Omar Bennett
When writing an essay, it is important to know how to properly format the title of a constitution. In general, the title of a constitution is not italicized or enclosed in quotation marks when mentioned in the body of an essay. However, if you are citing a specific published edition of the constitution, then the title should be italicized. This is consistent with how titles of other published works are treated in essay writing. For example, when referring to the United States Constitution in the body of an essay, it is not necessary to italicize the title. But if you are citing a specific published edition of the United States Constitution, such as The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription, the title should be italicized.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Titles of constitutions | Not italicized or enclosed in quotation marks |
| Titles of individual published editions of constitutions | Italicized and treated like titles of any other published work |
| Referring to the United States Constitution in text | Not italicized or enclosed in quotation marks |
| Referring to the United States Constitution in a works-cited-list entry | Italicized |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
When to Italicize the Constitution's Title
The general rule is that the titles of constitutions are not italicized or placed within quotation marks. For example, when referring to the document in general, you would simply use "Constitution" without any special formatting. This rule also applies to the titles of other laws and acts.
However, there is an exception to this rule. If you are citing a specific published edition of the constitution, then the title should be italicized. For example, if you are referencing "The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription," you would italicize the title because it is a published edition. This is consistent with the broader rule that titles of published works are generally italicized.
It's important to distinguish between referring to the constitution as a document and citing a specific published edition. When mentioning the Constitution in your text, you can simply refer to it as such without any special formatting. However, if you are providing a citation for a specific edition, you would italicize the title of that edition.
Additionally, when providing in-text citations for the constitution, you should specify the version or edition you are citing. This helps ensure clarity and allows readers to locate the relevant information. In your parenthetical citation, you can use abbreviations such as "art." for Article, "amend." for Amendment, and "sec." for Section.
In summary, the title of the constitution is generally not italicized unless you are specifically citing a published edition. In that case, the title of the published edition is italicized, following standard formatting rules for published works.
EIN Numbers: Tax Year Considerations and Benefits
You may want to see also
Published Editions of the Constitution
When writing an essay, the general rule is that the titles of constitutions are not italicized or enclosed in quotation marks. This is because they are considered to be laws and acts, which follow the same formatting rules.
However, this rule changes when you are citing an individual published edition of the constitution, such as "The Constitution of the United States, with Case Summaries". In this case, the title of the published edition is italicized, just as you would italicize the title of any other published book or work.
For example, if you are referencing the United States Constitution in the text of your essay, you would not italicize it. However, if you are specifically referring to "The Constitution of the United States, with Case Summaries" as a published work, you would italicize the title.
This distinction is important to maintain consistency and clarity in academic writing. It also ensures that published editions of the constitution are treated with the same level of formatting respect as other published works.
There has been a recent surge in interest in the US Constitution, with publishers printing new editions. Random House, for example, has released a hardcover book combining the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution, with an introduction by historian Jon Meacham. Other publishers, such as Skyhorse, Penguin, and Barnes & Noble, have also released popular editions of these founding documents.
Chief Citizen: Checks and Balances Enforcer
You may want to see also
Referencing the Constitution in an Essay
When referencing the Constitution in an essay, there are a few formatting conventions to keep in mind, particularly if you're following the MLA style. Here are some guidelines for referencing the Constitution in an essay:
Referencing the Constitution Itself
When referring to the document as a whole, you generally do not need to italicize or enclose the word "Constitution" in quotation marks. For example, you can simply write, "The Constitution grants all American citizens a wide range of rights, including the right to free speech." However, if you are citing a specific published edition of the Constitution, you would italicize the title. For instance, if you're referencing "The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription," you would italicize the title of that specific edition.
Citing Specific Sections
When citing a specific section of the Constitution, you can use parenthetical citations within your essay. These citations typically include the relevant article, section, and/or amendment number. Here's an example: "As stated in the Constitution ('Constitution of the United States,' art. 1, sec. 4), all legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States." Note that the abbreviation "art." stands for "Article," "sec." stands for "Section," and "amend." stands for "Amendment."
Works Cited Entry
In your Works Cited list (or bibliography), the approach to italicization depends on whether you're citing the Constitution as a whole or a specific published edition. If you're citing the Constitution generally, you would not italicize the title. However, if you're citing a specific published edition, such as "The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription," you would italicize the title in the Works Cited entry. Don't forget to include information about where you accessed the document, such as the URL or database.
In summary, when referencing the Constitution in an essay, you typically do not italicize or enclose "Constitution" in quotation marks unless you're citing a specific published edition. Always be consistent in your formatting and adhere to the guidelines of your chosen style guide, such as MLA.
Understanding Naturalized Citizens' Constitutional Obligations in the US
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Quotation Marks and the Constitution
When writing an essay, it is important to know how to format the title of the Constitution correctly. The general rule is that the title of the Constitution, like the titles of other laws and acts, is not italicized or placed within quotation marks. For example, you would simply write "The Constitution states that..." without any special formatting. This is because the Constitution is a legal document, and these titles are not usually stylized.
However, there is an exception to this rule. If you are citing a specific published edition of the Constitution, then you would italicize the title. For instance, if you were referencing "The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription," you would italicize the title of this published work. This is because it is treated like the title of any other published book or work.
The same rule applies to in-text citations. When citing the Constitution in the text of your essay, you can simply refer to it as "the Constitution" without using italics or quotation marks. However, if you are citing a specific published edition, you would italicize the title of that edition. For example, you might write: "As stated in The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription (art. 1, sec. 4)..."
Additionally, when creating a Works Cited entry, you would also italicize the title of the published edition of the Constitution. This is consistent with the MLA style of citation, where the titles of books and published works are italicized. So, in your Works Cited list, you would format the entry like any other book, including the title in italics, followed by any editors or contributors.
In summary, when referring to the Constitution in an essay, the title is generally not italicized or placed within quotation marks. However, if you are citing a specific published edition of the Constitution, you would italicize the title both in your in-text citations and in your Works Cited entry.
Exploring the Constitution: Military Force at Home
You may want to see also
Abbreviations in Constitution Citations
The general rule is that the titles of constitutions are not italicized or enclosed in quotation marks. However, the titles of individual published editions of constitutions are italicized and treated like the titles of any other published work. For example, the title of the "United States Constitution" is not italicized when referred to generally in the text but is italicized in the works-cited-list entry, where a specific published work is referenced.
When citing the federal constitution, use either "U.S." or the abbreviated name of the state. The basic form is:
> Abbreviated name of Constitution art. Article number in Roman numerals. § Section number
> Abbreviated name of Constitution amend. Amendment number in Roman numerals, § Section number
> Abbreviated name of Constitution art. Article number in Roman numerals, pt. Part number in Roman numerals
> U.S. Const. art. I,§9,cl.2
> U.S. Const. amend. XIV,§ 2
> Mass. Const. art. IX, pt. IV
Note that the basic form is identical to the reference list entry, with parentheses used as needed. For example:
> Freedom of assembly is guaranteed by Mass. Const. art. IX, pt. IV.
> Equal protection of the law is a constitutional right (U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 2).
When using the APA style, the Bluebook is the go-to guide for legal citations. The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation sets the standard for all legal citations, and its style is reflected in the APA Publication Manual's legal citation examples. However, it's worth noting that citing constitutions is not specifically addressed in the APA Publication Manual. For further guidance on legal citations, it is recommended to refer to the Bluebook directly or consult a law librarian.
Hamilton's Vision: Loose Constitution, Strong Central Government
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
No, the word "constitution" does not need to be italicized when used in the general sense.
No, titles of constitutions are not italicized or enclosed in quotation marks when referring to the document in the running text.
Yes, if you are citing a specific published edition of a constitution, you should italicize the title.
When citing a published edition, write the title in italics and list any editors, annotators, or other main contributors to the edition after the title.
When mentioning a specific section of the constitution, you can use abbreviations like "art." (Article), "amend." (Amendment), and "sec." (Section) as appropriate in your citations.
