Cameron Miranda
Citing a constitution law in a research paper or article is a crucial aspect of academic and legal writing. The style and format of citations can vary depending on the referencing style being used, such as APA, MLA, or Bluebook. For example, in APA style, you may simply refer to the U.S. Constitution without a specific entry in the reference list. On the other hand, MLA style citations of the Constitution of the United States include article, amendment, and section numbers, and information about where the source was accessed. The Bluebook, a guide for legal citations, provides specific rules for citing constitutions as well. Understanding the specific guidelines for different citation styles ensures accurate and consistent referencing of constitution laws in academic and legal texts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Style | APA, MLA, Bluebook |
| Reference | Not required for passing reference in APA |
| In-text citation | Use article/amendment and section numbers instead of page numbers in MLA |
| Use "U.S." or the abbreviated name of the state in Bluebook | |
| Use Roman numerals for article and amendment numbers, and Arabic numerals for section numbers in Bluebook | |
| Works Cited entry | Include information about where the source was accessed in MLA |
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What You'll Learn
Citing the US Constitution in APA style
Firstly, if you are making a passing reference to the US Constitution, you can simply mention it in the text without a reference list entry. For example, "The US Constitution guarantees freedom of speech". However, if you are using a specific part of the Constitution as evidence, then you should construct a citation using Bluebook Rule 11, which covers federal and state constitutions. The Bluebook is the standard reference guide for legal citations.
All citations of the US 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 to "art.", "amend.", "§", and "cl." respectively. Preamble is abbreviated to "pmbl.". Article and amendment numbers are given in Roman numerals (I, II, III), while section and clause numbers use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3). For parts of the Constitution currently in force, a date is not required.
For example, a citation might look like this: "U.S. Const. amend. XVIII". If you need to cite a specific section or clause within an amendment, you would add that information after the amendment number, like so: "U.S. Const. amend. XVIII, § 2".
In your reference list, you do not need to include a separate entry for the US Constitution. Simply include the relevant information in the in-text citation as outlined above.
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Citing the US Constitution in MLA style
The MLA (Modern Language Association) style is commonly used to cite sources in papers within the liberal arts and humanities. Here is a guide to citing the US Constitution in MLA style:
In-Text Citation
When citing the US Constitution in the body of your text, use article/amendment and section numbers instead of page numbers. For example: ("Constitution of the United States," art. 1, sec. 4). You can use the abbreviations "art." (Article), "amend." (Amendment), and "sec." (Section). Convert any Roman numerals used in the text to Arabic numerals (e.g., "XIV" becomes "14").
When mentioning the Constitution in your paper, you can generally refer to it as the Constitution without using italics or quotation marks.
Works Cited Entry
In your Works Cited list, include information about where you accessed the Constitution. For example, if you accessed an online version, provide the URL:
Constitution of the United States, with Case Summaries. https://www.constitution.gov/constitution-annotated
If you are citing a printed version, provide publication information:
Constitution of the United States. Washington: Govt. Printing Office, 1902. Print.
If you are citing a named edition, your in-text citations should help your readers locate the exact entry in the Works Cited. For example:
The Constitution states that "all men are created equal" (Constitution of the United States, 1787).
Citing Other Constitutions
When citing constitutions of other countries, specify the country of origin if the title does not indicate it. For example:
France. Le Constitution. 4 Oct. 1958. Legifrance, www.legifrance.gouv.fr/Droit-francais/Constitution/Constitution-du-4-octobre-1958.
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Using Bluebook rules for legal citation
The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation has been the go-to guide for generations of law students, lawyers, scholars, judges, and other legal professionals. It provides a systematic method for legal professionals to communicate important information about the sources and authorities they rely on in their work.
The Bluebook style guide is used in the American legal profession for the citation of all relevant sources. It is also recommended by the Chicago Manual of Style for the citation of legal material. The Bluebook system can be quite complex, but the following is a general guide to the Bluebook rules for legal citation.
First, identify the type of source you are citing (e.g. cases, statutes, books, web pages, etc.). Then, refer to the Bluebook rule for that source type. You can use the Quick Guides on the inside cover to identify major source types, and the index for other source types. Note that the Bluebook prefers citations to print sources, but if you found a traditionally printed source online, review the rules for both print and online sources.
Examples are provided inside the front cover, at the beginning of each rule, and within the text of the rules. Note which components are required for your specific source type, and gather the required components from your source. Note the rules for abbreviations and use the tables to abbreviate your citation. Pay attention to typeface and punctuation conventions for different source types.
When citing the constitution of a governmental entity, use the abbreviated title of the constitution and then specify the subdivision of the document you are referring to. If the statute has been repealed or amended, indicate this and the year in parentheses at the end of the citation. You may also include additional information in the same fashion. For instance: "Utah Crim. Code § 76-7-104 (1973) (repealed 2019)".
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Citing a specific article, amendment, or section
When citing a specific article, amendment, or section of a constitution in text, you should follow a similar format to that used for citing laws and acts. The exact format may vary depending on the citation style you are using, but here is a general guide:
For in-text citations, you typically want to provide enough information to direct the reader to the specific part of the constitution you are referencing. Start by providing the name of the constitution and the year it was enacted, followed by the specific article, amendment, or section number. For example: ("Constitution of the United States, 1789," Amendment II) or (Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982, s. 15).
If you are using a specific clause or subsection within an article or section, include this information in your in-text citation as well. For example: ("Constitution of India, 1950," Art. 15(1)(a)) or ("Constitution of South Africa, 1996," sec. 23(2)). The key is to provide enough detail to allow the reader to locate the exact portion of the constitution you are citing.
In some cases, you may be discussing a well-known or frequently cited constitution, in which case you may not need to provide the full citation each time. For example, if your research primarily focuses on the US Constitution, you could simply cite ("U.S. Const." Amendment XIV, Section 2) after initially providing the full citation. This shortened format is commonly used in legal writing and academic papers.
Remember to consult the specific style guide you are using (such as Bluebook, OSCOLA, or APA) for precise instructions on how to format your citations, as there may be slight variations in punctuation, capitalization, and abbreviation rules. These guides will also provide guidance on how to structure your reference list or bibliography entry for the constitution.
Finally, always verify the accuracy of your citations by cross-referencing with reliable sources or legal databases to ensure you are providing the correct information for others to locate the relevant constitutional provisions you are discussing.
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Referencing foreign constitutions
Bluebook Citation Rules:
The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation is a widely used guide for legal citations in the United States. It provides extensive rules and guidelines for citing foreign law materials, including foreign constitutions:
- Rule 20 of the Bluebook covers the citation of foreign law materials, including constitutions (Rule 20.4).
- Table 2 of Rule 20 provides specific considerations for citing foreign jurisdictions, with sample citations for 43 jurisdictions.
- If the country of interest is not included in Table 2, follow the general guidelines in Rule 20.
- For foreign constitutions, specifically refer to Rule 20.4 on page 192 for guidance.
- When abbreviating the subdivisions of constitutions (such as articles and clauses), refer to T16, pp. 327-28.
- According to Rule 11, the only acceptable short citation form for constitutions is "Id.". Avoid using other short citation forms.
- Always cite the most official or authoritative version of the document. If the document's level of authority is unclear, use the English version.
Language Considerations:
When dealing with foreign constitutions in languages other than English, consider the following:
- Always provide the full title of the document in its original language the first time you cite it (Rule 20.2.2).
- If desired, provide a full-length or short-form English title in brackets after the original title.
- For languages that do not use the Roman alphabet, transliterate the terms using a standard transliteration system (Rule 20.2.4).
- If the original source is not widely available in the United States, cite a translation, but always cite the original source first and provide a parallel citation to its translation.
Additional Resources:
- The International Citator and Research Guide: The Greenbook provides six volumes of citation examples for international organizations and global regions, offering a broader range of country-specific citation formats than the Bluebook.
- Online resources, such as HeinOnline's United Nations Law Collection, can be helpful for checking treaty information and details.
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Frequently asked questions
If you are simply making a passing reference to the US Constitution in an APA Style paper, you can mention it in text without a reference list entry.
In the in-text citation, use article/amendment and section numbers instead of page numbers. For example: ("Constitution of the United States," art. 1, sec. 4).
Cite the federal constitution by "U.S." or the abbreviated name of the state. For example: U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 2 or Mass. Const. art. IX, pt. IV.
