Legal
Citations &
Quotations—
Focus on U.S.
& PRC
Sources
1
Outline
•
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•
3 Purposes of Citation
3 Elements of Citation
Where to Find the Citation Rules
Basic Guidelines for Citing PRC Sources
Constitutions
Statutes and Regulations
Periodicals
Cases
Internet Sources
Introductory Signals
Short-Form Citations
Formatting
Quotations
2
3 Purposes of Citation
1. LOCATOR INFO: Help the reader find
and verify the source of law or fact that
you cite.
E.g.:
8 U.S.C. § 1102(b) (2007).
3
2. AUTHORITY: Show how persuasive
the authority is for the proposition
stated.
E.g.: It is a copyright violation for a
blogger to copy an entire chapter of
another’s book. Smith v. Kline, 576 U.S.
713 (2007).
E.g.: It is a copyright violation for a
blogger to copy an entire chapter of
another’s book. See Steven Gould,
Copyright and the Internet, 63 Harv. L.
Rev. 713 (1986).
4
3. ATTRIBUTION = Fulfill the ethical
obligation to cite to another author if you
borrow her words or ideas.
E.g.: No state has a higher rate of high
school graduates than Michigan. Steven
Gould, Illiteracy Lingers, N.Y. Times, May
3, 2007, at A1.
5
• In other words, citation
is important to avoid
plagiarism. Plagiarism
disrespects the author
whose words or ideas
you borrow and
misrepresents to the
reader that the work is
your own.
6
3 Elements of a Citation
See
8 U.S.C. § 1101(b)
(2006)
(defining “child” for
purposes of the
Immigration and
Nationality Act).
Signal
Source or Authority
Parenthetical
Information
7
Where to Find the Citation Rules
Bluebook
For 75 years, the
standard.
• Prepared by Harv., Yale,
Colum., Penn. students.
• Revised every 5 years.
• Available for purchase in
BJ at www.wells.org.cn
8857.8296
8
Can’t Afford the Book? Book
Checked out of the Library?
Introduction to Basic Legal
Citation
<http://www.law.cornell.edu/citation>
9
ALWD Citation Manual
10
Basic Guidelines for Citing PRC
Sources (T.2)
Use of Pinyin
For Chinese-language sources, write the
name in Pinyin and then write the English
translation in brackets.
• Shear jingji hetongfa [Law on Economic
Contracts Involving Foreign Interests]
• Lun yu [Analects]
11
The best sources for laws, judicial publications
and similar sources, are official government
sources.
If a reliable English translation is available,
either cite to it alone or cite to both Chinese & English
versions. This helps the English-speaking reader.
E.g.: She wai jing ji tong fa [Law on Economic Contracts
Involving Foreign Interest] (promulgated by the
Standing Comm. Nat’l People’s Cong., Mar. 21, 1985,
effective July 1, 1985), 1985 Fa Gui Hui Bian 321
(repealed 1999), translated in Isinolaw (last visited
Nov. 18, 2004).
12
What if you use a quote from a Chinese source
that you have translated yourself?
At the end of the citation, just write “(my
translation)”:
Xu Xun, Zhongguo Xinwen Qinquan Jiufen Sisici
Langchao [The Fourth Wave of China’s News Tort
Disputes] 22, 24 (2002) (my translation).
You don’t need to write “my translation” if you are
merely paraphrasing the source.
13
Constitutions
1. U.S. Const. art. III, § 4, cl. 2.
2. U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 2.
3. Xian Fa [Constitution] art. 35, § 1 (2004)
(P.R.C.).
14
Statutes and Regulations
U.S. Code:
Title #
15 U.S.C. § 212 (2000).
Section
Year of cited code
edition (not year
act was passed)
15
U.S. Federal Session
Law:
Dep’t of
Transportation Act,
Pub. L. No. 89-670,
§ 9,
80 Stat. 931,
944-47
(1966).
Name of act
Public Law #
Pincite to section
of Public Law
Statutes at Large
citation
Pincite to Statutes
at Large pages
Year enacted
16
Federal Register (U.S.)
Title
Federal Acquisition
Regulations for
National Aeronautics
and Space
Administration,
55 Fed. Reg. 58,782
(Dec. 21, 1990)
Volume & Page # of
Fed. Reg.
Date
17
Code of Federal
Regulations (U.S.)
Title #
7
C.F.R.
§ 319.7
(1999)
Section
Date of code edition
cited.
18
PRC Law (法律):
Li fa fa [Law on Legislation]
art. 12
(promulgated by the Standing
Comm. Nat’l People’s Cong.,
Mar. 15, 2000,
effective July 1, 2000)
2000 Zhonghua Renmin
Gongheguo Quan Guo Renmin
Daibiao Da Hui Changwei Yuan
Hui Gong Bao [Standing Comm.
Nat’l People’s Cong. Gaz. ] 200.
Document name
Pincite
Promulgating
authority,
promulgation date,
effective date
Source volume,
name, pincite
within source.
19
Citations for other PRC “legal documents,”
such as those below, follow the same format
as for laws:
•
•
•
•
Administrative Regulations (xingzheng fagui)
Administrative Rules (xinzheng guizhang):
Local Regulations (difang fagui)
Local Administrative Rules (difang xingzheng
guizhang)
• Judicial Interpretation (sifa jieshi):
• Hong Kong Basic Law (xianggang jiben fa)
20
Guanyu Fabiao He Chuban
Youguan Dang He Guojia
Zhuyao Lingdaoren Gongzuo
He Shenghuo Qingkuang
Zuopin de Buchong Guiding
[Supplementary Rules
Regarding Distribution and
Publication of Work
Concerning the Life Situation
of Important Party and
National Leaders]
(promulgated by Zhongxang
Xuanchuan Bu [Central
Propaganda Dep’t], effective
Feb. 15, 1993), available at
http://www.people.com.cn/flfg
/9302.html
Document name in
Chinese
English translation
Pincite
Promulgating
authority &
promulgation date
Effective Date
Source
21
Baokan Kanzai Xujia Shishi
Baodao Chuli Banfa
[Provisions Regarding the
Handling of Publications that
Publish False or Inaccurate
Reports] arts. 2, 3
(promulgated by the Ge.
Admin. of Press and Publ’ns,
July 8, 1999, effective July 8,
1999), available at
http://www.people.com.cn/08
2756.html
Document name in
Chinese
English translation
Pincite
Promulgating
authority &
promulgation date
Effective Date
Source
(P.R.C.) if needed
for clarity
22
Books
2
Richard H. Fallon
& Liu Mingli,
Trial and Error
59
(7th ed.
1998).
Volume (if multivolume
work)
Author’s full names per
publication (“&”
between 2 authors; for
more, use 1st author’s
name “et al.”)
Title (italicized)
Pincite to page or §
Parenthetical with year
published & edition # (if
23
any)
Book with Chinese
Title:
Xu Xun,
Zhongguo Xinwen
Qinquan Jiufen Sisici
Langchao
[The Fourth Wave of
China’s News Tort
Disputes] 22
(2002)
Pinyin title followed by
English translation in
brackets (italicized)
24
Periodicals
Nonconsecutively paginated
(e.g., most newspapers): each
issue begins at page 1.
Consecutively paginated (e.g.,
most l.rev.): For any given
volume, the 1st issue begins at
page 1, the 2nd issue begins
where the 1st left off, etc.
25
Periodicals—Consecutively Paginated
Kenneth R.
Feinberg,
Mediation—A
Preferred Method of
Dispute Resolution,
16
Pepp. L. Rev.
265,
279
(1989)
Authors
Title
Vol #
Periodical name
(abbreviated per T.13)
Page # where article
starts
Pincite
Year of publication
26
Wang Jiangyu,
Maimai Hetong Chengli De Yiban Guizi
Yu Guoji Maoyi Zhong de Geshi Zhi
Zhan
[The General Rules of the Formation of
Sale Contracts and the ‘Battle of Forms’
in International Trade],
8 Minshang Fa Luncong
[Civil and Commercial L. Rev.] 545
(1997).
27
Periodicals—Nonconsecutively Paginated
Kenneth R.
Feinberg,
Mediation—A
Preferred Method
of Dispute
Resolution,
N.Y. Times,
June 15, 1990,
at A1.
Date of publication as
shown on cover
Page #
28
Xu Xun,
Xinwen Qinquan Jiufen
De Disici Gaofeng Qi
[The Fourth Wave of
News Torts Disputes],
Zhongguo Qingnian
Bao [China Youth
Daily],
Feb. 11, 2002,
at 7.
Date of publication
as shown on cover
Page #
29
Cases
Basic style for U.S.:
Name of case
Smith v. Jones,
123 P.3d 554,
558
(N.M. Ct. App. 2004)
Source (volume,
reporter, start page)
Pincite
Name of ct & year of
decision
30
U.S. Supreme Court
• Jones v. Smith, 123 U.S. 512 (1982).
– Official Reporter: United States Reports
– Court omitted because obvious from
reporter.
31
U.S. Court of Appeals:
• Smith v. Jones, 123 F.3d 912 (7th Cir.
1992)
– Reporter: Federal Reporter (F., F.2d,
F.3d)
32
U.S. District Court:
1. Smith v. Jones, 123 F. Supp. 912 (D.
Idaho 1996)
2. Kelly v. Duran, 234 F. Supp. 123
(E.D.N.Y. 2003)
– Reporter: Federal Supplement (F.
Supp., F. Supp. 2d)
– How abbreviate state name? T.10
33
State Courts
Chaudhary v. Gen.
Motors Corp.,
649 P.2d 224
(Cal. Ct. App. 1982).
Case name
Reporter
State, Ct., Year
34
P.
N.W.
S.W.
N.E.
S.
S.E.
A.
35
Which Reporter to Cite?
•
•
•
•
Cite to West regional reporter if therein.
Otherwise, cite to state’s official reporter.
See T.2 for reporters by state.
Documents filed with state cts may require
“parallel citations,” but not necessary in
memos or scholarly writing.
36
Case Names
1. Case name in italics
2. Shorten case name by:
a. List only first party on each side of the “v.”
b. For individual, list only surname.
c. Abbreviate words per T.6, geographical
units per T.10, but never abbreviate
“United States” (i.e., the gov’t) if it is a
party).
3. E.g.: How would you write this case name?
Samuel Silverstein and Nettie Silverstein v.
37
United States Gypsum Company
Parenthetical Information
Smith v. Jones,
123 P.3d 554, 558
(N.M. Ct. App. 2004)
(Katz, J., dissenting),
rev’d, 125 P.3d 558
(N.M. 2005).
Dissenting or
concurring
Subsequent history of
case (rev’d, aff’d).
38
PRC Case Format:
Zhong Tian Int'l Co. v.
Shanghai Bi Chun Trade
Dev’p Co.,
31 Zhonghua Renmin
Gongheguo Zui Gao
Renmin Fayuan Gong Bao
[Sup. People’s Ct. Gaz.] 70,
May 30, 1992,
at 26
(Sup. People’s Ct.,
April 13, 1992).
Case Name
Source
Pincite
Court
Date of decision
39
Internet sources
Format the citation like the analogous
offline source (e.g., case or periodical).
Append the complete URL at the end of the
citation.
Douglas Gantenbein,
Mad Cows Come Home,
Slate,
Jan. 5, 2004,
http://slate.msn.com/id/2093
9.pdf.
Slate is like an
online periodical,
so use similar
format.
40
If there is no “analogous” offline source (e.g.,
blog, company homepage), format like this:
Stella Smith,
Review of The
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the
Galaxy
12
(Sept. 29, 2005),
http://www.moviereviews.c
om/10465.pdf.
Author
Title
Pincite (if any)
Date
URL
41
Show “last visited” date if Internet material is
undated:
Du Shugui Yu Ri Bei Tiqi Gongsu
[Public Prosecution Commenced
Against Du Shugui],
Minzhu Luntan [Democratic
Forum],
http://www.asiademo.org/123b.htm
(last visited Oct. 7, 2006).
42
Don’t cite just to the Internet for a source
widely available in print, but parallel citations
OK:
Marcel Kahan, Corporate
Constitutionalism, 152 U.
Pa. L. Rev. 345 (2003),
available at
http://ssrn.com/abstract=
416605.
Indicates
second way
to locate the
source.
43
Introductory Signals
(Bluebook Rule 1.2)
A signal sends a shorthand message to the
reader about the relationship between the
proposition stated and the source cited.
•Indicate support: [no signal], see, cf.
•Indicate contradiction: contra, but see, but cf.
44
•Sometimes e.g. tags along.
[no signal]
Use [no signal] if source directly states the proposition
of the text or to identify the source of a quotation.
Example 1: New York does not recognize a common
law right to privacy.72
---------------------72
Roberson v. Smith….
Example 2: “Educational segregation deprives minority
children of equal educational opportunities.”73
--------------73 Brown v. Board of Educ….
45
See
Use see where the source stands for the
proposition of preceding sentence but not
explicitly. Parenthetical explanation usually helpful.
Example 1: Utah does not recognize a
common law right to privacy.44
------------------44 See
Stevens v. Jones … (complaint
seeking damages for unauthorized publicity
of plaintiff’s portrait dismissed for failure to
state a claim).
46
Example 2: Because Jones did not act
intentionally or recklessly, she is not guilty of
criminal contempt.22
------22 See Yellow v. Orange, 100 F. Supp. 58
(S.D.N.Y. 1951).
47
Example 3: A conference of this type does not
constitute a “meeting” under the Sunshine
Law.13
-------------------13 See Mitchell v. Sch. Bd. of Leon Cty. …
(holding the Sunshine Law inapplicable to
meetings between the superintendent and
the school board’s attorney).
48
Cf.
Cf. means "compare." Use it with authorities that
support your proposition by analogy or
demonstrate a related point. Include an
explanatory parenthetical.
Example 1: Racial segregation in public schools
violates the Fourteenth Amendment.13
-------------------13 Brown
v. Board of Educ…. Cf. Bolling v. Sharpe
… (holding that segregation in District of Columbia
schools also violates Fifth Amendment).
49
Example 2: NPC’s powers include the
authority to enact all "basic laws" (jiben fa).22
-------------------22 Xian Fa, supra note 8, art. 62. cf. Perry
Keller, Legislation in the People's Republic
of China, 23 U. Brit. Colum. L. Rev. 653, 661
(1989) (stating that although "basic law" is
not defined in China's constitution, "[i]t is
generally accepted as referring to statutes...
which have a fundamental effect on the
whole of society").
50
Contra
Opposite of “[no signal].” Cited authority directly
states the contrary of the proposition.
Example: Boston University law students are the
most motivated students in the country.54
---------------54 See Ronald Cass, BU Rules, 83 B.U. L. Rev.
1009, 1010 (2003). Contra Joan Wexler, Brooklyn
Law Students Most Motivated in Country, 69
Brook. L. Rev. 345 (2003).
51
But see
Opposite of “see.” Cited authority directly contrary
to proposition but not explicitly.
Example: This type of conference does not
constitute a “meeting” under the Sunshine Law.22
---------22 But see Mitchell v. Sch. Bd. of Leon Cty., …
(holding the Sunshine Law applicable to meetings
between the superintendent and the school
board’s attorney).
52
But cf.
Opposite of “cf.” It signifies an authority that
supports a proposition analogous to the
contrary of the main proposition. Again, a
parenthetical explanation is “strongly
recommended.”
Example: Racial segregation in public schools
violates the Fourteenth Amendment.22
----------22Brown v. Board of Educ… But cf. Bolling v.
Sharpe (holding that segregation in District of
Columbia schools does not violate Fifth
Amendment).
53
E.g. may tag along
E.g. can be used with any other signal.
Most state statutes require that the defendant
act intentionally or recklessly.22 A defendant,
therefore, should not be guilty if he acted
negligently.23
---------22See, e.g., N.Y. Penal Law § 50 (McKinney
1980); Or. Rev. Stat. § 32 (1985).
23See, e.g., Blue v. Green, 400 F.2d 12 (7th Cir.
1972) (defendant “just careless”); Gold v.
Brass, 394 F.2d 42 (D.C. Cir. 1971) (defendant
“merely inadvertent”).
54
Short Form Citations
“Id.”(Bluebook Rule 4.1)
• Use “id.” when citing the immediately
preceding authority:
[text] Chalfin v. Specter, 233 A.2d 562 (Pa.
1967). [text] Id. at 563.
55
for Cases
• Long citation: Palsgraf v. Long Island R.R.
Co., 162 N.E. 99 (N.Y. 1928)
• Short form citations:
1. Id. at 101 (only to refer to immediately
preceding authority).
2. Palsgraf, 162 N.E. at 101 (use first
party’s name as long as not a
common litigant).
56
for Books & Periodicals
• Id. at 32 (immediately following full cite)
• Levin, supra note 10, at 95 (not immediately
following). If the piece you are writing doesn’t
use footnotes, delete the words “note 10”.
(“Ibid.” is used in Australia and Canada, but
is not Bluebook style.)
57
Formatting
Spacing for Abbreviations (6.1(a))
• Close up all adjacent single capitals or single
capitals and numbers: N.W., S.D.N.Y., P.2d
• Don’t close up single capitals with longer
abbreviations: D._Mass., F._Supp., S._Ct.
• In periodical names, close up adjacent capitals,
except set off those referring to place or
institution: B.C._L._Rev., N.Y.U._L._Rev.
58
Section
•
•
•
•
§ = section; §§ = sections.
In citations, use the “§” symbol.
In the text, spell out “section.”
Note the spacing: 8 U.S.C.•§•4-21-8.
59
Pinpoint Cites for Multiple Pages or FNs
(Bluebook Rule 3.3(d))
1. Spanning multiple pages: 426 U.S. 529,
531-546
2. Nonconsecutive pages: 436 U.S. 529,
531, 533
3. Footnote: 436 U.S. 529, 531 n.90.
4. Multiple footnotes: 436 U.S. 529, nn.9091
5. Page & footnote on different page: 436
U.S. 529, 531 & 533 n.90
60
Capitalization in Headings & Titles
(Bluebook rule 8)
• Capitalize the initial word
• Capitalize the word immediately following a
colon
• Capitalize all other words except
– Articles (a, an, the)
– Conjunctions (connect words, clauses, or sentences)
of 4 or fewer letters (so that, as long as, as if, and,
but, or, for, of, both … and, who, that…)
– Prepositions (link verb/noun with another) of 4 or
fewer letters (at, by, from, in, into, of, on, to, with…)
61
Related Authority
(Bluebook Rule 1.6(d))
• What if you want to cite Source A, which in turn
cites or discusses Source B?
• Always take a look at Source B yourself to make
sure it is accurately described in Source A.
• Write the citation like either of the following:
• 21 U.S.C. § 61 (1994), quoted in Milnot Co. v.
Richardson, 350 F. Supp. 221 (S.D. Ill. 1972).
• Milnot Co. v. Richardson, 350 F. Supp. 221
(S.D. Ill. 1972) (quoting 21 U.S.C. § 61
(1994)).
62
Quotations
63
Accuracy Counts!
• Quote accurately, including spelling,
capitalization, punctuation.
64
Short Quotations
• If quotation < 50 words, place in double
quotation marks, but do not set if off from
the text.
65
Punctuation in Short Quotes
• Place periods and commas inside the quotation
marks – even if they are not part of the original
quotation.
• Place all other punctuation outside of the
quotation marks unless the punctuation is part
of the original quotation.
66
Longer Quotations
If a quotation is >= 50 words, it should be
block-indented and single-spaced.
1. Do not use quotation marks at the beginning or
the end of the block quotation.
2. The block quote should be separated from text
(above and below) by a double space.
3. The indentation should be one tab on both the
right and the left.
4. The citation is not part of the block quote.
67
Longer Quotations
• Retain the paragraphing of the original
source. In other words, further indent the
first line of a ¶.
68
Quotations within Quotations:
Short Quotations
• Use single quotation marks to
designate a quotation within a
quotation in a short quotation.
–“The court held that the
defendant was ‘completely out of
order.’”
69
Quotations within Quotations
Longer Quotations
• Use double quotation marks to designate a
quotation within a quotation in a block indented
quotation.
– The court held that the unruly defendant was
“completely out of order” when the defendant
banged his fists on the table and yelled
several obscenities in the jury’s direction.
Because of the defendant’s conduct, and
refusal to stop when asked, the court held the
defendant in criminal contempt of court.
70
Altering Quoted Material
• Enclose an altered letter in square brackets
– Original = “The court held”
– Modified = Moreover, “[t]he court held”
– Original = “In the latter event, the court held”
– Modified = “[T]he court held”
71
Adding, Changing, or Deleting One
or More Letters
• Enclose added, changed, or deleted
material in square brackets.
– Original = state
– Modified = state[d]
• Indicate an omission of one or more letters
by inserting empty brackets.
– Original = stated
– Modified = state[ ]
72
Substituting or Adding Words:
• Instead of altering one letter, it sometimes
makes more sense just to replace the
entire word.
• If you substitute or add words to a
quotation, enclose those words in square
brackets.
– Original = “The court held for Mr. Jamison.”
– Modified = “The court held for [the
defendant].”
73
Altering Typeface
• If you add or delete italics, say so in a
parenthetical that follows the citation.
– (emphasis added).
– (emphasis omitted).
– (second emphasis added).
74
Mistakes within Original Quoted
Material
• Original material may contain mistakes, such as
spelling and grammatical errors.
– You may [correct] all mistakes and place
square brackets around the corrections you
made.
– You may uze [sic] to note the error appears in
the original.
75
Omissions within Quoted Material:
• Use an ellipsis to indicate the omission of one or
more words (^.^.^.^ ).
– ^ = one space
– Note the space before the first period.
– Space after last period unless followed by a close
quotation mark: . . .”
76
When Not to Use an Ellipsis
• Do not use an ellipsis before or after a quote that
is obviously incomplete sentence (i.e., there is
text on either side of the quoted material) in the
context in which it is used.
– The Supreme Court held that while “students are
entitled to freedom of expression of their views,” they
may not engage in a type of expression that
materially and substantially interferes with schoolwork
or discipline.
77
Beginning a Quotation
• Original = “But, in our system,
undifferentiated fear or apprehension”
• Modified correctly = “[I]n our system,
undifferentiated fear or apprehension”
• Do not use an ellipsis at the beginning of
your sentence. Not: “. . . [I]n our system,
undifferentiated fear or apprehension”
78
No Ellipses - Continued
• Do not use an ellipsis at the end of a block
quotation that concludes with a
grammatically complete sentence.
• Do not use an ellipsis to indicate the
omission of a footnote or citation.
– However, this type of omission should be
noted in a parenthetical after the citation.
– Smith v. Jones, 145 F.3d 1, 5 (2d Cir.
1999) (footnote omitted).
79
Using Ellipses
• When the end of a quoted sentence is
omitted, insert an ellipsis and the final
punctuation.
80
Example
• Original sentence: We hold today that
the Sixth Amendment's right of an accused
to confront the witnesses against him is
likewise a fundamental right and is made
obligatory on the States by the Fourteenth
Amendment.
• Omissions: “[T]he Sixth Amendment’s
right of an accused to confront the witness
against him is^.^.^.^a fundamental
81
right^.^.^.^.”^^
When the Quote Continues
• When the last word ends the quoted
sentence, do not use an ellipsis unless the
quotation continues. If the quotation does
continue, insert the ellipsis, then the final
punctuation.
• “Quoted sentence ends.^.^.^.^^One or
more sentences are deleted, and another
quoted sentence begins.”
82
Omitting One or More Paragraphs
• Place the ellipsis on its own line.
• Center the ellipsis.
• Put five spaces between each ellipsis
point.
.^^^^^.^^^^^.
83