Malcolm Rivera
The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is commonly used for writing papers and citing sources in the liberal arts and humanities. MLA format is also used for literary research papers. When citing the United States Constitution in MLA style, include 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. For example, when writing an in-text citation, include a section of the United States Constitution, and use U.S. Const. as an abbreviation for the document's name. Shorten either article or amendment to art. or amend. and add the number in Roman numerals, followed by a comma. Finish with sec. and the number of the section for the citation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| In-text citation | Include the title of the constitution and the year |
| In-text citation | Use "art." for Article, "amend." for Amendment, and "sec." for Section |
| In-text citation | Use Roman numerals for Article and Amendment numbers |
| In-text citation | Use Arabic numerals for section and clause numbers |
| In-text citation | Include article, amendment, and section numbers |
| In-text citation | Use quotation marks around the title of the constitution |
| Online citations | Include the title of the page, website name, publisher, publication date, and URL |
| Bibliography | Include the URL if the constitution is accessed online |
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What You'll Learn
Citing the Constitution in MLA
When citing the Constitution in MLA style, there are a few key guidelines to follow. Firstly, if you are discussing the Constitution based on general knowledge, you do not need to cite it. However, if you are using a named edition, treat it like the title of a book and include the country of origin if it is not already indicated in the title. For example, "The Constitution of the United States, with Case Summaries".
When referring to the Constitution in the body of your text, simply write "the Constitution" without the use of italics or quotation marks. However, if you are citing a specific article or amendment, use the appropriate abbreviations and arabic numerals. For example, ("Constitution of the United States," art. 1, sec. 4).
In your Works Cited entry, list where you accessed the Constitution, such as the name of the database or website. For example:
The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription. National Archives, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 28 Feb. 2017, www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript.
If you are citing a printed book edition of the Constitution, follow the standard MLA book citation format and include any editors or contributors. For example:
The Constitution of the United States: Annotated. Edited by John Doe, National Constitution Society, 2022.
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Citing an Amendment in MLA
When citing an amendment in MLA format, you should follow the Modern Language Association's style, which is commonly used in liberal arts and humanities papers.
Firstly, you should include information about where you accessed the amendment in the Works Cited entry. For example, if citing an online version of the United States Constitution, you should include the title of the page, the website name, publisher, publication date, and URL.
In-text citations should use article/amendment and section numbers instead of page numbers. For example, 'Constitution of the United States, art. 3, sec. 5'. You should use the abbreviations "art." (Article), "amend." (Amendment), and "sec." (Section). Any Roman numerals should be converted to Arabic numerals, so "XIV" becomes "14".
If citing an electronic source, the format should be as follows: 'Author, Title, Site, Modification Date, date accessed, and URL'.
For book citations, the MLA format includes the author, title, publisher, and year.
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The Modern Language Association
When citing a constitutional amendment in MLA format, there are specific guidelines to follow. Firstly, for in-text citations, include the title of the constitution and the year. If referring to specific articles or amendments, provide the article or amendment number in your in-text citation. For example, "Constitution of the United States, art. 3, sec. 5". Use the abbreviations "art." for Article, "amend." for Amendment, and "sec." for Section. Convert any Roman numerals to Arabic numerals, for example, "XIV" becomes "14".
In the Works Cited entry, the title of the constitution should be in italics. Include information about where you accessed the document, such as the website name, publisher, publication date, and URL for online sources. For book editions of the constitution, include the title in italics and list any editors or contributors.
When citing online references for amendments, some key MLA style formatting principles must be followed. In addition to the article or amendment and section numbers, include relevant source information, such as the website name and date accessed.
Additionally, when citing a repealed or amended constitution, include the year of change in parentheses. For example, "U.S. Const. amend. XIX" for the 19th Amendment, or "U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)" for the repealed 18th Amendment.
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The Executive Council
The Modern Language Association (MLA) is guided by a set of rules and procedures outlined in its constitution. This constitution outlines the role of the Executive Council, which plays a crucial role in the amendment process.
When it comes to amendments, the Executive Council is a key player. Firstly, it receives proposals for amendments from the Delegate Assembly, the council itself, or any group of at least twenty-five association members. The council then reviews these proposals and either approves them, makes nonsubstantive modifications, or decides that the amendment cannot be forwarded to the membership. If the council does not approve an amendment, it must present its reasons at the next meeting of the Delegate Assembly, which may then consider reformulating the amendment.
Overall, the Executive Council plays a vital role in the amendment process, ensuring that any changes to the constitution are thoroughly reviewed and in the best interests of the association.
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The Delegate Assembly
One of the key roles of the Delegate Assembly is to voice the concerns of MLA members and recommend actions to the Executive Council. This ensures that the decisions and directions of the association align with the interests and perspectives of its members. The assembly also receives reports from committees and commissions, providing oversight and input into the conduct of association business.
Amendments to the bylaws or the MLA constitution are also within the purview of the Delegate Assembly. Amendments can be proposed by the Organizing Committee or through a petition signed by ten members of the assembly. These amendments must be published at least ninety days before the meeting at which they will be voted on. After approval by a majority vote in the assembly, they are reviewed by the Executive Council, which may forward them to the membership or present reasons for any modifications or inability to do so. Finally, amendments must be ratified by a majority of the association's members voting through a mail ballot.
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Frequently asked questions
The MLA format for citing an amendment is as follows:
> U.S. Const. amend. I
Where 'I' is a Roman numeral.
For online MLA citations, include the title of the page, the website name, publisher, publication date (day, month, year), and URL. In-text citations should include the page title, article/amendment number, and section, e.g. 'Constitution of the United States, art. 3, sec. 5.'
When citing a print version, use a page number instead of a URL.
When mentioning the Constitution in your paper, you can generally just call it the Constitution without italicization or quotation marks.
