Jonah Patel
The 13th Amendment to the US Constitution, which abolished slavery, is a significant document in American history. When citing this amendment in academic work, the style of citation will depend on the formatting guidelines you are following, such as APA or MLA. For example, in APA style, you would cite the 13th Amendment as (U.S. Const. amend. XIII), whereas in MLA style, you would use (Constitution of the United States, amend. 13). Understanding the specific rules for citing the Constitution according to different style guides ensures accurate representation in academic writing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Start with | U.S. Const. |
| Article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers | Relevant numbers in Roman numerals for articles and amendments, Arabic numerals for sections and clauses |
| Abbreviations | art., amend., §, and cl. |
| Preamble abbreviation | pmbl. |
| Date | Only include the date if referring to a part of the Constitution that has been repealed or amended; include the year in parentheses |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Begin with 'U.S. Const.'
To cite the 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, your citation should begin with "U.S. Const." followed by "amend. XIII," using the abbreviation "amend." and the Roman numeral XIII.
> In 1865, the 13th Amendment abolished slavery in the United States (U.S. Const. amend. XIII).
If you are citing a specific section and/or clause within the 13th Amendment, you would include this after "amend. XIII" in your citation, using Arabic numerals. For example:
> U.S. Const. amend. XIII, § 1
> U.S. Const. amend. XIII, § 1, cl. 2
Note that the Bluebook states that for parts of the Constitution currently in force, you should not include a date in your citation. However, if you are referring to a part of the Constitution that has been repealed or amended, include the year that this occurred in parentheses. For example:
> U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)
Japan's Constitutional Amendments: Understanding the Government's Motives
You may want to see also
Use Roman numerals for article and amendment numbers
When citing the U.S. Constitution, it is customary to use Roman numerals for article and amendment numbers. This means using numerals like "I", "II", and "III" for article and amendment numbers, while using Arabic numerals for section and clause numbers, such as "1", "2", and "3".
For example, to cite the 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution in text, you would write: "U.S. Const. amend. XIII". On a references page, this would be written as: "U.S. Const. amend. XIII. Retrieved from..." followed by the source where you found the amendment.
The use of Roman numerals in legal documents provides a clear and distinct style that is easily understandable and identifiable. It offers an unambiguous representation of divisions or amendments, enhancing the readability and organisation of the text. For instance, when citing the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, it is customary to use a Roman numeral, as in "Amendment V".
It is important to note that legal documents often have strict formatting and numbering requirements that may vary depending on the jurisdiction. For example, California mandates the use of Arabic numerals for pagination, starting from the first page.
The First Step: Proposing Constitutional Amendments
You may want to see also
Use Arabic numerals for section and clause numbers
When citing the 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, it is important to adhere to the standard format. All citations of the U.S. Constitution should begin with "U.S. Const.", followed by the relevant article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers. The terms "article", "amendment", "section", and "clause" always use specific abbreviations: "art.", "amend.", "§", and "cl.", respectively.
Now, when it comes to the numbers themselves, a distinction is made between article/amendment numbers and section/clause numbers. Article and amendment numbers are denoted using Roman numerals: I, II, III, and so on. On the other hand, section and clause numbers are represented using Arabic numerals: 1, 2, 3, and so forth.
For example, let's say you're citing section 1 of the 13th Amendment. Following the aforementioned format, the citation would appear as follows:
> U.S. Const. amend. XIII, § 1.
This format adheres to the guidelines outlined in the Bluebook, which serves as the authoritative reference for legal citations, including those pertaining to the U.S. Constitution.
It is worth noting that if you are referring to a part of the Constitution that is no longer in force, either because it has been repealed or amended, you would include the year of that change in parentheses. However, for parts of the Constitution that are currently in force, no date is included in the citation.
The Second Amendment: Right to Bear Arms Explained
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Cite the source where you found the amendment
To cite an amendment of the Constitution, all citations should begin with
> Women gained the right to vote in 1920 (U.S. Const. amend. XIX).
The reference page citation would then be:
> U.S. Const. amend. XIX. Retrieved from...
The Bluebook is a useful resource for further guidance on legal citations. It sets the standard for all legal citations and includes a variety of examples, such as cases, statutes, and bills.
The 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery in the United States, was passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, and ratified on December 6, 1865. The document can be found in the National Archives and the Library of Congress, with the latter providing access to digital collections, external websites, and print materials related to the amendment.
Amending the Constitution: Understanding the Process
You may want to see also
Include the year if the amendment has been repealed
When citing the U.S. Constitution in APA Style, all citations should begin with "U.S. Const.," followed by the article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers as relevant. Article and amendment numbers are given in Roman numerals (I, II, III), while section and clause numbers use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3).
If you are referring to a part of the Constitution that has been repealed or amended, include the year that the part in question was repealed or amended in parentheses. For example, if you are citing the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery and was passed in 1865, your citation would look like this:
> U.S. Const. amend. XIII (1865)
This format follows the Bluebook style, which is the standard for all legal citations and is the source of the APA Style guidelines for citing the U.S. Constitution.
It is important to note that the 13th Amendment was passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, and ratified on December 6, 1865. The amendment abolished slavery in the United States, stating that "neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."
The Women's Suffrage Amendment: A Constitutional Victory
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
In text: The 13th Amendment abolished slavery (U.S. Const. amend. XIII).
Reference list: U.S. Const. amend. XIII.
In text: As stated in the Constitution ("Constitution of the United States," amend. 13, sec. 1).
Reference list: United States Constitution. Amend. XIII, Sec. 1.
U.S. Const. amend. XIII, § 1.
The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime.
Amend.
