Jonah Patel
Citing the U.S. Constitution in Chicago footnotes differs from APA and MLA styles. While APA and MLA styles require in-text citations and reference list entries for specific pieces of constitutions, Chicago style uses only footnote citations for legal documents, with the option of including a citation in the bibliography depending on the reference style followed.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Footnote citation | Required |
| Bibliography citation | Optional |
| Article and amendment numbers | Given in Roman numerals (I, II, III) |
| Section and clause numbers | Given in Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) |
| State constitutions | Use the abbreviated name of the state (e.g., N.C. Const., Ariz. Const.) |
| Amended provisions | Include the date amended in parentheses (e.g., U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)) |
| Citing multiple sentences | Separate entries in the bibliography for each sentence cited |
Explore related products
$9.99 $9.99
What You'll Learn
Footnote citations
When citing a constitution in Chicago style, you should use a footnote citation rather than an in-text citation. This is because, in Chicago style, legal documents are only cited in the notes, and do not need to be included in the bibliography.
To cite the US Constitution, you will need to know the amendment, section, article, or clause that you are citing. If you are citing an amendment, use the abbreviation "amend." followed by the amendment number in Roman numerals, e.g., "U.S. Const. amend. XVIII". If you are citing a section, use "sec." followed by the section number in Arabic numerals, e.g., "U.S. Const. amend. XVIII, sec. 2". For state constitutions, use the abbreviated name of the state, e.g., "Mass. Const. art. IX".
Your footnote citation should appear at the end of the sentence after the period. It will create a number that connects to the same number at the bottom of the page, e.g.: "In the United States, citizens are guaranteed the right to freedom of religion." The number "1" here is in superscript.
If you are citing a provision that has been amended, add the date it was amended in parentheses, e.g., "U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)".
Insurrection Clause: Understanding the Constitution's Power Provision
You may want to see also
No bibliography entry
When using the Chicago style of referencing, it is important to note that legal documents, including constitutions, are generally only cited in footnotes or within the text of your paper. They are not included in the bibliography unless they are part of a secondary publication such as a book, in which case the book would be cited in the bibliography.
For example, if you are citing a small number of legal documents, you can simply cite them within the text, including the same information you would in a footnote. However, if you are citing multiple legal documents, it is recommended to use footnotes. In Chicago style, footnotes should be used to provide additional information or to acknowledge sources, rather than as a substitute for in-text citations.
The specific format for citing a constitution in Chicago style footnotes may vary depending on the specific guidelines or manual you are following. However, a general example of how to cite a constitution in Chicago style footnotes without a bibliography entry is as follows:
U.S. Constitution, amend. 15, sec. 1.
This format includes the name of the constitution ("U.S. Constitution"), followed by the specific amendment number ("amend. 15") and section number ("sec. 1").
It is important to note that the Chicago style of referencing may vary depending on the specific guidelines or manual being used, so it is always recommended to consult the most recent edition of the Chicago Manual of Style or institution-specific guidelines for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
Church Constitution in New York: A Legal Requirement?
You may want to see also
Citing specific pieces
When citing a specific piece of a constitution in Chicago style, you should generally cite the specific piece you are using instead of the whole document. Article and amendment numbers should be given in Roman numerals (I, II, III), while section and clause numbers should be given in Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3). For example:
> U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)
This example indicates that you are referring to the 18th Amendment of the US Constitution, which was repealed in 1933.
State constitutions are abbreviated, followed by "Const.", for example:
> N.C. Const.
> Ariz. Const.
When citing a provision that has been amended, include the date of amendment in parentheses. This information would be included in the footnote for Chicago style, but would be the reference entry for APA and MLA styles.
If you are citing a small number of legal documents, you can include the same information in footnotes as you would in the text. However, if you have several legal document citations, it is preferable to use footnotes.
For congressional documents, include the number of Congress and the session when the hearing was held or resolution was passed, as well as the report number. For example:
> Title of Hearing, Congress session (Year) (statement of Witness Name, Title)
> Homeland Security Act of 2002: Hearings on H.R. 5005, Day 3, Before the Select Comm. on Homeland Security, 107th Cong. 203 (2002) (statement of David Walker, Comptroller General of the United States)
If you are citing the daily edition, replace "Year" with "daily ed." and include the full date.
Contracting Without a License: Florida and Italy's Laws
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Roman and Arabic numerals
The Chicago style of citation typically uses a system of numbers within the main body of the text. These numbers direct the reader to specific footnotes at the bottom of each page or endnotes on the second-to-last page. When citing the U.S. Constitution in Chicago style, you should cite by the article or amendment in the footnote, but not in the works-cited page.
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 instance, the footnote for a citation of the U.S. Constitution would look like this:
U.S. Const. amend. I
Note that "U.S." can be omitted if it is used in the sentence. Additionally, when naming a section, use "sec." instead of the section symbol "§."
> In the United States, citizens are guaranteed the right to freedom of religion.
The in-text citation for the above sentence would be placed at the end, before the period, as follows:
> In the United States, citizens are guaranteed the right to freedom of religion (U.S. Const. amend. I).
When citing a provision that has been amended, add the date it was amended in parentheses, for example:
> U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)
Trump's Mockery: Constitution in Chaos
You may want to see also
State constitutions
When citing state constitutions in Chicago style, it is important to remember that only footnote citations are required for legal documents and that these documents do not need to be listed in the bibliography.
The general format for citing a state constitution in Chicago style is as follows:
Abbreviated name of state] [Const.] [art.] [Article number in Roman numerals] [§] [Section number]
For example, to cite Article I, Section 9, Clause 2 of the Massachusetts Constitution, the citation would look like this:
Mass. Const. art. I, § 9, cl. 2
If you are citing an amended provision, include the amendment number in Roman numerals and the date of amendment in parentheses. For example:
N.C. Const. amend. I (2022)
Note that the abbreviation for "amend." can vary depending on the style guide or publication you are using. Some sources use "amend." while others use "amend." or even "amt." It is always best to check with the specific style guide or publication you are following to ensure consistency.
Additionally, when citing specific articles or amendments within a state constitution, it is standard to use Roman numerals for article and amendment numbers (I, II, III, etc.) and Arabic numerals for section and clause numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.).
Exploring Normal: Constitution Trail's Length Unveiled
You may want to see also
