Citing the Constitution: A Legal Minefield (or Not)
So, you're writing a paper, and you want to drop some constitutional knowledge. Good for you! But wait, how do you actually cite that ancient, yet somehow still incredibly relevant document? Fear not, intrepid scholar, for I am here to guide you through the treacherous waters of Chicago-style citation.
The Basics: It's All About the Footnotes
First things first: Chicago style is all about footnotes. Those little numbers at the bottom of the page? Yeah, that's where the magic happens. So, when you want to cite the Constitution, you're going to need to use one of those bad boys.
How to do it:
- In your text, you simply reference the part of the Constitution you want to cite. For example, "The First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech."
- At the bottom of the page, you'll put a little number corresponding to the citation.
- The footnote will look something like this:
- U.S. Constitution, amend. 1.
Breaking Down the Code: Articles, Sections, and Clauses, Oh My!
Now, let's get a little more specific. The Constitution is divided into articles, sections, and clauses. Don't worry, it's not as complicated as it sounds.
- Articles: These are the main divisions of the Constitution. You'll see them referred to as "art."
- Sections: These break down the articles into smaller sections. You'll see them referred to as "sec."
- Clauses: These are even smaller divisions within sections. You'll see them referred to as "cl."
So, if you want to cite Article II, Section 1, Clause 3 (which deals with the election of the President), your footnote would look like this:
- U.S. Constitution, art. 2, sec. 1, cl. 3.
A Note on the Bibliography: You Don't Need One (Usually)
One thing that sets the Constitution apart from other sources is that it doesn't usually need a bibliography entry. That's right, you can skip that part!
FAQs: How to Cite the Constitution in Chicago Style
- How to cite a specific amendment to the Constitution?
- Use "amend." followed by the amendment number. For example: U.S. Constitution, amend. 19.
- How to cite a state constitution?
- Include the state name before the Constitution. For example: California Constitution, art. 1, sec. 2.
- How to cite a specific case that interprets the Constitution?
- Cite the case using standard Chicago style case citation format.
- How to cite a law that implements the Constitution?
- Cite the law using standard Chicago style citation format for statutes.
- How to avoid sounding like a total nerd when citing the Constitution?
- Try to incorporate the cited part into your writing smoothly. For example, instead of saying "The First Amendment, as stated in the U.S. Constitution, guarantees freedom of speech," you could say, "The First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of speech..."
There you have it! You're now well on your way to becoming a Constitution-citing pro. Remember, if you're ever in doubt, consult the Chicago Manual of Style. Or, you know, just ask me again.