Posted by Two Cities on September 21, 1998 at 18:21:12:
In Reply to: Re: Affidavit Notice posted by Patrick Henry on September 21, 1998 at 14:58:42:
[As you will see below, the committee has opinions on a number of
things. Among them "Columbia river", which they seem to be aware of.
A river named Columbia. When one crosses this mighty river in an
automobile however, the signage at the middle of at least one bridge
reads "Columbia River". I guess that "Joe Sixpack" was more concerned
with style. Similarily you will find the jurisdictional NOTICES erected
at road sides all over this country "ENTERING ....". I have yet to
find a place where you "enter"]
AUGUST 1998
*Internet version
State of Washington
STATUTE LAW COMMITTEE
Office of the Code Reviser
LEGISLATIVE BUILDING
OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON 98504
*Note: Page numbers in cross-references in the internet version
of this guide are not accurate.
BILL DRAFTING GUIDE
AUGUST 1998
PREFACE
This pamphlet has been prepared by the office of the code reviser as a
guide for the preparation of bills for the Washington legislature. The guide
consists of three parts:
Part I - Working Procedures provides a short, nontechnical explanation
for submitting bill drafting requests to the code reviser's office.
Part II - Formal and Technical Requisites describes the technical
drafting rules followed by the code reviser's staff (attorneys, editors,
typists, and proofreaders) in the preparation of legislation. Many of these
requirements are derived from constitutional provisions, statutes, legislative
rules, or case law. Sources are cited if appropriate.
Part III - Instructions on Style is a style manual used by the code
reviser's office. Included are sections on punctuation, numbers,
capitalization, spelling, subsection numbering, and citations.
[snip]
[and they have opinions on any number of subjects]
(3) CAPITALIZATION
Observe the following capitalization in drafting bills. Note that resolutions,
memorials, and amendment headings require more liberal capitalization. See
examples in Part II (12) of this guide (page
If using the scientific name of a plant or animal, capitalize the genus but not
the species. See RCW 77.08.030.
Do not capitalize
chapter
chapter 19.86 RCW
city
civil rule 60
congress
county
federal
house of representatives
internet
legislature
line
medicaid
names of boards, bureaus,
departments, or
officers thereof
names of state funds
page
section
senate
state
superior court
supreme court
title
Capitalize
Cascade mountains
Columbia river
First word after a colon
Geographical names
Names of colleges
and universities
Names of nations, states,
cities, towns, and counties
Northwest power planning council
Pacific Northwest
Puget Sound
Revised Code
of Washington
Thurston county
Title 67 RCW
Washington Administrative Code
Washington State Register
X ray (noun)
X-ray (adjective)