How to cite constitutions, regulations, court rules and Restatements

Cite the federal Constitution as U.S. Const., then the part you mean: art. for an article, amend. for an amendment, § for a section and cl. for a clause, separated by commas and all in lowercase (Rule 11; Bluepages B11): U.S. Const. art. I, § 8, cl. 3, or U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 1.

The Bluebook's examples number articles and amendments in Roman numerals (art. III, amend. XIV) and sections and clauses in Arabic numerals (§ 2, cl. 1). Some school guides print art. 1, so if your class takes either, follow it; Roman numerals match every example in the book.

Leave the date off a provision that is still in force. For one that has been repealed or amended, say so in a parenthetical: U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933). A state constitution takes the state's abbreviation, then Const.: Cal. Const. art. I, § 7.

After the first cite, id. is the only short form a constitution takes: Id. amend. XIV, § 2. In your own sentences, name the part in words and capitalize it: the Fourteenth Amendment, Article I, Section 8 (Rule 8(c)).

• U.S. Const. Amend. 14.U.S. Const. amend. XIV.Amend. is lowercase, and the examples use Roman numerals. R 11
• U.S. Const. art. I, sec. 8, cl. 3.U.S. Const. art. I, § 8, cl. 3.A section takes §. R 11
• U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 1 (1868).U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 1.A provision still in force takes no date. R 11

Cite a federal regulation to the Code of Federal Regulations when you can: the title number, C.F.R., § and the section, and the year of the C.F.R. edition you used (Rule 14.2; Bluepages B14): 40 C.F.R. § 52.21 (2025). For a whole part, write pt.: 40 C.F.R. pt. 52 (2025).

The year is required, unlike a current U.S. Code cite, which may leave it off. Each title is reissued once a year, so cite the latest edition that contains your section.

A rule not yet in the C.F.R., or one you cite as first published, goes to the Federal Register: the rule's name, the volume, Fed. Reg., the first page and the exact date. If the Federal Register says where the rule will be codified, add it: Fees for the Administration of the Toxic Substances Control Act, 89 Fed. Reg. 12,961 (Feb. 21, 2024) (to be codified at 40 C.F.R. pt. 700).

Later, use id. when it fits, or a short form that clearly identifies the regulation: 40 C.F.R. § 52.23, or § 52.23 (Rule 14.6). State regulations follow table T1.3: Cal. Code Regs. tit. 2, § 22999 (2024).

• 40 C.F.R. § 52.21.40 C.F.R. § 52.21 (2025).A regulation takes the year of its C.F.R. edition. R 14.2
• 40 CFR 52.21 (2025).40 C.F.R. § 52.21 (2025).C.F.R. takes periods, and the section takes §. R 14.2
• 40 C.F.R. § 52.21 (Jan. 1, 2025).40 C.F.R. § 52.21 (2025).Only the year of the edition goes in the parenthetical. R 14.2

Cite a federal rule by its rule set's abbreviation and the rule number, with no § (Rule 12.9.3; Bluepages B12.1.3): Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6), Fed. R. Crim. P. 11, Fed. R. Evid. 403, Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(1)(A). A rule currently in force takes no date.

FRCP and FRE are shorthand from class notes, not citation form. In your own sentences, Rule 12(b)(6) is fine once the reader knows which rules you mean; until then, write Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6).

• FRCP 12(b)(6).Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6).Cite the rule set by its abbreviation, not an acronym. R 12.9.3
• Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) (2024).Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6).A rule in force takes no date. R 12.9.3
• Fed. R. Evid. § 403.Fed. R. Evid. 403.A rule takes its number alone. R 12.9.3

Name the series in words in parentheses, then the subject and the section, and end with the institute and the year the volume was published (Rule 12.9.4; Bluepages B12.1.3): Restatement (Second) of Torts § 402A (A.L.I. 1965). A comment follows the section: § 402A cmt. c.

The institute's abbreviation depends on the edition: A.L.I. in the 22nd, Am. L. Inst. in the 21st. A Restatement takes id. or another short form that clearly identifies it, never supra.

In law review footnotes, the Constitution, court rules and Restatements are set in large and small capitals: U.S. CONST. amend. XIV.

• Restatement (Second) of Torts § 402A (Am. L. Inst. 1965).Restatement (Second) of Torts § 402A (A.L.I. 1965).The 22nd edition writes A.L.I. R 12.9.4
• Restatement 2d of Torts § 402A (A.L.I. 1965).Restatement (Second) of Torts § 402A (A.L.I. 1965).Name the series in words, in parentheses. R 12.9.4
• Restatement (Second) of Torts § 402A (1965).Restatement (Second) of Torts § 402A (A.L.I. 1965).The institute goes in the parenthetical. R 12.9.4