How to cite a Federal Register notice
Bluebook (22d ed.) citation format · B14 / R14.2(a) · Regulations & agencies
Example
Importation of Fruits and Vegetables, 60 Fed. Reg. 50379, 50381 (Sep. 29, 1995) (to be codified at 7 C.F.R. pts. 300, 319).
More examples
Each of these is checked against the rules on every change to the tool.
- Control of Air Pollution from New Motor Vehicles and New Motor Vehicle Engines, 56 Fed. Reg. 9754 (proposed Mar. 7, 1991) (to be codified at 40 C.F.R. pt. 86).
- Gen. Dynamics Corp., 50 Fed. Reg. 45949 (U.S. Dep’t of Lab. Nov. 5, 1985).
What the citation needs
Required
- Rule or notice name — The source’s name, as the rule for this type gives it.
- Volume — The volume number, which comes before the reporter, code or periodical name.
- First page — The page the source begins on. The page you are citing goes in the pincite.
- Date — The date the rule for this source calls for, with the month abbreviated per T12 (“Nov. 24, 1978”).
When they apply
- Issuing agency — The agency that issued it.
- Status — Where the matter stands, when the rule asks for it.
- Pincite — The exact page (or section, or paragraph) your point is on — not the first page. R1.2(f): pincites are required except after “see generally”.
- Codification parenthetical — Where the rule will appear in the C.F.R.: “to be codified at 7 C.F.R. pts. 300, 319”.
- Explanatory parenthetical — An explanatory parenthetical: what the source says or holds, in a phrase (R1.5).
- Database citation — A commercial-database citation, where the source is cited to one — “2010 WL 12345”.
In a brief and in a law review
The Bluebook sets citations two ways: the Bluepages for court documents and legal memoranda, the Whitepages for law review footnotes. Here is the first example above as each one prints it, in its typeface.
Court documents (Bluepages)
Importation of Fruits and Vegetables, 60 Fed. Reg. 50379, 50381 (Sep. 29, 1995) (to be codified at 7 C.F.R. pts. 300, 319).
Law review footnotes (Whitepages)
Importation of Fruits and Vegetables, 60 Fed. Reg. 50379, 50381 (Sep. 29, 1995) (to be codified at 7 C.F.R. pts. 300, 319).
For this source the two are set the same way.
Common mistakes
Each of these is a citation the checker refuses, with what it says is wrong and the corrected form.
Wrong
Importation of Fruits and Vegetables, 60 Fed. Reg. 50379, 50381 (1995) (to be codified at 7 C.F.R. pts. 300, 319).
Why
Give the full date of the rule or regulation, e.g. “Sep. 29, 1995” (R14.2(a)).
Right
Importation of Fruits and Vegetables, 60 Fed. Reg. 50379, 50381 (Sep. 29, 1995) (to be codified at 7 C.F.R. pts. 300, 319).
Wrong
Control of Air Pollution from New Motor Vehicles and New Motor Vehicle Engines, 56 Fed. Reg. 9754 (1991) (to be codified at 40 C.F.R. pt. 86).
Why
Give the full date of the rule or regulation, e.g. “Sep. 29, 1995” (R14.2(a)).
Right
Control of Air Pollution from New Motor Vehicles and New Motor Vehicle Engines, 56 Fed. Reg. 9754 (proposed Mar. 7, 1991) (to be codified at 40 C.F.R. pt. 86).
Wrong
Gen. Dynamics Corp., 50 Fed. Reg. 45949 (U.S. Dep’t of Lab. 1985).
Why
Give the full date of the rule or regulation, e.g. “Sep. 29, 1995” (R14.2(a)).
Right
Gen. Dynamics Corp., 50 Fed. Reg. 45949 (U.S. Dep’t of Lab. Nov. 5, 1985).
Governing rules
B14 / R14.2(a)
- 14.2 — federal regulations (C.F.R.).
- 14.2(a) — final rules & regulations (C.F.R.; Federal Register).
Build this citation with the generator, check one you have already written, or paste a whole list of footnotes to check them in order.
Related source types
Regulations & agencies: