How to cite a model / uniform act, restatement
Bluebook (22d ed.) citation format · B12.1.3 / R12.9.4–12.9.5 · Statutes & legislation
Example
U.C.C. § 2-313 (A.L.I. & Unif. L. Comm’n 1977).
More examples
Each of these is checked against the rules on every change to the tool.
- U.C.C. §§ 2-313, 2-314 (A.L.I. & Unif. L. Comm’n 1977).
- Model Penal Code § 223.6 note on status of section (A.L.I., Proposed Official Draft 1962).
- Restatement (Second) of Conflict of L. § 305 cmt. b, illus. 1 (A.L.I. 1977).
- Restatement (Second) of Contracts § 90 (A.L.I. 1981).
- Unif. Adoption Act § 10, 9 U.L.A. 45 (1988).
What the citation needs
Required
None.
When they apply
- Act / code — The uniform act, model code or restatement. Choose “Other” to type a name (R12.9.4; R12.9.5).
- Name (when “Other”) — The name, when the act is not in the list.
- Section(s) — comma-separated — The section cited (R3.3).
- Subdivision / note — The article, section or paragraph cited, abbreviated per T16 (“art.”, “§”, “¶”).
- Promulgating body — The body that issued the document.
- Draft designation — R12.9.5: an unadopted draft names its status and year.
- Status — Where the matter stands, when the rule asks for it.
- Year — The year that goes in the date parenthetical at the end of the citation.
- U.L.A. volume — For a uniform act, the volume of Uniform Laws Annotated (U.L.A.) it is printed in.
- U.L.A. page — The page of that U.L.A. volume.
- U.L.A. year — The year of that U.L.A. volume or its supplement.
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)
U.C.C. § 2-313 (A.L.I. & Unif. L. Comm’n 1977).
Law review footnotes (Whitepages)
U.C.C. § 2-313 (A.L.I. & Unif. L. Comm’n 1977).
The words are the same in both; only the typeface changes.
Common mistakes
Each of these is a citation the checker refuses, with what it says is wrong and the corrected form.
Wrong
U.C.C. §§ 2-313 (A.L.I. & Unif. L. Comm’n 1977).
Why
Use “§” (R3.3(b)).
Right
U.C.C. § 2-313 (A.L.I. & Unif. L. Comm’n 1977).
Wrong
U.C.C. § 2-313, 2-314 (A.L.I. & Unif. L. Comm’n 1977).
Why
Use “§§” (R3.3(b)).
Right
U.C.C. §§ 2-313, 2-314 (A.L.I. & Unif. L. Comm’n 1977).
Wrong
Model Penal Code §§ 223.6 note on status of section (A.L.I., Proposed Official Draft 1962).
Why
Use “§” (R3.3(b)).
Right
Model Penal Code § 223.6 note on status of section (A.L.I., Proposed Official Draft 1962).
Wrong
Restatement (Second) of Conflict of L. §§ 305 cmt. b, illus. 1 (A.L.I. 1977).
Why
Use “§” (R3.3(b)).
Right
Restatement (Second) of Conflict of L. § 305 cmt. b, illus. 1 (A.L.I. 1977).
Governing rules
B12.1.3 / R12.9.4–12.9.5
- 12.9.4 — model codes, principles, restatements, standards, sentencing guidelines & uniform acts.
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
Statutes & legislation: