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How to Cite a Law in MLA Format: Quick Tips and Examples

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When composing a research paper or academic essay, proper citation of sources is essential, including legal materials such as laws, statutes, court cases, and regulations. The Modern Language Association (MLA) provides specific guidelines for citing legal sources in academic writing. Accurate MLA citation of laws serves multiple purposes: it gives appropriate credit to the original source, helps prevent plagiarism, and enables readers to locate the referenced legal materials.

For writers and researchers, a thorough understanding of MLA formatting rules and guidelines for legal citations is crucial to ensure the integrity and credibility of their work. Proper citation practices demonstrate academic rigor and allow for the verification of information, which are fundamental aspects of scholarly writing.

Key Takeaways

  • MLA citation for laws follows specific formatting rules for statutes, court cases, and regulations.
  • When citing statutes in MLA format, include the title of the act, the publication information, and the URL if accessed online.
  • When citing court cases in MLA format, include the name of the case, the court that decided it, the publication information, and the URL if accessed online.
  • When citing regulations in MLA format, include the title of the regulation, the publication information, and the URL if accessed online.
  • In-text citations for laws in MLA format should include the title of the law and the section number, if applicable, in parentheses.

Formatting Rules for MLA Citation of Laws

Basic Format and Structure

When citing laws in MLA format, it is essential to follow specific formatting rules to ensure accuracy and consistency. The basic format for citing a law includes the title of the law, the code or statute book in which it appears, the section number, and the year of publication. For example, a citation for a federal law may look like this: Title of the Law, U.S. Code, vol. number, section number, year of publication.

Citing State Laws and Specific Sections

When citing state laws, you would replace “U.S. Code” with the appropriate state code or statute book. It is also important to include the name of the publisher and the page number where the law can be found. Additionally, if you are citing a specific section of a law, you should include the section symbol (§) followed by the section number.

Punctuation, Capitalization, and Clarity

When citing laws in MLA format, it is crucial to pay attention to punctuation and capitalization. The title of the law should be italicized and capitalized according to MLA guidelines. The section number should be preceded by the section symbol (§) and followed by a comma. The year of publication should be included in parentheses after the section number. Following these formatting rules will ensure that your citations are clear and easy to understand.

Citing Statutes in MLA Format

When citing statutes in MLA format, it is important to include specific information to accurately identify the source. The basic format for citing a statute includes the title of the statute, the code or statute book in which it appears, the section number, and the year of publication. For example, a citation for a federal statute may look like this: Title of the Statute, U.S.

Code, vol. number, section number, year of publication. When citing state statutes, you would replace “U.S.

Code” with the appropriate state code or statute book. It is also important to include the name of the publisher and the page number where the statute can be found. Additionally, if you are citing a specific section of a statute, you should include the section symbol (§) followed by the section number.

Following these guidelines will ensure that your citations are accurate and complete. In addition to the basic format for citing statutes in MLA format, it is important to pay attention to punctuation and capitalization. The title of the statute should be italicized and capitalized according to MLA guidelines.

The section number should be preceded by the section symbol (§) and followed by a comma. The year of publication should be included in parentheses after the section number. If you are citing a specific section of a statute, you should include the section symbol (§) followed by the section number.

Additionally, you should include the name of the publisher and the page number where the statute can be found. Following these formatting rules will ensure that your citations are clear and consistent.

Citing Court Cases in MLA Format

Court Case MLA Format
Smith v. Jones Smith v. Jones
Brown v. Board of Education Brown v. Board of Education
Roe v. Wade Roe v. Wade

When citing court cases in MLA format, it is important to provide specific information to accurately identify the source. The basic format for citing a court case includes the name of the case, the volume and page number of the reporter in which it appears, and the year of the decision. For example, a citation for a Supreme Court case may look like this: Name Name, Reporter volume number page number (Year).

When citing lower court cases, you would replace “Supreme Court” with the appropriate court name and include additional information such as the jurisdiction and level of court. It is also important to include the name of the court that decided the case and any additional information necessary to locate the case. Following these guidelines will ensure that your citations are accurate and complete.

In addition to the basic format for citing court cases in MLA format, it is important to pay attention to punctuation and capitalization. The names of court cases should be italicized and capitalized according to MLA guidelines. The volume and page numbers of reporters should be separated by a comma and followed by the year of the decision in parentheses.

If you are citing lower court cases, you should include additional information such as the jurisdiction and level of court. Additionally, you should include the name of the court that decided the case and any additional information necessary to locate the case. Following these formatting rules will ensure that your citations are clear and consistent.

Citing Regulations in MLA Format

When citing regulations in MLA format, it is important to provide specific information to accurately identify the source. The basic format for citing a regulation includes the title of the regulation, the code or regulation book in which it appears, and any additional information necessary to locate the regulation. For example, a citation for a federal regulation may look like this: Title of Regulation, Code of Federal Regulations, vol.

number, part number (Year). When citing state regulations, you would replace “Code of Federal Regulations” with the appropriate state code or regulation book. It is also important to include any additional information necessary to locate the regulation such as section numbers or titles.

Following these guidelines will ensure that your citations are accurate and complete. In addition to the basic format for citing regulations in MLA format, it is important to pay attention to punctuation and capitalization. The title of regulations should be italicized and capitalized according to MLA guidelines.

The code or regulation book should be italicized and capitalized as well. If there is additional information necessary to locate the regulation such as section numbers or titles, it should be included after the year of publication in parentheses. Following these formatting rules will ensure that your citations are clear and consistent.

In-Text Citations for Laws in MLA Format

Key Elements of In-Text Citations for Laws

When citing laws in-text, it is important to include specific information such as the title of the law or statute and any relevant section numbers or titles. For example, an in-text citation for a federal law may look like this: (Title of Law § Section Number).

Citing State Laws and Including Page Numbers

When citing state laws, you would replace “Title of Law” with the appropriate state law title and include any relevant section numbers or titles as necessary. It is also important to include page numbers if you are quoting directly from a specific section of a law or statute.

Formatting and Placement of In-Text Citations

In-text citations should be enclosed in parentheses and placed at the end of a sentence or clause that contains information from a legal source. If you are quoting directly from a specific section of a law or statute, you should include page numbers after the section number or title within your parentheses. Following these guidelines will ensure that your in-text citations are accurate and complete.

Works Cited Page for Laws in MLA Format

The Works Cited page for laws in MLA format is where you provide full bibliographic information for all legal sources cited within your writing. When creating a Works Cited entry for a law or statute, it is important to include specific information such as the title of the law or statute, code or statute book in which it appears, section numbers or titles if applicable, year of publication, publisher name, and page numbers where applicable. For example, a Works Cited entry for a federal law may look like this: Last Name, First Name.

“Title of Law.” U.S. Code, vol. number, section number(s), Publisher Name, Year, Page Number(s).

When creating Works Cited entries for state laws or statutes, you would replace “U.S. Code” with the appropriate state code or statute book. In addition to including specific information in your Works Cited entries for laws in MLA format, it is important to pay attention to punctuation and capitalization.

The title of laws or statutes should be italicized and capitalized according to MLA guidelines. The code or statute book should also be italicized and capitalized as well as including any relevant section numbers or titles after the year of publication within your entry. Following these guidelines will ensure that your Works Cited entries are accurate and complete.

In conclusion, understanding how to properly cite laws, statutes, court cases, and regulations in MLA format is essential for any writer or researcher. By following specific formatting rules and guidelines for each type of legal source, you can ensure that your citations are accurate and consistent throughout your writing. In-text citations for legal sources allow readers to locate specific information within your writing while Works Cited entries provide full bibliographic information for all legal sources cited within your work.

By mastering MLA citation for laws, you can effectively acknowledge sources and avoid plagiarism while contributing to academic discourse with integrity and professionalism.

If you are looking for information on how to cite a law in MLA format, you may also be interested in learning more about real estate law. One article that provides insight into this topic is “What Does an Estate Attorney Do?” which discusses the role of estate attorneys in real estate transactions. You can find this article here. Understanding the legal aspects of real estate can be crucial for properly citing laws in academic writing.

FAQs

What is MLA format?

MLA format is a style guide for writing and citing sources in the humanities, particularly in the fields of literature and language studies. It provides guidelines for formatting papers, citing sources, and creating a works cited page.

How do I cite a law in MLA format?

When citing a law in MLA format, include the title of the law, the publication date, the source (if applicable), and the URL (if the law is available online). For example: Title of Law. Publication Date. Source. URL.

Do I need to include the section or paragraph number when citing a law in MLA format?

It is not necessary to include the section or paragraph number when citing a law in MLA format. Simply include the title of the law, the publication date, the source (if applicable), and the URL (if the law is available online).

Where can I find the publication date of a law?

The publication date of a law can typically be found on the official government website or in the official publication where the law was enacted. If the law is available online, the publication date may be listed on the website where the law is hosted.

Do I need to include the URL when citing a law in MLA format?

If the law is available online, it is recommended to include the URL when citing a law in MLA format. This allows readers to easily access the full text of the law. If the law is not available online, the URL is not necessary.

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