Jonah Patel
Citing the US Constitution's 13th Amendment in MLA format is a crucial skill for students and academics in the humanities, especially those studying languages and literature. The Modern Language Association's (MLA) citation style is widely used in these fields, and proper citation is essential to avoid plagiarism accusations. When referencing the US Constitution, it is generally recommended to cite specific sections rather than the entire document. This guide will provide a step-by-step approach to citing the US Constitution's 13th Amendment in MLA format, covering in-text citations and the Works Cited entry.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Article | 13 |
| Amendment | 13 |
| Section | 1 or 2 |
| Abbreviations | art., amend., sec. |
| Numerals | Roman for article and amendment numbers, Arabic for section and clause numbers |
| Date | Only include the date if referring to a part of the Constitution that has been repealed or amended |
| Title | The Constitution or The Constitution of the United States |
| Publication details | Include information about where you accessed it |
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What You'll Learn
Citing the 13th Amendment in text
When citing the 13th Amendment of the US Constitution in MLA style, there are a few key guidelines to follow. Firstly, use the abbreviations "art." (for Article), "amend." (for Amendment), and "sec." (for Section) where appropriate in your citations. For example, when citing the 13th Amendment, you would use "amend. XIII" to indicate that it is the 13th Amendment being referenced.
It is important to note that article and amendment numbers are typically given in Roman numerals (I, II, III), while section and clause numbers are given in Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3). So, for the 13th Amendment, you would use "amend. XIII" rather than "amend. 13." Additionally, when citing specific sections within the 13th Amendment, use Arabic numerals as well, for example, "sec. 1."
If you are referring to a part of the Constitution that has been amended or repealed, include the year of the amendment or repeal in parentheses. For example, if the 13th Amendment had been amended in 2000, your citation would look like this: "U.S. Const. amend. XIII (amended 2000)." However, if you are citing a part of the Constitution that is currently in force, there is no need to include a date.
In the in-text citation, use article/amendment and section numbers instead of page numbers. For example, " (U.S. Const. amend. XIII, sec. 1)." This format allows the reader to easily locate the specific section of the 13th Amendment that you are referencing. Remember to include the full citation in your Works Cited list, following the format specified by the Modern Language Association (MLA) guidelines.
By following these guidelines, you can properly cite the 13th Amendment of the US Constitution in MLA style, ensuring that your readers can easily locate your sources and avoiding any potential plagiarism issues.
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Referencing the 13th Amendment
The reference list entry would follow the same format: U.S. Const. amend. XIII. 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. XIII (year).
When mentioning the Constitution in your paper, you can simply refer to it as the Constitution without using italics or quotation marks. However, in the parenthetical citation, specify the version cited to match the first words of the Works Cited entry. For example, "The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription."
The Works Cited entry should include the title of the document (the Constitution), the article and section being referenced, and the publication details. Here is an example:
The National Archives and Records Administration. The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription, National Archives, 28 Feb. 2017, www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript#toc-article-iv.
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Using Roman and Arabic numerals
To cite the 13th Amendment of the US Constitution in MLA style, you should follow the general guidelines for citing the US Constitution and then specify that you are referring to the 13th Amendment.
Firstly, when mentioning the Constitution in your paper, you can simply refer to it as the "Constitution" without using italics or quotation marks. In your parenthetical citation, however, you should specify the version you are citing, such as "The Constitution of the United States."
Secondly, in your in-text citation, use article/amendment and section numbers instead of page numbers. For example, you would cite the 13th Amendment as ("Constitution of the United States," amend. 13). Use the abbreviations "art." (Article), "amend." (Amendment), and "sec." (Section) as appropriate, and convert any Roman numerals into Arabic numerals (e.g., "XIII" becomes "13").
> ("Constitution of the United States," amend. 13)
Additionally, the MLA style has specific guidelines for using Roman and Arabic numerals in general:
- Capitalized Roman numerals are used for primary divisions in an essay or book outline and as suffixes for names of persons (e.g., Part I, Henry VII).
- Lowercase Roman numerals are only used when citing pages that are so numbered (e.g., in the preface or introduction of a book), with ranges written out in full (e.g., iv–xii).
- For numbers that can be written as one or two words, the MLA Handbook recommends spelling them out (e.g., one, thirty-six, ninety-nine).
- Plurals of spelled-out numbers should be treated as nouns (e.g., "The three threes are...").
- For larger numbers, use a mix of numerals and words (e.g., 7 million, 1.4 billion).
- Use numerals for numbers with abbreviations or symbols (e.g., 8 lbs., $7.90), addresses (e.g., 635 New Street), and items in a numbered series (e.g., Year 5, Chapter 3).
- For ranges of years that begin AD 1000 or later, omit the first two digits of the second year if they are the same as the first two digits of the first year (e.g., 1907–12).
- For ranges of years before AD 1000 or where the first two digits differ, write out both years in full (e.g., 987–999).
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Citing a repealed or amended section
To cite a repealed or amended section of the US Constitution in MLA format, you must follow a specific structure. Firstly, begin with the name of the document in italics. This is typically 'US Constitution'. Next, write either ''Art.' or 'Amend.', depending on which is relevant to the section you are citing. These abbreviations stand for 'Article' and 'Amendment', respectively. After this, you should cite the article or amendment number using Roman numerals. This is followed by 'Sec.', indicating the section number, which is written in Arabic numerals. Finally, place a period at the end.
For example, an in-text citation for an amended section of the US Constitution might look like this: (U.S. Const. amend. XIX). The corresponding reference list entry would be: U.S. Const. amend. XIX.
If you are citing a repealed section, simply add the year of repeal in parentheses. For example: (U.S. Const. amend. XVIII, repealed 1933). The reference list entry for a repealed section would be: U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933).
Note that when writing about the US Constitution in your paper, you can simply refer to it as 'the Constitution' without using italics or quotation marks.
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Avoiding plagiarism
To avoid plagiarism when writing about the 13th Amendment of the US Constitution, it is essential to properly cite your sources using the appropriate style guide, such as MLA (Modern Language Association). Here are some detailed instructions and tips to ensure your work is plagiarism-free:
Understand the 13th Amendment
Begin by familiarizing yourself with the content and context of the 13th Amendment. Passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, and ratified on December 6, 1865, the 13th Amendment abolished slavery in the United States. It states: "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." This amendment was a pivotal moment in American history, building upon President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, which had limited scope and did not end slavery nationwide.
Use Correct Abbreviations and Numerals
When citing the 13th Amendment in MLA style, use the appropriate abbreviations and numerals. Use "art." for "Article", "amend." for "Amendment", and "sec." for "Section." Additionally, convert any Roman numerals in the original text to Arabic numerals. For example, write "Amendment 13" instead of "Amendment XIII."
Include Relevant Information
To create a proper MLA citation for the 13th Amendment, you need to know the article, amendment, and section number. A basic format for citing the US Constitution in MLA style is: "U.S. Const. amend. X, § Y." For the 13th Amendment, it would be: "U.S. Const. amend. XIII, § 1." Remember to include information about where you accessed the document, such as the website or database.
In-Text Citations
When discussing the 13th Amendment in your writing, use in-text citations to indicate the source of your information. In MLA style, use article, amendment, and section numbers instead of page numbers. For example: ("U.S. Const. amend. XIII") or ("U.S. Const. amend. XIII, § 1"). You can also simply refer to it as the "Constitution" in your text without italics or quotation marks.
Reference List Entry
In your reference list or works cited page, include a full citation for the 13th Amendment. Here is an example of how it may appear: "United States Constitution (1787). Amendment XIII, Section 1." Remember to include the date of ratification for the specific amendment you are citing.
By following these guidelines and properly citing your sources, you can effectively avoid plagiarism when writing about the 13th Amendment of the US Constitution in MLA style.
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Frequently asked questions
Use "amend." followed by the amendment number in Arabic numerals. For example, "amend. 13".
In the in-text citation, use article/amendment and section numbers instead of page numbers. For example, (U.S. Const. amend. XIII).
The reference list entry should include the title of the document (the Constitution), the article and section being referenced, and the publication details. For example:
United States Constitution, amend. XIII.
If you are citing a provision that has been amended, include the year it was amended in parentheses. For example, U.S. Const. amend. XIII (amended year).
