Criminal Justice: Citing Constitutions in APA Style

To cite a whole federal or state constitution, a citation is not necessary. Simply refer to the constitution in text.

The U.S. Constitution has 26 amendments.

The Massachusetts Constitution was ratified in 1780.

Create reference list entries and in-text citations for citations to articles and amendments of constitutions. In the reference list and in parenthetical citations, abbreviate U.S. Constitution to "U.S. Const." and use the legal state abbreviation for a state constitution (e.g. "Md. Const." for the Maryland Constitution; see a list of state abbreviations for legal references at the Legal Information Institute at https://www.law.cornell.edu/citation/4-500). In the narrative, use either "U.S. or "United States" for the U.S. Constitution, and spell out the name of the state for a state constitution--for example, "the Wisconsin Constitution." U.S. Constitution article and amendment numbers are Roman numerals. State constitution article numbers are also Roman numerals, but state constitution amendment numbers are Arabic numerals. URLs are not necessary for the reference. Additional information about the cited source can be included in the narrative, if desired.

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American

Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000

Template:

U.S. Const. art. xxx, § x.

Example:

U.S. Const. art. 1, § 3.

Parenthetical citation: (U.S. Const. art. I § 3)

Narrative citation:  Article I, Section 3, of the U.S. Constitution

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American

Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000

Template:

State Const. art. xxx, § x.

Example:

S.C. Const. art. IX, § 3.

Parenthetical citation:  (S.C. Const. art. IX, § 3)

Narrative citation:  Article IX, Section 3 of the South Carolina Constitution

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American

Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000

Template:

U.S. Const. amend. xxx.

Example:

U.S. Const. amend. XIX

Parenthetical citation:  (U.S. Const. amend. XIX)

Narrative citation: Amendment XIX to the U.S. Constitution

• Amendments to state constitutions are cited in the same way as amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
• No date is needed in the reference unless the amendment has been repealed.

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American

Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000