Malcolm Rivera
The Bluebook is the go-to style guide for legal citations, including the U.S. Constitution. However, when citing the Constitution in an academic paper, the style depends on the format: MLA, APA, or others. This paragraph will discuss how to quote an amendment of the U.S. Constitution in MLA style.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| In-text citation | Use article/amendment and section numbers instead of page numbers |
| Works Cited entry | Include information about where you accessed it |
| Abbreviations | Use "art." for Article, "amend." for Amendment, and "sec." for Section |
| Numerals | Convert Roman numerals to Arabic numerals (e.g., "XIV" becomes "14") |
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What You'll Learn
- Use art. for Article, amend. for Amendment, and sec. for Section
- Cite the source title if there is no author
- Use an alternative locator, like a timestamp, if there are no page numbers
- List where you accessed the Constitution in the Works Cited
- Italicise the title of the book when citing a published version
Use art. for Article, amend. for Amendment, and sec. for Section
When citing the U.S. Constitution, it is important to use the correct abbreviations and numeral styles for articles, amendments, and sections.
All citations of the U.S. 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 as "art.," "amend.," "§," and "cl..," respectively. The preamble is abbreviated as "pmbl."
Article and amendment numbers are written using Roman numerals (I, II, III), while section and clause numbers use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3). For example, if you are citing Article III, Section 2, Clause 3 of the U.S. Constitution, the correct citation format would be: "U.S. Const. art. III, § 2, cl. 3."
It is important to note that when citing a part of the Constitution that is currently in force, you should not include a date. However, if you are referring to a repealed or amended section, include the year of the change in parentheses. This is based on the guidelines provided by The Bluebook, which sets the standard for legal citations.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your citations of the U.S. Constitution are accurate and conform to the conventions established by legal authorities. These standards help maintain consistency and clarity in legal scholarship and writing. It is always important to consult reliable sources and style guides to ensure your citations are correct and conform to the latest standards.
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Cite the source title if there is no author
When quoting or referencing an amendment to the Constitution, if there is no identifiable author, the focus shifts to citing the source title and publication information. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to handle such citations:
Paragraph 1:
Start by identifying the specific amendment you are referencing. Each amendment has a designated number and a title or theme. For example, you may be referring to the Fourth Amendment, which pertains to search and seizure laws. The first piece of information to include in your citation is the official name or title of the amendment. This provides clarity and specificity to your reference. Simply stating "Amendment IV" or "The Fourth Amendment" as your title would be a strong start.
Paragraph 2:
After stating the amendment number and title, you should then provide the source information for where this amendment can be found. This is particularly important when there is no author to cite. Reference the official government publication or a reputable legal database that houses the text of the Constitution and its amendments. For example, you could cite "The United States Constitution: With Bill of Rights and all Amendments" as the source title to indicate where the amendment can be located.
Paragraph 3:
Include relevant publication information for the source title you've referenced. This might include the publisher, the edition or version, and the year of publication. For instance, you could add: "Published by the United States Government Printing Office, Latest Edition, 2020." This provides context and helps your reader locate the exact source you are citing. It also adds credibility to your citation by providing verifiable publication details.
Paragraph 4:
If you are using an online database or a specific website to access the amendment, provide the URL or DOI (Digital Object Identifier) to direct readers to the exact source. For example, you could add: "Retrieved from https://www.gov.law/constitution/amendments/iv/" This ensures that your citation is accessible and transparent, allowing readers to easily verify the information you are referencing.
Paragraph 5:
In your text, you can introduce the citation by providing context and then including the amendment number, title, and source information in parentheses. For example: "The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution ('Amendment IV: The Right to Privacy'), as published in 'The United States Constitution: With Bill of Rights and all Amendments' (Published by USGPO, 2020), clearly establishes..." This way, you seamlessly integrate the citation into your writing while providing all the necessary details for your readers to locate your source.
Remember to be consistent with your chosen citation style and always ensure that you provide enough information for someone to easily locate the specific amendment and source you are referencing.
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Use an alternative locator, like a timestamp, if there are no page numbers
When citing an amendment to the US Constitution, it is important to follow a recognised style guide, such as MLA or APA. Here, we will focus on the instruction to "use an alternative locator, like a timestamp, if there are no page numbers". This is relevant when citing an audio or video source that lacks traditional page numbers.
In MLA style, if you are citing a source with no author, you should begin the Works Cited entry with the source title. A shortened version of the title can be used in the in-text citation. For example, if you are citing an audio recording, you might refer to a specific timestamp in the recording, as in the following example:
> As stated in the podcast, "The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription" (14:23), "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union..."
Here, the timestamp (14:23) is used in place of a page number to indicate where the quoted material can be found in the audio source.
Similarly, in APA style, if there is no author mentioned in the sentence and no locator (such as a page number) available, you do not need to include a parenthetical citation. However, APA style differs from MLA in that only the first word of a title is capitalised, and subsequent principal words are not. For example:
> Caulfield argues that representations of migration are shaped by "cultural, political and ideological interests."
In summary, when citing an amendment to the US Constitution, if there are no page numbers available, use an alternative locator such as a timestamp for audio or video sources, or a chapter number for written sources. This helps your reader locate the relevant information within the source.
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List where you accessed the Constitution in the Works Cited
When citing the U.S. Constitution in your work, it is important to remember that you should generally avoid citing the Constitution as a whole. Instead, cite the specific pieces that you are using. When mentioning the Constitution in your paper, you can simply refer to it as the 'Constitution' without using italics or quotation marks.
In an MLA-style citation, you should include information about where you accessed the Constitution in the Works Cited entry. Use article and amendment numbers in in-text citations, instead of page numbers. Article and amendment numbers should be given in Roman numerals (I, II, III), while section and clause numbers should be given in Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3). For example, a citation might look like this:
> "Constitution of the United States," art. 1, sec. 4
For state constitutions, use the abbreviated name of the state, for example:
> Ariz. Const. art. IX, pt. IV
If you are citing a provision that has been amended, add the date it was amended in parentheses. For example:
> U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)
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Italicise the title of the book when citing a published version
When citing a published version of a book, it is important to italicize the title of the book. This is a standard convention in formatting and is applicable across various formatting styles, including the MLA Style Guide.
The Modern Language Association (MLA) provides extensive guidelines on how to format citations and references. According to the MLA Style Guide, 8th and 9th Editions, the general rule for book titles is to italicize them. This applies to both independent works and books that are part of a larger collection or anthology. For example, if you are citing a novel or play that is typically a standalone work, but it appears in a collection, you would still italicize the title of that individual work.
Additionally, the MLA Style Guide specifies that for titles of sources, you should capitalize all principal words, including nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. However, articles, prepositions, and conjunctions in the middle of a title should not be capitalized. This rule ensures consistency and clarity in the formatting of titles.
It is worth noting that there are exceptions to the rule of italicizing book titles. For example, if the book title is mentioned within another title, such as in a journal article or book chapter, you would use italics for the book title within that context. This is consistent with the general guideline of using italics for titles of self-contained and independent sources.
In summary, when citing a published version of a book, it is generally standard practice to italicize the book's title. This formatting guideline is applicable across various academic and professional contexts and helps maintain consistency and clarity in references and citations.
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Frequently asked questions
The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation sets the standard for all legal citations. The Publication Manual does not include examples of citing constitutions, so it is recommended to consult The Bluebook directly or a law librarian for further guidance.
Use "art." (Article), "amend." (Amendment), and "sec." (Section) as appropriate in your citations and convert any Roman numerals to Arabic numerals. For example, "XIV" becomes "14". Include information about where you accessed it in the Works Cited entry.
Use article/amendment and section numbers instead of page numbers. Include where you accessed the source in the Works Cited.
