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Sources for Student Publication Cite Checking

This LibGuide is to help students find the sources to do cite checking.

Federal Legislative Materials

Statutes: 

  • Are codified in the United States Code (U.S.C.)
    • The official version of the United States Code is published every six years with annual supplements. The last was published in 2018.
    • Government Printing Office's United States Code website, coverage from 1994 (authenticated pdf).
      • [Law Review note: in order to highlight and add notations - reprint the gpo pdf to pdf.]
    • Hein Online coverage from the 1925 edition (pdf of original).
    • In Library:
      • 2018 ed., 3rd Floor Law Library at KF 62 2018.
      • Previous editions, Richey Reading Room, Depository Collection, KF 62 [Year].

Public Laws (P.L.):

  • Published officially in the Statutes at Large (Stat.).
    • Hein Online coverage from volume 1 (pdf of original).
    • In Library:
      • 3rd Floor Law Library at KF 50.U5
  • Not yet published in the Statutes at Large: Slip law

Legislative History:

State Legislative Materials

Statutes:

  • Check the state’s official website (see the Federal and State websites tab). Remember to check if the State considers the online version to be an official version.
    • Example: Wisconsin has an official version of the State’s statutes available here.
  • Paper:
    • 1st Floor Law Library for the Ohio Revised Code
      • Baldwin's Ohio Revised Code Annotated (West)
      • Page's Ohio Revised Code Annotated (Lexis)

Public Laws

  • Check the state’s official website (see the Federal and State websites tab). Remember to check if the State considers the online version to be an official version.
Legislative History

 

  • Bills
    • Check the state’s official website (see the Federal and State Website tab). Remember to check if the State considers the online version to be an official version.
      • Example: An online official version none found.
    • For other legislative history materials, ask or email the Reference Desk for help.
  •  

Is the State's Official Legislative Materials Online?

The American Association of Law Libraries has gathered information about state online legal information. The site gives direct links and identifies characteristics of the online information such as if it is official, authenticate, and if copyrights.

Online Legal Information Resources (last updated 2022).