Both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are important founding documents of the United States. As such, they are often cited in academic papers and other works. Here are some tips on how to properly cite these two documents in MLA and APA style:
Modern Language Association (MLA) 9th Edition
Please remember that any well-known document, such as the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, are usually not cited on the Works Cited page; however, if you still want to cite them, check out the guidelines below.
The MLA style does not have a specific citation format for legal documents. However, you can use the MLA general format for citing print sources.
Citing the Declaration of Independence in MLA
To cite the Declaration of Independence in MLA style, you can use either the primary source (the full text of the document) or a secondary source (a book or article about the Declaration).
Here is the Works Cited page citation in MLA format:
Jefferson, Thomas, et al., Declaration of Independence. 1776 http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html
If you are using a secondary source, begin with the author’s last name, followed by a comma and their first name. Then give the title of the book or article. Finally, include the page number (or range of pages) where the Declaration is discussed.
Here is an example:
Bailyn, Bernard. “The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution.” The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Vol. A, 8th ed., edited by Nina Baym et al., W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2012, pp. 272-81.
In-text citations for the Declaration of Independence in MLA style
When you are citing the Declaration of Independence in your paper, there are two ways to do it:
1) Cite the primary source (the full text of the document).
2) cite a secondary source (a book or article about the Declaration).
Here is an example of how to cite the Declaration of Independence in MLA style:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (US 1776).
Though Jefferson is the main author of the Declaration of Independence, it is needed to cite “US” as the author in the in-text citations.
Citing the Constitution in MLA
When citing the Constitution in MLA style, you can use either the primary source (the full text of the document) or a secondary source (a book or article about the Constitution).
Here is how to cite the Constitution in MLA format on your Works Cited page:
Madison, James, et al.,The Constitution of the United States of America. 1787. http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html
If you are using a secondary source, begin with the author’s last name, followed by a comma and their first name. Then give the title of the book or article. Finally, include the page number (or range of pages) where the Constitution is discussed.
Here is an example:
Murphy, Paul L. “The Origins of the Constitution.” The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Vol. A, 8th ed., edited by Nina Baym et al., W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2012, pp. 281-89.
In-text citations for the Constitution in MLA style
When you are citing The Constitution of the United States in your paper, there are two ways to do it:
1) Cite the primary source (the full text of the document).
2) cite a secondary source (a book or article about the Constitution).
Here is an example of how to cite the Constitution in MLA style:
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America” (US 1787).
Though Madison is the main author of the Constitution, it is needed to cite “US” as the author in the in-text citations, according to the MLA handbook. Please note that this citation style applies only to the original document. For citing the amendments, please use the MLA style guide for citing legislation.
Citing the Bill of Rights in MLA
Here is how to cite the Bill of Rights in MLA format on your Works Cited page:
- Congress of the United States. The Bill of Rights. 1791. http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html
If you are using a secondary source, begin with the author’s last name, followed by a comma and their first name. Then give the title of the book or article. Finally, include the page number (or range of pages) where the Bill of Rights is discussed.
Here is an example:
Murphy, Paul L. “The Origins of the Constitution.” The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Vol. A, 8th ed., edited by Nina Baym et al., W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2012, pp. 281-89.
In-text citations for the Bill of Rights in MLA style
When you are citing The Bill of Rights in your paper, there are two ways to do it:
1) Cite the primary source (the full text of the document).
2) cite a secondary source (a book or article about the Bill of Rights).
Here is an example of how to cite the Bill of Rights in MLA style:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances” (US 1791).
For citing the amendments, please use the MLA style guide for citing legislation.
You can check MLA 9th Citations and Works Cited Guidelines in the MLA Handbook for more detailed information.
American Psychological Association (APA) 7th Edition
The APA citation style for the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, is similar to MLA, except that you use the author-date system.
Citing the Declaration of Independence in APA
Jefferson, T. (1776). Declaration of independence. Retrieved from http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/
If you are using a secondary source, begin with the author’s last name, followed by a comma and their first and second initial. Then give the publication date in parentheses. Next, give the title of the book or article. Finally, include the page number (or range of pages) where the Declaration of Independence is discussed.
Here is an example:
Murphy, P. L. (2012). The origins of the Constitution. In N. Baym, & al. (Eds.), The Norton Anthology of American literature (Vol. A, pp. 281-289). New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.
In-text citations for the Declaration of Independence in APA style
When you are citing the Declaration of Independence in your paper, there are two ways to do it:
1) Cite the primary source (the full text of the document).
2) cite a secondary source (a book or article about the Constitution).
Here is an example of how to cite the Declaration of Independence in APA style as a primary source:
- “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (Jefferson, 1776).
Citing the Constitution in APA
Madison, J. (1787).The Constitution of the United States of America. 1787. Retrieved from http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html
If you are using a secondary source, begin with the author’s last name, followed by a comma and their first and second initial. Then give the publication date in parentheses. Next, give the title of the book or article. Finally, include the page number (or range of pages) where the Constitution is discussed.
Here is an example:
Murphy, P. L. (2012). The origins of the Constitution. In N. Baym, & al. (Eds.), The Norton Anthology of American literature (Vol. A, pp. 281-289). New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.
In-text citations for the Constitution in APA style
Here is how you can cite the Constitution in the text:
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America” (Madison, 1787).
Citing the Bill of Rights in APA
Reference List APA citation:
Congress of the United States. (1791) The Bill of Rights. Retrieved From http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html
If you are using a secondary source, begin with the author’s last name, followed by a comma and their first and second initial. Then give the publication date in parentheses. Next, give the title of the book or article. Finally, include the page number (or range of pages) where the Bill of Rights is discussed.
Here is an example:
Murphy, P. L. (2012). The origins of the Constitution. In N. Baym, & al. (Eds.), The Norton Anthology of American literature (Vol. A, pp. 281-289). New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.
In-text citations for the Bill of Rights in APA format
Here is the Bill of Rights in-text citation example:
“The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people” (Congress of the United States, 1791).
You can check the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association The Official Guide to APA Style for more detailed information.
