Omar Bennett
The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation is the go-to style guide for legal citations, including the U.S. Constitution. The APA Publication Manual defers to Bluebook style for legal materials, but it's worth noting that citing constitutions is not among the legal citation examples provided. That said, the general format for citing a clause of the U.S. Constitution in APA Style is to begin with U.S. Const. followed by the relevant article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers, using Roman numerals for article and amendment numbers, and Arabic numerals for section and clause numbers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Start with | U.S. Const. |
| Article | art. (Roman numerals) |
| Amendment | amend. (Roman numerals) |
| Section | § (Arabic numerals) |
| Clause | cl. (Arabic numerals) |
| Preamble | pmbl. |
| Date | Omit for parts currently in force; include the year for repealed or amended parts |
| Author | Who is responsible for the work |
| Title | Title of the work |
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What You'll Learn
Abbreviations: U.S. Const., art., amend., §, and cl
The standard format for citing the U.S. Constitution in APA style is to begin with the abbreviation "U.S. Const." followed by the article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers as applicable. The terms "article," "amendment," "section," and "clause" are abbreviated as "art.," "amend.," "§," and "cl.," respectively.
Article and amendment numbers are written using Roman numerals (e.g., I, II, III), while section and clause numbers use Arabic numerals (e.g., 1, 2, 3). For example, to cite Article II, Section 1, Clause 8 of the U.S. Constitution, the format would be:
> U.S. Const. art. II, § 1, cl. 8
In the narrative form, you would write it out as:
> Article II, Section 1, Clause 8, of the U.S. Constitution
If you are citing an amendment, include the amendment number in Roman numerals followed by the section and clause numbers in Arabic numerals. For example:
> U.S. Const. amend. IV, § 3
In the narrative form:
> Amendment IV, Section 3, of the U.S. Constitution
Note that the text is not italicized, and you do not need to include where you found the document. If you are referring to a part of the Constitution that has been repealed or amended, include the year in parentheses at the end of the citation. For example:
> U.S. Const. art. II, § 1, cl. 8 (repealed 2022)
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Dates: Include the year a repealed/amended clause was changed
When citing a clause of the US Constitution in APA style, it is important to include the year a repealed or amended clause was changed. 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 to "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).
If you are referring to a part of the Constitution that has been repealed or amended, include the year that the part in question was changed in parentheses. For example, if referring to an amended clause, your citation should read: "U.S. Const. amend. XX (year)".
It is important to note that the Bluebook, which sets the standard for all legal citations, states that for parts of the Constitution currently in force, no date should be included. This guideline is also followed in the APA style. Therefore, only include a date for repealed or amended clauses, and not for clauses that are still in force.
Additionally, when citing particular articles and amendments, create reference list entries and in-text citations as you normally would for other sources in APA style.
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Article and amendment numbers: Use Roman numerals
When citing the U.S. Constitution in APA style, it is important to use the correct abbreviations and numeral systems. All citations should begin with "U.S. Const." followed by the article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers as relevant.
The key point to note is that 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, the correct way to cite Article IX, Section 3 of the South Carolina Constitution is: "U.S. Const. art. IX, § 3".
The use of Roman numerals in legal documents has a long history and provides several advantages. Firstly, they offer an unambiguous representation of numbers. Unlike Arabic numerals, Roman numerals do not use place values or zero, eliminating potential misunderstandings. Additionally, Roman numerals provide a clear and distinct style that enhances the readability and organisation of the text. They help create a well-organised and consistent document, making it easier for readers to navigate complex legal language and information.
It is worth noting that legal documents often have strict formatting and numbering requirements, and understanding the rules is essential for compliance with professional standards and legal requirements.
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Section and clause numbers: Use Arabic numerals
When citing a clause of the US Constitution in APA style, it is important to adhere to specific guidelines to ensure accuracy and consistency. Firstly, all citations should begin with "U.S. Const." followed by the relevant article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers. The terms "article," "amendment," "section," and "clause" always use the abbreviations "art.," "amend.," "§," and "cl.," respectively.
When it comes to section and clause numbers, they are presented using Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) rather than Roman numerals. This distinction is essential to maintain clarity and uniformity in legal citations. The Bluebook, a comprehensive guide to legal citation, serves as the foundation for this style of referencing.
It is worth noting that when citing a specific section or clause, you should only include the relevant section or clause number in Arabic numerals. For example, if you are referring to a particular clause within a section, your citation might look like this: "U.S. Const. art. I, § 8, cl. 3." In this example, "art." refers to the article, "§" denotes the section, and "cl." signifies the specific clause within that section.
Additionally, when citing a provision that has been amended, it is important to include the date it was amended in parentheses. This provides crucial context for your citation, allowing readers to understand the historical context of the referenced clause.
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No date: If the Constitution is currently in force, omit the date
The Bluebook, which sets the standard for all legal citations, states that if the Constitution is currently in force, the date is omitted. The APA follows Bluebook style for legal materials.
When citing the US Constitution in APA style, you should always begin with the abbreviation "U.S. Const." followed by the article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers as relevant. The terms article and amendment are always abbreviated to "art.," "amend.," "§," and "cl." respectively. Preamble is abbreviated to "pmbl." 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, a correct citation of the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution would look like this:
> U.S. Const. amend. VI
Note that you do not need to create a citation for entire federal or state constitutions. Simply reference them in the text by name. When citing particular articles and amendments, create reference list entries and in-text citations as normal.
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Frequently asked questions
Begin with "U.S. Const." followed by the article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers. The terms article, amendment, section, and clause are abbreviated to "art.", "amend.", "§", and "cl." respectively. Article and amendment numbers are written in Roman numerals, while section and clause numbers use Arabic numerals.
If you are referencing a part of the Constitution that has been repealed or amended, include the year of the change in parentheses.
No, you do not need to include a date when citing parts of the Constitution that are currently in force.
The Bluebook is the uniform system of citation for legal materials. APA defers to Bluebook style for legal citations.
You can refer to The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, the APA Publication Manual (Chapter 11, page 355), or the Legal Information Institute at Cornell Law.
