Isabella Carter
The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation sets the standard for legal citations and is the go-to resource for citing the US Constitution. According to Rule 11, all citations of the US Constitution begin with U.S. Const., followed by the article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers. Article and amendment numbers are written in Roman numerals (I, II, III), while section and clause numbers use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3). For example, the citation for the 14th Amendment, Section 2, is U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 2. This style guide also specifies that if a citation is used in a footnote, only the words in Tables 10 and 16 can be abbreviated.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Citation method | U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 2 |
| Article and amendment numbers | Given in Roman numerals (I, II, III) |
| Section and clause numbers | Given in Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) |
| Short form | Use "id." where appropriate |
| Abbreviations | Only abbreviate words in Table 10 and Table 16 when used in a footnote |
| Full citation | If referred to in a textual sentence, the citation must be written out fully, or the provision referred to by name |
| Subdivisions | Subdivisions and names are capitalized and in regular typeface for U.S. Constitution |
| State constitutions | Subdivisions and names are not capitalized and in regular typeface |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Citing the US Constitution
The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation sets the standard for all legal citations. The 20th edition of the Bluebook outlines the following rules for citing the US Constitution:
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 as "art.," "amend.," "§," and "cl.," respectively.
Article and amendment numbers are written in Roman numerals (I, II, III), while section and clause numbers use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3). For example, the citation for Article 1, Section 9, Clause 2 of the US Constitution is:
> U.S. Const. art. 1, § 9, cl. 2.
Citing a State Constitution
State constitutions are cited by abbreviating the state name and following the same structure as federal constitutions, for example:
> Tex. Const. art. 1, § 3.
Repealed or Amended Provisions
When referring to a repealed or amended provision of the Constitution, indicate the year and action in parentheses. For example:
> U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933).
Alternatively, you can cite the repealing or amending provision in full:
> U.S. Const. amend. XVIII, repealed by U.S. Const. amend. XXI.
Short Citations
According to Rule 11, the only short cite allowed for constitutions is "id."
Amending the Constitution: Who Has the Power?
You may want to see also
Citing state constitutions
When citing state constitutions according to The Bluebook style guide, there are specific formats to follow. Firstly, the citation should be written out in full when referred to in a textual sentence, or the provision referred to by name. For example, "U.S. CONST. amend. XIV, § 2".
The Bluebook dictates that the United States federal constitution should be cited as "U.S. Const." followed by the relevant article, section, and clause. For example, "U.S. Const. art. 1, § 9, cl. 9".
State constitutions are cited in a similar fashion, but with the abbreviated state name instead of "U.S.". For example, "Tex. Const." or "LA. CONST.". The subdivisions and names of state constitutions are not capitalized, unlike the U.S. Constitution, and are in regular typeface.
If a constitutional provision is still in force, no date is required. However, for repealed or amended provisions, the year and action, or the repealing/amending provision in full, should be indicated parenthetically. For example, "U.S. CONST. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)".
Amending the Constitution: A Step-by-Step Guide
You may want to see also
Repealed or amended provisions
The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation provides a set of standards for citing legal documents, including constitutions and statutes. It is essential to follow these rules when referencing constitutional provisions that have been repealed or amended.
When citing a constitutional provision that has been repealed or amended, it is crucial to indicate the year and action or provide a full citation of the repealing or amending provision. For example, "U.S. CONST. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)" or "U.S. CONST. amend. XVIII, repealed by U.S. CONST. amend. XXI." This format ensures clarity and precision in legal writing.
The Bluebook also provides guidelines for citing specific sections or clauses within a constitution. For instance, "U.S. Const. art. I, § 9, cl. 9" refers to Article I, Section 9, Clause 9 of the United States Constitution. This detailed citation format allows for easy identification of the referenced constitutional provision.
Additionally, when citing federal statutes, it is important to use the official code, the United States Code (U.S.C.), if it contains the current version of the statute. However, due to frequent amendments and updates, it is often necessary to refer to unofficial codes like the United States Code Annotated (U.S.C.A.) or the United States Code Service (U.S.C.S.). These unofficial codes provide the most up-to-date versions of statutes that may not yet be reflected in the official code.
In terms of state statutes, these are updated through pocket parts and supplements. When citing state statutes, it is crucial to follow Bluebook Rule 12.3.1(e) for supplements and pocket parts, ensuring consistency and accuracy in legal citations. State constitutions are cited by combining the abbreviated state name with "CONST." in small caps typeface, as in "LA. CONST. art. X, pt. IV."
Constitutional Amendments: Gilded Age Changes
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Article and amendment numbers
The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation sets the standard for legal citations in the US. The 20th edition of The Bluebook outlines how to cite the United States Constitution and state constitutions.
According to Rule 11, when citing the US Constitution, 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 as "art.," "amend.," "§," and "cl.," respectively. 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, the correct citation for the 14th Amendment, Section 2 of the US Constitution is: "U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 2." If the citation is for a state constitution, use the abbreviated state name followed by "Const." For instance, the correct citation for Article 9, Section 1, Clause 2 of the Hawaii Constitution is: "Haw. Const. art. IX, § 1, cl. 2."
It is important to note that when citing a constitutional provision that is still in force, no date is needed. However, for repealed or amended provisions, indicate the year and action in parentheses, or cite the repealing/amending provision. For example, "U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)" or "U.S. Const. art. I, § 3, cl. 1 (amended 1913)."
Additionally, when referring to a specific clause or section within an article or amendment, it is necessary to include the full citation, including the article or amendment number, followed by the section or clause number. This ensures clarity and precision in legal citations.
Amendments to the Constitution: A Historical Evolution
You may want to see also
Comma usage
The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation provides rules and standards for legal citation. It is important to follow these rules when referencing legal documents to ensure consistency and accuracy.
When citing the United States Constitution or state constitutions, it is essential to adhere to the specific format prescribed by The Bluebook. The correct citation format for the United States Constitution is "U.S. Const." followed by the specific article, section, and clause, for example, "U.S. Const. art. I, § 9, cl. 2". State constitutions are cited similarly, combining the abbreviated state name with "Const." For instance, "N.Y. Const. art. I, § 9, cl. 2" or "La. Const. art. X, pt. IV".
Regarding the query about whether amendment numbers must be written out, The Bluebook guidelines do not explicitly address this issue. However, based on the examples provided, it appears that amendment numbers are typically written in numerical form, such as "U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 2" or "U.S. Const. amend. XVIII". This is consistent with the general principle in legal writing to use numerals for numbers above nine.
In terms of comma usage, The Bluebook specifies that a comma should appear after the abbreviation "Const." or its analogous part. For instance, in "U.S. Const., art. I, § 9, cl. 2", a comma follows "Const." Additionally, when citing repealed or amended provisions, a comma is used to separate the year and action, as in "U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)".
It is worth noting that while The Bluebook provides comprehensive guidelines, there may be minor exceptions or variations in specific publications or contexts. For example, the Style Manual contains a minor exception regarding comma usage after the "Const." abbreviation. Therefore, it is always advisable to consult the most recent edition of The Bluebook and any relevant style guides or updates to ensure adherence to the latest standards and guidelines for legal citation.
Sexism: Is There a Constitutional Amendment to Ban It?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
All citations of the US Constitution 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 written in Roman numerals, while section and clause numbers are written in Arabic numerals.
Cite state constitutions by combining the abbreviated geographic region from Table 10 and the word "CONST." in small caps typeface. Abbreviate subdivisions according to Table 16. For example, "Tex. Const. art. 1, § 3".
No, dates are not needed for parts of the Constitution that are still in force. However, if you are referring to a repealed or amended provision, include the year in parentheses.
