Citing Texas Constitution: Apa Style Guide

how to cite the texas constitution in apa

The Texas Constitution can be cited in APA style by following the guidelines set out in The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation. This is because the APA's Publication Manual does not include specific guidance on citing constitutions. The Bluebook states that citations of the Texas Constitution should begin with the abbreviated state name, Tex. Const., followed by the article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers as relevant. The terms article, amendment, section, and clause are always abbreviated as art., amend., §, and cl. respectively. 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).

Characteristics Values
Cite the federal constitution by "U.S." or the abbreviated name of the state
Basic form Abbreviated name of Constitution art. Article number in Roman numerals. § Section number
Abbreviated name of Constitution amend. Amendment number in Roman numerals, § Section number
Abbreviated name of Constitution art. Article number in Roman numerals, pt. Part number in Roman numerals
Examples U.S. Const. art. I,§9,cl.2. U.S. Const. amend. XIV,§ 2. Mass. Const. art. IX, pt. IV
Passing reference Mention in text without a reference list entry
Using as evidence Construct the citation using Bluebook Rule 11, which covers federal and state constitutions
All citations Begin with U.S. Const., followed by the article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers as relevant
Terms Article, amendment, section, and clause are abbreviated as art., amend., §, and cl. respectively
Preamble Abbreviated as pmbl.
Article and amendment numbers Given in Roman numerals (I, II, III)
Section and clause numbers Given in Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3)
Parts of the Constitution currently in force Do not include a date

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Citing the Texas Constitution in APA: Consult the Bluebook

To cite the Texas Constitution in APA format, you should consult the 18th edition of *The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation*. This style guide sets the standard for all legal citations and is the source of the legal citation style used in the APA Publication Manual.

Although the Publication Manual includes a variety of legal citation examples, citing constitutions is not among them. Therefore, for citing the Texas Constitution, you should refer directly to *The Bluebook* or consult a law librarian.

According to *The Bluebook*, when citing the U.S. Constitution, you should 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, while "section" and "clause" are abbreviated as "§" and "cl.". Roman numerals are used for article and amendment numbers (e.g., I, II, III), while Arabic numerals are used for section and clause numbers (e.g., 1, 2, 3).

For state constitutions, the basic form is similar, starting with the abbreviated name of the state, followed by "Const." and then the relevant article, amendment, section, and/or clause information. For example, "Tex. Const. art. I, § 9, cl. 2".

Additionally, when citing a part of the constitution that is currently in force, *The Bluebook* instructs that no date should be included in the citation.

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Referencing the Texas Constitution: Federal and State Constitutions

The Texas Constitution is a state constitution within the United States. When referencing the Texas Constitution in APA style, it is important to follow the correct format as outlined in The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation.

The Bluebook sets the standard for all legal citations and is the go-to resource for referencing legal materials, including federal and state constitutions. While the APA Publication Manual provides examples of various legal citations, it does not specifically cover the citation of constitutions.

To reference the Texas Constitution in APA style, you can follow a similar format to that of the U.S. Constitution, with some minor adjustments. The basic structure for citing a state constitution is as follows:

Abbreviated name of the state + Const. + art. + Article number in Roman numerals + § + Section number.

For example, when referencing Article I, Section 9 of the Texas Constitution, the citation would look like this:

Tex. Const. art. I, § 9.

This format allows for clear and consistent referencing of specific articles and sections within the Texas Constitution, adhering to the APA style guidelines as informed by The Bluebook.

It is worth noting that if you are simply making a passing reference to the Texas Constitution without citing specific articles or sections, you may choose to mention it in the text without a reference list entry. However, if you are using specific provisions of the Texas Constitution as evidence or support for your arguments, it is essential to provide the appropriate citation details following the Bluebook rules for state constitutions.

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Citing the Texas Constitution: Use of Roman Numerals

The Texas Constitution is a state constitution, and there are specific guidelines for citing state constitutions in APA style. The standard for all legal citations is set by The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation (18th ed., 2005; www.legalbluebook.com).

According to The Bluebook, when citing a state constitution, you should use the abbreviated name of the state, followed by "Const." This is followed by the relevant details, including article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers.

When citing the Texas Constitution, the basic format is as follows:

Tex. Const. art. [Article number in Roman numerals] § [Section number]

For example, if you are citing Article 1, Section 2 of the Texas Constitution, the citation would look like this:

Tex. Const. art. I, § 2

It's important to note that the terms "article" and "amendment" are abbreviated as "art." and "amend." respectively, and they are always written in Roman numerals (e.g., I, II, III). On the other hand, "section" and "clause" are abbreviated as "§" and "cl." and are written in Arabic numerals (e.g., 1, 2, 3).

Additionally, if you are making a passing reference to the Texas Constitution without using specific articles, amendments, or sections as evidence, you may not need to include a formal citation. In such cases, you can simply mention the Texas Constitution in the text without a reference list entry.

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APA Style: Citing the Texas Constitution in Text

To cite the Texas Constitution in APA style within the text of a document, you can follow the Bluebook Rule 11 for federal and state constitutions. Begin with the abbreviated name of the state, in this case, Tex. Const., followed by the article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers as relevant. For example, Tex. Const. art. I, § 9, cl. 2.

The terms article, amendment, section, and clause are always abbreviated as art., amend., §, and cl., respectively. Preamble is abbreviated as pmbl. Article and amendment numbers are written in Roman numerals (I, II, III), while section and clause numbers use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3).

If you are simply making a passing reference to the Texas 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 point, you should include the relevant citation details as mentioned above.

It is important to note that the Bluebook specifies that for parts of the Constitution currently in force, no date is included in the citation. Additionally, while the APA Publication Manual provides examples of various legal citations, it does not specifically cover citing constitutions. Therefore, for comprehensive guidance on legal citations, it is recommended to refer to The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation or consult a law librarian.

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The Bluebook: Citing the Texas Constitution Online

The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, is considered the "definitive style guide for legal citation in the United States". The following guidelines can help you correctly cite the Texas Constitution online using The Bluebook.

Firstly, it is important to note that The Bluebook has specific rules for citing constitutions, including state constitutions like the Texas Constitution. When citing the Texas Constitution online, you should combine the abbreviated geographic region, "Tex." with the word "CONST." in small caps typeface. For example, the citation for Article I, Section 9, Clause 2 of the Texas Constitution would be "Tex. CONST. art. I, § 9, cl. 2".

Additionally, if you are citing a current provision of the Texas Constitution that is still in force, you do not need to include a date in your citation. However, if you are citing a repealed or amended provision, you should indicate the year and action parenthetically or cite the repealing/amending provision in full. For example, if you are citing a provision of the Texas Constitution that was repealed in 1933, your citation would include "Tex. CONST. (repealed 1933)".

Furthermore, when citing the Texas Constitution online, you should follow the guidelines for electronic citations in The Bluebook. If an official print version is not available, you can cite the online source directly. However, if you are citing a digital database, currency information should generally be provided, as per Rule 12.5 in the 21st edition of The Bluebook.

Additionally, the Texas Greenbook, published by the Tarlton Law Library, offers guidelines specifically for citing Texas legal resources, including the Texas code and statutes. While The Greenbook and The Bluebook share some similarities, there are key differences to be aware of. For example, The Greenbook previously required the use of "Vernon's" to note the publisher of the official Texas code, while The Bluebook uses "West".

In conclusion, when citing the Texas Constitution online using The Bluebook, remember to follow the specific format for citing constitutions, indicate whether the provision is current or amended/repealed, and follow the guidelines for electronic citations, including providing currency information for digital databases. Additionally, be mindful of the differences between The Bluebook and The Texas Greenbook to ensure accurate and compliant citations.

Frequently asked questions

To cite the Texas Constitution in APA style, you can use the following format: Tex. Const. [article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers]. For example, Tex. Const. art. I, § 2.

In that case, you can simply mention the Texas Constitution in the text without including a reference list entry.

Yes, legal citations in APA format are based on The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation. The 18th edition of The Bluebook is a comprehensive guide to legal citation and includes specific rules for citing constitutions.

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