Database Information

This database contains the full text of public laws (P.L.). These laws are also published in the print publication Statutes at Large (Stat.) and most will be codified by topic in the United States Code Service. The volume and page numbers in the Statutes at Large together serve as a unique identifier for a P.L. in both this database and in print; they must be included in every citation and can be found in the header of each document.

For each citation, include:

• Public law number (P.L.) and title, if provided
• Statutes at Large (Stat.) volume and page, date, and enacted bill number, if known
• Database name (Text from: United States Public Laws)
• Web service name (Available from: ProQuest^® Congressional)
• Date accessed by the user (Accessed: date)

For example:

"Public Law 102-240: Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991." (105 Stat. 1914; Date: 12/18/91). Text from: United States Public Laws. Available from: ProQuest^® Congressional; Accessed: 4/23/04.

Public law without a title

Many public laws do not have short or popular name titles (for example, "The Social Security Act") or the title is not part of the header information within the online source. In these cases, the title can be omitted, but the public law number must always be included. For example:

"Public Law 104-19." (109 Stat. 194; Date: 7/27/95). Text from: United States Public Laws. Available from: ProQuest^® Congressional; Accessed: 4/23/04.

Public law with a known bill number

The enacted bill number is always useful for confirming the relationship between a bill number and the specific public law being cited. The bill number can frequently be found in the header information for each public law. For example:

"Public Law 102-25: Persian Gulf Conflict Supplemental Authorization and Personnel Benefits Act of 1991." (105 Stat. 75; Date: 4/6/91; enacted S. 725). Text from: United States Public Laws. Available from: ProQuest^® Congressional; Accessed: 4/23/04.