Malcolm Rivera
The in-text citation style for constitutions varies depending on the style guide being used, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago style. For example, in APA style, a passing reference to the U.S. Constitution does not require a reference list entry. However, if a specific part of the constitution is used as evidence, an in-text citation should be included, following Bluebook Rule 11. In MLA style, article and amendment numbers are used in in-text citations, and Chicago style uses footnotes for in-text citations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Titles of constitutions | Not italicized or enclosed in quotation marks |
| Titles of individual published editions of constitutions | Italicized |
| Article and amendment numbers | Roman numerals (I, II, III) |
| Section and clause numbers | Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) |
| Citing a repealed or amended part of the Constitution | Include the year that the part in question was repealed or amended in parentheses |
| Citing the Declaration of Independence | Add the institutional author (US) and date (1776) in parentheses the first time it is mentioned |
| Citing the Constitution in text | Use "U.S." or the abbreviated name of the state |
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What You'll Learn
- In MLA style, titles of constitutions are not italicized or enclosed in quotation marks
- Italicization is only necessary when citing an individual published edition
- In APA style, you can make a passing reference to the U.S. Constitution without a reference list entry
- For parts of the Constitution currently in force, do not include a date
- Georgetown University Library advises that it is not necessary to cite the U.S. Constitution in your Works Cited
In MLA style, titles of constitutions are not italicized or enclosed in quotation marks
When following the MLA style for writing and citations, there are specific guidelines to adhere to when referencing constitutions. While the content and structure of the constitution itself are highly important, the way in which it is cited is also crucial. One such rule is that, in MLA style, titles of constitutions are generally not italicized or enclosed in quotation marks. This rule applies to the United States Constitution, which is often simply referred to as "the Constitution" in the text, without any special formatting.
However, it is important to note that there is an exception to this rule. When referencing a specific published edition of a constitution, the title of that published work should be italicized, following standard MLA formatting for book titles. For example, if you are citing "The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription," you would italicize the title of this published edition.
When creating in-text citations for the constitution in MLA style, you should use article/amendment and section numbers instead of page numbers. Additionally, use the abbreviations "art." for Article, "amend." for Amendment, and "sec." for Section. For example, your citation may look like this: ("Constitution of the United States," art. 1, sec. 4). If the constitution uses Roman numerals, be sure to convert them to Arabic numerals in your citation (e.g., "XIV" becomes "14").
It is worth noting that, according to the Georgetown University Library, it is not necessary to include the Constitution in your Works Cited list, as it is such a well-known work. However, if you are citing a specific published edition, you should include a Works Cited entry for that edition, with the title italicized.
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Italicization is only necessary when citing an individual published edition
When referencing the constitution in your writing, you do not need to italicize or enclose the title in quotation marks. For example, you can refer to the United States Constitution as the "Constitution" without any special formatting. However, if you are citing a specific published edition of the constitution, then you would italicize the title of that edition. This is because it is treated like the title of any other published work, which would typically be italicized.
For example, if you are citing "The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription," you would italicize the title of this specific edition. In your in-text citation, you would include the relevant article, amendment, and section numbers, as well as the version or edition you are citing. For example: ("Constitution of the United States," art. 1, sec. 4).
It is important to note that the formatting requirements may vary depending on the specific style guide you are using. The guidelines mentioned above are based on the MLA style, which is commonly used in the humanities and liberal arts. Other style guides, such as APA or Chicago, may have slightly different recommendations for citing constitutions and formatting titles.
Additionally, when mentioning the constitution in your paper, you should specify the version or edition you are citing in your parenthetical citation. This helps provide clear and accurate attribution to your source. The specific format and information included in the citation may vary depending on the style guide you are using.
In summary, when citing a published edition of a constitution, such as the Constitution of the United States, the title of the specific edition is italicized, following the conventions for citing published works. In-text citations should include relevant article, amendment, and section numbers, as well as an indication of the version or edition cited. These formatting guidelines contribute to the consistency and credibility of academic writing.
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In APA style, you can make a passing reference to the U.S. Constitution without a reference list entry
When following the APA style, you don't need to include a reference list entry when making a passing reference to the U.S. Constitution. For example, you can simply write: "Law students described a great affinity for the U.S. Constitution in their response papers." Here, the U.S. Constitution is mentioned without any accompanying citation or reference list entry.
However, if you are specifically citing a part of the Constitution as evidence to support a point, you should use Bluebook Rule 11, which covers federal and state constitutions. In such cases, your citation should begin with "U.S. Const." followed by the relevant article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers.
> The founding fathers addressed the process by which new states may join the union (U.S. Const. art. IV, § 3).
In this example, "art." is the abbreviation for "Article", "IV" is the Roman numeral for "4," and "§ 3" indicates "Section 3." Note that the section and clause numbers are given in Arabic numerals.
If you are referring to a part of the Constitution that has been repealed or amended, include the year in parentheses. For example:
> During prohibition, the sale of liquor was made illegal (U.S. Const. amend. XVIII, repealed 1933).
In this case, "amend." is the abbreviation for "Amendment", and "repealed 1933" indicates the year it was repealed.
Remember, if you need further guidance on legal citations in APA style, you can consult the Bluebook or seek assistance from a law librarian.
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For parts of the Constitution currently in force, do not include a date
When referencing the US Constitution in academic writing, there are specific style conventions to follow. The title of the US Constitution is not italicized or placed in quotation marks when referred to in the main body of the text. For example, one might write, "The Constitution outlines the three branches of the federal government." However, when citing a specific published edition of the Constitution, the title should be italicized, as you would for any other published work.
In-text citations should include article/amendment and section numbers, rather than page numbers. For example, "As stated in the Constitution, … ('Constitution of the United States,' art. 1, sec. 4)." Here, the abbreviations "art." (for Article), "amend." (for Amendment), and "sec." (for Section) are used. Any Roman numerals used in the text should be converted to Arabic numerals.
Additionally, when citing the Constitution in MLA style, include information about where you accessed it in the Works Cited entry. For example, if you accessed the Constitution online, provide details about the website where it was found. If referencing a physical copy, include relevant publication information.
It is important to note that the guidelines provided here specifically pertain to the US Constitution and may not apply to the constitutions of other nations or entities.
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Georgetown University Library advises that it is not necessary to cite the U.S. Constitution in your Works Cited
When writing about the US Constitution, it is generally acceptable to simply refer to it as the 'Constitution' without using italics or quotation marks. However, if you are citing a specific published edition of the Constitution, then the title should be italicized as you would for any other book title. This is because the US Constitution is considered a widely known work that does not require formal citation in the same way that individual published editions do.
The in-text citation format for the US Constitution follows a specific style. Instead of using page numbers, you should use article/amendment and section numbers. For example, you would cite "Constitution of the United States" (art. 1, sec. 4), using the appropriate abbreviations for "article," "amendment," and "section." Any Roman numerals should be converted to Arabic numerals for consistency.
It is important to provide information about where you accessed the US Constitution when including it in your Works Cited entry. This is because there are various editions of the Constitution available in book form or online, and the specific version you used should be specified. For example, if citing an online version, you would include the URL in your citation.
While the Georgetown University Library advises against citing the US Constitution in your Works Cited, it is generally good practice to provide a citation for any source you reference in your work. This helps ensure academic integrity and allows readers to locate and verify the information you are using. Therefore, it may be beneficial to include a citation for the US Constitution, even if it is not strictly required by certain style guides or institutions.
In summary, while the US Constitution may not require a formal citation in the Works Cited according to some institutions, it is important to follow consistent formatting guidelines for in-text citations and provide information about the specific version or edition you are referencing. This helps ensure the accuracy and credibility of your work.
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Frequently asked questions
If you are making a passing reference to the U.S. Constitution, you can mention it in the text without a reference list entry. However, if you are using a part of it as evidence, you should cite it using Bluebook Rule 11. All citations begin with "U.S. Const.," followed by the article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers.
Include the year the part was repealed or amended in parentheses. For example, "U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)".
In MLA style, you would use article/amendment and section numbers instead of page numbers. For example, ("Constitution of the United States," art. 1, sec. 4). You should also list where you accessed the Constitution in the Works Cited.
Chicago style requires only footnote citations for legal documents. You can add a footnote by placing the cursor at the end of the sentence and choosing "References" and then "Insert Footnote."
Generally, no. The U.S. Constitution is a common document that can be found in a variety of places, so you don't need as much information as you would for other sources. However, if you are quoting or referencing a specific part of the Constitution, you will need a citation.
