Eleanor Finch
When citing constitutions, the general rule is that the titles of constitutions are not italicized or placed within quotation marks. However, if you are citing a specific published edition of a constitution, then the title of that published work should be italicized, following the standard rules for book titles. For example, in the MLA style, the title The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription would be italicized. In APA style, legal materials are cited using Bluebook style, which is the standard legal citation style. Court decisions and cases are italicized in APA in-text citations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Titles of constitutions | Not italicized or enclosed in quotation marks |
| Titles of individual published editions of constitutions | Italicized |
| Citing a constitution in MLA style | Involves mentioning the specific article or amendment along with the section numbers, if applicable |
| Citing a constitution in Chicago style | Involves including the title, article, amendment, and section numbers if applicable |
| Citing a constitution in Harvard style | Requires including the title, year, article or amendment number, and the specific section if available |
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What You'll Learn
Citing the US Constitution in MLA style
In MLA style, in-text citations of the US Constitution should include the relevant article, amendment, and section numbers, using appropriate abbreviations: "art." for Article, "amend." for Amendment, and "sec." for Section. For example, "as stated in the Constitution (“Constitution of the United States,” art. 1, sec. 4)." It is also important to convert any Roman numerals to Arabic numerals, such as changing "XIV" to "14."
Additionally, when citing the US Constitution in MLA style, include information about where you accessed it in the "Works Cited" entry. This information should be included in your in-text citation as well. For example, if you accessed the Constitution online, provide the URL in the "Works Cited" and mention "online" or "web" in your in-text citation.
When citing a specific edition of the US Constitution published in book form, treat it like any other published work. Write the title of the book in italics and list any editors, annotators, or other main contributors. For example, "The Constitution of the United States, with Case Summaries."
Remember, proper citation is crucial for academic writing. It acknowledges your sources, helps readers locate original documents, and ensures the credibility and accuracy of your work. Always refer to the latest MLA guidelines or consult style guides for detailed instructions on citing the US Constitution in MLA style.
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Citing the US Constitution in Chicago style
Citing the US Constitution in your academic work requires adhering to specific formatting and structural rules, depending on the chosen citation style. Each citation style has its own guidelines, and understanding the correct format for constitutional citations is crucial for presenting a well-researched paper.
When citing the US Constitution in Chicago style, the title is generally not italicized or placed in quotation marks within the text. Instead, you can simply refer to it as the "Constitution." However, when citing specific articles, amendments, or sections, you should include this information along with their respective numbers.
US Constitution, art. 2, sec. 1, cl. 3
In Chicago style, the US Constitution is usually not included in the bibliography. However, if you are using the author-date style, it may be necessary to include it in a reference list.
It is worth noting that the guidelines for citing the US Constitution can vary slightly depending on the specific style guide you are using. Always refer to the latest version of your chosen style guide to ensure accurate and consistent citations.
Additionally, when citing individual published editions of the US Constitution, the title is typically italicized, similar to the treatment of any other published work.
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Citing the US Constitution in Harvard style
Citing sources in academic papers is crucial for presenting a well-researched paper. Each citation style has its own specific rules for formatting and structure, so it is important to follow the guidelines closely to avoid any mistakes.
When citing the US Constitution in Harvard style, the following rules apply:
- Include the title of the constitution, year, article or amendment number, and the specific section if available.
- For in-text citations, provide the title of the constitution and the year. For example: "The US Constitution (1787)".
- If you are referring to specific articles or amendments, include the article or amendment number in your in-text citation, for example: "The US Constitution, Amend. I".
- The complementary parenthetical citation can be written as (US Const. amend. XII, sec. 3).
- You can also reference the US Constitution in the sentence itself and only provide the amendment and section number in the parentheses at the end of the sentence.
- 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 given in Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3).
- When simply making a passing reference to the US Constitution, you can mention it in the text without a reference list entry.
It is important to note that the title of the US Constitution is not italicized or enclosed in quotation marks when referred to in the text. However, when citing a specific published edition, the title is italicized.
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Citing the Declaration of Independence
When citing the Declaration of Independence, the general rule is to refrain from using italics, underlining, or quotation marks for the title. This standard format is recommended in the Bluebook and applies to titles of laws, acts, or documents such as the Constitution and the US Code. However, if you are citing a specific published edition of the Declaration of Independence, you would italicize the title, similar to how you would treat the title of any other published work.
In your text, simply use a parenthetical citation and be as specific as possible by including section, clause, or amendment numbers. For example: (Declaration of Independence, art. 1, sec. 4). The key is to maintain consistency with your citations throughout your paper, ensuring uniformity in your references to the Declaration.
If you are citing a website that contains information about the Declaration of Independence or provides access to the document, follow the standard format for citing a "website" in your chosen style guide. For instance, in APA format, you would include the author, publication date, page title, website name, URL, and any other relevant information.
It's important to note that the Declaration of Independence is considered a well-known document. Therefore, when citing it in certain styles such as APA 7 or Chicago, you would typically omit it from your bibliography or reference list, including it only in your in-text citations. However, if you are following MLA style, you can include both in-text citations and a works-cited list entry for the Declaration of Independence as a whole or for specific parts.
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Citing a specific published edition of a constitution
When citing a specific published edition of a constitution, the general rule is that the title of the constitution is not italicized or placed in quotation marks. However, if you are referencing a specific published edition, the title should be italicized, and treated like the title of any other published work.
For example, when citing the United States Constitution in the text, it would not be italicized or placed in quotation marks. However, in the works-cited-list entry, where a specific published edition is referenced, it would be italicized. So, in the text, you might write:
> The Constitution grants all American citizens a wide range of rights, including the right to free speech.
And in the works-cited entry, you would write:
> *The Constitution of the United States, with Case Summaries*
When citing the constitution in MLA style, you should include information about where you accessed it in the Works Cited entry. The standard citation format for the U.S. Constitution in MLA style is as follows:
> U.S. Const. art. I, § 9, cl. 2
This stands for:
- U.S. Const. - U.S. Constitution
- Art. - Article
- I - Article number in Roman numerals
- § - Section
- 9 - Section number
- Cl. - Clause
- 2 - Clause number
Note that 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).
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Frequently asked questions
When citing the US Constitution in text, you should refer to it as "the Constitution" without using italics or quotation marks. If you are citing a specific section of the document, you should mention the article, section, and clause in your citation.
The title of the Constitution should be italicized in the Works Cited entry. For example, "The Constitution of the United States, with Case Summaries."
No, according to the Georgetown University Library, it is not necessary to cite the Constitution in your Works Cited entry as it is a well-known work. However, you must cite it in your text.
If you are citing a published edition of the Constitution, you should italicize the title and treat it like the title of any other published work. For example, "The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription."
