Bluebook Citation 101 -- Academic Format

Rule 11 of The Bluebook (22d ed. 2025) covers the citation of Constitutions.

Elements

The citation should include the following:

• U.S. or the abbreviated name of the state (see T. 10 and use small cap font)
• Const. (use small cap font)
• Abbreviate any subdivisions per Table 16

Constitutions in Online Databases

Follow the above rules but add a parenthetical identifying the publisher (or editor or compiler), database and its currency

Examples

U.S. Const. amend. XIII, § 1.

Ohio Const. art. I.

Ohio Const. art. 1 (LexisNexis, Lexis+ current through 2022 general election).

Rule 12 of The Bluebook (22d ed. 2025) covers the citation of statutes.Cite the official federal code. Citation to official state codes is preferred but not required.

Elements

• Name and original section number as it appears in the session laws (only if the statute is commonly cited that way)
  • Omit the word "The" as the 1st word
  • Include the year if it is in the official title
  • Official or popular names can be used
• Title, Chapter, or Volume (see  T. 1, 1.3) 
  • If each title, chapter or volume contains differently numbered sections or paragraphs than you can omit the volume, chapter, or title
  • If a subject matter rather than title, volume, or chapter are used, use the subject matter instead (see T. 1.3)
• Code (cite to the official federal code, official state code if possible) (small cap font)
• Section
• Publisher, editor or compiler (unless the code is published by or under the supervision of government officials)
• Year (optional for federal codes) (on spine or title page if available, otherwise year on title page, and if not that, the copyright year)
• Supplements (see Rule 3.1 to cite any material appearing in supplements)

Examples:

42 U.S.C.§ 1983.

8 U.S.C. §§ 1187-89.

Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3503.06 (West 2007).

Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3503.06 (LexisNexis 2009).

Citing to Online Codes -- Rule 12.5 and 18.3:

If citing to a statute that is available on a commercial online service such as Lexis or Westlaw, follow the above rules but also give the name of the publisher, editor or compiler; the name of the database; and the currency of code.

Examples:

Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3503.06 (Page's, Lexis+ through File 11 of the 136th General Assembly (2025-2026)).

Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3503.06 (Baldwin's, Westlaw Precision through through File 11 of the 136th General Assembly (2025-2026) and 2025 Statewide Issue 2 (May election)(2024 H.J.R. No. 8)).

Rule 12.4 of The Bluebook (22d ed. 2025) covers the citation of session laws. Table 1 should also be consulted. Generally, cite to session laws if the codified version is unavailable or you need to cite to the historical session law. The citation should include the following:

Elements

• Title of Act
  • Use official or popular name if one exists and omit "The" as the 1st word of a statute's name.
  • Otherwise identify the act with the date of enactment or if that is unavailable, the date of effectiveness (abbreviated per T. 12)
• Volume (if no volume, give the year)
• Abbreviated name of session law publication (see  T. 1)
  • If citing state session laws, begin the title of the session law publication with the abbreviated state name (T. 10) regardless of whether the state is part of the publication title.
• Pages and sections (if pinpoint citing give the beginning page and the relevant page to which you are citing)
• Year of enactment (if no date of enactment, use effective date)
• Codification information (as a parenthetical)

Examples:

Immigration and Nationality Act, Pub. L. No. 82-414, § 101, 66 Stat. 163, 167 (1952) (codified as amended at 8 U.S.C. § 1101).

Act of Dec. 31, 1996, Pub. Act 89-685, 1996 Ill. Laws 685 (codified as amended at 735 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/3-107).

Act of Apr. 12, 1994, § 2, 1993-1994 Ohio Laws 6546, 6548-50.

Am. S. B. No. 47, 2013 Ohio Legis. Serv. Ann. L-13, L-23 (West) (codified as amended at Ohio Rev. Stat. § 3503.06).

Am. S. B. No. 47, 2013 Ohio Legis. Bull. 24, 39, (Lexis) (codified as amended at Ohio Rev. Stat. § 3503.06).