Eleanor Finch
Citing the US Constitution accurately is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, it gives credit to the original source and maintains academic integrity. Secondly, it ensures that readers can easily locate the referenced sections, enhancing the credibility and reliability of your work. Each citation style, such as APA, MLA, and Chicago, has its own specific rules for formatting and structure, so it is important to follow the guidelines closely to avoid any mistakes. This paragraph will explain how to put the US Constitution in a works-cited list using these three citation styles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Citing style | APA, MLA, Chicago |
| Article and amendment numbers | Given in Roman numerals (I, II, III) |
| Section and clause numbers | Given in Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) |
| State constitutions | Use the abbreviated name of the state: N.C. Const., Ariz. Const., etc. |
| Citing a provision that has been amended | Add the date it was amended in parentheses |
| APA and MLA style | Require reference list entries and in-text citations for specific pieces of constitutions |
| Chicago style | Requires only footnote citations for legal documents; no need to list them in the bibliography |
| MLA style | Mention the specific article or amendment along with the section numbers, if applicable |
| MLA style | The title of the constitution should be in italics in the Works Cited entry |
| In-text citations (MLA style) | Provide the title of the constitution in quotation marks along with the article, amendment, and section numbers |
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What You'll Learn
MLA style
Citing the US Constitution in MLA style requires a specific format to be followed. Firstly, it is important to note that when citing the Constitution, you should cite the specific pieces you are using, instead of the whole document. This means including information about where you accessed it in the Works Cited entry. In the in-text citation, use article/amendment and section numbers instead of page numbers.
The title of the constitution should be in italics in the Works Cited entry, and for in-text citations, the article, amendment, and section numbers should be included. Provide the title of the constitution in quotation marks along with the article, amendment, and section numbers. For example, ("Constitution of the United States," art. 1, sec. 4). Use the abbreviations “art.” (Article), “amend.” (Amendment), and “sec.” (Section) as appropriate in your citations. Convert any Roman numerals used in the text to Arabic numerals (e.g. “XIV” becomes “14”).
When citing state constitutions, include the name of the state, followed by the relevant article, section, or amendment information. For example, "Mass. Const. art. IX, pt. IV". Generally, the US Constitution can be cited as “U.S. Const.” followed by the relevant article, section, or amendment information, e.g. "U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 2".
It is also important to document the version of the work consulted, as per the fundamental principles of MLA style. This means that when mentioning the Constitution in your paper, you can generally just call it the Constitution without using italics or quotation marks. However, in the parenthetical citation, you should specify the version cited to match the first words of the Works Cited entry.
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APA style
When citing the US Constitution in APA style, the APA recommends following the Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation. The Bluebook sets the standard for all legal citations.
If you are citing the US Constitution as a whole, a citation is not necessary. Simply refer to the constitution in the text, using "U.S." or "United States" in the narrative.
However, if you are citing a specific part of the Constitution, such as an article, amendment, section, or clause, you should use the following format:
> U.S. Const. [abbreviation for "Constitution"] art. [article number in Roman numerals] § [section symbol] section number, [pt. part number in Roman numerals], [cl. clause number in Arabic numerals]
For example:
> U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 2
> U.S. Const. art. I, § 9, cl. 2
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).
When citing a provision that has been amended, add the date it was amended in parentheses, for example:
> U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)
If you are citing a state constitution, use the abbreviated name of the state, followed by the relevant details as above. For example:
> Mass. Const. art. IX, pt. IV
> Ariz. Const. art. I, § 1
If you are unable to find specific guidance on citing the US Constitution in APA style, you can create a generic reference using the following elements:
- Who/Author: Who is responsible for the work? This can be a person (author or editor) or an organization.
- When/Date: When was the work published? Include the year, month, and day if available. If there is no date, use "n.d."
- What/Title: What is the work called? This is the title of the work you are using, not the larger "container" like a website. If there is no title, enclose your own title in square brackets.
It is important to note that the APA style may vary slightly depending on the specific edition you are using (e.g., 6th or 7th edition), so be sure to refer to the appropriate edition for the most accurate and up-to-date guidelines.
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Chicago style
When citing the US Constitution in Chicago style, it is recommended that you limit legal citations to the text itself, using the narrative to include information that would typically go in the footnotes. However, when using several legal documents in Chicago style, supplement with footnotes. Note that the Chicago style only requires footnote citations for legal documents and not a bibliography entry.
When citing a specific provision that has been amended, include the date it was amended in parentheses. For example, in Chicago style, this would be the footnote: "U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)". 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 state constitutions, use the abbreviated name of the state: "N.C. Const.", "Ariz. Const.", etc.
In Chicago style, the first footnote or endnote for a treaty should include the name of the treaty, the countries involved, the date, and the source information. For example: "Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space, and Under Water, US-UK-USSR, August 5, 1963, UST 14, pt. 2, 1313." The bibliography entry for this treaty would include similar information, formatted as follows: "Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space, and Under Water, US-UK-USSR. August 5, 1963. UST 14, pt. 2."
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Roman numerals
When citing the US Constitution, it is important to note that you should generally cite the specific pieces you are using, instead of the whole document. The APA style explains that when referring to a whole constitution, indicating the constitution in the narrative is sufficient.
Article and amendment numbers are given in Roman numerals (I, II, III), whereas section and clause numbers are given in Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3). For instance, the citation for the First Amendment would be written as "U.S. Const. amend. I".
If you are citing a state constitution, use the abbreviated name of the state, for example, "N.C. Const." or "Ariz. Const.". When citing a provision that has been amended, include the date it was amended in parentheses. For example, "U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)".
The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation is a useful resource for further guidance on legal citations. It is worth noting that the Bluebook specifies that for parts of the Constitution currently in force, no date should be included.
In MLA style, you would include information about where you accessed the US Constitution in the Works Cited entry. Additionally, in MLA, use "art." for Article, "amend." for Amendment, and "sec." for Section. Convert any Roman numerals used in the text to Arabic numerals, for example, "XIV" becomes "14".
For Chicago style, the footnote at the bottom of the page is where you would put your reference. Start with "U.S. Constitution", followed by the amendment, section, article, and/or clause. Use Roman numerals for articles and Arabic numbers for everything else.
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State constitutions
When citing a state constitution, use the abbreviated name of the state, followed by "Const." For example:
> Ariz. Const.
> N.C. Const.
> Haw. Const.
Article and amendment numbers should be written in Roman numerals (I, II, III), while section and clause numbers should be in Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3). For example:
> Haw. Const. art. IX, § 1, cl. 2.
If you are citing a provision that has been amended, include the date it was amended in parentheses. For example:
> U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)
The Bluebook states that for parts of the Constitution currently in force, you should not include a date. Only include a date if you are referring to a part of the Constitution that has been repealed or amended.
In MLA style, include information about where you accessed the constitution in the Works Cited entry. In the in-text citation, use article/amendment and section numbers instead of page numbers. For example:
> ("Constitution of the United States," art. 1, sec. 4)
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Frequently asked questions
In MLA style, the title of the constitution should be in italics in the Works Cited entry. For in-text citations, use the specific article or amendment along with the section numbers, if applicable. Provide the title of the constitution in quotation marks along with the article, amendment, and section numbers.
In APA style, when referring to the whole constitution, indicating the constitution in the narrative is sufficient. 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). When citing a provision that has been amended, add the date it was amended in parentheses.
In Chicago style, citing a constitution involves including the title, article, amendment, and section numbers if applicable. When using only a handful of legal citations in Chicago style, limit legal citations to the text itself, using narrative to include information that would have gone in the footnotes. When using several legal documents, supplement with footnotes. Chicago style requires only footnote citations for legal documents, and they do not need to be listed in the bibliography.
