Isabella Carter
Citing a constitution in a reference page depends on the citation 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 always abbreviated as art., amend., §, and cl. respectively. In MLA style, the Constitution of the United States is cited by including information about where it was accessed in the Works Cited entry. In the in-text citation, article/amendment and section numbers are used instead of page numbers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cite the federal constitution by | "U.S." or the abbreviated name of the state |
| Article | art. |
| Article number | Roman numerals |
| Section | § |
| Section number | Arabic numerals |
| Amendment | amend. |
| Amendment number | Roman numerals |
| Clause | cl. |
| Clause number | Arabic numerals |
| Preamble | pmbl. |
| Date | Include the year that the part in question was repealed or amended in parentheses |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Citing a specific part of the constitution
When citing a specific part of the US Constitution, the general format is as follows:
> U.S. Const. art. I, § 3
Here, "U.S." refers to the United States, "Const." is an abbreviation for Constitution, "art." stands for Article, "I" is the Article number in Roman numerals, "§" denotes section, and "3" is the section number in Arabic numerals.
For state constitutions, use the abbreviated name of the state instead of "U.S.":
> N.C. Const. art. I, § 3
If you are citing a specific amendment, use the following format:
> U.S. Const. amend. I, § 3
Here, "amend." stands for Amendment, and "I" is the Amendment number in Roman numerals.
When citing a provision that has been amended or repealed, include the date in parentheses:
> U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)
Note that the Bluebook states that for parts of the Constitution currently in force, you should not include a date.
When using the MLA style, the in-text citation format is slightly different. You would use article/amendment and section numbers instead of page numbers:
> (Constitution of the United States, art. 1, sec. 4)
In your Works Cited entry, include information about where you accessed the Constitution. If you are citing a book version, write the title of the book in italics and list any editors or contributors:
> Constitution of the United States. Edited by John Doe. Publisher, Year.
Hamilton's Constitution: Love or Loathe?
You may want to see also
Using Roman and Arabic numerals
When citing a constitution, the Bluebook is the standard reference for legal citations. The title of the constitution is abbreviated, followed by "Const.". For example, the US Constitution is abbreviated as "U.S. Const.".
Article and amendment numbers are written using Roman numerals (I, II, III), while section and clause numbers use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3). The terms article, amendment, section, and clause are abbreviated as "art.", "amend.", "§", and "cl." respectively. For example, a citation might look like this: "U.S. Const. art. I, § 9, cl. 8", referring to Article I, Section 9, Clause 8 of the US Constitution.
The use of Roman and Arabic numerals is also seen in other academic citation styles and formats. For example, in the Modern Language Association (MLA) style, Roman numerals are used for act, scene, and line number references in plays, while Arabic numerals are used for page numbers and line references in poetry.
In academic writing, Roman numerals are commonly used for the preface, introduction, and contents page, while Arabic numerals are used for the main text. This allows for both sections to ''start' at 1 (or i) without duplication.
Madison's Constitution: Necessary or Desirable?
You may want to see also
Citing an online version
When citing an online version of a constitution in a reference page, the style of citation depends on the formatting guidelines you are following. For example, the APA, MLA, and Bluebook styles all have different requirements.
APA Style
If you are following the APA style, you can simply make a passing reference to the constitution in your paper without a reference list entry. However, if you are citing a specific part of the constitution, you should use the article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers. The terms "article," "amendment," "section," and "clause" are abbreviated as "art.," "amend.," "§," and "cl.," respectively. Article and amendment numbers are written using Roman numerals (I, II, III), while section and clause numbers use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3).
If you are referring to a part of the constitution that has been repealed or amended, include the year in parentheses. For example: "U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)."
MLA Style
When citing an online version of a constitution 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).
The Bluebook
The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation is a reference book that sets the standard for all legal citations. If you are citing an online version of a constitution according to The Bluebook, you should follow Rule 11, which covers federal and state constitutions. All citations of the U.S. Constitution begin with "U.S. Const.," followed by the relevant article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers.
Remember to consult the specific style guide you are using for detailed and up-to-date information on how to cite an online version of a constitution.
The House's Unique Powers: A Deep Dive
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Bluebook citation style
The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, sets the standard for all legal citations. It contains rules that prescribe how to cite a variety of legal documents, including constitutions.
Citing the US Constitution
To cite the United States Constitution in Bluebook style, 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 given in Roman numerals (I, II, III), while section and clause numbers are given in Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3).
For example, to cite the provision of the U.S. Constitution stating that each state shall have two senators, the citation would be:
> U.S. Const. art. I, § 3, cl. 1
If you are referring to a part of the Constitution that has been repealed or amended, include the year in parentheses. For example:
> U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)
Citing State Constitutions
When citing state constitutions, use the abbreviated name of the state followed by "Const." For example:
> Tex. Const.
> Haw. Const.
Citing Foreign Constitutions
According to Rule 11, you cannot use a short cite for constitutions other than "Id." Cite all foreign constitutions by name.
The Constitution's Anti-Tyranny Safeguards: Separation of Powers
You may want to see also
Citing a repealed or amended part
When citing a repealed or amended part of the US Constitution, you should include the year that the part in question was repealed or amended. This should be included in parentheses.
> "We the People of the United States [...]" (U.S. Const. pmbl. repealed 1865)
U.S. Const. pmbl. (repealed 1865)
Note that "pmbl." is the abbreviation for "preamble". The abbreviations "art.", "amend.", "§", and "cl." are used for "article", "amendment", "section", and "clause", respectively. 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 example, if you are citing Article 1, Section 4, your in-text citation would look like this:
> "As stated in the Constitution [...]" (U.S. Const. art. I, § 4)
If you are citing an online version of the constitution, include information about where you accessed it in the Works Cited entry.
Understanding Article 2's Main Focus and Its Importance
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Begin with "U.S. Const." followed by the article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers as relevant. Use "art." for Article, "amend." for Amendment, "§" for Section, and "cl." for Clause. 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).
Use the abbreviated name of the state followed by "Const.". For example, "N.C. Const." or "Ariz. Const.".
No, according to The Bluebook, do not include a date if you are citing a part of the Constitution that is currently in force. However, if you are referring to a part of the Constitution that has been repealed or amended, include the year in parentheses.
In the in-text citation, use article/amendment and section numbers instead of page numbers. Include information about where you accessed it in the Works Cited entry.
Yes, if you are citing the U.S. Constitution as a whole, you may simply mention it in your paper without including a citation in the references list. However, if you are citing a specific part of the Constitution, you should use the appropriate article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers.
