The Bluebook is the resource all attorneys and legal scholars use to properly cite and format legal documents. While writing a law review journal or court document, it may become necessary to understand how to cite an amendment to the United States Constitution. A citation informs the reader where the writer obtained the information included in the document. Rule 11 in the Bluebook provides an easy rule and an example explaining how to cite an amendment properly.
Use small caps to write United States Constitution. The small caps option is found in the font section of most word processing programs. Small caps are different than all caps, and to properly cite an amendment to the United State Constitution, you must use small caps. According to Rule 11, abbreviate United States as U.S. In addition, you must abbreviate Constitution as CONST. with a period after the "t."
Abbreviate the word amendment so the citation reads AMEND. with a period after the "d." Again, AMEND. should be in small caps as well.
Insert the number of the amendment using roman numerals. Place a comma after the roman numeral.
Locate the section symbol, §, in the word processing program by going to "insert" and then "symbol." Insert the amendment's section number after the section symbol. Use standard numbers, not roman numerals, for the section number.
Include a period at the end of the entire citation. Like a sentence, all citations have a period denoting the end of the citation. For example, the proper citation for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution according to the Bluebook is, U.S. CONST. AMEND. XX, §3.
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Writer Bio
Elizabeth Stock began writing professionally in 2010. Before pursuing a career as a freelance writer, Stock was an editor and note writer for the "Thomas Jefferson Law Review" while attending Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego. Stock recently graduated magna cum laude from Thomas Jefferson earning a Juris Doctor.