Jonah Patel
The Modern Language Association (MLA) citation style is widely used in humanities subjects and places significant emphasis on the authorship of a work. When citing a constitution amendment in MLA format, it is crucial to adhere to specific guidelines. This involves using italics for document titles, along with appropriate abbreviations such as art. for Article, amend. for Amendment, and sec. for Section. Roman numerals are used for article and amendment numbers, while Arabic numerals denote section and clause numbers. In-text citations should include the title of the page, article/amendment number, and section number, with online citations requiring additional source information. When referencing the United States Constitution, the Works Cited entry should include the title, article and section being referenced, and publication details.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of document | Italicized |
| Article or amendment | Abbreviated (Art. or Amend.) |
| Article or amendment number | Roman numerals |
| Section number | Arabic numerals |
| Source | Relevant information about the source |
| In-text citation | Title of the page, article/amendment number, and section number |
| Work cited entry | Title of the document, article and section being referenced, and publication details |
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What You'll Learn
Use Art. for Article, Amend. for Amendment, and Sec. for Section
When citing a specific article, amendment, or section of the United States Constitution in MLA style, it is essential to use the correct abbreviations and format. Here is a detailed guide on how to do this:
Use "Art." for Article
When citing a specific article of the Constitution in MLA style, use the abbreviation "Art." followed by the article number in Roman numerals. For example, to cite Article 1, you would write "Art. I". The "C" in "Constitution" should always be capitalized when used in the text. An example of an in-text citation is: "As noted in the Constitution (Art. I, Sec. 8), Congress has the power to regulate commerce."
Use "Amend." for Amendment
When citing a constitutional amendment, use the abbreviation "Amend." followed by the amendment number in Roman numerals. For example, to refer to the Seventeenth Amendment, you would write "Amend. XVII". If the article or amendment number is already mentioned in your sentence, you do not need to include it again in the parenthetical citation.
Use "Sec." for Section
To indicate the specific section of the Constitution you are citing, use the abbreviation "Sec." followed by the section number in Arabic numerals. For example, "Sec. 4" refers to Section 4. Remember to include the relevant article or amendment information before the section number in your citation.
Combining the Elements
Now, let's bring all the elements together. When citing a specific section of an article of the Constitution, your citation should include the document name ("Constitution"), the abbreviation for article ("Art."), the article number in Roman numerals, the abbreviation for section ("Sec."), and the section number in Arabic numerals. For example: ("Constitution, Art. I, Sec. 4").
When citing a specific section of an amendment, your citation should include the document name ("Amendments to the Constitution", or a similar variation), the abbreviation for amendment ("Amend."), the amendment number in Roman numerals, the abbreviation for section ("Sec."), and the section number in Arabic numerals. For example: ("Amendments to the Constitution, Amend. XVII, Sec. 1").
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Cite article and section numbers in in-text citations
When citing a specific part of the US Constitution in MLA style, use article, amendment, and section numbers in your in-text citation instead of page numbers. For example, if you were citing Article 1, Section 4 of the Constitution, your in-text citation would look like this: ("Constitution of the United States," art. 1, sec. 4).
Note that the abbreviations "art." (Article), "amend." (Amendment), and "sec." (Section) should be used in your citations, and any Roman numerals used in the text should be converted to Arabic numerals (e.g., "XIV" becomes "14").
If you are citing a provision that has been amended, include the date it was amended in parentheses, for example: (U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)).
Additionally, if you are mentioning the Constitution in your paper but not citing a specific part, you can generally just refer to it as "the Constitution" without using italics or quotation marks. However, if you are citing a specific edition of the Constitution published in book form, you should italicize the title and list any editors, annotators, or other main contributors to the edition.
It's important to ensure that your in-text citations correspond to full references in the list of Works Cited. This means that if you cite a specific article or section of the Constitution, you should include a full reference to that specific part in your Works Cited list, rather than just a general reference to the Constitution as a whole.
By following these guidelines, you can effectively cite article and section numbers in your in-text citations when referencing the US Constitution in MLA style.
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Italicise the name of the document you're citing
When citing a specific amendment to the US Constitution in MLA style, it is important to italicise the name of the document you are citing. This is part of the broader requirement that titles of sources should be italicised in MLA style. For example, if you are citing the Seventeenth Amendment, you would italicise "Seventeenth Amendment" in your citation.
> "Seventeenth Amendment, U.S. Const. art. 1, sec. 4."
Note that "U.S. Const." is an abbreviation for the "United States Constitution." The abbreviation "art." stands for "Article," and "sec." stands for "Section." The article and section numbers are written in Arabic numerals.
If you are citing a print version of the Constitution, you should always capitalise the "C" in "Constitution." However, when referring to the Constitution as a document in your paper, you do not need to italicise it. For example, you can write, "as noted in the Constitution (Art. 1, Sec. 8), Congress has the power to regulate commerce."
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Write article/amendment numbers in Roman numerals
When citing the US Constitution in MLA style, it is important to use the correct abbreviations and numeral systems. For MLA style, article and amendment numbers are written using Roman numerals (I, II, III), while section and clause numbers are given using Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3). For example, when citing an amendment, use "Amendment V" rather than "Amendment 5".
The use of Roman numerals in legal documents has a long history and offers several advantages. Firstly, Roman numerals provide an unambiguous representation of numbers. Unlike Arabic numerals, Roman numerals do not use place values or zero, eliminating potential misunderstandings or misinterpretations. This is especially important when numbering headings, outlines, or sections within a document.
Additionally, Roman numerals contribute to a clear and distinct document structure. They allow for easily distinguishable section numbers, enhancing the readability and organisation of the text. This facilitates a smoother reading experience for legal professionals.
It is worth noting that certain jurisdictions may have specific formatting and numbering requirements for legal documents. For example, California mandates the use of Arabic numerals for pagination. Thus, it is important to understand the rules and guidelines of your specific jurisdiction to ensure compliance with professional standards and legal requirements.
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Include where you accessed the document in the Works Cited
When citing a specific amendment in the U.S. Constitution using MLA style, it is important to include information about where you accessed the document in the Works Cited entry. This is crucial for students and academics in the humanities, especially in languages and literature.
The Works Cited entry should include the title of the document (The Constitution), the article and section being referenced, and the publication details, including where you accessed the document. For example, if you accessed the Constitution on a website, your citation should include the URL of the website.
"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.
In the in-text citation, use article/amendment and section numbers instead of page numbers. For example, (Constitution, art. 1, sec. 4). You should also 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").
Remember, when citing an amendment, the MLA format requires you to start with the name of the document in italics, followed by either "`Art.`" or "`Amend.`" (depending on which relates to the document), the article or amendment number in Roman numerals, a comma, and "Sec." to indicate the section you are citing.
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Frequently asked questions
The basic format for citing a constitution amendment in MLA style is to use the abbreviation "Art." or "Amend." followed by the article or amendment number in Roman numerals, then "sec." followed by the section number in Arabic numerals. For example: (Art. I, sec. 4).
When citing an online version of a constitution amendment in MLA, include the relevant website details in the Works Cited entry, such as the URL and date accessed. In the in-text citation, use article/amendment and section numbers instead of page numbers.
When referring to the constitution as a document in your paper, use title case and capitalise the "C" in "Constitution". Do not italicise or use quotation marks. For example: "As stated in the Constitution, ... ".
To cite a specific section of a constitution amendment in MLA, include the abbreviation for the document (e.g. U.S. Const.), followed by the article or amendment number in Roman numerals, then "sec." and the section number in Arabic numerals. For example: U.S. Const. Art. I, sec. 4.
When citing a state constitution amendment in MLA, use the abbreviated name of the state followed by "Const." For example: N.C. Const. or Ariz. Const.
