United States statutes are collated into codes according to subject matter. Code references are the official citations.

Eg Freedom of Information Act 5 USC § 552.

Eg Wash Rev Code Ann § 4.24.240 (Supp 1987).

Eg Pa Stat Ann, title 63 § 425.3 (Supp 1986).

(a) Official codes

Cite to the official code, namely the United States Code (USC) for federal statutes or, for example, the Iowa Code for the State of Iowa.

(b) Year of publication

It is not necessary to include the year of publication if the current edition of the code is used.

(c) Citation

Use the citation practice of the code concerned for placement of division numbers.

(d) Supplements

“Supp” and the year of publication follow the citation in parentheses if the statute is found in a supplement to the bound volumes.

Where reference is to the statute as passed, or where the statute has not been codified, citation is to the session laws.

Eg National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 Pub L No 91-90, § 102, 100 Stat 852 at 853 (1970).

Eg Federal Trademark Act Ch 79-540, 60 Stat 427 (1946).

(a) Public law or chapter number

Include the public law or chapter number of the statute and the place where the statute can be found in the volumes of session laws.

(b) Pinpoint reference

When providing a pinpoint reference, give both the section and the page on which that section can be found.

(c) Year of publication

If the year of publication is part of the name of the statute, it need not be included separately.

Eg American Law Institute Model Code of Evidence (American Law Institute, Philadelphia, 1942) r 10.

(a) Author

If the authorship of the model law is clear from the short title, the author can be omitted.

(b) Pinpoint reference

For pinpoint references, follow the form used in the law, for example “r”, “§” or “art”.

Eg American Law Institute Restatement of the Law of Conflict of Laws (2nd ed, St Paul, Minnesota, 1971) § 220.

(a) Pocket parts

Cite pocket parts in the same way as restatements. Give the title of the original restatement, but the year of publication of the pocket part. Place “pocket part” in round brackets after the pinpoint reference.

Eg United States Constitution, amend XIV, § 2.

Eg United States Constitution, art I, § 9, cl 2.