
When creating a presentation, it is essential to provide proper citations for the information sources used. This includes citing the US Constitution and its amendments correctly. The citation format may vary depending on the style guide you are following, such as APA or Bluebook. In general, when citing a specific part of the US Constitution, it is necessary to include the amendment number and the year if it has been repealed or amended. For example, During prohibition, the sale of liquor was prohibited (U.S. Const. amend. XVIII, repealed 1933). However, if you are simply making a passing reference to the US Constitution as a whole, a citation may not be required in some style guides. Understanding the specific guidelines for your chosen style ensures accurate and consistent citations in your presentation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| When to cite the U.S. Constitution | If you are citing a part of the Constitution, you should use the article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers. If you are citing the U.S. Constitution as a whole, you may simply mention it in your paper without including a citation in the references list. |
| How to cite the U.S. Constitution | All citations of the U.S. Constitution begin with U.S. Const., followed by the article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers as relevant. The terms article, amendment, section, and clause are always abbreviated as art., amend., §, and cl., respectively. |
| Numbering | Article and amendment numbers are given in Roman numerals (I, II, III); section and clause numbers are given in Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3). |
| Dates | If you are referring to a part of the Constitution that has been repealed or amended, include the year that the part in question was repealed or amended in parentheses. For parts of the Constitution currently in force, do not include a date. |
| Reference style | APA, MLA, and Chicago styles have different requirements for reference list entries and in-text citations. |
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What You'll Learn

Citing the US Constitution as a whole
When citing the US Constitution in a presentation, it is important to follow the correct formatting guidelines. While there are various citation styles available (such as APA, MLA, and Chicago), the Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation is considered the standard reference guide for legal citations.
Now, when it comes to citing the US Constitution as a whole, the approach differs slightly depending on the citation style you are using. For instance, in APA style, it is generally not necessary to include a specific citation when referring to the Constitution in its entirety. Simply mentioning "the US Constitution" in your presentation narrative is usually sufficient. However, if you are citing a specific part of the Constitution, such as an article, amendment, section, or clause, then you should provide the relevant citation information.
The basic structure for citing the US Constitution in APA style is as follows:
> U.S. Const. part cited
For example, if you are citing the First Amendment, your in-text citation would look like this:
> U.S. Const. amend. I
Note that "amend." is the abbreviation for "amendment," and Roman numerals are used for article and amendment numbers. If you are citing a specific section or clause within an amendment, you would include those numbers using Arabic numerals. For example:
> U.S. Const. amend. I, § 3
> U.S. Const. amend. V, cl. 2
Additionally, if you are referring to a part of the Constitution that has been repealed or amended, you should include the year in parentheses, like so:
> U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)
This same basic structure can be applied to other citation styles, such as MLA, but it is important to consult the specific guidelines for your chosen style to ensure your citations are correct and consistent.
In summary, when citing the US Constitution as a whole in a presentation, the specific formatting requirements may vary depending on the citation style you are using. However, in general, a simple narrative citation ("the US Constitution") is often sufficient, and more detailed citations are only required when referencing specific parts of the document.
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Citing specific amendments
If you are citing a part of the Constitution, you should include the article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers. The terms article, amendment, section, and clause are abbreviated as "art.," "amend.," "§," and "cl.," respectively. Article and amendment numbers are given in Roman numerals (I, II, III), while section and clause numbers are given in Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3).
For reference list entries, the format is similar. Here is an example: "U.S. Const. amend. XIX" for the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote.
If you are using Chicago style, legal documents are cited in footnotes rather than in the bibliography. For example: "U.S. Const. art. I, § 9, cl. 2."
Additionally, if you are creating a generic reference because you cannot find specific guidelines, you can include the following elements: Author or organization, date or year, and title of the work.
It is important to note that the Bluebook sets the standard for all legal citations, and you may need to consult it directly or seek guidance from a law librarian for more complex citations or specific scenarios.
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Referencing style guides
When creating a presentation, it is essential to properly reference your sources to ensure academic integrity and provide proper credit to your sources. While there may be slight variations depending on the specific style guide you are using, here are some general guidelines and tips for referencing constitution amendments in your presentations:
APA Style Guide:
The APA (American Psychological Association) style is commonly used in the social sciences and other fields. When citing the U.S. Constitution in APA style, follow these guidelines:
- Begin with "U.S. Const." followed by the relevant article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers. For example: "U.S. Const. amend. XIX".
- Use Roman numerals for article and amendment numbers (I, II, III) and Arabic numerals for section and clause numbers (1, 2, 3).
- If you are referring to a repealed or amended part of the Constitution, include the year in parentheses. For example: "U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)".
- The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (not the APA's Publication Manual) is a helpful resource for specific guidelines on citing legal documents like the Constitution.
MLA Style Guide:
The MLA (Modern Language Association) style is commonly used in the humanities and liberal arts. While specific examples for citing constitution amendments in MLA style are scarce, you can refer to the MLA Style Center for guidance on documenting legal works. Additionally, Purdue Online Writing Lab provides resources for MLA citation of constitution amendments.
Other Tips:
- For state constitutions, use the abbreviated name of the state, such as "N.C. Const." or "Ariz. Const.".
- Always try to cite the specific pieces or sections of the Constitution that you are using, rather than the whole document.
- If you are citing lecture notes or class materials that are accessible only through a login, treat them as personal communications unless your audience can easily retrieve them.
- When in doubt, it is better to provide a citation than to omit it. You can also create a generic reference if specific guidelines are not available.
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In-text citations
When creating a presentation, it is essential to provide proper citations for the ideas and information sourced from other works. This ensures academic integrity and acknowledges the contributions of others in your field. The specific format and style of citations may vary depending on the discipline and guidelines you are following. Here is a detailed guide on how to create in-text citations for amendments to the United States Constitution, which follows the commonly used APA (American Psychological Association) style:
When citing a specific amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the general format is as follows:
> U.S. Const. amend. [Amendment Number in Roman Numerals]
For example, if you are citing the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote, the in-text citation would look like this:
> U.S. Const. amend. XIX
If you are referring to a part of the Constitution that has been repealed or amended, include the year in parentheses after the amendment number:
> U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)
This format is consistent with the guidelines provided by APA Style, as referenced in the sources. It is important to note that when citing the U.S. Constitution as a whole, you may simply mention it in your presentation without including a specific citation. However, if you are citing a specific part, such as an amendment, the detailed citation format outlined above should be followed.
Additionally, if you are creating a digital presentation with limited accessibility, such as requiring a login to access lecture notes, you may cite it as a personal communication without a full reference. However, if the content is publicly accessible, a full reference is recommended.
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Reference lists
When creating a reference list for a presentation, it is important to follow a consistent style or format throughout. The APA (American Psychological Association) style is commonly used for social and behavioural sciences. The Bluebook is another style guide used for legal citations.
APA Style
If you are referencing the U.S. Constitution as a whole in APA style, you do not need to include a citation in your reference list. However, if you are citing a specific part of the Constitution, you should include the article, amendment, section, and/or clause number in your in-text citation and reference list entry. The terms "article" and "amendment" are abbreviated as "art." and "amend." and are followed by Roman numerals (e.g., art. I, amend. II). The term "section" is abbreviated as "§" and is followed by an Arabic numeral (e.g., § 1).
In-text citation: Women gained the right to vote in 1920 (U.S. Const. amend. XIX).
Reference list entry: U.S. Const. amend. XIX. Retrieved from [source]
If you are referring to a part of the Constitution that has been repealed or amended, include the year in parentheses, as shown in the following example for the 18th Amendment, which prohibited the sale of liquor:
In-text citation: During prohibition, the sale of liquor was made illegal (U.S. Const. amend. XVIII, repealed 1933).
Reference list entry: U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933).
The Bluebook
The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation is a style guide used for legal citations. According to Rule 11 of The Bluebook, you should cite the United States federal constitution as "U.S. Const." and state constitutions as "[abbreviated state name] Const."
U.S. Const. art. 1, § 9, cl. 9.
Other Considerations
If you are creating a reference list for a presentation, it is important to include all sources that you have directly quoted, paraphrased, or otherwise used to support your ideas. This includes books, articles, websites, lecture notes, and personal communications. For each source, include the author, date, title, and publication information, following the guidelines of your chosen style guide.
If you are citing lecture notes or class materials that are only accessible through a login, treat them as personal communications unless your audience will have access to them. In that case, include a full reference with the author, year, title, and URL.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, if you are citing a specific part of the Constitution in your presentation, you should include a reference. If you are simply making a passing reference to the US Constitution, you don't need to include a citation.
All citations of the US Constitution begin with "U.S. Const.", followed by the article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers as relevant. For example, "U.S. Const. amend. IV".
If you are referring to a part of the Constitution that has been repealed or amended, include the year in parentheses, for example, "U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)".
It depends on the style guide you are using. For APA and MLA styles, you will need reference list entries and in-text citations. For Chicago style, you only need to include footnotes, and the document does not need to be listed in the bibliography.
If you can't find specific guidelines, you can create a generic reference. Include the author or organisation responsible for the work, the date, and the title of the work you are using.

























