Malcolm Rivera
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is a critical component of American democracy, guaranteeing fundamental freedoms and civil liberties. It ensures the separation of church and state, protects free speech and assembly, and safeguards the right to petition the government. When citing this amendment, it is essential to follow established conventions, such as the Bluebook style, which is the standard for legal citations. This involves using specific abbreviations, Roman and Arabic numerals, and including relevant article, amendment, section, and clause numbers. Understanding how to cite the First Amendment correctly is crucial for academics, legal professionals, and anyone referencing this pivotal aspect of the U.S. Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Referencing Style | APA Style: Bluebook Rule 11 |
| Reference Construction | U.S. Const., followed by article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers |
| Abbreviations | Article and amendment abbreviated as art. and amend. respectively |
| Abbreviations | Section and clause abbreviated as § and cl. respectively |
| Abbreviations | Preamble abbreviated as pmbl. |
| Article and Amendment Numbers | Given in Roman numerals (I, II, III) |
| Section and Clause Numbers | Given in Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) |
| Date | Not included for parts of the Constitution currently in force |
| Date | Include the year in parentheses if the referenced part has been repealed or amended |
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What You'll Learn
Citing the First Amendment in APA Style
When citing the First Amendment in APA style, there are a few key guidelines to follow. Firstly, if you are simply making a passing reference to the First Amendment without using it as evidence to support a specific point, you can mention it in the text without a reference list entry. However, if you are using the First Amendment as evidence to back up a claim or argument, you should follow the citation guidelines outlined below.
The APA style recommends following the Bluebook's uniform system of citation for legal materials, specifically Bluebook Rule 11, which covers federal and state constitutions. When citing the First Amendment, begin with "U.S. Const." followed by the amendment number, in this case, "amend. I". The term "amendment" is always abbreviated and followed by Roman numerals (I, II, III) for amendment numbers. Therefore, the basic structure for citing the First Amendment in APA style is:
> U.S. Const. amend. I
It is important to note that if you are referring to a part of the Constitution that has been repealed or amended, you should include the year of the change in parentheses after the amendment number. For example:
> U.S. Const. amend. I (year)
Additionally, if you are citing a specific section or clause within the First Amendment, you would include those details after the amendment number. The standard abbreviations for these terms are "§" for section and "cl." for clause, followed by the respective Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3). For example:
> U.S. Const. amend. I, § 1
> U.S. Const. amend. I, cl. 3
By following these guidelines, you can properly cite the First Amendment in APA style, ensuring that your references are clear and consistent.
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Referencing the First Amendment in text
When referencing the First Amendment in text, there are a few standard styles and rules to follow, depending on the context and style of your writing. Here are some detailed instructions on how to cite the First Amendment in your work:
APA Style
If you are using APA style, the general rule is that if you are making a passing reference to the First Amendment, you can simply mention it in the text without a reference list entry. However, if you are using a specific part of the First Amendment to support a point, you should follow Bluebook Rule 11 for citing federal and state constitutions. The basic format is as follows:
> U.S. Const. amend. [number], § [number], cl. [number]
For example, if you were citing the part of the First Amendment that protects freedom of speech, your citation would look like this:
> U.S. Const. amend. I, § 5, cl. 1
Note that article and amendment numbers are written in Roman numerals (I, II, III), while section and clause numbers use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3).
Bluebook Style
The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation sets the standard for legal citations. If you are citing the First Amendment in a legal context, follow the Bluebook's guidelines. The basic format for citing the federal constitution is:
> [Amendment number] U.S. Const. [Article number], [Section number], [Clause number]
So, a citation to the First Amendment, Section 5, Clause 1 would look like this:
> 1st U.S. Const. art. I, § 5, cl. 1
Remember, if you are referring to a part of the Constitution that has been repealed or amended, include the year of the change in parentheses after the clause number.
These are the basic guidelines for referencing the First Amendment in text. Be sure to consult the latest style guides and manuals for detailed and up-to-date information on citation styles.
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Using Bluebook Rule 11 for citations
The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, is the style guide for legal citations. It contains rules that prescribe how to cite a variety of legal documents, including the U.S. Constitution and state constitutions (Rule 11).
When citing the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution using Bluebook Rule 11, the citation should include three elements: "U.S." followed by "Const." (the Bluebook's abbreviation for the Constitution), and then the amendment number in Roman numerals. The final citation would look like this: U.S. Const. amend. I.
If you are referring to a specific section or clause within the First Amendment, you would include those details as well. For example, if you wanted to cite Section 2, Clause 3 of the First Amendment, your citation would look like this: U.S. Const. amend. I, § 2, cl. 3.
It is important to note that Bluebook Rule 11 applies only to parts of the Constitution that are currently in force. If you are referring to a part of the Constitution that has been repealed or amended, you would include the year of the change in parentheses, like so: U.S. Const. amend. I (repealed 1920).
In addition to Rule 11, The Bluebook provides numerous other rules for citing legal materials, including Rule 15.9 for citing databases, Rule 16 for citing law reviews, newspapers, and journals, and Rule 18 for citing online sources.
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Citing a repealed or amended part of the Constitution
When citing a repealed or amended part of the US Constitution, you should include the year the change took place in parentheses. For example, if you are citing Article 1, Section 3, Clause 1 of the Constitution, which was amended by Section 1 of the Seventeenth Amendment in 1919, your citation should look like this:
> "U.S. Const. Art. I, §3, cl. 1 (amended 1919)."
Alternatively, you could write this in the following format, which includes the full name of the Constitution:
> "The Senate was established with the Legislature intending to choose the two senators for each state for six-year terms (U.S. Const. Art. I, §3, cl. 1, amended 1919)."
Note that "U.S. Const." is always followed by a comma, whereas the subsequent sections are separated by commas. Article and amendment numbers are written in Roman numerals (I, II, III), while section and clause numbers use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3).
The Bluebook is the standard reference for legal citations, and it is essential to consult it or a law librarian for further guidance on legal citations. The APA Style Blog also provides helpful examples of how to cite the US Constitution in APA style, including repealed or amended content.
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Abbreviations for federal and state constitutions
When citing federal and state constitutions, there are specific abbreviations to be used, depending on the citation style being followed.
The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, is a widely accepted guide for legal citations. It prescribes the use of "U.S." or the abbreviated name of the state, combined with "CONST." in small caps typeface. For instance, "U.S. CONST. amend. XIV, § 2". The Bluebook also allows for the use of "Const." instead of "CONST." in certain contexts, such as in footnotes. Subdivisions, such as articles, amendments, sections, and clauses, are abbreviated and capitalised for the US Constitution, but not for state constitutions. For example, "U.S. Const. art. I, § 9, cl. 2" or "S.C. Const. art. I, § 12". When referring to a part of the constitution that has been repealed or amended, the year of the change should be included in parentheses.
The APA Style, on the other hand, uses "U.S. Const." for the United States Constitution and the abbreviated name of the state for state constitutions, followed by the relevant details. For example, "U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 2" or "Mass. Const. art. IX, pt. IV". APA Style also specifies that article and amendment numbers should be in Roman numerals, while section and clause numbers are in Arabic numerals.
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Frequently asked questions
The citation should be formatted as follows: U.S. Const. amend. I.
You can add the relevant section or clause number in Arabic numerals. For example, to cite Section 2 of the First Amendment, the citation would be: U.S. Const. amend. I, § 2.
No, according to the Bluebook, do not include a date when citing parts of the Constitution that are currently in force. However, if you are referring to a part of the First Amendment that has been amended or repealed, you should include the year in parentheses.
