Question

what is the correct APA format for referencing a piece of legislation?

Answer 1

Hi mawollenman,

Everything I have to say is from APA 6th ed . . . . . ..

Legislative acts follow the format stipulated by legal publishers - so that is the default.

Understand (that) There is a difference between how to cite Legislation and how to handle Reports, Constitutions, Laws, and Ordinances.

Court cases, including case names and the v are italized.

Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954).

If you find the info online, indicate where it was accessed. For example, at the end, put 'Retrieved from www.biglegalcases . . . .

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/583/03/

Also, if you end up using the purdue owl website, you'll need to cite that also. They tell you how on their First Page.

Best wishes.

Answer 2

Thank you so much for your help! The website you gave was helpful and said: The act or case is listed first, followed by volume number, abbreviated title, and the date of the work in which the act or case is found.

If I am taking about the Genetic Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA), how would I reference it?
It is: PUBLIC LAW 110–233—MAY 21, 2008 122 STAT. 881.

If I refer to the act as GINA in the rest on my paper, do I only use this format when introducing GINA or would I need to provide the same citation throughout my paper?

Answer 3

mawollenman,

You are very welcome. It sounds like you're off to a great start on your paper !

Whenever there is doubt, theeeee most important & best thing to do is have CONSISTENCY. In other words: make a decision & stick with it all the way thru the paper.

Example:
Telecommunications Act of 1996, Public Law 104-014, 110 U.S. Statutes at Large 56 (1996).

Yours:
Genetic Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, Public Law 110-233, 122 U.S. Statutes at Large 881 (2008).

Other points that will help you:
1. Pay attention to ev-er-y space and period in the citation. ie: dbl space before 122
2. This is a Law, not legislation (as defined for this use)
3. It is not customary to include the acronym (ie: GINA) in the References citation
4. You will address the 'GINA' issue the FIRST time you use the phrase 'Genetic Nondiscrimination Act of 2008' in your paper, by putting '(GINA)' after it. This is only after the point in the paper in which you do that, that it is okay to solely use the acronym 'GINA' in-text.

Peace.