Isabella Carter
The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is commonly used for writing papers and citing sources in liberal arts and humanities. Citing the constitution in MLA style can be done in a few ways. This response will outline the key considerations and guidelines for citing the constitution in MLA format.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | If the title does not indicate the country, specify the country of origin |
| Title | Italicize the title when citing it in the Works Cited |
| Title | Do not italicize or use quotation marks when referring to the document in the body of the text |
| Title | If using a named edition, treat it like the title of a book |
| Article and section numbers | Use article and section numbers in in-text citations instead of page numbers |
| Roman numerals | Convert Roman numerals to Arabic numerals in citations |
| Source title | If a source has no author, start the Works Cited entry with the source title |
| Parenthetical citation | Use a shortened version of the title in the parenthetical citation |
| Parenthetical citation | If the source has no divisions and the author or title is named in the sentence, a parenthetical citation is not needed |
| Access information | Include information about where you accessed the source in the Works Cited entry |
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What You'll Learn
Citing the US Constitution in text
Citing the US Constitution in the body of your text can be done by simply referring to it as "the Constitution". If you are only discussing it based on general knowledge, you do not need to cite it. However, if you are using a named edition, you should treat it like the title of a book: "The Constitution of the United States, with Case Summaries".
When citing the US Constitution 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, ("Constitution of the United States," art. 1, sec. 4). Use the abbreviations “art.” (Article), “amend.” (Amendment), and “sec.” (Section) as appropriate in your citations, and convert any Roman numerals used in the text to Arabic numerals (e.g., “XIV” becomes “14”).
If you are citing an online version of the Constitution, include the URL in your citation. The Constitution has also been published in book form in various editions. To cite one of these, write the title of the book in italics and list any editors, annotators, or other main contributors to the edition after the title. For example, "The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription". When referring to it as a document in your paper, do not italicize the title.
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Citing a non-US constitution
For a print version of a non-US constitution, the in-text citation should include the title of the document (e.g., "The Canadian Constitution"), the article and section being referenced, and the publication details. The "C" in "Constitution" should always be capitalized. For example:
> As noted in the Canadian Constitution (Art. 1, Sec. 8), freedom of expression is guaranteed.
If the constitution is being cited from a website, follow the MLA format for websites, which includes the author, page title, website name, date, and URL.
When citing specific parts of a non-US constitution, use Roman numerals for article and amendment numbers, and Arabic numerals for section and clause numbers. For example:
> As per Article II of the Indian Constitution, "India is a Union of States."
Alternatively, you can use the abbreviation "Art." for Article, "Amend." for Amendment, and "Sec." for Section, and convert Roman numerals to Arabic numerals, as in:
> The right to freedom of movement is protected under the South African Constitution (Art. 21, Sec. 1).
Remember to be consistent with your citations throughout your document and include as much information as possible.
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Citing a named edition
When citing a named edition of the 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 the country to which the constitution belongs. For example, if you are citing the French Constitution, you would include France in your citation.
In the in-text citation, use article/amendment and section numbers instead of page numbers. Convert any Roman numerals used in the text to Arabic numerals and abbreviate "Article" as "art.," "Amendment" as "amend.," and "Section" as "sec." For example, "U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 2" or "Mass. Const. art. IX, pt. IV."
If you are citing a book edition of the Constitution, include the title of the book in italics, along with any editors, annotators, or other main contributors. For example, "The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription."
In your Works Cited list, include the full citation information. The basic format for a government entity as an author is as follows:
> Name of the Public Law or Bill/Resolution, Title of Container (if applicable), Date, Publisher, URL (if online).
For example:
> United States, Congress. Public Law 104-191, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. U.S. Government Printing Office, 1996. https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/PLAW-104publ191.
Remember, when mentioning the Constitution in your paper, you can generally refer to it as the Constitution without the need for italics or quotation marks. However, in your parenthetical citation, specify the version cited to match the first words of your Works Cited entry.
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Citing a book version
When citing a book version of the Constitution in MLA style, there are a few key things to keep in mind. Firstly, you should include information about where you accessed the book in your "Works Cited" entry. This includes details such as the publisher and year of publication.
In the in-text citation, instead of page numbers, use article/amendment and section numbers. For example, ("Constitution of the United States," art. 1, sec. 4). Use the abbreviations "art." (Article), "amend." (Amendment), and "sec." (Section) as appropriate in your citations. Convert any Roman numerals used in the text 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 it in your citation. For example, "The Constitution of the United States, with Case Summaries." Additionally, when mentioning the Constitution in your paper, you can generally refer to it as "the Constitution" without using italics or quotation marks. However, if you are citing a specific edition, be sure to specify the version cited in your parenthetical citation.
"Constitution of the United States: With Case Summaries." Edited by John Doe, Anytown Publishers, 2023.
In-text citation: (Constitution of the United States, art. 1, sec. 4)
Please note that this is just an example, and the specific details may vary depending on the edition and your source of information.
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Citing a website version
When citing a website version of the Constitution in MLA style, you should follow the general guidelines for MLA website citations, which include the author, page title, website name, date, and URL.
Firstly, for 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." (Article), "amend." (Amendment), and "sec." (Section) as appropriate in your citations. Convert any Roman numerals used in the text to Arabic numerals (e.g., "XIV" becomes "14").
Secondly, for the Works Cited entry, include information about where you accessed the Constitution, such as the website name and URL. The citation should also include the title of the document (The Constitution), the article and section being referenced, and the publication details. Here is an example of how to cite an online version of the United States Constitution:
"Constitution of the United States: A Transcription." National Archives, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 28 Feb. 2017, www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript.
Note that the title of the document ("Constitution of the United States: A Transcription") is in italics, followed by the publishing organization (National Archives, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration), the date (February 28, 2017), and the URL (www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript).
Additionally, when mentioning the Constitution in your paper, you can generally call it "the Constitution" without using 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."
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Frequently asked questions
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).
If you're citing a specific country's constitution, such as the US Constitution, be sure to include the country's name in your citation. For example, (United States, Constitution).
If you're citing a print or book version of the Constitution, simply cite it as you would any other book, including the author, title, publisher, and year. For example, "The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription." National Archives, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 28 Feb. 2017.
If you're only referring to general knowledge from the Constitution and not citing a specific source, you don't need to include a citation. However, if you're referring to a specific edition, treat it like the title of a book and include the full title and any relevant publication information.
Yes, when citing the Constitution in MLA, use the abbreviations "art." (Article), "amend." (Amendment), and "sec." (Section) as appropriate. Also, convert any Roman numerals used in the text to Arabic numerals (e.g., "XIV" becomes "14").
