Simone Lawson
Citing the United States Constitution in MLA format follows the guidelines set by the Modern Language Association. In-text citations should include the title of the document, along with the article, amendment, and section being referenced. For example, (Constitution of the United States, art. 1, sec. 4). It is important to specify the version of the Constitution being cited and to include information about where it was accessed in the Works Cited entry.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Where accessed | Include in Works Cited entry |
| Article/Amendment and Section numbers | Use instead of page numbers in in-text citation |
| Title of book | Italicize if citing a book |
| Editors/annotators/contributors | List after title if citing a book |
| Version cited | Specify in parenthetical citation |
| Abbreviations | Use "art." for Article, "amend." for Amendment, and "sec." for Section |
| Roman numerals | Convert to Arabic numerals |
| Author | Cite if identified |
| National government | Start with this if no author |
| Agency | Include after national government |
| Congress number | Include for congressional documents |
| Session | Include for congressional documents |
| Report number | Include for congressional documents |
| Publisher | Include for print version |
| Publication date | Include for print version |
| Medium | Include for print version |
| Capitalization | Capitalize "C" in Constitution in body text |
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What You'll Learn
Citing a specific section
When citing a specific section of the Constitution in MLA style, there are a few key guidelines to follow. Firstly, use article, amendment, and section numbers in your in-text citations instead of page numbers. For example, if you're referring to Article 1, Section 4, your in-text citation would look like this: ("Constitution of the United States," art. 1, sec. 4). Note the use of the abbreviations "art." for "Article," "amend." for "Amendment," and "sec." for "Section." Also, convert any Roman numerals used in the text to Arabic numerals. So, "XIV" becomes "14."
In the Works Cited entry, include the title of the document ("Constitution of the United States"), the specific article and section being referenced, and any relevant publication details. For example, if you're citing a print version, include the name of the publisher, the publication date, and the medium. Here's an example of how the Works Cited entry might look:
"Constitution of the United States," art. 1, sec. 4. Print.
If you're citing an online version of the Constitution, include information about where you accessed it in the Works Cited entry. The in-text citation format remains the same, focusing on article and section numbers rather than page numbers.
It's important to note that MLA style emphasizes citing the specific version of the legal work you consulted, rather than the canonical version of the law. This means documenting the source based on the information provided by the version you referenced. For example, if you're citing a congressional document, include the number of Congress and the session details.
Remember to capitalize the "C" in "Constitution" when referring to it in your text. Additionally, if you're citing a state constitution, use the abbreviated name of the state, such as "N.C. Const." or "Ariz. Const." These guidelines will help you accurately cite a specific section of the Constitution in MLA style.
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Referencing the whole document
When referencing the whole of the United States Constitution in MLA style, there are specific guidelines to follow. Firstly, it is important to note that you should generally avoid citing the whole document and instead focus on specific sections or articles that are relevant to your work. However, if you need to reference the entire Constitution, here is how to do it.
For the in-text citation, use article, amendment, and section numbers instead of page numbers. Convert any Roman numerals used in the text to Arabic numerals and use the appropriate abbreviations: "art." for Article, "amend." for Amendment, and "sec." for Section. For example, "as stated in the Constitution (Art. 1, Sec. 4)". When mentioning the Constitution in your paper, you can simply refer to it as "the Constitution" without using italics or quotation marks.
The Works Cited entry should include the title of the document ("The Constitution"), the specific article and section being referenced, and publication details, including where you accessed it. For example, "The 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". Note that the "C" in "Constitution" should be capitalized.
If you are citing a print version of the Constitution, include the name of the publisher, the publication date, and the medium. The format for a book citation in MLA style is author, title, publisher, and year. For example, "The Constitution of the United States. National Archives and Records Administration, 2017. Print."
Remember, it is important to document the specific version of the Constitution that you are referencing, following the fundamental principle of MLA style for legal works. This may include information such as the publication date and any relevant congressional or legislative details.
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Abbreviations and capitalisation
When citing a constitution in MLA style, there are a few key guidelines to keep in mind regarding abbreviations and capitalisation.
Firstly, when referring to the Constitution of the United States, it is standard practice to use the abbreviations "art." for "Article", "amend." for "Amendment", and "sec." for "Section". For example, "Constitution of the United States" (art. 1, sec. 4). Additionally, any Roman numerals used in the text should be converted to Arabic numerals. For instance, "XIV" becomes "14".
In terms of capitalisation, it is important to capitalise the first letter of each important word in the title of the source. However, words like "in", "of", or "an" should not be capitalised. For example, "Constitution of the United States" or "Public Law 104-191, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act".
When citing dates, use the format "Day Month (shortened) Year". For example, "5 Sept. 2012". Months with more than four letters are typically abbreviated as follows: "Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec.". However, spell out the full month when it comes to the body of your paper.
It is also worth noting that MLA style recommends citing the version of the work consulted rather than the canonical version, as legal works may have multiple versions. This could include the edition of a book or the URL of a website.
Finally, when using abbreviations in your citations, ensure that you write out the full term or phrase the first time you use it, with the abbreviation in brackets next to it. For example, "Modern Language Association (MLA)". The MLA Handbook (8th and 9th editions) provides a comprehensive list of acceptable abbreviations.
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In-text citation format
When citing the United States Constitution in MLA format, the in-text citation should include the title of the document ("Constitution"), along with the article, amendment, and section numbers. Use the abbreviations "art." (Article), "amend." (Amendment), and "sec." (Section) as appropriate, and convert any Roman numerals to Arabic numerals (e.g., "XIV" becomes "14"). For example, the citation should appear as ("Constitution, art. 1, sec. 4") or ("Constitution, art. 1, amend. 14).
When citing a specific piece of the Constitution, such as an article or amendment, include the article and section numbers in your in-text citation instead of page numbers. For example, ("Constitution, art. 1") or ("Constitution, amend. 14"). If you are citing a print version, also include the name of the publisher, the publication date, and the medium.
In the Works Cited entry, provide information about where you accessed the Constitution, such as the URL or database. The citation should include the title of the document ("Constitution"), the article and section being referenced, and the publication details. For example:
Constitution of the United States. National Archives and Records Administration, 28 Feb. 2017, www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript.
When mentioning the Constitution in your paper, you can generally refer to it as "the Constitution" without using italics or quotation marks. However, if you are citing a specific version of the Constitution, such as "The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription," be sure to specify the version cited in your parenthetical citation to match the first words of the Works Cited entry.
Remember, the key is to cite the specific pieces of the Constitution you are using rather than the entire document, providing clear and consistent in-text citations that follow the MLA format.
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Works cited entry
When citing the Constitution in MLA style, it is important to follow the guidelines set by the Modern Language Association. The specific format of the citation will depend on the version of the source consulted. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to create a Works Cited entry for the Constitution:
- Title of the Document: Start the citation with the title of the document, which is typically "The Constitution" or "The Constitution of the United States." You do not need to italicize or put quotation marks around the title.
- Article and Section: Include the specific article and section numbers that you are referencing. Use the abbreviations "art." for Article, "amend." for Amendment, and "sec." for Section. For example, ("Constitution of the United States," art. 1, sec. 4). Convert any Roman numerals used in the text to Arabic numerals (e.g., "XIV" becomes "14").
- Publication Details: Provide the publication details of the version you accessed. If you are citing an online version, include the name of the website, the URL, and the date accessed. For example: "National Archives, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 28 Feb. 2017, www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript." If you are citing a print version, include the name of the publisher, the publication date, and the medium.
- Date Accessed: Include the date on which you accessed the Constitution. This information is especially important for online sources that may change over time.
"Constitution of the United States." art. 1, sec. 4. National Archives, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 28 Feb. 2017, www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript. Accessed 12 May 2025.
Remember to adapt the format depending on the specific version of the Constitution you are citing and the guidelines provided by the Modern Language Association.
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Frequently asked questions
Use the abbreviation "art." (Article), "amend." (Amendment), and "sec." (Section) as appropriate in your citations. For example, "as stated in the Constitution (Art. 1, Sec. 4)".
Convert any Roman numerals used in the text to Arabic numerals (e.g., "XIV" becomes "14").
The citation should include the title of the document (the Constitution), the article and section being referenced, and the publication details, including the name of the publisher, the publication date, and the medium.
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.
Use the abbreviated name of the state, e.g., N.C. Const., Ariz. Const., etc.
