Jonah Patel
When writing an academic paper, it is essential to cite your sources correctly to avoid plagiarism and give credit to the original authors or sources. The rules for citation depend on the style guide you are using, such as MLA, APA, or Chicago. When citing the Constitution, you should generally cite the specific sections or amendments you are referring to rather than the entire document. This involves using article, amendment, and section numbers in your in-text citations. In MLA style, you would also include information about where you accessed the Constitution in the Works Cited entry.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Style | MLA, APA, Chicago |
| Document | Constitution of the United States |
| In-text citation | Use article/amendment and section numbers instead of page numbers |
| Works Cited entry | Include information about where you accessed it |
| Roman numerals | Convert to Arabic numerals |
| State constitution | Use the abbreviated name of the state |
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What You'll Learn
Citing the US Constitution in MLA style
If you are citing a specific provision that has been amended, include the date it was amended in parentheses, for example, U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933).
When mentioning the Constitution in your paper, you can generally just call it the Constitution without using italics or quotation marks. However, if you are citing a published book version of the Constitution, write the title in italics and list any editors or contributors after the title.
For example, if you are citing an online version of the Constitution, your citation might look like this:
“Constitution of the United States,” art. 1, sec. 4. Accessed via [URL].
Remember to include information about where you accessed the Constitution in your Works Cited entry.
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Citing a specific state constitution
When citing a specific state constitution, the basic form is to use the abbreviated name of the constitution, followed by the relevant article, amendment, and section numbers.
For example, to cite Article IX, Part IV of the Massachusetts Constitution, the citation would look like this: "Mass. Const. art. IX, pt. IV".
The specific format of the citation may vary depending on the style guide you are using. For instance, in APA style, the article and amendment numbers are given in Roman numerals (e.g., I, II, III), while the section and clause numbers are given in Arabic numerals (e.g., 1, 2, 3). Additionally, if you are referring to a part of the constitution that has been repealed or amended, you should include the year of the change in parentheses.
In MLA style, you would also use the abbreviated name of the state constitution, followed by the article, amendment, and section numbers. However, in MLA, you would use Arabic numerals for all numbers (article, amendment, and section). For example, "Mass. Const. art. 9, § 4". Additionally, in MLA style, you should include information about where you accessed the constitution in your Works Cited entry.
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Using Roman and Arabic numerals
When citing the Constitution of the United States in MLA style, you should include information about where you accessed it in the Works Cited entry. In the in-text citation, use article/amendment and section numbers instead of page numbers. For example, you would write ("Constitution of the United States," art. 1, sec. 4) and convert any Roman numerals to Arabic numerals (e.g., "XIV" becomes "14").
Now, onto the differences between Roman and Arabic numerals. The Hindu-Arabic numeral system we know today was developed in India and uses positional decimal notation with a zero symbol. This system was introduced to Europe by Arab traders and arithmetic treatises in the 10th century, although its spread was gradual. The Italian scholar Fibonacci of Pisa's 13th-century work, "Liber Abaci," played a crucial role in making these numerals known in Europe. However, their use was initially confined to Northern Italy until the invention of the printing press in the 15th century.
The numeric system represented by Roman numerals, on the other hand, originated in ancient Rome (753 BC–476 AD) and was the standard way of writing numbers in Europe well into the Late Middle Ages. Roman numerals are based on seven symbols: I, V, X, L, C, D, and M, representing 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, and 1,000, respectively. A symbol placed after another of equal or greater value adds its value, while a symbol placed before one of greater value subtracts its value. For example, IV = -1 + 5 = 4, and XL = 50 - 10 = 40. A bar called a vinculum placed over a number multiplies its value by 1,000.
While Roman numerals are impractical for mathematical calculations, they still have cultural relevance and are used in specific contexts today. Examples include denoting book chapters, the titles of sporting events, the names of monarchs and popes (regnal numbers), and the marking of hours on clock faces.
In summary, when citing the Constitution, use Arabic numerals and include the relevant information in the Works Cited entry. As for the broader comparison, the Hindu-Arabic numeral system offers more convenience and practicality for calculations, while Roman numerals hold cultural significance and continue to be used in select contexts.
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In-text citations and Works Cited entries
When citing the U.S. Constitution in your work, you should generally cite specific pieces instead of the whole document. In the in-text citation, use article, amendment, and section numbers instead of page numbers. You can use the abbreviations "art." (Article), "amend." (Amendment), and "sec." (Section) and convert any Roman numerals to Arabic numerals (e.g., "XIV" becomes "14"). For example: ("Constitution of the United States," art. 1, sec. 4).
If you are citing a state constitution, use the abbreviated name of the state, such as "N.C. Const." or "Ariz. Const." For the Bluebook style of legal citation, use the abbreviation "CONST."
When following the APA style, article and amendment numbers are in Roman numerals (I, II, III), while section and clause numbers are in Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3). If you are citing a provision that has been amended, include the date in parentheses, such as "U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)."
In your Works Cited entry, list where you accessed the Constitution, such as the online source or book edition. For an online source, include the URL and date accessed. For a book edition, write the title of the book in italics and list any editors, annotators, or other main contributors.
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Chicago style citations
When citing the US Constitution in Chicago style, it is generally recommended to cite specific pieces of the document rather than the whole constitution. Legal documents in Chicago style are typically only cited in footnotes or within the text of your paper, and they are not usually included in the bibliography.
The Chicago Manual of Style (14.230, 290) provides the following examples for citing the US Constitution in the notes-bibliography style:
First Footnote or Endnote: 32. US Const. art. 2, sec. 1, cl. 3.
Bibliography: Usually not cited in bibliography.
Author-Date Style:
First Parenthetical Note: (US Constitution, art. 1, sec. 9)
Reference List: Usually not cited in reference list.
When citing the constitution in Chicago style, 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 state constitutions, use the abbreviated name of the state, such as "N.C. Const." or "Ariz. Const." When citing a provision that has been amended, add the date in parentheses, such as "U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)."
It is important to note that Chicago style does not recommend including access dates in the citation unless the date of publication or last revision cannot be located. If the author of the publication is identified, cite the author's name. Otherwise, start with the name of the national government, followed by the agency or subdivision. For congressional documents, include the Congress number, session information, and report number.
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Frequently asked questions
Generally, you don't. When citing the Constitution, cite the specific pieces you are using, instead of the whole document.
In MLA style, include information about where you accessed it in the Works Cited entry. In the in-text citation, use article/amendment and section numbers instead of page numbers. For example: ("Constitution of the United States," art. 1, sec. 4).
Chicago style requires only footnote citations for legal documents, and the documents do not need to be listed in the bibliography.
