Federal statutes are among the most important sources of American law. Undergraduate legal researchers regularly encounter them when studying civil rights, labor law, voting rights, criminal justice, and constitutional questions.
This guide explains the essential components of a citation to the United States Code.
Understanding the United States Code
The United States Code, commonly abbreviated U.S.C., organizes the general and permanent laws of the United States by subject.
Each title addresses a broad area of federal law. For example:
- Title 17: Copyrights
- Title 26: Internal Revenue Code
- Title 29: Labor
- Title 42: Public Health and Welfare
Federal statutes may also be cited as public laws or through the Statutes at Large when the research requires those sources rather than the codified text.
Basic Federal Statute Citation
Title Number U.S.C. § Section Number.
Here's what the citation tells you:
| Component | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 42 | Title of the United States Code |
| U.S.C. | United States Code |
| § | Section symbol |
| 1983 | Section number |
- 42
- Title of the United States Code
- U.S.C.
- United States Code
- §
- Section symbol
- 1983
- Section number
Section 1983 is frequently discussed in civil rights litigation involving individuals acting under color of state law.
Additional Examples
This section establishes the statutory framework for fair use.
This section addresses minimum wage requirements under federal law.
This section concerns certain unlawful employment practices.
Do Federal Statute Citations Require a Year?
Under current Bluebook conventions, citations to federal codes generally do not require a publication year when citing the code itself.
However, when citing historical statutory language, electronic database versions, or other special sources, additional information may be required.
Always establish which version of a statute is relevant to your argument.
How to Cite Multiple Sections
When referring to several statutory sections, legal writers use the plural section symbol: §§
The double section symbol indicates that the citation refers to multiple sections rather than a single section.
Common Mistakes
Practice Exercise
What does the following citation identify?
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Answer: Section 107 of Title 17 of the United States Code.
Continue Learning
Visit the complete undergraduate citation guide or learn when to use Id. A tutorial on Supreme Court case citations is forthcoming.