Legal Citation Interpretation and Access

Library Research Guide

The legal citation, which is always written in a standard form, tells you precisely where the law/Case is located.

Constitution

• The Constitution of the United States of America
Citation:
• U.S. Const. Art. I, §8, cl. 5. (“The Constitution of the United States”, Article 1, Section 8, clause 5)
• U.S. Const. amend. XIV, §2. (Amendment XIV to the Constitution of the United States, Section2)
Access:
• Print: The Constitution of the United States of America (JK31.D8)
• Internet: http://www.access.gpo.gov/congress/senate/constitution/
• Database: Campus Research -- formerly Westlaw Campus -- (Annotated Version)

• Constitution of Alabama
Citation:
• Ala. Const. of 1875, art. IX, §2 (“Constitution of Alabama 1875”, Article 9, Section 2)
Access:
• Print: Constitution of Alabama 1901(KFA401 1901.A4 1966)
• Internet: http://www.legislature.state.al.us/misc/history/constitutions/constitutions.html
• Database: Campus Research -- formerly Westlaw Campus

Statutes

• United States Code
Citation:
• 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (Title 42, United States Code, Section 1983)
Access:
• Print: United States Code (REF KF62.A1 1958)
• Internet: http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/
• Database: Campus Research -- formerly Westlaw Campus -- (Annotated Version)

• Statutes at Large
Citation:
• Pub. L. No. 91-190, 83 Stat. 852 (Public Law, 91^st Congress, Number 190, Volume 83, Statutes at Large, Page 852)
Access:
• Print: Statutes at Large (REF KF50.U5)
• Internet: http://thomas.loc.gov (From 93^rd Congress to date)
• Database: Campus Research -- formerly Westlaw Campus<

• Code of Alabama
Citation:
• Ala. Code 1975 §16-3-35 (Code of Alabama 1975, Title 16, Chapter3, section35)
Access:
• Print: Code of Alabama (REF KFA30 1975.A2)
• Internet: http://www.legislature.state.al.us/CodeofAlabama/1975/coatoc.htm
• Database: Campus Research -- formerly Westlaw Campus

• Bills
Citation:
• H.R. 1264, 100^th Cong. (1987) (House of congress---Representative, the number of the bill---1264, 100^th Congress, the year---1987)
Access:
• Microfiche: House and Senate Bills (KF16.U5x)
• Internet: http://thomas.loc.gov/ (101 Congress to date)
• Database: Campus Research -- formerly Westlaw Campus -- (2001 to date)

• Hearings
Citation:
• 5 Hearings Before the House Comm. On Ways and Means on Comprehensive Tax Reform, 99^th Cong. 25 (1985) (Volume or part number---5, House of Congress—House, Name of the Committee---Ways and Means, Subject matter title---Comprehensive Tax Reform, the number of the congress---99^th Cong., local page reference---25, the year---1985)
Access:
• Print: Check library catalog
• Internet: http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/househrgs/ (99^th Congress to date)
• The Alabama House of Representatives http://www.legislature.state.al.us/house/house.html

• Citation:
• Knighten V. Commissioner, 702 F.2d 59 (Name of the case---Knighten V. Commisioner, published source---Volume 702 Federal Reporter 2^nd Series Page 59)

• Access:
• Print: Federal Reporter (F.) (REF KF105.F42), United States Reports (U.S.) (REF KF 101.U52)
• Internet: http://www.findlaw.com/casecode/courts
• Database: Campus Research -- formerly Westlaw Campus