Malcolm Rivera
The American Psychological Association (APA) has specific guidelines for citing legal documents such as constitutions. While the APA Publication Manual does not include constitutions in its list of legal citation examples, it defers to the Bluebook style, which is the standard for legal citations. When citing the preamble of the U.S. Constitution in APA format, the abbreviation U.S. Const. pmbl. is used, followed by the relevant article, amendment, section, and clause numbers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reference List Entry | Not required for the whole constitution, only for specific pieces |
| In-text Citation | Required for specific pieces of the constitution |
| Abbreviation | U.S. Const. |
| Article | art. (Roman numerals) |
| Amendment | amend. (Roman numerals) |
| Section | § (Arabic numerals) |
| Clause | cl. (Arabic numerals) |
| Preamble | pmbl. |
| Date | Not required unless the part of the constitution being cited has been repealed or amended |
| State Constitutions | Abbreviated state name (e.g. Md. Const. for Maryland Constitution) |
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What You'll Learn
Citing the U.S. Constitution in APA style
The APA Publication Manual does not provide specific guidance on citing the U.S. Constitution. For legal citations, it is recommended to refer to The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (18th ed., 2005; www.legalbluebook.com). This guide outlines the standard for all legal citations.
If you are making a passing reference to the U.S. Constitution, you can simply mention it in the text without a reference list entry. However, if you are using a specific part of the U.S. Constitution as evidence, you should follow Bluebook Rule 11 for citing federal and state constitutions.
Citations of the U.S. Constitution follow this general format:
> U.S. Const., article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers as relevant
The terms "article," "amendment," "section," and "clause" are abbreviated as follows:
- Article = art. (Roman numerals: I, II, III, etc.)
- Amendment = amend. (Roman numerals: I, II, III, etc.)
- Section = § (Arabic numerals: 1, 2, 3, etc.)
- Clause = cl. (Arabic numerals: 1, 2, 3, etc.)
The preamble is abbreviated as "pmbl." For parts of the Constitution currently in force, a date is not included. If referring to a repealed or amended section, include the year in parentheses.
- U.S. Const. art. I, § 3
- U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)
- U.S. Const. pmbl.
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Referencing specific articles
When referencing specific articles of the US Constitution in APA style, it is important to follow the correct formatting and style guidelines. Here are the key instructions and examples to ensure accurate and consistent citations:
In-Text Citations and Reference List Entries:
APA style requires both in-text citations and reference list entries when referencing specific articles of the US Constitution. The formatting for in-text citations and reference list entries is generally consistent. Here is the basic structure for an in-text citation:
> U.S. Const. art. I, § 9, cl. 2
This format includes "U.S. Const." to indicate the US Constitution, followed by the relevant article, section, and clause numbers. The abbreviations "art." for article, "§" for section, and "cl." for clause are used, with Roman numerals for article and amendment numbers and Arabic numerals for section and clause numbers.
For example, when citing Article I, Section 9, Clause 2 of the US Constitution, the in-text citation would be:
> U.S. Const. art. I, § 9, cl. 2
Preamble Citation:
When citing the preamble of the US Constitution, use the abbreviation "pmbl." For example:
> U.S. Const. pmbl.
Amendments and Dates:
When referencing amendments, use the abbreviation "amend." and Roman numerals. For example:
> U.S. Const. amend. I
If you are referring to a provision that has been amended or repealed, include the date in parentheses. For example:
> U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)
However, for parts of the Constitution that are currently in force, The Bluebook states that you should not include a date.
State Constitutions:
When citing state constitutions, use the abbreviated name of the state followed by "Const." For example:
> Ariz. Const.
Generic References:
If you are unable to find specific guidelines for a particular source in APA style, you can create a generic reference using the elements provided in the Publication Manual. These elements include the author or organization responsible for the work, the date of publication or "n.d." if no date is available, and the title of the work or a descriptive title if there is none provided.
By following these guidelines, you can accurately reference specific articles, amendments, and sections of the US Constitution in your academic writing using APA style.
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Referencing amendments
When referencing amendments in APA style, there are a few key guidelines to follow. Firstly, it is important to note that APA style requires specific pieces of constitutions to be referenced, rather than the entire document. This includes amendments, which should be cited individually.
The standard format for referencing an amendment in APA style is as follows:
> U.S. Const. amend. [amendment number in Roman numerals]
For example, to reference the Eighteenth Amendment, which established the prohibition of alcoholic beverages, the citation would be:
> U.S. Const. amend. XVIII
If an amendment has been repealed or amended, the year of this change should be included in parentheses, like so:
> U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)
This format follows Bluebook Rule 11, which covers federal and state constitutions and sets the standard for legal citations in APA style. It is important to consult The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation for further guidance on legal citations if needed, as it provides comprehensive and detailed instructions.
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Citing state constitutions
When citing state constitutions in APA style, there are a few key guidelines to follow. Firstly, it is important to note that you generally do not cite the entire constitution. Instead, you should cite the specific pieces or provisions that are relevant to your work.
If you are simply referring to the state constitution in your text without citing a specific part, you can mention it in the narrative without a reference list entry. However, if you are citing a specific article, amendment, section, or clause of a state constitution, you should follow a specific format.
The basic format for citing a state constitution in APA style is as follows:
Abbreviated state name (use legal state abbreviation) + "Const." + article/amendment number in Roman numerals + "art." / "amend." + § + section/clause number in Arabic numerals.
For example, if you are citing Article I, Section 2 of the North Carolina Constitution, the citation would look like this:
"N.C. Const. art. I, § 2"
If you are citing an amended provision, you should add the date it was amended in parentheses, like so:
"N.C. Const. art. I, § 2 (amended 2023)"
It is important to consult the most recent edition of the APA style guide or The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation for detailed and updated information on citing legal documents, including state constitutions.
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Using Bluebook rules
The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation is the go-to source for all legal citations, including how to cite the U.S. Constitution in APA style. The specific rule in The Bluebook that deals with citing constitutional provisions is Rule 11.
According to Rule 11, when citing the United States federal constitution, use the abbreviation "U.S. Const." followed by the relevant article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers. For example, to cite Article 1, Section 9, Clause 9 of the U.S. Constitution, the citation would be: "U.S. Const. art. 1, § 9, cl. 9".
The terms "article", "amendment", "section", and "clause" are always abbreviated as "art.", "amend.", "§", and "cl.", respectively. 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).
Additionally, The Bluebook specifies that for parts of the Constitution that are currently in force, no date is included in the citation. However, if you are referring to a part of the Constitution that has been repealed or amended, include the year that the change occurred in parentheses. For example, if you are citing the 14th Amendment, Section 2, which is still in force, the citation would be: "U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 2". But if you are citing the 18th Amendment, which was repealed in 1933, the citation would be: "U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)".
It is important to note that The Bluebook contains numerous rules for citing various types of sources, such as Rule 12 for statutes, Rule 14 for federal regulations, Rule 15 for books, and so on. Each rule provides specific guidelines for formatting citations, including abbreviations, punctuation, and capitalization. Therefore, it is essential to refer to The Bluebook directly or consult a law librarian for comprehensive guidance on legal citations.
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Frequently asked questions
Begin with "U.S. Const.", followed by "pmbl." to indicate that you are citing the preamble.
No, a date is not necessary for parts of the Constitution that are currently in force.
The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation sets the standard for legal citations in APA style.
The abbreviation for "preamble" in APA style is "pmbl."
Use the abbreviated name of the state, followed by "Const.", e.g. "Md. Const." for the Maryland Constitution.
