Isabella Carter
The Constitution Act of 1982 is a law that was enacted by the British Parliament as part of the Canada Act. When citing this act using the MLA style, it is important to follow the formatting guidelines for legal works. This involves including specific elements such as the name of the act, the publication date, and other relevant details. The MLA citation style for the Constitution Act, 1982, will be explored in this article, along with a discussion of the act's historical context and its significance in Canadian law.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the Act | Constitution Act, 1982 |
| Format | Constitution Act, 1982, being Schedule B to the Canada Act 1982 (UK), 1982, c 11 |
| Author | The Government of the United Kingdom |
| Date | 1982 |
| Title case | Capitalize the first letter of every important word in the title |
| Month | Abbreviate the month as per MLA guidelines (Jan, Feb, Mar, etc.) |
| Date format | Day Month Year (e.g., 5 Sept. 1982) |
| Access date | Optional, include if relevant |
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What You'll Learn
Citing the Constitution Act, 1982, in MLA
Citing legal documents in MLA style can be tricky, and it's important to get it right. Here's a detailed guide on citing the Constitution Act, 1982, in MLA format:
Understanding the Act's Jurisdiction
Firstly, it's important to understand that the Constitution Act, 1982, was enacted by the British Parliament as part of the Canada Act, 1982. Therefore, when citing this Act in MLA format, you need to include references to both the Constitution Act and the Canada Act. This is because the statute source for the Constitution Act is the United Kingdom's Canada Act, 1982.
Basic Structure for MLA Citation
Now, let's break down the structure of an MLA citation for the Constitution Act, 1982:
Constitution Act, 1982, being Schedule B to the Canada Act, 1982 (UK), 1982, c 11.
Here's what each part of the citation means:
- "Constitution Act, 1982" is the name of the act itself, with the year it was enacted.
- "Schedule B" refers to the specific schedule or part of the Canada Act that the Constitution Act is cited from.
- "Canada Act, 1982 (UK)" refers to the act that contains the Constitution Act, along with its jurisdiction (in this case, the United Kingdom).
- "1982" is the year the Canada Act was enacted.
- "c 11" refers to the chapter number within the Canada Act where the Constitution Act can be found.
Variations in Citation
It's worth noting that you may come across slight variations in citation format, depending on the specific section or part of the Constitution Act being referenced. For example, when citing the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which is Part I of the Constitution Act, the citation would look like this:
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, s 15, Part I of the Constitution Act, 1982, being Schedule B to the Canada Act, 1982 (UK), 1982, c 11.
In this example, "s 15" refers to a specific section within the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The section number can vary depending on which part of the Charter is being cited.
Additional Tips for MLA Format
When citing legal documents in MLA format, keep in mind the following general guidelines:
- Always use the current titles of constitutional statutes, unless you are specifically referring to an historical version.
- For acts passed after the latest revised statutes, cite the relevant annual volume.
- Use the official short title of the statute, and if none is provided, use the full title.
- Capitalize the first letter of each important word in the title, but not minor words like "in" or "of."
- For dates, use the format "Day Month Year" (e.g., "5 Sept. 2012"), and include the full month when writing it out in the text.
- The date of access is optional in MLA, but it's recommended for pages that may change frequently or lack a fixed date.
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Citing the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is a Canadian law, so the McGill Law Journal's Canadian Guide to Uniform Legal Citation rules should be used to cite it, rather than the APA Style rules.
> Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, [section number], Part I of the Constitution Act, 1982, being Schedule B to the Canada Act 1982 (UK), 1982, c 11 [followed by a letter or number, e.g., (QL)].
The section number (s #) will change depending on which part of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms you are looking at. For example, if you are citing section 7, the citation would be as follows:
> Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, s 7, Part I of the Constitution Act, 1982, being Schedule B to the Canada Act 1982 (UK), 1982, c 11.
Note that pinpoint references to the Canadian Charter and the Constitution Act, 1982, are placed immediately after the title. For any other constitutional statutes, place pinpoint references after the chapter number.
In-text citations to legal documents are presented as footnotes. The McGill Guide asks authors to provide bibliography entries, which is different from the references required by the APA Style rules. If you are working with both the McGill Guide rules and the APA Style rules, check with your instructor about including the bibliography entry for the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in the list of references.
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Referencing the UK Canada Act 1982
The Canada Act 1982 was passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom to end Britain's authority over the Canadian Constitution and transfer the authority for amending it to Canadian federal and provincial governments. The Act received royal assent on March 29, 1982, in London, and was proclaimed in force by Queen Elizabeth II on April 17, 1982, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. This proclamation marked the end of any role for the British Parliament in Canadian law and implemented the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
When referencing the UK Canada Act 1982, it is important to note that the specific formatting may vary depending on the citation style you are using. Here is an example of how to reference the UK Canada Act 1982 in MLA (Modern Language Association) style:
MLA 8th Edition:
The MLA 8th edition has updated guidelines for citing laws and legal documents. Here is an example of how to reference the UK Canada Act 1982:
Canada. Parliament. Canada Act 1982, c 11, Constitution Act 1982, Schedule B, Part I, Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, s 15.
You can also use the following format, which includes the date of retrieval:
Canada. Parliament. Canada Act, 1982, c 11, s.
For example:
Canada. Parliament. Canada Act, 1982, c 11, s. 15,
Previous Versions of MLA:
In previous versions of MLA, such as the 7th edition, the format for citing laws was different. Here is an example of how to reference the UK Canada Act 1982 in earlier versions of MLA:
"Constitution Act, 1982, being Schedule B to the Canada Act 1982 (UK), 1982, c 11."
This format includes the country, a shortened version of the title, the year, and the specific citation information. The specific citation information includes "Schedule B," indicating that the reference is to Schedule B of the Act, and "c 11," which likely refers to a chapter or clause within the Act.
It is always important to consult the most recent version of the MLA Handbook or a reputable MLA style guide to ensure your references are formatted correctly and include all the necessary information.
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Citing a bill or resolution
- Government Entity as Author: Begin with the name of the national government, such as "United States" or "Canada." If the bill or resolution is specific to a particular state or province, you would start with that instead, for example, "New York State."
- Congress, House, or Senate: After a comma, specify whether the bill or resolution originated in the House of Representatives or the Senate, followed by another comma. For example, "United States, Congress, Senate."
- Name of the Bill or Resolution: State the name of the bill or resolution in title case. For example, "Anti-Phishing Act of 2005."
- Title of Container: Provide the name of the website or database where the bill or resolution can be found. For example, "Congress.gov."
- URL: Include the URL of the specific bill or resolution page. For instance, "https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-bill/472."
- Congressional Session: Mention the number of the Congress and whether it was a first, second, or subsequent session. For example, "109th Congress, 2nd Session."
- Bill or Resolution Number: Provide the bill or resolution number. For instance, "Senate Bill 472."
- Last Status: Indicate the last status of the bill or resolution, such as "Introduced", "Passed", or "Assented to."
> United States, Congress, Senate. Anti-Phishing Act of 2005. Congress.gov, https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/senate-bill/472. 109th Congress, Senate Bill 472, Introduced 28 Feb. 2005.
Note that the format for citing legal works in MLA style is designed to document the version of the work consulted, rather than the canonical version of the law. Always consult the most recent MLA guidelines to ensure your citations are accurate and up-to-date.
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Citing a government entity as an author
Citing a Law or Act
When citing a law or act, it is important to include the name of the law or act, the date it was enacted, and the publishing government entity. Here is an example of citing the Constitution Act, 1982:
> "Constitution Act, 1982, being Schedule B to the Canada Act 1982 (UK), 1982, c 11."
Note that this example includes the name of the act, the date, and the fact that it is part of the Canada Act 1982, which was enacted by the British Parliament.
Citing a Government Publication
When citing a government publication, treat it as you would any other source written by an organization. Start by identifying the author. If a personal or corporate author is not identified, use the name of the government entity, followed by the name of the agency or department:
> "Name of Government Entity, Name of Agency or Department. Title of Publication, Publication Date, URL (if online)."
For example:
> "United States, Department of Health and Human Services. Healthy People 2020, 2011, www.healthypeople.gov/."
Citing a Court Case
To cite a court case, list the names of the first plaintiff and defendant, the case number, the name of the court, and the date of the decision:
> "Name of First Plaintiff v. Name of First Defendant, Case Number, Name of Court, Date of Decision."
For example:
> "Board of Education, Island Trees Union Free School District v. Pico, No. 80-2043, Supreme Ct. of the US."
General Guidelines
- Always consult the MLA Handbook for detailed and advanced recommendations on citing government sources.
- Abbreviate months in the works cited list but spell them out in full in the body of your paper (e.g., "Jan." vs "January").
- Include the date of access if the page may change frequently or lacks a clear publication date.
- Capitalize the first letter of every important word in the title, but not minor words like "in," "of," or "an."
- For laws and acts, cite the specific section or part you are referencing, in addition to the overall document.
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Frequently asked questions
Constitution Act, 1982, being Schedule B to the Canada Act 1982 (UK), 1982, c 11.
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, s 15, Part I of the Constitution Act, 1982, being Schedule B to the Canada Act 1982 (UK), 1982, c 11.
Name of National Government, Bill/Resolution Number, Title of Bill, Title of Container, URL, Publication Date.
Be sure to include the number of Congress and the session when the hearing was held or resolution was passed, as well as the report number.
Name of National Government, Agency, Subdivision. Title of Document: Subtitle if Given. Edition if given and is not first edition, Name of Government Department, Agency or Committee, Publication Date, URL. Accessed Access Date.
