Simone Lawson
Citing the US Constitution can be a little tricky as the style varies depending on the format in which you accessed the document. For example, the citation format for a printed copy of the Constitution found in a book differs from that of a digital transcription of the document found on a website. The citation style also varies depending on whether you're citing the entire Constitution or specific parts of it, such as amendments, sections, or clauses. If you're citing the preamble of the US Constitution specifically, the official way to do so on a works-cited page is U.S. Const. pmbl. or U.S. Const. Preamble. It's important to maintain consistency and uniformity in your citations throughout your paper, ensuring that you provide as much information as possible.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Citing style | MLA, APA, Chicago, Bluebook |
| Citing the whole document | Don't cite in the reference list or works cited list in APA, Chicago, or Bluebook styles |
| Citing specific parts | Include in-text citations and reference entries for articles, amendments, and/or sections |
| Citing in MLA | Use Roman numerals for amendments and Arabic numerals for sections |
| Citing in APA | Include the name and publication date of the webpage |
| Citing in Chicago | Include the information in the text, footnote, or endnote |
| Citing in Bluebook | Follow Bluebook rules for legal citation |
| Citing the preamble | "U.S. Const. pmbl." or "U.S. Const. Preamble" |
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What You'll Learn
Citing the preamble in MLA
When citing the preamble of the Constitution in MLA style, there are a few key guidelines to follow. Firstly, it is important to cite the specific piece you are referring to rather than the entire document. In this case, you would cite the preamble specifically. The basic format for citing the preamble in MLA is as follows:
U.S. Constitution, Preamble)
This format indicates that you are citing the preamble of the U.S. Constitution. Note that "preamble" is spelled out in full.
When citing the Constitution in MLA, it is standard to use the abbreviations "art." for "Article," "amend." for "Amendment," and "sec." for "Section." However, when citing the preamble, you are not referring to a specific article, amendment, or section, so these abbreviations are not necessary in this context.
Additionally, in MLA style, you should use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) instead of Roman numerals (I, II, III) for article and amendment numbers. This is an important distinction to keep in mind when citing other parts of the Constitution, but it does not apply to the preamble citation, as the preamble is not associated with a specific number.
Remember that when mentioning the Constitution in the body of your text, you can simply refer to it as the "Constitution" without the need for italics or quotation marks. However, in your parenthetical citation, you should specify the version or document you are citing, such as the "U.S. Constitution" or the "Constitution of the United States."
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Citing the preamble in APA
Citing the preamble of the US Constitution in APA style requires specific formatting. The APA Publication Manual provides some guidance on citing legal sources in Chapter 11 (page 355), but for more in-depth information, it recommends referring to The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation.
The Bluebook sets the standard for all legal citations and dictates that all citations of the US Constitution 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. The preamble is abbreviated as "pmbl."
Article and amendment numbers are written using Roman numerals (I, II, III), while section and clause numbers use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3). For example, the correct citation for the preamble of the US Constitution is:
> U.S. Const. pmbl.
If you are referring to a part of the Constitution that has been repealed or amended, include the year in parentheses. For example:
> U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)
The APA format does not require you to list the URL of the source in your reference. However, if you are unable to find specific guidelines from APA, you can create a generic reference using the Publication Manual's guidelines.
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Citing the preamble in Chicago Style
When citing the preamble of the US Constitution in Chicago Style, there are a few key guidelines to follow. Firstly, it is important to note that Chicago Style requires only footnote citations for legal documents, and these documents are typically not included in the bibliography.
The preamble of the US Constitution can be cited as follows:
> U.S. Const. pmbl.
This citation format indicates that it is the preamble of the US Constitution that is being referenced. The abbreviation "U.S." represents the United States, "Const." stands for Constitution, and "pmbl." denotes the preamble.
When citing specific articles or amendments within the Constitution, the format is similar. For example, to cite Article I, Section 9, Clause 2, the citation would be:
> U.S. Const. art. I, § 9, cl. 2.
Here, "art." represents the article number, "§" denotes section, and "cl." indicates clause. It is important to note that article and amendment numbers are typically written in Roman numerals, while section and clause numbers are in Arabic numerals.
Additionally, when citing state constitutions in Chicago Style, use the abbreviated name of the state, followed by "Const." For example:
> Mass. Const. art. IX, pt. IV.
This format cites the Massachusetts Constitution, Article IX, Part IV.
Remember that Chicago Style also recommends including the author of the publication whenever possible. If no author is identified, start the citation with the name of the national government and the relevant agency or organizational author.
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Citing the preamble in the body of an essay
Citing the preamble of the US Constitution in the body of an essay depends on the citation style you are using. Here is how you would cite it according to some of the most common citation styles:
APA Style
According to APA style, when citing the preamble of the US Constitution in the body of an essay, you would use "U.S. Const. pmbl." or "U.S. Const. Preamble" in your works-cited page. For in-text citations, you can use (U.S. Const. pmbl.) or provide a quote and cite it as follows: "As said in the preamble to the U.S. Constitution, [quote]."
MLA Style
In MLA style, you would cite the preamble of the US Constitution in the body of an essay as ("Constitution of the United States," pmbl.). You can also use "preamble" instead of "pmbl." in your in-text citation. When providing a Works Cited entry for the Constitution, include information about where you accessed it.
Chicago Style
When citing the preamble of the US Constitution in Chicago style, you would use "U.S. Const. preamble" in your in-text citation.
It's important to note that the specific formatting and punctuation may vary depending on the exact version of the citation style you are using. Additionally, always refer to the latest guidelines for each citation style to ensure your citations are accurate and up-to-date.
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Preamble citation in bibliographies
Citing the preamble of the Constitution in a bibliography depends on the citation style used in your work. Here are some common citation styles and how to use them when citing the preamble of the Constitution:
MLA Style
In MLA style, you need to know the amendment, section, article, or clause for your citation. Use Roman numerals for amendments and Arabic numerals for sections. After your quote or paraphrase, open your parenthesis. If you are citing a specific part of the Constitution, follow the standard format for that part. For example, if you are citing Article III, section 2, the citation would look like this: "U.S. Const. art. III, § 2." However, if you are citing the preamble specifically, the official way is to write it as "U.S. Const. pmbl." or "U.S. Const. Preamble".
Chicago Style
When using Chicago style, you typically do not include a bibliography entry for a constitution. Instead, include the information in the text, footnote, or endnote using note-bibliography style. If you are citing a specific part of the Constitution, follow the format for that particular section.
APA Style
If you are citing the Constitution as a whole and not specific parts, you do not need to include it in your APA bibliography. This is because it is considered a well-known and common document. However, if you are citing a specific part of the Constitution, you would include in-text citations and reference entries for that particular section.
General Tips
Remember that citations can be complicated and may vary depending on the source and style you are using. The U.S. Constitution is a special case because it is a common document that can be found in various places, so you don't need as much information as you would for other sources. Consistency is key when it comes to citations, so ensure that your references to the Constitution are uniform throughout your work.
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Frequently asked questions
The official way is "U.S. Const. pmbl." or "U.S. Const. Preamble".
To cite the US Constitution in MLA, you need to know the amendment, section, article, or clause for your citation. Use Roman numerals for amendments and Arabic numerals for sections.
No, when using The Chicago Manual of Style, do not include a bibliography entry for a constitution. Instead, include the information in the text or in a footnote or endnote, using note-bibliography style.
If you are citing the US Constitution as a whole and not specific parts, do not cite it in your APA bibliography as it is considered a well-known document.
Write "US Const." followed by a period to signal that you are citing the Constitution.
