Eleanor Finch
The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation sets the standard for all legal citations. According to the APA Style Blog, all citations of the U.S. Constitution begin with U.S. Const., followed by the article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers as relevant. For example, an in-text citation would be: Women gained the right to vote in 1920 (U.S. Const. amend. XIX). If you are referring to a part of the Constitution that has been repealed or amended, include the year in parentheses.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Article and amendment numbers | Given in Roman numerals (I, II, III) |
| Section and clause numbers | Given in Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) |
| Citing currently enforced parts | No date included |
| Citing repealed or amended parts | Include the year in parentheses |
| In-text citation example | Women gained the right to vote in 1920 (U.S. Const. amend. XIX) |
| Reference page example | U.S. Const. amend. XIX |
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What You'll Learn
Citing the US Constitution in APA Style
When citing the US Constitution in APA Style, there are a few key guidelines to follow. Firstly, if you are simply making a passing reference to the US Constitution, you can mention it in the text without a reference list entry. However, if you are using a specific part of the Constitution as evidence to support your argument, a more formal citation is required.
The standard reference for legal citations is set by The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation. According to this source, all citations of the US 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" are abbreviated as "art.," "amend.," "§," and "cl.," respectively. It is important to note that article and amendment numbers are denoted by Roman numerals (I, II, III), while section and clause numbers use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3). For example, the correct citation format for the Sixth Amendment would be "U.S. Const. amend. VI."
If you are referring to a part of the Constitution that has been repealed or amended, include the year of the change in parentheses.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, "U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)." This format is consistent with Bluebook Rule 11, which covers federal and state constitutions.
In the reference list, you should abbreviate "U.S. Constitution" as "U.S. Const." Similarly, for state constitutions, use the legal state abbreviation, such as "Md. Const." for the Maryland Constitution. In the narrative, you can use either "U.S." or "United States" when referring to the US Constitution. State constitutions should be spelled out in full, followed by the state name, for example, "the Wisconsin Constitution."
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Using Roman numerals for article and amendment numbers
When citing the United States Constitution, it is important to use the correct format to avoid plagiarism. The citation format varies depending on the style guide, such as APA or MLA, that is being used.
APA Style
In APA style, citations of the U.S. Constitution begin with "U.S. Const." followed by the relevant article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers. The terms "article" and "amendment" are abbreviated as "Art." and "Amend." respectively, and their numbers are written using Roman numerals (e.g. I, II, III). On the other hand, "section" and "clause" are abbreviated as "§" and "cl." respectively, and their numbers are written using Arabic numerals (e.g. 1, 2, 3). For example, the correct APA citation for the Sixth Amendment would be:
> U.S. Const. amend. VI
If you are citing a part of the Constitution that has been repealed or amended, include the year in parentheses, like so:
> U.S. Const. amend. VI (repealed year)
MLA Style
MLA style citations for the U.S. Constitution include the webpage title, article/amendment in Roman numerals, section, the URL, and the access date. For example, when referring to a copy of the Constitution on ConstitutionUS.com, the citation would look like this:
> “Page Title.” US Constitution, Art. VI, Sec. 1, https://constitutionus.com/. Accessed January 1, 2023.
The Bluebook
According to The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, the standard guide for legal citations, article and amendment numbers are written using Roman numerals. For parts of the Constitution that are currently in force, no date is included. However, if you are referring to a repealed or amended part of the Constitution, include the year in parentheses.
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Citing an amended or repealed part of the Constitution
When citing an amended or repealed part of the US Constitution, the citation should begin with "U.S. Const." followed by the relevant article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers. The terms article, amendment, section, and clause are abbreviated as "art.," "amend.," "§," and "cl.," respectively.
Article and amendment numbers are written using Roman numerals (I, II, III), while section and clause numbers use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3). If the part of the Constitution you are citing is currently in force, do not include a date. However, if you are referring to a repealed or amended section, include the year of repeal or amendment in parentheses.
For example, if you were citing the Sixth Amendment, it would appear as follows:
> U.S. Const. amend. VI.
The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (18th ed., 2005; www.legalbluebook.com) is the definitive guide for legal citations and should be consulted for further guidance on citing the US Constitution.
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Referencing the US Constitution in text
When referencing the US Constitution in text, there are a few standard styles that are used. The Bluebook is the most comprehensive guide to legal citations, and it sets the standard for all legal citations. The APA Style Blog also provides guidance on how to cite the US Constitution, and it directs users to The Bluebook for further guidance on legal citations.
The APA Style Blog outlines that 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). For parts of the Constitution that are currently in force, no date is included. However, if referencing a part of the Constitution that has been repealed or amended, the year of the repeal or amendment is included in parentheses.
- "The founding fathers addressed the process by which new states may join the union (U.S. Const. art. IV, § 3)."
- "Women gained the right to vote in 1920 (U.S. Const. amend. XIX)."
- "During prohibition, the sale of liquor was made illegal (U.S. Const. amend. XVIII, repealed 1933)."
The Purdue Online Writing Lab is also a useful resource for those seeking guidance on MLA and APA citation styles. The MLA Style Center provides guidance on documenting legal works in MLA style, including how to cite the US Constitution.
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Citing the US Constitution in MLA Style
When citing the US Constitution's 6th Amendment in MLA style, there are a few key guidelines and formats to follow. Firstly, understand that the Modern Language Association (MLA) style is often used by students in the humanities. It is a citation style that includes the author's name, the source title, and relevant publication information.
In-Text Citation
When making an in-text citation for the US Constitution in MLA style, you should begin with "U.S. Const." followed by the specific article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers that you are referencing. For example, if you are citing the 6th Amendment, your in-text citation would look like this: "U.S. Const. amend. VI". Note that "amend." is the abbreviation for "amendment", and "VI" is the Roman numeral representation of the amendment number.
Works Cited Entry
In your Works Cited list, the format for citing the US Constitution is as follows:
> United States Constitution. Art./Amend. VI, Sec. [section number].
For example, if you are citing the 6th Amendment, Section 1, it would appear as:
> United States Constitution. Amend. VI, Sec. 1.
Note that "Art." is the abbreviation for "Article", "Amend." for "Amendment", and "Sec." for "Section". Also, ensure that you use Roman numerals for the amendment number and Arabic numerals for the section number.
Citing Specific Versions
If you are citing a specific version of the US Constitution, such as an online version or a book edition, include additional information in your Works Cited entry. For an online version, provide details about where you accessed it, such as the website and date accessed. For book editions, write the title of the book in italics and list any editors, annotators, or contributors.
Citing Repealed or Amended Sections
If you are referencing a part of the Constitution that is no longer in force due to repeal or amendment, include the year of that change in parentheses. For example, in the text: "During prohibition, the sale of liquor was made illegal (U.S. Const. amend. XVIII, repealed 1933)". In the Works Cited list: "U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)".
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Frequently asked questions
All citations of the US Constitution in APA style begin with "U.S. Const.", followed by the article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers as relevant. Article and amendment numbers are written in Roman numerals, while section and clause numbers are written in Arabic numerals.
The Bluebook is "The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation", which sets the standard for all legal citations. The style for legal citations in the Publication Manual comes directly from the Bluebook.
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: "During prohibition, the sale of liquor was made illegal (U.S. Const. amend. XVIII, repealed 1933)".
