Omar Bennett
When citing a constitutional amendment in Chicago style, the basic form is as follows: U.S. or the abbreviated name of the state, followed by Const., then amend. and the amendment number in Roman numerals, then § and the section number. For example, U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 2 or Mass. Const. art. IX, pt. IV. If referring to a repealed or amended part of the constitution, include the year in parentheses, for example, U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| 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: N.C. Const., Ariz. Const., etc. |
| Citing a provision that has been amended | Add the date it was amended in parentheses (e.g., U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)) |
| Chicago Manual reference | 14.230, 290 |
| Footnote or endnote example | 32. US Constitution, art. 2, sec. 1, cl. 3 |
| Bibliography | Usually not cited in bibliography |
| Parenthetical note example | (US Constitution, art. 1, sec. 9) |
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What You'll Learn
Citing the US Constitution in Chicago style
When citing the US Constitution in Chicago style, use the basic form of "U.S." followed by the relevant details of the article, amendment, or section being referenced.
> US Constitution, art. 2, sec. 1, cl. 3.
Note that the article number is written in Roman numerals ("art. II"), while the section and clause numbers are written in Arabic numerals ("sec. 1, cl. 3.").
For amendments, use the abbreviation "amend." followed by the amendment number in Roman numerals. For example:
> US Constitution, amend. XIV, § 2.
If you are referring to a part of the Constitution that has been repealed or amended, include the year of the change in parentheses. For example:
> Women gained the right to vote in 1920 (US Const. amend. XIX).
In a reference list or bibliography, the citation format remains consistent. However, it is worth noting that the US Constitution is usually not cited in a bibliography or reference list in Chicago style.
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Referencing amendments
When referencing amendments to the US Constitution in Chicago style, there are specific guidelines to follow. Here are some detailed instructions on how to format your citations correctly:
In-Text Citations:
When referring to a specific amendment, use the following format: (U.S. Const. amend. XIX). This format includes the abbreviation for the United States Constitution (U.S. Const.), followed by "amend." indicating an amendment, and then the specific amendment number (in Roman numerals). For example, the nineteenth amendment would be cited as (U.S. Const. amend. XIX).
If you are referencing a section within an amendment, include the section number after the amendment number: (U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 2). This format uses "§" to denote the section number.
In some cases, you may need to include the year an amendment was repealed or amended. In such cases, add the year in parentheses after the amendment number: (U.S. Const. amend. XVIII, repealed 1933).
Bibliography or Reference List:
In a bibliography or reference list, the format is similar but without the parentheses. Here is an example:
U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 2.
Note that the US Constitution is usually not cited in the bibliography or reference list, as it is considered a standard reference work. However, if you are using the Author-Date style, the first parenthetical note would look like this: (US Constitution, art. 1, sec. 9).
These guidelines will help you properly cite amendments to the US Constitution in Chicago style, ensuring that your references are clear and consistent.
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Citing a repealed amendment
When citing a repealed amendment in Chicago style, the format is similar to that of a regular amendment citation.
Firstly, all citations of the U.S. Constitution should begin with "U.S. Const." followed by the amendment, section, and/or clause numbers as relevant. The terms "amendment" and "section" are abbreviated as "amend." and "sec." respectively. Amendment numbers are given in Roman numerals (I, II, III), while section numbers are given in Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3).
For example, a basic citation of the Fourteenth Amendment would appear as:
> U.S. Const. amend. XIV, sec. 2
To cite a repealed amendment, simply include the year the amendment was repealed in parentheses at the end of the citation. For example, to cite the Eighteenth Amendment, repealed in 1933, the citation would appear as:
> U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)
Note that the Bluebook, the standard legal citation style used across all disciplines, states that for parts of the Constitution currently in force, no date should be included. Dates are only included when referring to repealed or amended sections of the Constitution.
Additionally, the U.S. Constitution is usually not cited in a bibliography or reference list. Instead, it is simply referenced in the text by name, with abbreviations used for state constitutions, such as "In. Const." for Indiana's Constitution.
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Citing a state constitution
When citing a state constitution in Chicago style, there are specific guidelines to follow. The basic form for citing a state constitution is to use the abbreviated name of the state, followed by "Const." and then the relevant article, amendment, section, and clause numbers. Here are some examples:
For an in-text citation, you would typically include the abbreviation of the state, followed by "Const.", and then the relevant article, amendment, section, and clause numbers. For example:
> "The right to freedom of assembly is guaranteed by Mass. Const. art. IX, pt. IV."
Note that the article number is in Roman numerals, while the section and clause numbers are in Arabic numerals.
If you are referring to a part of the state constitution that has been amended or repealed, you should include the year of the amendment or repeal in parentheses. For example:
> "The state constitution was amended to include a new section on voting rights (Calif. Const. amend. I, § 2, cl. 3, 2020)."
In a reference list or bibliography, the format remains similar, with the abbreviated state name followed by "Const." and the relevant article, amendment, section, and clause information. Here is an example:
> Mass. Const. art. IX, pt. IV.
It is important to note that the specific formatting may vary depending on the style guide you are using (MLA, APA, etc.). Always refer to the latest edition of the style guide for the most up-to-date and accurate information on citing a state constitution.
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Short citations
When using the Chicago Manual of Style, the U.S. Constitution is generally not cited in a bibliography. Instead, it is cited in footnotes or endnotes, with the first footnote or endnote including:
> US Constitution, art. 2, sec. 1, cl. 3
Subsequent footnotes or endnotes can be abbreviated to:
> US Constitution, art. 1, sec. 9
If you are citing only a few legal documents, you can simply cite them in the text, including the same information that would be in a footnote. For example:
> The Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that "No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of US citizens" (U.S. Constitution, amend. XIV, sec. 2).
If you are citing multiple amendments, you can use the same format but include the relevant amendment number.
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Frequently asked questions
Cite the federal constitution by "U.S." or the abbreviated name of the state, followed by the amendment number in Roman numerals and the section number. For example: US Const. amend. XIV, § 2.
No, when citing the Constitution, cite the specific pieces you are using, instead of the whole document.
Article and amendment numbers are given in Roman numerals (I, II, III), whereas section and clause numbers are given in Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3).
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).
The first footnote or endnote would be: US Constitution, art. 2, sec. 1, cl. 3.
