Section symbol
• 1983 = Section number
• (2012) = Year of the code version

Title Numbers

Title numbers in the U.S. Code organize statutes by subject:

• Title 1 = General Provisions
• Title 5 = Government Organization and Employees
• Title 7 = Agriculture
• Title 10 = Armed Forces
• Title 15 = Commerce and Trade
• Title 18 = Crimes and Criminal Procedure
• Title 42 = The Public Health and Welfare

The title number indicates the statutory subject area.

Section Symbol (§)

The section symbol (§) is mandatory in Bluebook statute citations:

Single section:

§ 1983

Multiple sections:

§§ 1983-1985

Always use the symbol, not the word “section.”

Year in Parentheses

The year in parentheses indicates the code edition:

(2012) = 2012 edition of U.S.C.
(2025) = 2025 edition of U.S.C.

This helps readers use the correct code version.

Subsections

Subsections appear in parentheses following the section number:

42 U.S.C. § 1983(a) (2012)

For multiple subsection levels:

42 U.S.C. § 1983(a)(1)(B) (2012)

Multiple Sections

When citing multiple sections:

Consecutive sections:

42 U.S.C. §§ 1983-1985 (2012)

Non-consecutive sections:

42 U.S.C. §§ 1983, 1985, 1988 (2012)

State Statute Citations

State statutes follow similar patterns but use state-specific code abbreviations:

New York:

N.Y. Penal Law § 155 (McKinney 2012)

California:

Cal. Penal Code § 187 (West 2012)

Texas:

Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 19.02 (West 2012)

Illinois:

815 Ill. Comp. Stat. § 5/1 (2012)

State abbreviations and code names vary, requiring careful verification for each jurisdiction.

Publisher Information for State Statutes

State statute citations often include publisher:

N.Y. Penal Law § 155 (McKinney 2012)

Common publishers:

• West: One of the major legal publishers
• Lexis/Nexis: Major legal database publisher
• Annotated: Versions with case law commentary

Pinpoint Page References

When referencing specific pages:

42 U.S.C. § 1983 (2012), at 234

Though less common than in case citations, pinpoint page references can be included.

Code vs. Statute Title

Use the official code title, not the act name:

Federal Statute:

42 U.S.C. § 1983 (2012) [Official]
Civil Rights Act of 1871 § 1983 (2012) [Alternative]

Use the code citation format unless specifically referring to an act.

Enacted vs. Current Code

Cite the current code version, not the original enactment year:

42 U.S.C. § 1983 (2012) [Current code]
Not: Civil Rights Act of 1871, 17 Stat. 13 [Original enactment]

Unless historical context requires the original citation.

Repealed or Amended Statutes

When a statute has been repealed or amended:

Current version:

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq. (2012)

Repealed statute (for historical reference):

Statute Name, 25 U.S.C. § 123 (2000) (repealed 2010)

“Et Seq.” Notation

When citing a section and following sections:

42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 et seq. (2012)

This means section 12101 and all sections following.

Statutes in Parentheticals

When citing statutes in parentheticals (for supporting propositions):

(42 U.S.C. § 1983 (2012) (private right of action))

Include explanatory phrase in parentheses.

Short Title References

After first citation, you may use shortened forms:

Full first citation:

42 U.S.C. § 1983 (2012)

Shortened subsequent citations:

42 U.S.C. § 1983
or simply
§ 1983

Federal Rules and Regulations

Federal rules and regulations use similar citation formats:

Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) [Federal Rules of Civil Procedure]
28 C.F.R. § 32.1 (2012) [Code of Federal Regulations]

Uniform Laws

Uniform laws use specific citation format:

Uniform Commercial Code § 2-207 (2012)
Model Penal Code § 1.02 (1985)

Using GenText for Statute Citations

GenText manages Bluebook statute citations by organizing title and section numbers correctly, formatting the section symbol properly, including publisher information for state statutes, and maintaining consistent citation forms throughout your document.

Common Statute Citation Errors

Error 1: Omitting section symbol or using “sec.” instead of ”§” Incorrect: 42 U.S.C. sec. 1983 Correct: 42 U.S.C. § 1983

Error 2: Incorrect code abbreviations or missing publisher information for state statutes

Error 3: Including original enactment date instead of current code year

Error 4: Inconsistent formatting of subsections

Special Citation Situations

Historical Statutes: Include both original and current information if relevant:

Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000a (2012)

Proposed Legislation: For bills not yet enacted:

Clean Energy Act, H.R. 1234, 119th Cong. (2025) (introduced Feb. 3, 2025)

Administrative Rules: Similar format to regulations:

29 C.F.R. § 1910.1200 (2012) [OSHA regulation]

Verification Checklist

Before finalizing statute citations:

• Verify correct title number
• Confirm correct code abbreviation (U.S.C., state codes)
• Check section number and subsections
• Include section symbol (§)
• Verify year of code version
• For state statutes, include publisher information
• Ensure consistent use of shortened forms
• Verify statute is still in force (if necessary)

Multiple Statutes

When citing multiple statutes for one proposition:

42 U.S.C. §§ 1983, 1988 (2012); Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 9.21 (West 2012)

Separate different statutes with semicolons.

Conclusion

Proper Bluebook statute citation demonstrates mastery of legal citation conventions and ensures your legal writing meets professional standards. By understanding title numbers, code abbreviations, section formatting, and publisher information, you provide readers with precise access to statutory authority. With tools like GenText managing the technical details, you can focus on legal analysis while maintaining citations that reflect professional excellence.