How to Cite a Statute or Legislation in MLA 9th Edition

This guide explains how to format a statute or legislation citation in MLA 9th 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 MLA 9th Edition:

Template

*Name of Act*. Public Law No. Stat. Pages (Year).

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

(Affordable Care Act)

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your Works Cited:

Works Cited entry

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Public Law 111-148. 124 Stat. 119 (2010).

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Write the name of the act
Italicize the official name of the statute using title case.
2
Add the public law number
Write "Public Law" followed by the law number (e.g., 111-148). Follow with a period.
3
Include the Statutes at Large citation
Write the volume number, "Stat." and the starting page number of the statute.
4
Add the year
Place the year of enactment in parentheses. End with a period after the closing parenthesis.
5
Include a URL if accessed online
If accessed from an online source, add the URL: ...119 (2010). www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-bill/3590.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Forgetting to italicize the name of the act.
Omitting the public law number.
Confusing the Statutes at Large citation with the U.S. Code citation.
Not including the year of enactment in parentheses.
Using an abbreviated title without establishing the full title first.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a specific section of a statute?

Add the section number after the act name: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Sec. 1501. Public Law 111-148. 124 Stat. 119 (2010).

Should I use the popular name or the official name?

Use the official name in the Works Cited entry. You may use the popular name (e.g., Affordable Care Act) in the text of your paper after introducing the full name.

How do I cite a state statute instead of a federal one?

Follow a similar pattern using the state's session laws: California Consumer Privacy Act. Cal. Civ. Code, sec. 1798.100 et seq. (2018).

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

Italicize the official name of the statute using title case.

Add the public law number

Write "Public Law" followed by the law number (e.g., 111-148). Follow with a period.

Include the Statutes at Large citation

Write the volume number, "Stat." and the starting page number of the statute.

Add the year

Place the year of enactment in parentheses. End with a period after the closing parenthesis.

Include a URL if accessed online

If accessed from an online source, add the URL: ...119 (2010). www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-bill/3590.