Eleanor Finch
Quotation marks are a type of punctuation that sets words and passages apart from the rest of the text. They are used to indicate that someone is speaking or that something is being quoted. When it comes to citing the Constitution, the rules for quotation marks depend on the style guide being used, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago style. Generally, when directly quoting a specific part of the Constitution, such as an amendment or article, it is common to use quotation marks around the quoted text. However, when referring to the Constitution as a whole, it is typically not placed within quotation marks or italicized. Instead, it is simply referred to as the Constitution without any special punctuation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Citing the Constitution in MLA style | Include information about where it was accessed in the Works Cited entry |
| Citing the Constitution in APA style | Use the stylation of the legal blue book, e.g., "U.S. Const. amend. I" |
| Citing the Constitution in Chicago style | Add a footnote rather than a citation in the text |
| Citing the Constitution in Harvard style | Use "US Const." followed by the amendment, section, article, and/or clause |
| Using quotation marks | When mentioning the Constitution, do not use quotation marks or italics |
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What You'll Learn
- When referencing the U.S. Constitution, you don't need to use quotation marks?
- In-text citations for the Constitution depend on the style guidelines you're using
- The U.S. Constitution is a special case because it's a common document
- The citation will differ depending on whether you're using MLA, APA or Chicago style
- The citation format for the Constitution differs when citing specific parts
When referencing the U.S. Constitution, you don't need to use quotation marks
However, it's important to note that when citing the Constitution, the specific format may vary depending on the style guide you are using, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago style. For example, in APA style, the citation may look like "(U.S. Const. amend. I)" or "U.S. Const. amend. I" in the reference list. In MLA style, the citation may appear as "('Constitution of the United States,' art. 1, sec. 4)".
Additionally, when citing specific parts of the Constitution, such as articles, amendments, or sections, you should provide the relevant information in your citation. For example, in APA style, you would use "U.S. Const. amend. XII, sec. 3" to refer to Amendment XII, Section 3. In MLA style, you would use "art." for "Article," "amend." for "Amendment," and "sec." for "Section," and convert any Roman numerals to Arabic numerals.
It's always important to be consistent with your citations throughout your paper and to include as much information as possible. If you are unsure about the specific style guide to use, it's best to consult your teacher or a style guide for more detailed instructions.
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In-text citations for the Constitution depend on the style guidelines you're using
The in-text citation format for the Constitution depends on the style guidelines being used, such as the American Psychological Association (APA) style, the Modern Language Association (MLA) style, or Chicago style.
APA Style
In APA style, 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 abbreviated as "art.," "amend.," "§," and "cl.," respectively. Article and amendment numbers are written in Roman numerals (e.g., I, II, III), while section and clause numbers are written in Arabic numerals (e.g., 1, 2, 3). The in-text citation goes inside the sentence where the Constitution is quoted or referenced. However, if you are making a passing reference to the U.S. Constitution, you can mention it in the text without a reference list entry.
MLA Style
In MLA style, the in-text citation should include the amendment, section, article, or clause being cited. Roman numerals are used for amendments and articles, while Arabic numerals are used for sections and clauses. In the parenthetical citation, specify the version cited to match the first words of the Works Cited entry. Use the abbreviations "art." (Article), "amend." (Amendment), and "sec." (Section) as appropriate in your citations. Additionally, include information about where the Constitution was accessed in the Works Cited entry.
Chicago Style
Chicago style differs from the other two styles in that it uses a footnote for the in-text citation rather than placing it inside the sentence. A number is placed at the end of the sentence, after the period, which corresponds to a superscript number at the bottom of the page. The bibliography citation is optional in Chicago style, depending on the reference style being used.
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The U.S. Constitution is a special case because it's a common document
The U.S. Constitution is a document that can be found in a variety of places, and as such, it is considered a common document. This special case means that when citing the Constitution, you do not need as much information as you would for other sources. The citation style depends on the formatting guidelines you are using, such as American Psychological Association (APA) style, the Modern Language Association (MLA) style, or Chicago style.
When referencing the U.S. Constitution, it is important to note that you should not italicize or use quotation marks around the title. For example, in APA style, the in-text citation would be written as (U.S. Const. amend. I). The reference list would then include: U.S. Const. amend. I. In MLA style, the 7th edition handbook states that titles of laws, acts, and similar documents should not be italicized or enclosed in quotation marks. An example of an in-text citation in MLA style would be: "In the United States, citizens are guaranteed the right to freedom of religion" (U.S. Const. amend. I).
Additionally, when citing specific parts of the Constitution, such as articles, amendments, or sections, it is essential to capitalize the specific part and use the appropriate numeral. For instance, Article II, Amendment V, or Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution. In APA style, the citation would be written as (U.S. Const. amend. XII, sec. 3). Similarly, in MLA style, the citation would follow the format: (U.S. Const. Amend. XII, sec. 3).
In Chicago style, the Constitution is typically referenced in the text, a footnote, or an endnote, rather than a bibliography entry. For example, in-text citations can be formatted as: "In the United States, citizens are guaranteed the right to freedom of religion."1 The number in superscript indicates a footnote with corresponding numbering at the bottom of the page.
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The citation will differ depending on whether you're using MLA, APA or Chicago style
When referencing the US Constitution, the citation will differ depending on whether you're using MLA, APA, or Chicago style.
MLA Style
In MLA style, you can generally refer to the text as "the Constitution" without using quotation marks or italics. However, if you are referring to a specific version of the Constitution published as a book, you should italicize the title and list any editors or contributors. In the parenthetical citation, specify the version cited to match the first words of the Works Cited entry. For example, "As stated in the Constitution ('Constitution of the United States,' art. 1, sec. 4)." Use the abbreviations "art." for Article, "amend." for Amendment, and "sec." for Section, and convert any Roman numerals to Arabic numerals. Additionally, include information about where you accessed the Constitution in the Works Cited entry, using article and section numbers in your in-text citations.
APA Style
In APA style, you can mention the Constitution in the text without a reference list entry. However, if you are using a specific part of the Constitution as evidence, you should cite it using Bluebook Rule 11, which covers federal and state constitutions. All citations of the US Constitution begin with "U.S. Const." followed by the relevant article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers. Use the abbreviations "art." for Article, "amend." for Amendment, "§" for Section, and "cl." for clause. Article and amendment numbers should be in Roman numerals (I, II, III), while section and clause numbers should be in Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3). The Bluebook states that no date is needed for parts of the Constitution currently in force.
Chicago Style
The Chicago Manual of Style provides guidelines for the use of quotation marks, including the placement of commas and periods within quotation marks. It also mentions that single quotation marks within double quotation marks can be separated by a space to aid legibility. However, the manual does not provide specific guidance on citing the US Constitution, and further research is required to determine the exact format for Chicago style citations of the Constitution.
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The citation format for the Constitution differs when citing specific parts
When citing the U.S. Constitution in APA style, begin with "U.S. Const." followed by the relevant article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers. Use "art." for articles, "amend." for amendments, "§" for sections, and "cl." for clauses. For example, "U.S. Const. amend. IV" refers to the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The Bluebook, which sets the standard for legal citations, should be consulted for further guidance on legal citations.
In MLA style, the citation format for the Constitution includes information about where the document was accessed in the Works Cited entry. In the in-text citation, use article/amendment and section numbers instead of page numbers. For example, "(U.S. Const. art. I, § 8, cl. 3)" refers to Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 of the U.S. Constitution.
Chicago style differs from APA and MLA in that it uses footnotes instead of in-text citations. A footnote is added at the end of the sentence, after the period, by inserting a superscript number that corresponds to the same number at the bottom of the page.
When mentioning the Constitution in a paper, it is generally acceptable to simply refer to it as "the Constitution" without using quotation marks or italics. However, when providing a parenthetical citation, specify the version cited to match the first words of the Works Cited entry. For example, "As stated in the Constitution ('Constitution of the United States,' art. I, sec. 4)..."
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Frequently asked questions
When mentioning the Constitution in your paper, you can generally just call it the Constitution without using quotation marks or italics. If you are referencing a specific part of the Constitution, include the version, article, amendment, or section. For example, "Article II, Amendment V, or Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution."
The citation style for the Constitution depends on the formatting guidelines you are following, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago style. For APA and MLA styles, your in-text citation usually goes inside the sentence where you are quoting or referencing the Constitution. For Chicago style, you add a footnote at the end of the sentence after the period.
The in-text citation format for the Constitution is generally written as (US Const. amend. [amendment number], sec. [section number]). For example, (US Const. amend. XII, sec. 3).
