The American Psychological Association (APA) Citation style is style used to cite resources typically in behavioral and social sciences. From removing authors first names (and instead using the initial) to removing the publisher's location, citation styles are constantly updating.
Form the APA Blog: "Writers using APA Style must strive to use language that is free of bias and avoid perpetuating prejudicial beliefs or demeaning attitudes in their writing."
Read more about citation bias:
Court cases have the following elements:
Title or name of case (e.g. Plessy v. Ferguson)
Citation (the volume and page in reporters, or books where case decisions are published)
Jurisdiction of the court
Date of decision
URL (optional)
US SUPREME COURT
Name v. Name, Volume # U.S. Page # (Year). URL
US CIRCUIT COURT
Name v. Name, Volume # F. [or F.2d, F.3d] Page # (Court Year). URL
US DISTRICT COURT
Name v. Name, Volume # F. Supp. Page # (Court Year). URL
US DISTRICT COURT
Name v. Name, Volume # F. Supp. Page # (Court Year). URL
See The OWL at Purdue for more formatting information. Check Cornell University's LII for more information on Reporters and Court abbreviations.
Statues are laws and acts that have been passed. Citing statutes require the following elements:
FEDERAL AND STATE STATUTES
Name of the act, Title # Source § Section # (Year). URL
See The OWL at Purdue or Cornell University's LII for more information on citing statutes
There are many types of additional, legal materials that can use APA style for citing. Some examples include the following. For specific examples, reach out to a librarian, ask in our chat, or click on the Additional Resources tab.
EXECUTIVE ORDER
Exec. Order No. #####, 3 C.F.R. Page (Year). URL
PATENT
Inventor, A. A. (Year patent issued). Title of patent (U.S. Patent No. ###). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. URL
ARTICLE OF A CONSTITUTION
U.S. Const. art. ###, § x.
UN TREATY OR CONVENTION
Name of Treaty or Convention, Month Day, Year, URL
Most legal research uses the Bluebook citation style. Check out the following for additional sources on how to cite using Bluebook: