Statutes are published in books called codes, which present laws for a particular jurisdiction arranged by subject.
Many codes are published in two editions – the official edition and an annotated edition with notes about related cases and articles.
Statute citations have a volume, the name of the cited code, a section, and a date:
Example: 42 U.S.C. § 7706(a) (1994).
- 42 = Volume that contains the statue
- U.S.C. = Abbreviation for the code
- 7706(a) = Section of the code being cited
- 1994 = Year the code volume was published
UNITED STATES CODE
42 U.S.C. § 7706(a) (1994).
UNITED STATES CODE ANNOTATED (WEST GROUP)
42 U.S.C.A. § 7706(a) (West 2006).
TEXAS STATUTES
Tex. Penal Code § 19.02 (1994).
Tex. Bus. & Com. § 9.109 (2001).
Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. § 1446.01 (1997)
VERNON’S TEXAS CODES ANNOTATED (WEST GROUP)
Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 19.02 (Vernon 2003).
Tex. Bus. & Com. Ann. § 9.109 (Vernon 2002).
Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. § 1446.01 (Vernon 2003).
The original text of a law is called a public law or session law. Session laws are published in these sources.
PUBLIC LAWS (U.S.)
Act of Nov. 25, 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-296, 116 Stat. 2135.
UNITED STATES CODE CONGRESSIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE NEWS
Homeland Security Act of 2002, Pub. L. No. 107-296, 2002 U.S.C.C.A.N. (116 Stat.) 2135.
VERNON’S TEXAS SESSION LAW SERVICE
Act of May 8, 2007, ch. 1, § 1, 2007 Tex. Sess. Law Serv. 5 (West).
If you only consult the Internet version, provide the traditional citation for the print source and the link for the Internet version:
Tex. Penal Code § 19.02 (1994), http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/SOTWDocs/PE/htm/ PE.19.62069.53391.htm#62071.53392.