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Federal Legislative History: Citations

Bluebook Citations

How to Cite to Committee Reports

Cite to the official version of a committee report, published by the US Government Printing Office (GPO). 

Where possible, the citation should include a parallel citation to the reports as republished in United States Code Congressional and Administrative News (USCCAN). 
See Bluebook Rule 13.4.

How to Cite to Floor Debates

Cite to the official transcript of floor debates published in the Congressional Record, Permanent Edition (bound) if already published.  Cite to the temporary Daily Edition of the Congressional Record (softbound) only if the Permanent Edition is not yet published.  Each has different pagination.  LexisNexis and Westlaw have only the Daily Edition.

See Bluebook Rule 13.5.

How to Cite to Committee Hearings

Cite to the official hearings transcript published by the Government Printing Office (GPO); cite recent unofficial hearings transcripts from the Federal Documents Clearing House (FDCH) or the Federal News Service (FNS) only if the official transcript is not yet published.   

See Bluebook Rule 13.3.

How to Cite to Bills and Resolutions

If enacted, cite to a bill as a statute, unless referring to its pre-enactment history.  If a bill failed to become law, cite to it as a bill. 

See Bluebook Rule 13.2.