Simone Lawson
The process of creating a citation for the Constitution can be daunting, but it is a necessary skill for anyone writing about legal topics. The specific format of the citation will depend on the style guide being used, such as APA or MLA. In general, a citation for the Constitution will include the abbreviation U.S. or the name of the relevant state, followed by the specific article, amendment, section, and/or clause being referenced. This information will be presented using a combination of Roman and Arabic numerals, with standard abbreviations for each element. This guide will provide a comprehensive overview of how to create citations for the Constitution in various styles, ensuring that your work is properly credited and formatted.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Start with | U.S. Const. |
| Article | art. |
| Amendment | amend. |
| Section | § |
| Clause | cl. |
| Preamble | pmbl. |
| Article and amendment numbers | Roman numerals (I, II, III) |
| Section and clause numbers | Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) |
| Date | Not included if the part is currently in force |
| Date | Include the year if the part has been repealed or amended |
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Citing specific pieces
When citing specific pieces of the US Constitution, it is important to follow the correct citation style. The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation is the go-to source for the standard legal citation style. The APA Style Blog also provides guidance on how to cite the US Constitution in APA style, which is adapted from The Bluebook.
For a simple 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, you should construct a citation using Bluebook Rule 11, which covers federal and state constitutions.
All citations of specific pieces 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 to "art.", "amend.", "§", and "cl.", respectively. The preamble is abbreviated to "pmbl.". 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 example, to cite Article III, sections 1 and 2 of the US Constitution, the citation would be: "U.S. Const. art. III, §§ 1–2".
If you are citing a state constitution, use the abbreviated name of the state, such as "N.C. Const." or "Ariz. Const.". When citing a provision that has been amended or repealed, include the date it was amended or repealed in parentheses. For example, "U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)".
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Using Roman numerals
The use of Roman numerals in legal documents has been a long-standing tradition, with a history dating back to ancient Rome. This tradition is continued when creating citations for the constitution. The specific format and style of the citation will depend on the guidelines you are following, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago style.
When citing the US Constitution using Roman numerals, it is important to start with "U.S. Const." or "US Const.", followed by the relevant article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers. The terms "article" and "amendment" are always abbreviated as "art." or "Art." and "amend." or "Amend.", respectively, and are written in Roman numerals. For example, "U.S. Const. art. I" or "US Const. Amend. V". The abbreviations "§" for section and "cl." or "cl." for clause are used, and the section and clause numbers are written in Arabic numerals. So, a complete citation may look like "U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 2".
When citing state constitutions, a similar format is followed. The citation begins with the abbreviated name of the state, followed by "Const." For example, "Mass. Const.". The amendment or article and section being cited are then included, with Roman numerals used for articles and parts, and Arabic numerals for sections. An example citation would be "Mass. Const. art. IX, pt. IV".
Roman numerals are also used in case citations to indicate volume and page numbers of legal reports. For instance, "Smith v. Jones, 5 VI. 123", where "5" is the volume number, "VI" indicates the series of legal reports, and "123" is the page number. Additionally, when citing supplements of the United States Code, use "Supp." followed by the assigned Roman numeral, such as "Supp. II" for the second supplement.
It is worth noting that while Roman numerals provide a clear and distinct style, they can also present challenges. Some readers may be unfamiliar with the Roman numeral system, impacting the clarity and accessibility of the document. To address this, consider including a brief explanation of the Roman numeral system at the beginning of the document to aid readers in their understanding.
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MLA style
When citing the United States Constitution in MLA style, it is important to follow the guidelines set by the Modern Language Association. The citation should include specific information depending on whether you accessed the Constitution online or in print.
For the Works Cited entry, the citation should include the title of the document ("The Constitution"), the article and section being referenced, and the publication details. If you are citing a print version, also include the name of the publisher, the publication date, and the medium. For example:
> United States Constitution. Art./Amend. XII, Sec. 3.
In-text citations should also include the title of the document ("Constitution"), along with the article and section being referenced. Use the abbreviations "art." (Article), "amend." (Amendment), and "sec." (Section), and convert any Roman numerals to Arabic numerals (e.g., "XIV" becomes "14"). For example:
> (US Const. amend. XII, sec. 3)
If you accessed the Constitution online, include information about where you accessed it in the Works Cited entry. Treat it like the title of a book, including the name of the publisher, the publication date, and the URL. For example:
> The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription. National Archives, United States National Archives and Records Administration, 28 Feb. 2017, www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript#toc-article-iv-.
When mentioning the Constitution in your paper, you can generally 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.
Additionally, MLA style emphasizes the authorship of the work. If an author is identified, cite them in your Works Cited entry. If no personal or corporate author is identified, start the citation with the title of the document, followed by the name of the government department, agency, or committee, and the publication date.
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APA style
When citing the US Constitution in APA style, you should refer to The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation. This is because the APA Publication Manual does not include guidance on citing constitutions.
If you are simply referring to the US Constitution in your paper, you do not need to include a citation. However, if you are citing a specific part of the Constitution, you should use Bluebook Rule 11, which covers federal and state constitutions. All citations of the US Constitution should begin with "U.S. Const." followed by the article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers as relevant. The terms article, amendment, section, and clause are abbreviated to "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). For parts of the Constitution that are currently in force, do not include a date.
> (U.S. Const. amend. XIX)
And here is an example of a narrative citation:
> Amendment XIX to the U.S. Constitution
If you are citing a state constitution, use the legal state abbreviation (e.g. "Md. Const." for the Maryland Constitution). In the narrative, spell out the name of the state.
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The Bluebook
US Constitution
To cite the US Constitution, use the following format:
> U.S. Const. [amend.] [number], § [number], [cl.] [number]
For example, to cite Article I, Section 9, Clause 2 of the US Constitution, the prohibition on Congress legislating in certain areas, the citation would be:
> U.S. Const. art. I, § 9, cl. 2
State Constitution
To cite a state constitution, use the following format:
> [Abbreviated state name] Const. art. [number], § [number], [cl.] [number]
For example, to cite Article I, Section 12 of the South Carolina Constitution, the double jeopardy clause, the citation would be:
> S.C. Const. art. I, § 12
Additional Notes
- According to Rule 11 of The Bluebook, do not use a short form other than "id." for constitutions.
- If a constitution is referred to in a textual sentence, the citation must be written out in full, or the provision referred to by name.
- If the constitutional provision is still in force, no date is needed.
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