LibAnswers

Laws (or statutes) are typically cited in Bluebook format instead of in individual citation formats like MLA, APA, or Chicago style. Refer to the following to cite in Bluebook format:

For federal laws include:

1. Law’s common name (if it has one).

2. Title Number (refers to volumes of the United States Code)

3. Source abbreviated, the United States Code is abbreviated U.S.C.

4. Section number or numbers with "§" in front

5. Year, the year of the code edition, not the year it was enacted.

So for the HUD Reform Act from Title 42, the citation would be as follows:

HUD Reform Act, 42 U.S.C. § 4 (2016).

For state laws include:

1. Law’s common name (if it has one).

2. Title Number (refers to volumes of the state’s law code)

3. Source abbreviated, the New York State code is abbreviated based upon where it is accessed.  In Nexis Uni, it will be through the New York Consolidated Law Service which is abbreviated: N.Y. <Subject> LAW.  Subjects are abbreviated and can be found in table T1 of the Bluebook.

4. Section number or numbers with "§" in front

5. Year, the year of the code edition, not the year it was enacted and the service that provides it, in the case of New York it is McKinney.

So for the Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Act, the citation would be:

Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Act, N.Y. Mental Hyg. LAW § 19.07 (McKinney 2017).

Although the Bluebook format is preferred for citing legal works, MLA does provide instructions for citing laws for students not studying law, in particular.

You can read MLA’s blog post detailing how to cite court cases and more at “Documenting Legal Works.” 

If you need further help, contact a librarian.