Isabella Carter
The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is commonly used for writing papers and citing sources in the liberal arts and humanities. When citing a constitution in MLA style, there are a few key things to keep in mind. Firstly, the country of origin should be specified, especially if it is not indicated in the title. Secondly, in the in-text citation, use article/amendment and section numbers instead of page numbers, and include the version cited. For example, when citing the US Constitution, write Constitution of the United States and specify the article, section, and version. Additionally, include information about where you accessed the constitution in the Works Cited entry. This information includes the edition, government department, agency, publication date, and URL. It is important to maintain consistency in your citations throughout your paper and include as much information as possible.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Should be specified if the title does not indicate what country the constitution belongs to |
| Title | Use the title of the constitution without italics or quotation marks |
| In-text citation | Use article/amendment and section numbers instead of page numbers; use "art.," "amend.," and "sec." as appropriate in your citations |
| Roman numerals | Convert any roman numerals used in the text to arabic numerals |
| Author | Cite the author of the publication if the author is identified; otherwise, start with the name of the national government, followed by the agency |
| Date | Write the full date as it is listed; if no date is listed, omit it unless you can find that information available in a reliable source |
| Access date | Date of access is optional in MLA 8th/9th edition; it is recommended for pages that may change frequently or that do not have a copyright/publication date |
| URL | Include the URL if the constitution was accessed online |
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What You'll Learn
Citing a specific country's constitution
When citing a specific country's constitution in MLA style, there are a few key guidelines to follow. Firstly, for the in-text citation, use article, amendment, and section numbers instead of page numbers. For example, ("Constitution of India," art. 1, sec. 4). You should also use the abbreviations "art." (Article), "amend." (Amendment), and "sec." (Section) as appropriate, and convert any Roman numerals to Arabic numerals. For instance, "XIV" becomes "14".
If you are citing a print version of the constitution, it is important to always capitalize the "C" in "Constitution". However, when mentioning the constitution in your paper, you can simply refer to it as "the Constitution" without the need for capitalization or quotation marks.
In the Works Cited entry, include the title of the document ("Constitution of India"), the article and section being referenced, and any relevant publication details. If you are citing an online version, include the URL or website where you accessed the document. For example:
Constitution of India. Legifrance, www.legifrance.gouv.fr/Droit-francais/Constitution/Indian-Constitution.
If you are citing a named edition, treat it like the title of a book: "Constitution of India, with Case Summaries".
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In-text citations
When citing a constitution in MLA style, there are several key guidelines to follow for in-text citations:
Firstly, when referring to the constitution in general, you can simply use the word "Constitution" without any quotation marks, italics, or capitalisation. For example, "the Constitution states that...". However, if you are using a named edition, treat it like the title of a book and include the full title in your in-text citation, such as "The Constitution of the United States, with Case Summaries". Additionally, always specify the country of origin if the title does not indicate it clearly.
Secondly, when citing specific articles, amendments, or sections of the constitution, use the appropriate abbreviations: "art." for Article, "amend." for Amendment, and "sec." for Section. For example, your in-text citation may look like this: ("Constitution of the United States," art. 1, sec. 4). Always convert Roman numerals to Arabic numerals, e.g., "XIV" becomes "14".
Thirdly, include information about where you accessed the constitution in your in-text citation. This is important for transparency and verifiability. For example, you may write: ("Constitution of the United States," art. 1, sec. 4, Legifrance).
Finally, remember to be consistent with your in-text citations throughout your paper. Use the same format and style for all your references to the constitution, whether you are citing the document as a whole or specific parts. This helps maintain uniformity and makes it easier for readers to locate your sources.
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Referencing the whole document
When referencing the whole of a constitution in MLA style, there are several key points to keep in mind. Firstly, it is important to specify the country of origin if the title does not already indicate this. For example, "France. Le Constitution." Additionally, when referencing the US Constitution, it is generally referred to as “the Constitution” in the text, without the need for italics or quotation marks. However, if you are using a named edition, treat it like the title of a book, for example, "The Constitution of the United States, with Case Summaries."
In your in-text citations, use article, amendment, and section numbers instead of page numbers. For example, "(“Constitution of the United States,” art. 1, sec. 4)." Use the abbreviations "art." for Article, "amend." for Amendment, and "sec." for Section. Convert any Roman numerals to Arabic numerals, for example, "XIV" becomes "14".
In your Works Cited entry, include information about where you accessed the constitution, such as the URL. The date of access is optional but recommended for pages that may change frequently or lack a clear publication date. Here is an example of how to reference the whole constitution:
United States. Constitution of the United States. 1787. www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript. Accessed 5 May 2025.
Note that the format for dates is "Day Month (shortened) Year", for example, "5 Sept. 2012". Also, be sure to capitalize the first letter of every important word in the title, but not words like "in", "of", or "an".
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Citing a print or online version
When citing a print or online version of a constitution in MLA style, there are a few key guidelines to follow. Firstly, it is important to specify the country of origin if the title does not indicate which country the constitution belongs to. For example, "France. Le Constitution."
In the in-text citation, use article, amendment, and section numbers instead of page numbers. You can use abbreviations such as "art." for Article, "amend." for Amendment, and "sec." for Section. For example, "('Constitution of the United States, art. 1, sec. 4')". Any Roman numerals should be converted to Arabic numerals, e.g., "XIV" becomes "14".
If you are using a named edition, treat it like the title of a book, and include this information in your in-text citations to help your readers locate the exact entry in the Works Cited. For example, "The Constitution of the United States, with Case Summaries."
When mentioning the constitution in your paper, you can simply refer to it as “the Constitution" without using italics or quotation marks. However, if you are citing a specific part of the constitution, such as an article or amendment, include this information in your in-text citation to provide clarity.
For the Works Cited entry, list where you accessed the constitution, including the URL if it was accessed online. The format for the Works Cited entry for a government document is as follows:
For example:
United States, Congress, House, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act. Government Publishing Office, 17 Apr. 2012, www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CHRG-111hhrg50208/html/CHRG-111hhrg50208.htm. 112th Congress, 2nd Session, House Report 112-445. Accessed 22 Oct. 2019.
Note that the date of access is optional in MLA style, but it is recommended for pages that may change frequently or that do not have a fixed publication date.
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Abbreviations and formatting
When citing a constitution in MLA style, there are a few key formatting and abbreviation guidelines to follow. Firstly, in your in-text citations, use article, amendment, and section numbers instead of page numbers. For example, use the abbreviations "art." for Article, "amend." for Amendment, and "sec." for Section, and convert any Roman numerals to Arabic numerals (e.g., "XIV" becomes "14").
When referring to the US Constitution specifically, you can simply use "the Constitution" in your text without italicization or quotation marks. However, if you are using a named edition, treat it like the title of a book: "The Constitution of the United States, with Case Summaries." Additionally, always specify the country of origin if the title does not indicate which country's constitution is being referenced.
In your Works Cited entry, include information about where you accessed the constitution, such as the URL or database. For example, "United States, Congress, House, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act. Government Publishing Office, 17 Apr. 2012, www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CHRG-111hhrg50208/html/CHRG-111hhrg50208.htm."
When citing dates, use the format "Day Month (shortened) Year," such as "5 Sept. 2012." Abbreviate the months as follows: January = Jan., February = Feb., March = Mar., April = Apr., May = May, June = June, July = July, August = Aug., September = Sept., October = Oct., November = Nov., December = Dec. The date of access is optional but recommended for pages that may change frequently or lack a fixed date.
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Frequently asked questions
If you are citing a specific article, amendment, or section of a constitution, use article and section numbers in your in-text citations instead of page numbers. For example, ("Constitution of the United States," art. 1, sec. 4). If you are citing the constitution in general, you do not need to include a bibliography entry. Simply include it in your in-text citation, for example, (Constitution).
Cite the book as you would normally, including the title of the book in italics, and list any editors or contributors. For example, *The Constitution of the United States, with Case Summaries*.
Include information about where you accessed it in the Works Cited entry. For example, ("Constitution of the United States," art. 1, sec. 4, www.constitution.gov).
