Jonah Patel
The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation provides guidelines for citing legal documents, including the US Constitution. The citation format for the US Constitution in The Bluebook involves using the abbreviation U.S. followed by Const. and the relevant article, section, and clause information. For example, the correct citation for the Fourteenth Amendment, Section 2 of the US Constitution is U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 2. This citation style is used in legal writing and academic research to ensure consistency and clarity when referencing the US Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Federal Constitution | Abbreviation "U.S." before the word "Const." |
| State Constitution | Provide the official abbreviation of the state name and then use the word "Const." |
| Article of the Constitution | U.S. Const. art. I, § 9, cl. 2 |
| Current Provisions | No date is needed |
| Repealed/Amended Provisions | U.S. CONST. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933) |
| Short Form | Do not use a short form other than "id." |
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What You'll Learn
Citing the US Constitution in footnotes
When referencing the US Constitution in footnotes, the abbreviation "U.S." is used, followed by "Const." For instance, the correct citation for the fourteenth amendment, section 2, is "U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 2". This format ensures clarity and consistency in legal writing.
It is important to note that when citing a specific article of the Constitution, the citation format changes slightly. For example, when referencing Article 1, Section 9, Clause 2, the citation would be "U.S. Const. art. I, § 9, cl. 2". This format allows for precise identification of the cited provision.
The Bluebook also provides guidance on citing amended or repealed provisions. When referring to a provision that has been amended, include the date of amendment in parentheses. For instance, "U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)". This format ensures transparency and enables readers to identify the current status of the cited provision.
Additionally, it is worth mentioning that Rule 11 of The Bluebook specifically addresses the citation of constitutional sections. This rule states that the only acceptable short cite for constitutions is "Id." Abbreviations are only permitted for words listed in Tables 10 and 16 when used in footnotes. These guidelines ensure uniformity and ease of reference in legal documentation.
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Citing the US Constitution in text
The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation outlines specific guidelines for citing the US Constitution in text. When citing the US Constitution, the abbreviation "U.S." is used before the word "Const." This is followed by the specific article, amendment, section, and clause being referenced. For example, the correct citation for the Fourteenth Amendment, Section 2 of the US Constitution is "U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 2".
It is important to note that when citing a state constitution, the official abbreviation of the state name is used before "Const.". For example, the correct citation for Article 9, Section 1, Clause 2 of the Hawaii Constitution is "Haw. Const. art. IX, § 1, cl. 2".
Subdivisions and names of the US Constitution are capitalized and in regular typeface. For example, "U.S. CONST. art. IV, § 1" refers to Article IV, Section 1, known as the Full Faith and Credit Clause. On the other hand, state constitutions' subdivisions and names are not capitalized and are also in regular typeface. An example would be "S.C. CONST. art. I, § 12", referring to Article I, Section 12, also known as the double jeopardy clause.
When citing the US Constitution in text, it is important to write out the citation in full or refer to the specific provision by name. Abbreviations should only be used in footnotes, as per Table 10 and Table 16 of The Bluebook. Additionally, when citing current provisions, no date is required. However, for repealed or amended provisions, the year and action or the repealing/amending provision should be indicated parenthetically.
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Abbreviations and typeface
The Bluebook style guide prescribes specific formatting and typeface rules for citing the US Constitution. Here is an overview of the key guidelines for abbreviations and typeface:
Federal and State Constitutions
When citing the US Constitution, use the abbreviation "U.S." before the word "Const." For example, the correct citation for the 14th Amendment, Section 2, is "U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 2". The abbreviations and typeface for federal and state constitutions differ. While the US Constitution uses "U.S." as an abbreviation, state constitutions use the official abbreviation of the state name followed by "Const." For instance, the Hawaii Constitution would be cited as "Haw. Const."
Subdivisions and Capitalization
Subdivisions and names of the US Constitution are capitalized and presented in regular typeface. For example, "U.S. CONST. art. IV, § 1" refers to Article IV, Section 1, known as the Full Faith and Credit Clause. In contrast, state constitutions do not capitalize subdivisions and names. An example of a state constitution citation is "S.C. CONST. art. I, § 12," representing Article I, Section 12, the double jeopardy clause.
Small Caps Typeface
The Bluebook specifies the use of "small caps" typeface for certain elements of citations. Small caps typeface can typically be found in the Font menu of word processing software, such as Microsoft Word. If small caps are unavailable, you may need to manually decrease the font size for some letters. This ensures consistency and clarity in the citation format.
Abbreviations for Subdivisions
Abbreviate subdivisions according to Table 16 of The Bluebook. For instance, "U.S. CONST. art. I, § 9, cl. 2" refers to Article 1, Section 9, Clause 2 of the US Constitution. Abbreviations are essential for concise and standardized citations. However, when referring to a constitution in a textual sentence, write out the citation in full or refer to the specific provision by name.
Adhering to these guidelines for abbreviations and typeface ensures that citations to the US Constitution follow the prescribed Bluebook format. Consistency in citation style promotes clarity and ease of reference for legal documents and academic writing.
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Citing current, repealed, and amended provisions
When citing the US Constitution, subdivisions and names are capitalized and in regular typeface. For example:
> U.S. CONST. art. IV, § 1 Article IV, Section 1 the Full Faith and Credit Clause
State constitutions are slightly different, with subdivisions and names not capitalized and in regular typeface. For example:
> S.C. CONST. art. I, § 12 article I, section 12 the double jeopardy clause
If the constitutional provision is still in force, no date is needed. However, if it has been repealed or amended, indicate parenthetically either the year and action, or cite the repealing/amending provision in full. For example:
> U.S. CONST. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)
> U.S. CONST. amend. XVIII, repealed by U.S. CONST. amend. XXI
> U.S. CONST. art. I, § 3, cl. 1 (amended 1913)
> U.S. CONST. art. I, § 3, cl. 1, amended by U.S. CONST. amend. XVII
If you are citing the federal constitution, use the abbreviation "U.S." before the word "Const." For example:
> U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 2
If you are citing a state constitution, provide the official abbreviation of the state name (See Table T10.1), and then use the word "Const." For example:
> Haw. Const. art. IX, § 1, cl. 2
If a constitution is referred to in a textual sentence, the citation must be written out fully, or the provision referred to by name.
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Citing articles, sections, and clauses
The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation outlines the following guidelines for citing articles, sections, and clauses of the US Constitution.
When citing the US Constitution, use the abbreviation "U.S." before the word "Const." For example, to cite the first article of the US Constitution, section 9, clause 2, the correct format is:
> U.S. Const. art. I, § 9, cl. 2
This format can be adjusted to cite specific sections and clauses within a particular article. For instance, to cite section 2 of the Fourteenth Amendment, the citation would be:
> U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 2
It is important to note that when citing a state constitution, provide the official abbreviation of the state name (refer to Table T10.1 in The Bluebook) followed by "Const." For example, when citing the Hawaii Constitution, Article 9, Section 1, Clause 2, the citation would be:
> Haw. Const. art. IX, § 1, cl. 2
Additionally, when referring to a specific clause within a section, use a semicolon to separate the clause from the section. For example:
> U.S. Const. art. I, § 9: cl. 2
However, if you are referring to the clause within a textual sentence, write out the full citation or refer to the provision by name. For example, "The Full Faith and Credit Clause, U.S. Const. art. IV, § 1, guarantees that..." or "The Full Faith and Credit Clause in Article IV, Section 1 of the US Constitution guarantees that..."
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Frequently asked questions
If the US Constitution is referred to in a textual sentence, write out the citation in full or refer to the provision by name.
Use the abbreviation "U.S." before "Const.", followed by the article, section, and clause. For example: U.S. Const. art. I, § 9, cl. 2.
Provide the official abbreviation of the state name followed by "Const.". Abbreviate the state name according to Table 10. For example: S.C. CONST. art. I, § 12.
For repealed provisions, indicate the year and action in parentheses, or cite the repealing provision in full. For amended provisions, cite the amending provision in full. For example: U.S. CONST. amend. XVIII, repealed by U.S. CONST. amend. XXI.
