How to Cite a Statute or Legislation in APA 7th Edition

This guide explains how to format a statute or legislation citation in APA 7th Edition. Follow the format template below, refer to the real example, and use the step-by-step instructions to build your citation correctly.

Format Template

The general pattern for citing a statute or legislation in APA 7th Edition:

Template

Name of Act, Title Source Section (Year). URL

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

(Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990)

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your reference list:

Reference list entry

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq. (1990). https://www.ada.gov/law-and-regs/ada/

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Write the name of the act
Begin with the official name of the statute. Do not italicize it. Include the year in the name if it is part of the official title (e.g., Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990).
2
Add the source and section
Include the title number, the abbreviated name of the code (e.g., U.S.C.), the section symbol, and the section number. Separate elements with spaces.
3
Include the year
Place the year the statute was enacted or the year of the codified version in parentheses. Follow with a period.
4
Add the URL if applicable
If you accessed the statute online, include the URL of the official or reliable source. Do not add a period after the URL.
5
Format the in-text citation
In the running text, italicize the name of the act. In parenthetical citations, do not italicize: (Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990). After the first full citation, you may use a short title.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Italicizing the name of the act in the reference list; statute names are not italicized in APA.
Omitting the section symbol or using the word Section instead of the symbol.
Not including the specific title and section number of the code where the statute is codified.
Confusing the year the act was passed with the year of the codified version; use the year of the statute.
Forgetting to include et seq. when citing a statute that spans multiple sections.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I italicize the name of a statute in APA?

In the running text, yes. Italicize the name of the statute on first mention. In the reference list and in parenthetical citations, the statute name is not italicized.

How do I cite a specific section of a statute?

Use the section symbol followed by the number. For multiple consecutive sections, use a double section symbol. In in-text citations, you can specify the section in parentheses.

What if the statute has been amended since it was originally enacted?

Cite the most recent version of the statute that you used. If the original date is relevant, include both the year of original enactment and the year it was amended.

Information You Will Need

Before creating your citation, gather the following information from your statute or legislation:

Title
Code/Volume
Section
Year
Jurisdiction

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Step-by-Step Guide

Write the name of the act

Begin with the official name of the statute. Do not italicize it. Include the year in the name if it is part of the official title (e.g., Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990).

Add the source and section

Include the title number, the abbreviated name of the code (e.g., U.S.C.), the section symbol, and the section number. Separate elements with spaces.

Include the year

Place the year the statute was enacted or the year of the codified version in parentheses. Follow with a period.

Add the URL if applicable

If you accessed the statute online, include the URL of the official or reliable source. Do not add a period after the URL.

Format the in-text citation

In the running text, italicize the name of the act. In parenthetical citations, do not italicize: (Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990). After the first full citation, you may use a short title.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Italicizing the name of the act in the reference list; statute names are not italicized in APA.

Omitting the section symbol or using the word Section instead of the symbol.

Not including the specific title and section number of the code where the statute is codified.

Confusing the year the act was passed with the year of the codified version; use the year of the statute.

Forgetting to include et seq. when citing a statute that spans multiple sections.