Malcolm Rivera
Citing amendments to the Constitution in MLA 8th edition format is a straightforward process. The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is commonly used for academic writing and research papers. To cite an amendment to the United States Constitution in MLA 8th edition format, you will need to follow a specific structure. Begin with the name of the document in italics, followed by either Art. or Amend. depending on the document type, and then write the article or amendment number in Roman numerals. Next, add Sec. to indicate the section number, and use Arabic numerals for this section reference. For example, U.S. Constitution. Art. III, Sec. 3 or U.S. Const. amend. XIV, Sec. 2. It's important to note that article and amendment numbers use Roman numerals, while section and clause numbers are in Arabic numerals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the U.S. Constitution | U.S. Const. |
| Article | Art. (in Roman numerals) |
| Amendment | Amend. (in Roman numerals) |
| Section | § (in Arabic numerals) |
| Clause | cl. (in Arabic numerals) |
| Preamble | pmbl. |
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What You'll Learn
Citing the U.S. Constitution in MLA 8th edition
When citing the U.S. Constitution and its amendments in MLA 8th edition format, there are a few key guidelines to follow. Firstly, when mentioning the Constitution in your paper, simply refer to it as the "Constitution" without using italics or quotation marks. When citing a specific article or amendment, the format is as follows:
> U.S. Const. Art./Amend. [Article or Amendment Number in Roman Numerals, Sec. Section Number]
For example, if you're citing the first article of the Constitution, your in-text citation would look like this:
> U.S. Const. Art. I, Sec. 1
If you're citing an amendment, you would use the following format:
> U.S. Const. Amend. [Amendment Number in Roman Numerals], Sec. Section Number]
For example, when citing the Seventeenth Amendment, your in-text citation would appear as:
> U.S. Const. Amend. XVII, Sec. 1
It's important to note that article and amendment numbers are always written in Roman numerals, while section and clause numbers are written in Arabic numerals. Additionally, if you're referring to a part of the Constitution that has been repealed or amended, include the year of the change in parentheses, like so:
> U.S. Const. Amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)
Finally, when creating a Works Cited entry for the Constitution, include information about where you accessed it, such as the website or book details.
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Using Roman numerals for article and amendment numbers
When citing the United States Constitution in MLA style, it is important to use the correct format for article and amendment numbers. The MLA style for citing the Constitution involves using Roman numerals for article and amendment numbers, along with specific abbreviations.
Firstly, when referring to the United States Constitution, use the abbreviation "U.S. Const." followed by a comma. This forms the basis of your citation. Next, specify whether you are citing an article or an amendment. The abbreviation for an article is "Art.," while the amendment is abbreviated as "Amend." Always use Roman numerals to represent the article or amendment number that follows. For example, if you are citing the Fourteenth Amendment, it should appear as "U.S. Const., Amend. XIV."
It is important to note that article and amendment numbers are always written in Roman numerals, while section and clause numbers are written in Arabic numerals. For example, "U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 2" indicates Amendment XIV, Section 2. The Arabic numeral for the section is represented by the symbol "§," which can be typed using Alt-21.
Additionally, when citing an article, you can include the section number after the article number. For instance, "U.S. Const. art. I, § 9" refers to Article I, Section 9. If you are citing a specific clause within an article or amendment, simply add the clause number as an Arabic numeral after the section number. For example, "U.S. Const. amend. V, § 2, cl. 3" refers to Amendment V, Section 2, Clause 3.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your MLA citations for the United States Constitution accurately reflect the use of Roman numerals for article and amendment numbers.
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Citing online references for amendments
When citing online references for amendments to the US Constitution in MLA 8th edition style, there are a few key formatting principles to follow. Firstly, the name of the document should be included, followed by either "Art." or "Amend.", depending on which is relevant to your source. This is then followed by the article or amendment number written in Roman numerals. Next, include "Sec." to indicate the section of the amendment being referenced, and finally, the section number itself. An example of this style is: "U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 2". Note that only the name of the document is written in italics.
In the in-text citation, include either the article or amendment, along with the relevant section numbers. For example, "U.S. Const. amend. XIX". When referring to parts of the Constitution that are currently in force, do not include a date. However, if you are referencing a repealed or amended part, include the year of change in parentheses. For example, "U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)".
The full reference in the Works Cited list should include the section of the United States Constitution, as follows: "United States Constitution. Art./Amend. XII, Sec. 3". Note that "Art./Amend." is abbreviated, and the article or amendment number is written in Roman numerals.
When citing an online version of the US Constitution, include information about where you accessed it. For example: "The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription. National Archives, United States National Archives and Records Administration, 28 Feb. 2017, www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript#toc-article-iv-".
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In-text citation format
When citing the amendments to the US Constitution in MLA 8th edition style, you should use in-text citations that include the relevant article or amendment and section numbers. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to format these in-text citations:
Step 1: Abbreviate the Name of the Document
Start your in-text citation by abbreviating the name of the document as "U.S. Const." This is a standard abbreviation for the US Constitution. Place this name in italics to indicate that it is a title.
Step 2: Use "Art." or "Amend." as Appropriate
After the abbreviated document name, you should write either "Art." (short for Article) or "Amend." (short for Amendment). Use "Art." if you are citing an article of the Constitution, and use "Amend." if you are citing one of its amendments.
Step 3: Provide the Article or Amendment Number in Roman Numerals
Following "Art." or "Amend.," include the number of the relevant article or amendment. Express this number using Roman numerals. For example, if you are citing the Fourteenth Amendment, write "Amend. XIV."
Step 4: Include "Sec." and the Section Number
After the article or amendment number, add "Sec." to indicate the section that you are referring to. Then, provide the section number in Arabic numerals. For instance, if you are citing Section 2 of the aforementioned amendment, your in-text citation would read: "U.S. Const. Amend. XIV, Sec. 2."
Step 5: Add Any Other Relevant Information
If you are citing a specific clause or part within a section, you can include this information after the section number. Use "cl." followed by an Arabic numeral for a clause number, and use "pt." followed by a Roman numeral for a part number.
Step 6: Finish with a Period
Conclude your in-text citation with a period at the end. This indicates the end of your citation and allows you to seamlessly integrate it into your sentence or parenthetical reference.
By following these steps, you can properly format your in-text citations when referring to the amendments to the US Constitution in MLA 8th edition style. This format helps readers easily identify the specific sections of the Constitution that support your arguments or ideas.
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Citing a printed book version of the Constitution
Now, for citing a printed book version of the Constitution, here are the key instructions:
When citing a printed book version, treat it as you would any other book citation in MLA format. Start by providing the title of the book in italics. For example, *The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription*. After the title, list any editors, annotators, or other main contributors to the edition. For instance, "Edited by John Doe."
Publisher and Year
Include the publisher's name and the publication year within the citation. For example, "National Archives and Records Administration, 2017."
In-Text Citation
In your in-text citation, use article/amendment and section numbers instead of page numbers. For example, "According to Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution..." or "As outlined in Amendment XIV, Section 2..."
Works Cited Entry
In your Works Cited entry, include the full citation details. Here is an example:
> *The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription.* Edited by John Doe, National Archives and Records Administration, 2017.
By following these guidelines, you can accurately cite a printed book version of the Constitution in MLA 8th edition style. Remember to focus on citing specific sections or amendments and to use the appropriate formatting for the title, contributors, publisher, and year.
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