Simone Lawson
When citing a constitution, it is important to follow the correct format and style. The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation is the authoritative guide for legal citations, including constitutions. However, different style guides such as APA, MLA, and Chicago may have their own specific requirements. Here, we will explore the two essential elements that are commonly required when citing a constitution, providing a comprehensive understanding of the citation process for this important document.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Article | art. (use Roman numerals: I, II, III) |
| Amendment | amend. (use Roman numerals: I, II, III) |
| Section | sec. (use Arabic numerals: 1, 2, 3) |
| Clause | cl. (use Arabic numerals: 1, 2, 3) |
| Preamble | pmbl. |
| Date | Include the year that the part in question was repealed or amended in parentheses |
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What You'll Learn
Citing a specific part of the US Constitution
When citing a specific part of the US Constitution, it is important to follow the correct formatting and style guidelines. The two required elements when citing a constitution are the article and section numbers. However, depending on the style guide you are using, there may be slight variations in how these elements are formatted and additional information that is required.
For example, in APA style, the citation 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. Article and amendment numbers are given in Roman numerals (I, II, III), while section and clause numbers are in Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3). If you are referring to a part of the Constitution that has been repealed or amended, include the year in parentheses.
In MLA style, a similar format is used, with the abbreviations "art." "amend.," and "sec." However, in MLA, you should use Arabic numerals for all numbers (e.g., 1, 2, 3, instead of I, II, III). Additionally, in-text citations in MLA style should use article/amendment and section numbers instead of page numbers.
For state constitutions, use the abbreviated name of the state, such as "N.C. Const." or "Ariz. Const."
It is worth noting that The Bluebook sets the standard for legal citations, and you may need to refer to it directly or consult a law librarian for further guidance on legal citations.
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Using Bluebook Rule 11
The Bluebook is a unique system of citation that has been relied on by generations of law students, lawyers, scholars, judges, and other legal professionals. When citing a constitution using Bluebook Rule 11, there are a few key things to keep in mind. Firstly, the specific format may vary depending on the style guide being used, such as MLA or APA.
For example, when citing the Constitution of the United States in MLA style, one should include information about where the citation was accessed in the Works Cited entry. In the in-text citation, use article/amendment and section numbers instead of page numbers. Additionally, use the abbreviations "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".
If citing a book in MLA style, the citation should include the author, title, publisher, and year. For a website citation, include the author, page title, website name, date, and URL. The in-text citation for a book or website would typically be the author's last name, followed by a page number in parentheses.
It is important to note that the Bluebook may have specific rules and guidelines for citing constitutions that differ from other style guides. Therefore, it is always advisable to refer to the latest edition of The Bluebook for the most accurate and up-to-date information on how to format citations using Bluebook Rule 11.
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Roman and Arabic numerals
When citing a constitution in the APA style, it is important to follow the guidelines set by The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation. While the Bluebook covers all legal citations, it is important to note that specific guidelines for citing constitutions may be lacking in the Publication Manual.
Article and amendment numbers are represented using Roman numerals (I, II, III), while section and clause numbers are denoted by Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3). For instance, "art. XIV, sec. 7" in the original text would be written as "art. 14, sec. 7" in the citation.
The Bluebook also provides instructions regarding the inclusion of dates in your citation. If you are referencing a part of the Constitution that is currently in force, do not include a date. However, if you are citing a repealed or amended section, specify the year in parentheses. For example, "U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)".
Additionally, when citing a specific provision, it is essential to indicate whether it has been amended and provide the date of amendment. For instance, in APA and MLA styles, this information would be included in the reference entry, whereas, in Chicago style, it would be mentioned in the footnote.
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Citing a provision that has been amended
When citing a provision that has been amended, it is important to include the date of the amendment in your citation. The style of the citation will depend on the style guide you are using, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago.
For example, in APA and MLA styles, you would include the date of the amendment in parentheses in the reference entry. This is demonstrated in the following example: "U.S. Const. amend. XVIII (repealed 1933)". Here, "U.S. Const." refers to the United States Constitution, "amend." is the abbreviation for "Amendment," and "XVIII" is the Roman numeral for the 18th Amendment. The date it was repealed, 1933, is included in parentheses to indicate that this provision has been amended.
In Chicago style, the date of the amendment would be included in a footnote. It is important to be consistent with your use of Roman and Arabic numerals. For article and amendment numbers, use Roman numerals (I, II, III), and for section and clause numbers, use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3).
Additionally, when citing specific provisions of a constitution, it is generally recommended to cite the specific pieces you are using rather than the entire document. This allows for more precise referencing and helps readers locate the relevant information within the constitution.
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Citing the Constitution as a whole
When citing the U.S. Constitution as a whole, you may simply mention it in your paper without including a citation in the references list. Generally, when mentioning the Constitution in your paper, you can just call it the Constitution without using italics or quotation marks.
However, if you are citing a specific part of the Constitution, you should use the article, amendment, section, and/or clause numbers. For example, use "art." (Article), "amend." (Amendment), and "sec." (Section) as appropriate in your citations and convert any Roman numerals used in the text to Arabic numerals (e.g., "XIV" becomes "14").
If you are citing an online version of the Constitution, 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.
If you are citing a book version of the Constitution, write the title of the book in italics and list any editors, annotators, or other main contributors to the edition after the title.
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