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How to cite the constitution.

The method for citing the Constitution will vary based on whether you use the APA or MLA formats, but both are easy to use and are described fully below.

An Introduction to Citing the Constitution

ConstitutionUS.com provides a full-text copy of the United States Constitution. This site includes the  Bill of Rights , all  twenty-seven Amendments , and indexes to help you find specific details throughout the text.

You can cite the Constitution in any document by using a few standards. But the rules for citing the Constitution will vary surrounding whether you  use the APA or MLA format .

Before making a citation, be sure to know which of the two formats you should be using.

A Note About Passing References

You must cite the Constitution if you’re using it to support a point you wish to make when writing. However, you do not have to reference the Constitution if you make a passing reference to the document without mentioning any precise points in your work.

You can tell you need to reference the Constitution by looking at how specific you are when referencing the overall content.

How To Cite the Constitution Using APA

The first way to cite the Constitution is through the APA format. The American Psychological Association format is for scholarly journal reports and academic documents.

Basic APA constitution citations

The following items will be included in your APA citation. You’ll need to use the proper abbreviations and standards for writing:

• The U.S. Constitution name –  U.S. Const.  You do not need to add a comma after that part, although you will need to add one after each other section.
• Article –  Art.  When citing an article, it is always written in  Roman numerals .
• Amendment –  Amend.  Citing an amendment is also written in  Roman numerals .
• Section –  §.  Use Arabic numerals for citing a section of an article or amendment. You can write § by using Alt-21 in your word processing tool.
• Clause –  cl.  This part also uses Arabic numerals when citing a clause.
• Preamble –  pmbl.  This is for cases where you will cite the preamble of the Constitution.

For example, you might cite a detail in the Constitution about when the President and Vice President’s terms end. An example would come in this form:

“The Twentieth Amendment of the United States Constitution states that the President and Vice President’s terms will expire on January 20 at noon, while Congressional members’ terms end on January 3 at noon (U.S. Const. Amend. XX, §1).”

The citation lists the specific amendment you are citing and the section in that amendment, showing that you understand the subject matter.

The APA format does not require you to list the ConstitutionUS.com website or any other URL in your reference.

Citing articles and amendments that were repealed or amended

You will need to add the proper year when something in the Constitution was repealed or amended if you refer to something that was altered through such means. 

You will cite this by including at the end of your reference in parentheses the year when that part was repealed or amended.

An example of the in-text use of the citation entails how  Article 1 , Section 3, Clause 1 of the Constitution was amended by Section 1 of the Seventeenth Amendment. You could write in this case:

“The Senate was established with the Legislature intending to choose the two senators for each state for six-year terms (U.S. Const. Art. I, §3, cl. 1, amended 1919).”

You are referencing the part of the Constitution that was utilized at the start while also mentioning that the rule was amended in 1919, as the  Seventeenth Amendment  gave people the right to elect their senators through popular elections.

How it appears in your reference list

The next part of the APA citation entails how the Constitution will appear in your reference list. You will use the same listing you utilized in your in-text citation in your reference list.

For the Twentieth Amendment example listed above, you will write:

“U.S. Const. Amend. XX, §1.”

For repealed or amended content, you would need to add parentheses around the time the change took place. For the earlier example, you would list:

“U.S. Const. Art. I, §3, cl. 1 (amended 1919).”

You can also use a similar format when citing the Bill of Rights.

Examples of Citing Constitution Using APA

U.S. Const. art. I, § 8, cl. 1. – This citation refers to Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution, which grants Congress the power to lay and collect taxes.

U.S. Const. amend. I. – This citation refers to the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees the freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.

U.S. Const. amend. II. – This citation refers to the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects the right to bear arms.

U.S. Const. art. III, § 1. – This citation refers to Article III, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution, which establishes the judicial power of the United States.

U.S. Const. art. IV, § 1. – This citation refers to Article IV, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution, which requires states to give full faith and credit to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of other states.

U.S. Const. art. V. – This citation refers to Article V of the U.S. Constitution, which outlines the process for amending the Constitution.

U.S. Const. art. VI, cl. 2. – This citation refers to Article VI, Clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution, which establishes the supremacy of the Constitution, federal laws, and treaties over state laws.

U.S. Const. amend. X. – This citation refers to the Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or to the people.

U.S. Const. amend. XIII. – This citation refers to the Thirteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude.

U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 1. – This citation refers to Section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees equal protection under the law to all citizens.

U.S. Const. amend. XV. – This citation refers to the Fifteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits the denial of the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

U.S. Const. amend. XIX. – This citation refers to the Nineteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which gave women the right to vote.

U.S. Const. amend. XXIV. – This citation refers to the Twenty-Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which abolished the poll tax.

U.S. Const. amend. XXVI. – This citation refers to the Twenty-Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which lowered the voting age to 18.

U.S. Const. art. I, § 9, cl. 8. – This citation refers to Article I, Section 9, Clause 8 of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits the granting of titles of nobility by the federal government.

How To Cite the Constitution Using MLA

The Modern Language Association or MLA is another format you might utilize to cite some documents.

The MLA standard for citing the Constitution differs from what you would use with the APA format, most notably in that you’ll need to list the URL or other source that features the copy of the Constitution you are using.

In-text citations

The in-text MLA citation will entail listing the name of the webpage where you viewed the Constitution. You will list these points:

• The webpage title or name of another source you are using
• The article or amendment in Roman numerals; use the same Art. or Amend. abbreviations
• The section that you should write as Sec.

For example, when referring to a copy of the Constitution on Constitutionus.com, you can use a citation like this:

“ Article III  of the United States Constitution states that impeachment cases do not have to be subject to a trial by jury like with all other crimes (“US Constitution,” Art. III, Sec. 3).”

The most noticeable difference here is that you’ll need to provide details on where you found the Constitution in your MLA citation. You will use this standard:

Get Smarter on US News, History, and the Constitution

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“Page Title.”  Name of Website , Day, month, year of publication (without commas), URL. Accessed (day, month, and year of access without commas in between).

You can use this example when referring to the earlier example of the Constitution from the last segment:

“US Constitution.”  ConstitutionUS.com , 2020, https://constitutionus.com/. Accessed 10 March 2021.

Examples of quoting the constitution using MLA

“Article I.” ConstitutionUS.com, 2020, https://constitutionus.com/#article-1. Accessed 10 March 2021. (Citing a specific article on the website)

“Article I, Section 2.” ConstitutionUS.com, 2020, https://constitutionus.com/#article-1-section-2. Accessed 10 March 2021. (Citing a specific section on the website)

“Amendment I.” ConstitutionUS.com, 2020, https://constitutionus.com/#amendment-1. Accessed 10 March 2021. (Citing a specific amendment on the website)

“Amendment V.” ConstitutionUS.com, 2020, https://constitutionus.com/#amendment-5. Accessed 10 March 2021. (Citing a specific amendment on the website)

“Article III, Section 1.” ConstitutionUS.com, 2020, https://constitutionus.com/#article-3-section-1. Accessed 10 March 2021. (Citing a specific section on the website)

“Article IV, Section 2.” ConstitutionUS.com, 2020, https://constitutionus.com/#article-4-section-2. Accessed 10 March 2021. (Citing a specific section on the website)

“Amendment XIV, Section 1.” ConstitutionUS.com, 2020, https://constitutionus.com/#amendment-14-section-1. Accessed 10 March 2021. (Citing a specific section on the website)

“Preamble.” ConstitutionUS.com, 2020, https://constitutionus.com/#preamble. Accessed 10 March 2021. (Citing a specific section on the website)

“Article II, Section 2.” ConstitutionUS.com, 2020, https://constitutionus.com/#article-2-section-2. Accessed 10 March 2021. (Citing a specific section on the website)

“Article VI, Clause 2.” ConstitutionUS.com, 2020, https://constitutionus.com/#article-6-clause-2. Accessed 10 March 2021. (Citing a specific clause on the website)

“Article V.” ConstitutionUS.com, 2020, https://constitutionus.com/#article-5. Accessed 10 March 2021. (Citing a specific article on the website)

“Amendment X.” ConstitutionUS.com, 2020, https://constitutionus.com/#amendment-10. Accessed 10 March 2021. (Citing a specific amendment on the website)

“Article III, Section 2.” ConstitutionUS.com, 2020, https://constitutionus.com/#article-3-section-2. Accessed 10 March 2021. (Citing a specific section on the website)

“Article VI, Clause 3.” ConstitutionUS.com, 2020, https://constitutionus.com/#article-6-clause-3. Accessed 10 March 2021. (Citing a specific clause on the website)

“Amendment XIII.” ConstitutionUS.com, 2020, https://constitutionus.com/#amendment-13. Accessed 10 March 2021. (Citing a specific amendment on the website)

What about book versions of the Constitution?

You could always use a book version of the Constitution if you don’t have access to ConstitutionUS.com. For this case, you would use the following format in your works cited space:

Book title.  Edited by (First and last names), edition, publisher, year.

You would also refer to the Constitution within the text by ( U.S. Constitution , (amendment or article), (section)).

You can use a similar citation method if you refer specifically to the Bill of Rights.

A Final Word on Citing the Constitution

Be sure you use the right standards when referencing the United States Constitution in your work, whether APA or MLA. Failing to use the correct citation standard could result in penalties in your papers or even allegations of plagiarism.

Watch the following video to learn more about constitution citation:

Edward Savey

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Citation Guide: Chicago

• Journal Article
• Magazine Article
• Newspaper Article
• Bible or Classical Book
• Bible Commentary
• Multivolume Book
• Encyclopdia or Dictionary
• Thesis or Dissertation
• Book Review
• Chapter in Book
• Social Media
• Video or Film
• Review of Video Recording
• Recorded Talk
• Recorded Music
• Musical Score
• Graphic Art
• Oral Presentation
• Personal Communication
• Congressional Document
• Presidential Document
• US Constitution or Treaty
• State or Local Govt Document
• Court Decision
• Author or Editor
• Publisher & Date
• General Format

   US Constitution or Treaty

      Chicago Manual 14.230, 290

            See examples below for:

• US Constitution

  US Constitution

Notes-Bibliography Style

       1st Footnote or Endnote            32. US Constitution, art. 2, sec. 1, cl. 3.

       Bibliography         Usually not cited in bibliography.

Author-Date Style

       1st Parenthetical Note        (US Constitution, art. 1, sec. 9)

       Reference List        Usually not cited in reference list.

   Treaty

       1st Footnote or Endnote            17. Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer        Space, and Under Water, US-UK-USSR, August 5, 1963, UST 14, pt. 2, 1313.

       Bibliography               Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space, and            Under Water, US-UK-USSR. August 5, 1963. UST 14, pt. 2.

       1st Parenthetical Note        (US Department of State 1963, 1313)

       Reference List        US Department of State. 1963. Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in the            Atmosphere , in Outer Space, and Under Water. US-UK-USSR. August 5.            UST 14, pt. 2.

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Go to Index

Notes and Bibliography: Sample Citations

Go to Author-Date: Sample Citations

The following examples illustrate the notes and bibliography system. Sample notes show full citations followed by shortened citations for the same sources. Sample bibliography entries follow the notes. For more details and many more examples, see chapter 14 of The Chicago Manual of Style . For examples of the same citations using the author-date system, follow the Author-Date link above.

1. Zadie Smith, Swing Time   (New York: Penguin Press, 2016), 315–16.

2. Brian Grazer and Charles Fishman, A Curious Mind: The Secret to a Bigger Life (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2015), 12.

Shortened notes

3. Smith, Swing Time , 320.

4. Grazer and Fishman, Curious Mind , 37.

Bibliography entries (in alphabetical order)

Grazer, Brian, and Charles Fishman. A Curious Mind: The Secret to a Bigger Life . New York: Simon & Schuster, 2015.

Smith, Zadie. Swing Time . New York: Penguin Press, 2016.

For many more examples, covering virtually every type of book, see 14.100–163 in The Chicago Manual of Style .

Chapter or other part of an edited book

In a note, cite specific pages. In the bibliography, include the page range for the chapter or part.

1. Henry David Thoreau, “Walking,” in The Making of the American Essay , ed. John D’Agata (Minneapolis: Graywolf Press, 2016), 177–78.

Shortened note

2. Thoreau, “Walking,” 182.

Bibliography entry

Thoreau, Henry David. “Walking.” In The Making of the American Essay , edited by John D’Agata, 167–95. Minneapolis: Graywolf Press, 2016.

In some cases, you may want to cite the collection as a whole instead.

1. John D’Agata, ed., The Making of the American Essay (Minneapolis: Graywolf Press, 2016), 177–78.

2. D’Agata, American Essay , 182.

D’Agata, John, ed. The Making of the American Essay . Minneapolis: Graywolf Press, 2016.

For more examples, see 14.103–5 and 14.106–12 in The Chicago Manual of Style .

Translated book

1. Jhumpa Lahiri, In Other Words , trans. Ann Goldstein (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2016), 146.

2. Lahiri, In Other Words , 184.

Lahiri, Jhumpa. In Other Words . Translated by Ann Goldstein. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2016.

For books consulted online, include a URL or the name of the database. For other types of e-books, name the format. If no fixed page numbers are available, cite a section title or a chapter or other number in the notes, if any (or simply omit).

1. Herman Melville, Moby-Dick; or, The Whale (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1851), 627, http://mel.hofstra.edu/moby-dick-the-whale-proofs.html.

2. Philip B. Kurland and Ralph Lerner, eds., The Founders’ Constitution (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1987), chap. 10, doc. 19, http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/.

3. Brooke Borel, The Chicago Guide to Fact-Checking (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2016), 92, ProQuest Ebrary.

4. Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice (New York: Penguin Classics, 2007), chap. 3, Kindle.

5. Melville, Moby-Dick , 722–23.

6. Kurland and Lerner, Founder s ’ Constitution , chap. 4, doc. 29.

7. Borel, Fact-Checking , 104–5.

8. Austen, Pride and Prejudice , chap. 14.

Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice . New York: Penguin Classics, 2007. Kindle.

Borel, Brooke. The Chicago Guide to Fact-Checking . Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2016. ProQuest Ebrary.

Kurland, Philip B., and Ralph Lerner, eds. The Founders’ Constitution . Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1987. http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/.

Melville, Herman. Moby-Dick; or, The Whale . New York: Harper & Brothers, 1851. http://mel.hofstra.edu/moby-dick-the-whale-proofs.html.

For more examples, see 14.1 59 –63 in The Chicago Manual of Style .

Journal article

In a note, cite specific page numbers. In the bibliography, include the page range for the whole article. For articles consulted online, include a URL or the name of the database. Many journal articles list a DOI (Digital Object Identifier). A DOI forms a permanent URL that begins https://doi.org/. This URL is preferable to the URL that appears in your browser’s address bar.

1. Susan Satterfield, “Livy and the Pax Deum ,” Classical Philology 111, no. 2 (April 2016): 170.

2. Shao-Hsun Keng, Chun-Hung Lin, and Peter F. Orazem, “Expanding College Access in Taiwan, 1978–2014: Effects on Graduate Quality and Income Inequality,” Journal of Human Capital 11, no. 1 (Spring 2017): 9–10, https://doi.org/10.1086/690235.

3. Peter LaSalle, “Conundrum: A Story about Reading,” New England Review 38, no. 1 (2017): 95, Project MUSE.

4. Satterfield, “Livy,” 172–73.

5. Keng, Lin, and Orazem, “Expanding College Access,” 23.

6. LaSalle, “Conundrum,” 101.

Keng, Shao-Hsun, Chun-Hung Lin, and Peter F. Orazem. “Expanding College Access in Taiwan, 1978–2014: Effects on Graduate Quality and Income Inequality.” Journal of Human Capital 11, no. 1 (Spring 2017): 1–34. https://doi.org/10.1086/690235.

LaSalle, Peter. “Conundrum: A Story about Reading.” New England Review 38, no. 1 (2017): 95–109. Project MUSE.

Satterfield, Susan. “Livy and the Pax Deum .” Classical Philology 111, no. 2 (April 2016): 165–76.

Journal articles often list many authors, especially in the sciences. If there are four or more authors, list up to ten in the bibliography; in a note, list only the first, followed by et al . (“and others”). For more than ten authors (not shown here), list the first seven in the bibliography, followed by et al .

7. Rachel A. Bay et al., “Predicting Responses to Contemporary Environmental Change Using Evolutionary Response Architectures,” American Naturalist 189, no. 5 (May 2017): 465, https://doi.org/10.1086/691233.

8. Bay et al., “Predicting Responses,” 466.

Bay, Rachael A., Noah Rose, Rowan Barrett, Louis Bernatchez, Cameron K. Ghalambor, Jesse R. Lasky, Rachel B. Brem, Stephen R. Palumbi, and Peter Ralph. “Predicting Responses to Contemporary Environmental Change Using Evolutionary Response Architectures.” American Naturalist 189, no. 5 (May 2017): 463–73. https://doi.org/10.1086/691233.

For more examples, see 14.1 68 – 87 in The Chicago Manual of Style .

News or magazine article

Articles from newspapers or news sites, magazines, blogs, and the like are cited similarly. Page numbers, if any, can be cited in a note but are omitted from a bibliography entry. If you consulted the article online, include a URL or the name of the database.

1. Rebecca Mead, “The Prophet of Dystopia,” New Yorker , April 17, 2017, 43.

2. Farhad Manjoo, “Snap Makes a Bet on the Cultural Supremacy of the Camera,” New York Times , March 8, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/08/technology/snap-makes-a-bet-on-the-cultural-supremacy-of-the-camera.html.

3. Rob Pegoraro, “Apple’s iPhone Is Sleek, Smart and Simple,” Washington Post , July 5, 2007, LexisNexis Academic.

4. Tanya Pai, “The Squishy, Sugary History of Peeps,” Vox , April 11, 2017, http://www.vox.com/culture/2017/4/11/15209084/peeps-easter.

5. Mead, “Dystopia,” 47.

6. Manjoo, “Snap.”

7. Pegoraro, “Apple’s iPhone.”

8. Pai, “History of Peeps.”

Manjoo, Farhad. “Snap Makes a Bet on the Cultural Supremacy of the Camera.” New York Times , March 8, 2017. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/08/technology/snap-makes-a-bet-on-the-cultural-supremacy-of-the-camera.html.

Mead, Rebecca. “The Prophet of Dystopia.” New Yorker , April 17, 2017.

Pai, Tanya. “The Squishy, Sugary History of Peeps.” Vox , April 11, 2017. http://www.vox.com/culture/2017/4/11/15209084/peeps-easter.

Pegoraro, Rob. “Apple’s iPhone Is Sleek, Smart and Simple.” Washington Post , July 5, 2007. LexisNexis Academic.

Readers’ comments are cited in the text or in a note but omitted from a bibliography.

9. Eduardo B (Los Angeles), March 9, 2017, comment on Manjoo, “Snap.”

For more examples, see 14.1 88 – 90 (magazines), 14.191–200 (newspapers), and 14.208 (blogs) in The Chicago Manual of Style .

Book review

1. Michiko Kakutani, “Friendship Takes a Path That Diverges,” review of Swing Time , by Zadie Smith, New York Times , November 7, 2016.

2. Kakutani, “Friendship.”

Kakutani, Michiko. “Friendship Takes a Path That Diverges.” Review of Swing Time , by Zadie Smith. New York Times , November 7, 2016.

1. Kory Stamper, “From ‘F-Bomb’ to ‘Photobomb,’ How the Dictionary Keeps Up with English,” interview by Terry Gross, Fresh Air , NPR, April 19, 2017, audio, 35:25, http://www.npr.org/2017/04/19/524618639/from-f-bomb-to-photobomb-how-the-dictionary-keeps-up-with-english.

2. Stamper, interview.

Stamper, Kory. “From ‘F-Bomb’ to ‘Photobomb,’ How the Dictionary Keeps Up with English.” Interview by Terry Gross. Fresh Air , NPR, April 19, 2017. Audio, 35:25. http://www.npr.org/2017/04/19/524618639/from-f-bomb-to-photobomb-how-the-dictionary-keeps-up-with-english.

Thesis or dissertation

1. Cynthia Lillian Rutz, “ King Lear and Its Folktale Analogues” (PhD diss., University of Chicago, 2013), 99–100.

2. Rutz, “ King Lear ,” 158.

Rutz, Cynthia Lillian. “ King Lear and Its Folktale Analogues.” PhD diss., University of Chicago, 2013.

Website content

It is often sufficient simply to describe web pages and other website content in the text (“As of May 1, 2017, Yale’s home page listed . . .”). If a more formal citation is needed, it may be styled like the examples below. For a source that does not list a date of publication or revision, include an access date (as in example note 2).

1. “Privacy Policy,” Privacy & Terms, Google, last modified April 17, 2017, https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/.

2. “About Yale: Yale Facts,” Yale University, accessed May 1, 2017, https://www.yale.edu/about-yale/yale-facts.

3. Katie Bouman, “How to Take a Picture of a Black Hole,” filmed November 2016 at TEDxBeaconStreet, Brookline, MA, video, 12:51, https://www.ted.com/talks/katie_bouman_what_does_a_black_hole_look_like.

4. Google, “Privacy Policy.”

5. “Yale Facts.”

6. Bouman, “Black Hole.”

Bouman, Katie. “How to Take a Picture of a Black Hole.” Filmed November 2016 at TEDxBeaconStreet, Brookline, MA. Video, 12:51. https://www.ted.com/talks/katie_bouman_what_does_a_black_hole_look_like.

Google. “Privacy Policy.” Privacy & Terms. Last modified April 17, 2017. https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/.

Yale University. “About Yale: Yale Facts.” Accessed May 1, 2017. https://www.yale.edu/about-yale/yale-facts.

For more examples, see 14. 20 5–10 in The Chicago Manual of Style . For multimedia, including live performances, see 14. 261–68 .

Social media content

Citations of content shared through social media can usually be limited to the text (as in the first example below). A note may be added if a more formal citation is needed. In rare cases, a bibliography entry may also be appropriate. In place of a title, quote up to the first 160 characters of the post. Comments are cited in reference to the original post.

Conan O’Brien’s tweet was characteristically deadpan: “In honor of Earth Day, I’m recycling my tweets” (@ConanOBrien, April 22, 2015).

1. Pete Souza (@petesouza), “President Obama bids farewell to President Xi of China at the conclusion of the Nuclear Security Summit,” Instagram photo, April 1, 2016, https://www.instagram.com/p/BDrmfXTtNCt/.

2. Chicago Manual of Style, “Is the world ready for singular they? We thought so back in 1993,” Facebook, April 17, 2015, https://www.facebook.com/ChicagoManual/posts/10152906193679151.

3. Souza, “President Obama.”

4. Michele Truty, April 17, 2015, 1:09 p.m., comment on Chicago Manual of Style, “singular they.”

Chicago Manual of Style. “Is the world ready for singular they? We thought so back in 1993.” Facebook, April 17, 2015. https://www.facebook.com/ChicagoManual/posts/10152906193679151.

Personal communication

Personal communications, including email and text messages and direct messages sent through social media, are usually cited in the text or in a note only; they are rarely included in a bibliography.

1. Sam Gomez, Facebook message to author, August 1, 2017.

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Bluebook Rule (21st): 11

Law Review Typeface: SmallCaps

Rule 11 lays out the citation method for constitutional sections. You should cite to the United State federal constitution by "U.S. Const." and cite to state constitutions by "[abbreviated state name] Const."

U.S. Const. art. 1, § 9, cl. 9.

Tex. Const. art. 1, § 3.

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How do I cite a dissertation in MLA style?

Note: This post relates to content in the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook . For up-to-date guidance, see the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook .

A dissertation is a unique type of source. It is a finished, stand-alone work written under the auspices of an institution. In a change from the previous edition of the MLA Handbook ,    we do not distinguish between published and unpublished dissertations. To cite a dissertation, include in the entry the author, title, and date of publication as core elements. As an optional element, list the institution granting the degree and a description of the work.

Njus, Jesse. Performing the Passion: A Study on the Nature of Medieval Acting . 2010. Northwestern U, PhD dissertation.

If you accessed the dissertation through an online repository, include this fact as the title of the second container:

Njus, Jesse. Performing the Passion: A Study on the Nature of Medieval Acting . 2010. Northwestern U, PhD dissertation.  ProQuest , search.proquest.com/docview/305212264?accountid=7432.

Home / Guides / Citation Guides / MLA Format / How to Cite a Thesis or Dissertation in MLA

How to Cite a Thesis or Dissertation in MLA

Citing a thesis or dissertation.

Thesis – A document submitted to earn a degree at a university.

Dissertation – A document submitted to earn an advanced degree, such as a doctorate, at a university.

The formatting for thesis and dissertation citations is largely the same. However, you should be sure to include the type of degree after the publication year as supplemental information. For instance, state if the source you are citing is an undergraduate thesis or a PhD dissertation.

MLA Thesis and Dissertation Citation Structure (print)

Last, First M.  Title of the Thesis/Dissertation. Year Published. Name of University, type of degree.

MLA Thesis and Dissertation Citation Structure (online)

Last, First M.  Title of the Thesis/Dissertation. Year Published. Name of University, type of degree.  Website Name , URL.

Wilson, Peggy Lynn. Pedagogical Practices in the Teaching of English Language in Secondary Public Schools in Parker County . 2011. University of Maryland, PhD dissertation.

In-text Citation Structure

(Author Last Name page #)

In-text Citation Example

(Wilson 14)

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• View all MLA Examples

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How to Cite the Constitution in MLA – A Guide

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Knowing how to cite the Constitution properly in MLA format is crucial for students and academics studying humanities, particularly in languages and literature. This guide offers a detailed, step-by-step approach and provides examples for citing this important document. Additionally, the article introduces the AOA (Alphabetical Order of Appearance) reference order as an alternative method for citation.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• 1 In a nutshell: How to cite the constitution in MLA
• 2 Definition: How to cite the Constitution in MLA
• 3 How to cite the Constitution in MLA: General format
• 4 How to cite the Constitution in MLA: Printed version
• 5 How to cite the Constitution in MLA: References in your text

In a nutshell: How to cite the constitution in MLA

• This article highlights the importance of citing the Constitution in academic writing .
• The MLA citation style is being introduced and how to properly apply it.
• Additionally, the correct usage of the AOA reference order will be explained.

Definition: How to cite the Constitution in MLA

When it comes to referencing the United States Constitution in academic writing, citing it in MLA format follows the guidelines set by the Modern Language Association.

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How to cite the Constitution in MLA: General format

Work cited entry.

For the works cited entry, the citation should include the title of the document (the Constitution), the article and section being referenced, and the publication details. If citing a print version, the name of the publisher, the publication date, and the medium should also be included.

In-text citation

The in-text citation is fairly straightforward. It should include the title of the document (the Constitution) and the article and section being referenced.

How to cite the Constitution in MLA: Printed version

To cite a print version of the Constitution, use the following format:

How to cite the Constitution in MLA: References in your text

When referring to the Constitution in the body of your text, you should always capitalize the “C” in Constitution.

As noted in the Constitution (Art. 1, Sec. 8), Congress has the power to regulate commerce.

What's the difference between MLA and other citation styles?

MLA is generally used for humanities subjects and places a lot of emphasis on the authorship of the work. Other citation styles have different areas of emphasis. For example, APA style is often used in the social sciences and emphasizes the date a work was published.

Do I need to include the AOA reference order in my MLA citations?

The AOA reference order isn’t typically used in MLA citations. However, understanding it can offer you another perspective on citation order.

What happens if I forget to cite the Constitution in my academic work?

Failure to properly cite any sources, including the Constitution, can result in accusations of plagiarism, which is a serious academic offense.

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Citation Formats: MLA 8 and 9

• Citation Basics
• Chicago/Turabian
• MLA 8 and 9

The New MLA

The MLA Handbook,  8th edition, has abandoned the "print" v. "web" designations, and now uses a universal set of guidelines for all sources focusing on "containers" of information. The 9th edition of the handbook continues the same format and provides additional examples.

• A useful practice template for creating source citations is linked in the Help Resources in the right column below.
• For experienced users of MLA, check out the link to "What's New in the Eighth Edition" for a summary of changes.

Journal Article examples

Journal article with a DOI (Digital Object Identifier):

Kincaid, Jamaica. "In History."  Callaloo,  vol. 24, no. 2, Spring 2001, pp. 620-26. Project Muse , doi:10.1353/cal.2001.0097.

Journal article from a database:

Capperdoni, Alessandra. "Why the Avant-Garde? The Function of the Letter in Canadian Avant-Garde Poetics."  Canadian Literature , no. 210/211, Autumn/Winter 2011, pp. 97-114.  Academic Search Complete , search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=73785263&site=ehost-live

Journal article in print (more than 2 authors):

Cooper, Stewart E., et al. "Professional Preparation and Continuing Education for Beginning, Entry, Midlevel, and Senior Consulting Psychologists." Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research , vol. 59, no. 1, 2007, pp. 1-16.

Journal article reprinted in a book series:

Bergmann, Harrier F. "‘A Piercing Virtue': Emily Dickinson in Margaret Drabble's The Waterfall ." Contemporary Literary Criticism, edited by,  Jeffrey W. Hunter, vol. 129, Gale, 2000, pp. 124-29. Originally published in  Modern Fiction Studies , vol. 36, no. 2, Summer 1990, pp. 181-93.

Journal article from an online repository or other open access site:

Shehan, Constance L., and Amanda B. Moras. “Deconstructing Laundry: Gendered Technologies and the Reluctant Redesign of Household Labor.” Michigan Family Review , vol. 11, no. 1, 2006, pp. 39-54. hdl.handle.net/2027/spo.4919087.0011.104.

Articles from Magazines, Newspapers, Encyclopedias, and the Web

Print magazine article:

Kates, Robert W. “Population and Consumption: What We Know, What We Need to Know.” Environment , Apr. 2000, pp. 10-19.

Online magazine article:

Deresiewicz, William. “The Death of the Artist—and the Birth of the Creative Entrepreneur.” The Atlantic , 28 Dec.2014,  www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/01/the-death-of-the-artist-and-the-birth-of-the-creative-entrepreneur/383497/.

Print newspaper article:

Ruhe, Pierre. "Pouring it On: Heat Churns in a Vicious Cycle." The Atlanta Journal-Constitution , main edition, 8 Aug. 2008, p. A1.

Online newspaper article (no author):

“The Scientists Speak.” New York Times , 20 Nov. 2007, nyti.ms/25n2Pf9.

Newspaper article from a library database:

Jeromack, Paul. “This Once, A David of the Art World Does Goliath a Favor.” New York Times,  late edition, 13 July 2002, p. B7. LexisNexis Academic , www.lexisnexis.com/lnacui2api/api/version1/getDocCui?lni=468H-Y5C0-01CN-H2CR&csi=270944,270077,11059,8411&hl=t&hv=t&hnsd=f&hns=t&hgn=t&oc=00240&perma=true.

Article in multi-volume encyclopedia:

Schroth, Gwen. "Scheduling." Encyclopedia of Education , edited by James W. Guthrie, 2nd ed., vol. 6, Macmillan Reference USA, 2003, pp. 2095-99.

Blog post or web article:

Hollmichel, Stefanie. "The Reading Brain: Differences between Digital and Print."  So Many Books , 25 Apr. 2013, somanybooksblog.com/2013/04/25/the-reading-brain-differences-between-digital-and-print/.

Book and Anthology examples

Books in print:

Wieder, Alan. Teacher and Comrade: Richard Dudley and the Fight for Democracy in South Africa . State U of New York P, 2008.

Eggins, Suzanne, and Diana Slade.  Analyzing Casual Conversation . Cassell, 1997.

Quirk, Randolph, et al.  A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language . Longman,1985.

Ebook from a library database:

Coutinho, Steve. An Introduction to Daoist Philosophies . Columbia UP, 2014. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) , search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=658170&site=ehost-live.

Book chapter in an edited volume:

Bordo, Susan. “The Moral Content of Nabokov’s Lolita .” Aesthetic Subjects , edited by Pamela R. Matthews and David McWhirter, U of Minnesota P, 2003, pp. 125-52.

Stand-alone work (e.g., a play) in an anthology:

Euripides. The Trojan Women .  Ten Plays , translated by Paul Roche, New American Library, 1998, pp. 457-512.

Dissertations And Theses

Dissertation from ProQuest database:

Njus, Jesse. Performing the Passion: A Study on the Nature of Medieval Acting . 2010. Northwestern U, PhD dissertation. ProQuest, search.proquest.com/docview/305212264?accountid=13965.

Print master's thesis:

Remedios, Richard E. Defining My Process: My Journey Through the MFA Acting Program at the University of South Carolina . 2007. U of South Carolina, Master's thesis.

Social Media and Non-Textual Sources

@USC. "GO GAMECOCKS." Twitter , 13 Mar. 2022, 7:52 p.m., twitter.com/USC/status/1503157124217675780.

YouTube video:

"This is How Social Media is Destroying Your Life - The Fake Reality." YouTube , uploaded by MotivationGrid, 16 Jul. 2019, www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2Tq2gvGt80.

Online image with URL and access date:

Van Gogh, Vincent. The Potato Eaters . 1885. Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam. Van Gogh Museum , artsandculture.google.com/asset/the-potato-eaters-vincent-van-gogh/7gFcKarE9QeaXw. Accessed 20 Mar. 2022.

Streaming film:

The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till , directed by Keith Beauchamp, Shout Factory, 2005, Kanopy . sc.kanopy.com/video/untold-story-emmett-louis-till. Accessed 20 Mar. 2022.

MLA Handbook

Help resources

• MLA Practice Template
• Using MLA Format Comprehensive help from the MLA Style Center, including quick guides to works cited and in-text citations, help formatting your research paper, and "Ask the MLA" questions and answers about unusual situations.

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La révision de la Constitution [Dissertation]

Par Maxime Bizeau, Avocat de formation, diplômé de l'école d'avocats du Barreau de Paris

[Cliquez ici pour télécharger 20 fiches de révisions pour réviser efficacement le droit constitutionnel !]

« Les procédures de révision de la Constitution doivent concilier la nécessité de protéger ce corpus juridique contre les retouches abusives avec le souci de ne pas empêcher les modifications indispensables » (Philippe Ardant et Mathieu Bertrand, Droit constitutionnel et institutions politiques, LGDJ, 27ème éd., 2015, p. 85). A ce titre, il apparaît nécessaire de pouvoir réviser, c’est-à-dire modifier la Constitution pour l’adapter aux évolutions politiques, économiques et sociales. Pour autant, la Constitution regroupant les règles relatives à l’organisation politique de l’Etat et au fonctionnement des autorités détentrices du pouvoir, elle ne saurait faire l’objet de  révisions trop fréquentes, et il ne faut pouvoir y toucher que d’une main tremblante, selon la célèbre formule de Montesquieu.

En réalité, les modalités de révision diffèrent selon que la Constitution est souple ou rigide. La Constitution est dite souple si elle ne prévoit pas de règles pour sa révision. La révision se fait alors selon la procédure prévue pour l’élaboration des lois ordinaires. A l’inverse, la Constitution est dite rigide si sa révision s’effectue selon une procédure plus complexe que celle utilisée pour élaborer les lois ordinaires. Aujourd’hui, presque tous les Etats ont une Constitution rigide.

Ainsi, en France, la révision des lois constitutionnelles de 1875 était facile, alors que la révision de la Constitution du 4 octobre 1958 est longue et difficile sous la Vème République. En effet, l’ article 89 de la Constitution encadre strictement la révision, de son initiative jusqu’à son adoption définitive.

Cependant, à ce jour, 22 révisions ont été réalisées en application de l’article 89 de la Constitution. Parmi ces révisions, certaines, telles que la révision de 1974 autorisant la saisine du Conseil constitutionnel par 60 parlementaires et la révision de 2000 qui a réduit à cinq ans le mandat du président de la République, revêtent une importance fondamentale.

Mais la révision la plus importante, celle du 6 novembre 1962 qui a consacré l’élection du président de la République au suffrage universel direct, a été effectuée par le général de Gaulle en utilisant l’ article 11 de la Constitution (référendum législatif) au lieu de l’article 89.

Dès lors, au regard de l’impératif de conciliation entre la nécessité de pouvoir réviser la Constitution et sa protection contre les révisions abusives, se pose la question de savoir si la Constitution régit de manière efficace les règles relatives à sa révision.

Il apparaît que l’intégrité de la Constitution est protégée en particulier par son article 89 qui prévoit de manière stricte les modalités de révision (I). Toutefois, la procédure de révision, telle qu’elle est prévue par la Constitution, pose des difficultés (II).

I) La procédure de révision de la Constitution encadrée par le texte de la Constitution

Non seulement la révision de la Constitution ne peut intervenir qu’en respectant une procédure détaillée par l’article 89 de la Constitution (A), mais le texte de la Constitution pose également des limites afin que la révision n’ait pas lieu dans certains cas (B).

A) La procédure de révision de la Constitution définie à l’article 89 de la Constitution

L’article 89 de la Constitution prévoit une procédure de révision structurée en trois phases : l’initiative de la révision , le vote par chacune des deux chambres et la ratification.

L’initiative de la révision appartient soit au président de la République sur proposition du Premier ministre, soit au Parlement (article 89 alinéa 1 de la Constitution). Dans le premier cas, on parle de projet de révision. Dans le second cas, on parle de proposition de révision. Il ne faudrait en effet pas que le pouvoir exécutif ou le pouvoir législatif dispose du monopole de la révision de la Constitution, au risque d’abuser d’un tel pouvoir.

Ensuite, le projet ou la proposition doit être adopté par les deux chambres (Assemblée nationale et Sénat) en termes identiques à la majorité des suffrages exprimés (article 89 alinéa 2 de la Constitution).

Mais après le vote des parlementaires, la révision n’est pas immédiatement adoptée. En effet, en cas de proposition de révision, la révision doit être approuvée par référendum (article 89 alinéa 2 de la Constitution). En cas de projet de révision, elle doit être approuvée par référendum, ou à la majorité des trois cinquièmes des suffrages exprimés des deux chambres du Parlement réunies en Congrès. C’est le président de la République qui choisit entre ces deux voies de ratification (article 89 alinéa 3 de la Constitution).

Ainsi, la procédure prévue par l’article 89 a le mérite de nécessiter l’accord des deux assemblées, tout en exigeant soit un consensus au sein de l’exécutif, soit l’intervention directe du peuple par la voie du référendum. Mais le texte constitutionnel prévoit également des garde-fous afin que la Constitution ne soit pas révisée de manière abusive.

B) La procédure de révision de la Constitution limitée par le texte de la Constitution

D’abord, la révision de la Constitution est impossible en cas d’intérim de la présidence de la République ( article 7 de la Constitution ), d’atteinte à l’intégrité du territoire (article 89 alinéa 4 de la Constitution) ou de recours à l’ article 16 de la Constitution autorisant le président de la République, en temps de crise grave, à prendre des mesures exceptionnelles exigées par les circonstances. L’interdiction de la révision en cas d’atteinte à l’intégrité du territoire vise les situations de guerre où des troupes occupent le territoire français. En outre, si l’article 16 n’interdit pas explicitement la révision de la Constitution lorsque le président dispose des pouvoirs exceptionnels, il résulte toutefois d’une décision du Conseil constitutionnel (Cons. const., 2 septembre 1992, n° 92-312 DC, Traité sur l’Union européenne) que les révisions constitutionnelles sont proscrites pendant la période de son utilisation.

Par ailleurs, la révision de la Constitution est également limitée dans son objet puisqu’il ne peut être porté atteinte à « la forme républicaine du gouvernement »  (article 89 alinéa 5 de la Constitution).

En définitive, ces limites permettent d’éviter que la Constitution ne soit modifiée alors que la France est dans une situation exceptionnelle ou afin d’établir une monarchie.

En revanche, il faut noter que la violation de ces limites ne peut être sanctionnée puisque le Conseil constitutionnel refuse de contrôler les lois constitutionnelles (Cons. const., 26 mars 2003, Organisation décentralisée de la République). Ainsi, en pratique, une révision de la Constitution pourrait avoir lieu alors même que la Constitution l’interdit pourtant. A ce titre, l’inscription de l’interdiction de porter atteinte à « la forme républicaine du gouvernement » dans les lois constitutionnelles de 1875 n’a pas empêché le vote de la loi constitutionnelle du 10 juillet 1940 octroyant les pleins pouvoirs au Maréchal Pétain.

Ainsi, si la Constitution est en principe protégée des révisions abusives par le texte constitutionnel lui-même (I), il n’en demeure pas moins que ce dernier présente des imperfections laissant place à des incohérences (II).

II) La procédure de révision de la Constitution source de difficultés

Afin d’éviter que la Constitution ne soit modifiée au bon vouloir d’un organe institutionnel, il est essentiel que la révision de la Constitution soit examinée et validée par différentes institutions de la Vème République. Pour autant, l’équilibre mis en place par l’article 89 de la Constitution semble favoriser certaines institutions et n’est donc pas exempt de tous reproches (A). C’est notamment pour cela qu’en son temps, le général de Gaulle a contourné l’article 89 à l’aide de l’article 11 de la Constitution (B).

A) Le difficile équilibre des institutions dans la procédure de l’article 89 de la Constitution

Puisque le projet ou la proposition de révision doit être voté par les deux assemblées en des termes identiques, ces dernières sont placées sur un pied d’égalité en matière de  révision de la Constitution, où le gouvernement, en cas de désaccord entre les deux chambres, n’a pas la possibilité de provoquer la réunion d’une commission mixte paritaire, et ne peut pas non plus donner à l’Assemblée nationale « le dernier mot » en lui demandant de statuer définitivement. Le Sénat a donc un rôle plus important dans la procédure de  révision de la Constitution que dans la procédure législative ordinaire puisqu’il peut bloquer la révision. D’ailleurs, la grande réforme des institutions de la Vème République, promesse de campagne du président Macron pendant les élections présidentielles de 2017, n’a pu aboutir faute d’accord avec le Sénat. Il est donc possible de se demander si le Sénat ne jouit pas d’un poids trop important dans la procédure de révision constitutionnelle et si, en conséquence, la révision de la Constitution de 1958 n’est pas trop difficile.

Par ailleurs, la procédure de révision telle qu’elle est prévue par l’article 89 de la Constitution semble consacrer une prédominance de l’exécutif sur le Parlement en ce qui concerne l’initiative de la révision. En effet, si cette dernière est partagée entre l’exécutif et le Parlement, il faut toutefois remarquer qu’en pratique, la totalité des révisions réalisées selon la procédure de l’article 89 depuis 1958 ont eu pour origine un projet de loi. En outre, l’initiative parlementaire semble limitée par le fait que le gouvernement maîtrise largement l’ordre du jour des chambres.

Enfin, en permettant au président de la République de soumettre le projet de révision au Parlement convoqué en Congrès plutôt que de le présenter au référendum, l’article 89 de la Constitution écarte le peuple de la majorité des révisions constitutionnelles. En effet, depuis 1958, 21 révisions ont été approuvées par le Congrès et une seule par référendum (il s’agissait de la révision constitutionnelle de 2000 réduisant à cinq ans le mandat présidentiel). Ainsi, le caractère démocratique de la procédure de révision de la Constitution pose question puisqu’une révision constitutionnelle ne nécessite absolument pas l’accord du peuple et peut tout à fait aboutir sans ce dernier.

A contrario , durant la présidence du général de Gaulle, des projets de révision de la Constitution ont été soumis à l’approbation du peuple dans un autre cadre que celui de l’article 89 de la Constitution.

B) Le possible contournement de l’article 89 par l’article 11 de la Constitution

Du fait de la procédure de révision organisée par l’article 89 de la Constitution, le Sénat dispose d’une sorte de droit de veto en matière de révision constitutionnelle. Dès lors, le général de Gaulle décida, en application de l’article 11 de la Constitution , de soumettre directement au peuple deux projets de  révision constitutionnelle, l’un en 1962 sur l’élection du président de la République au suffrage universel direct (qui a abouti), et l’autre en 1969 sur la régionalisation et la transformation du Sénat (qui a été refusé par les Français et marquera son départ).

L’article 11 de la Constitution permet effectivement au chef de l’État de « soumettre au référendum tout projet de loi portant sur l’organisation des pouvoirs publics » . Le général de Gaulle a interprété l’expression « tout projet de loi » dans un sens large, comme englobant aussi bien les projets de lois organiques ou ordinaires que les projets de lois constitutionnelles. Cet article a donc permis à de Gaulle de contourner la procédure prévue à l’article 89 de la Constitution afin de faire adopter plus rapidement une révision constitutionnelle, sans risquer que le projet de révision se solde par un échec faute d’adoption en des termes identiques par les deux chambres.

Mais l’utilisation qui en a été faite par le général de Gaulle a été critiquée par la majorité de la classe politique et des juristes, d’aucuns lui reprochant sa non-conformité à la Constitution, arguant que si l’article 11 avait voulu déroger à la procédure de l’article 89, il l’aurait dit expressément (M. Duverger, Institutions politiques et droit constitutionnel, PUF, 17e éd., 1982, p. 215-216 et 311-312), et que seul l’article 89 figure dans le titre de la Constitution relatif à la révision, l’article 11 figurant quant à lui dans le titre II relatif au président de la République (G. Berlia, Le problème de la constitutionnalité du référendum du 28 octobre 1962, Rev. dr. publ., 1962, p. 936).

A l’inverse, le professeur Lampué n’a pas hésité à soutenir la régularité de l’utilisation de l’article 11 faite par le général de Gaulle. Selon lui, puisque l’article 11 ne figure pas parmi les dispositions des articles 34 et suivants sur le mode d’élaboration des lois ordinaires, on ne peut donc interpréter son silence comme signifiant que  la loi adoptée par référendum serait nécessairement une loi ordinaire (P. Lampué, Rev. dr. publ., 1962, p. 931). Et pour François Goguel, « les articles 11 et 89 ont, selon nous, institué deux pouvoirs constituants distincts. Celui de l’article 11, conféré au président de  la  République pour l’initiative, et au suffrage universel pour  la  décision, mais seulement à l’égard des dispositions de  la  Constitution portant sur l’organisation des pouvoirs publics. Et celui de l’article 89, conféré au président de  la  République et aux membres du Parlement pour l’initiative, à l’Assemblée nationale et au Sénat, puis, soit au Congrès du Parlement, soit au suffrage universel, pour  la  décision définitive, à l’égard de toutes les dispositions de  la  Constitution » (F. Goguel, De  la  conformité du référendum du 28 octobre 1962 à  la  Constitution , Mélanges Duverger, PUF, 1987, p. 124).

Toujours est-il que depuis 1969, l’article 11 n’a plus jamais été employé pour tenter de réviser la Constitution. Le débat sur son éventuelle utilisation en matière de révision constitutionnelle ne semble donc pas encore tranché et il est regrettable que la doctrine ne se soit pas accordée pour consacrer (ou non) à l’article 11 une véritable alternative à la procédure de révision prévue par l’article 89.

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Congress Passed a Bill That Could Ban TikTok. Now Comes the Hard Part.

President Biden has signed the bill to force a sale of the video app or ban it. Now the law faces court challenges, a shortage of qualified buyers and Beijing’s hostility.

• Share full article

By Sapna Maheshwari and David McCabe

Sapna Maheshwari reported from New York, and David McCabe from Washington.

A bill that would force a sale of TikTok by its Chinese owner, ByteDance — or ban it outright — was passed by the Senate on Tuesday and signed into law Wednesday by President Biden.

Now the process is likely to get even more complicated.

Congress passed the measure citing national security concerns because of TikTok’s Chinese ties. Both lawmakers and security experts have said there are risks that the Chinese government could lean on ByteDance for access to sensitive data belonging to its 170 million U.S. users or to spread propaganda.

The law would allow TikTok to continue to operate in the United States if ByteDance sold it within 270 days, or about nine months, a time frame that the president could extend to a year.

The measure is likely to face legal challenges, as well as possible resistance from Beijing, which could block the sale or export of the technology. It’s also unclear who has the resources to buy TikTok, since it will carry a hefty price tag.

The issue could take months or even years to settle, during which the app would probably continue to function for U.S. consumers.

“It’s going to be a royal mess,” said Anupam Chander, a visiting scholar at the Institute for Rebooting Social Media at Harvard and an expert on the global regulation of new technologies.

TikTok pledged to challenge the law. “Rest assured, we aren’t going anywhere,” its chief executive, Shou Chew, said in a video posted to the platform. “We are confident, and we will keep fighting for your rights in the courts.”

Here’s what to expect next.

TikTok’s Day in Court

TikTok is likely to start by challenging the measure in the courts.

“I think that’s the one certainty: There will be litigation,” said Jeff Kosseff, an associate professor of cybersecurity law at the Naval Academy.

TikTok’s case will probably lean on the First Amendment, legal experts said. The company is expected to argue that a forced sale could violate its users’ free speech rights because a new owner could change the app’s content policies and reshape what users are able to freely share on the platform.

“Thankfully, we have a Constitution in this country, and people’s First Amendment rights are very important,” Michael Beckerman, TikTok’s vice president of public policy, said in an interview with a creator on the platform last week. “We’ll continue to fight for you and all the other users on TikTok.”

Other groups, like the American Civil Liberties Union, which has been a vocal opponent of the bill, may also join the legal fight. A spokeswoman for the A.C.L.U. said on Tuesday that the group was still weighing its role in potential litigation challenging the law.

The government will probably need to make a strong case that ByteDance’s ownership of TikTok makes it necessary to limit speech because of national security concerns, the legal experts said.

TikTok already has a strong record in similar First Amendment battles. When he was president, Donald J. Trump tried to force a sale or ban of the app in 2020, but federal judges blocked the effort because it would have had the effect of shutting down a “platform for expressive activity.” Montana tried to ban TikTok in the state last year because of the app’s Chinese ownership, but a different federal judge ruled against the state law for similar reasons.

Only one narrower TikTok restriction has survived a court challenge. The governor of Texas announced a ban of the app on state government devices and networks in 2022 because of its Chinese ownership and related data privacy concerns. Professors at public universities challenged the ban in court last year, saying it blocked them from doing research on the app. A federal judge upheld the state ban in December, finding it was a “reasonable restriction” in light of Texas’ concerns and the narrow scope affecting only state employees.

Small Buyer Pool

Analysts estimate that the price for the U.S. portion of TikTok could be tens of billions of dollars.

ByteDance itself is one of the world’s most valuable start-ups , with an estimated worth of $225 billion, according to CB Insights, a firm that tracks venture capital and start-ups.

The steep price tag would limit the list of who could afford TikTok. Tech giants like Meta or Google would probably be blocked from an acquisition because of antitrust concerns.

Private equity firms or other investors could form a group to raise enough money to buy TikTok. Former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in March that he wanted to build such a group. And anyone who can pony up the money still has to pass muster with the U.S. government, which needs to sign off on any purchase.

Few others have expressed public interest in buying the app.

The last time the government tried to force ByteDance to sell TikTok in 2020, the company held talks with Microsoft and the software company Oracle. (Oracle and Walmart ultimately appeared to reach an agreement with ByteDance, but the deal never materialized .)

A Complicated Divestment

Even if TikTok approaches a sale, the process of separating TikTok from ByteDance is likely to be messy.

The legislation prohibits any connection between ByteDance and TikTok after a sale. Yet TikTok employees use ByteDance software in their communications, and the company’s employees are global, with executives in Singapore, Dublin, Los Angeles and Mountain View, Calif.

It’s unclear if ByteDance would consider selling TikTok’s entire global footprint or just its U.S. operations, where the company has nearly 7,000 employees.

Breaking off just the U.S. portion of TikTok could prove particularly challenging. The app's recommendation algorithm, which figures out what users like and serves up content, is key to the success of the app. But Chinese engineers work on that algorithm, which ByteDance owns.

During Mr. Trump’s attempt to force a sale in 2020, the Chinese government issued export restrictions that appeared to require its regulators to grant permission before ByteDance algorithms could be sold or licensed to outsiders.

The uncertainty around the export of the algorithm and other ByteDance technology could also deter interested buyers.

China’s Unpredictable Role

The Chinese government could also try to block a TikTok sale.

Chinese officials criticized a similar bill after the House passed it in March, although they have not yet said whether they would block a divestment. About a year ago, China’s commerce ministry said it would “firmly oppose” a sale of the app by ByteDance.

Chinese export regulations appear to cover TikTok’s content recommendation algorithm, giving Beijing a say in whether ByteDance could sell or license the app’s most valuable feature.

It “is not a foregone conclusion by any means” that China will allow a sale, said Lindsay Gorman, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund who specializes in emerging tech and China.

China may retaliate against American companies. On Friday, China’s Cyberspace Administration asked Apple to remove Meta’s WhatsApp and Threads from its App Store, according to the iPhone manufacturer. The Chinese government cited national security reasons in making the demand.

Sapna Maheshwari reports on TikTok, technology and emerging media companies. She has been a business reporter for more than a decade. Contact her at [email protected] . More about Sapna Maheshwari

David McCabe covers tech policy. He joined The Times from Axios in 2019. More about David McCabe

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

In-Text Citations: The Basics

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Note:  This page reflects the latest version of the APA Publication Manual (i.e., APA 7), which released in October 2019. The equivalent resource for the older APA 6 style  can be found here .

Reference citations in text are covered on pages 261-268 of the Publication Manual. What follows are some general guidelines for referring to the works of others in your essay.

Note:  On pages 117-118, the Publication Manual suggests that authors of research papers should use the past tense or present perfect tense for signal phrases that occur in the literature review and procedure descriptions (for example, Jones (1998)  found  or Jones (1998)  has found ...). Contexts other than traditionally-structured research writing may permit the simple present tense (for example, Jones (1998)  finds ).

APA Citation Basics

When using APA format, follow the author-date method of in-text citation. This means that the author's last name and the year of publication for the source should appear in the text, like, for example, (Jones, 1998). One complete reference for each source should appear in the reference list at the end of the paper.

If you are referring to an idea from another work but  NOT  directly quoting the material, or making reference to an entire book, article or other work, you only have to make reference to the author and year of publication and not the page number in your in-text reference.

On the other hand, if you are directly quoting or borrowing from another work, you should include the page number at the end of the parenthetical citation. Use the abbreviation “p.” (for one page) or “pp.” (for multiple pages) before listing the page number(s). Use an en dash for page ranges. For example, you might write (Jones, 1998, p. 199) or (Jones, 1998, pp. 199–201). This information is reiterated below.

Regardless of how they are referenced, all sources that are cited in the text must appear in the reference list at the end of the paper.

In-text citation capitalization, quotes, and italics/underlining

• Always capitalize proper nouns, including author names and initials: D. Jones.
• If you refer to the title of a source within your paper, capitalize all words that are four letters long or greater within the title of a source:  Permanence and Change . Exceptions apply to short words that are verbs, nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and adverbs:  Writing New Media ,  There Is Nothing Left to Lose .

( Note:  in your References list, only the first word of a title will be capitalized:  Writing new media .)

• When capitalizing titles, capitalize both words in a hyphenated compound word:  Natural-Born Cyborgs .
• Capitalize the first word after a dash or colon: "Defining Film Rhetoric: The Case of Hitchcock's  Vertigo ."
• If the title of the work is italicized in your reference list, italicize it and use title case capitalization in the text:  The Closing of the American Mind ;  The Wizard of Oz ;  Friends .
• If the title of the work is not italicized in your reference list, use double quotation marks and title case capitalization (even though the reference list uses sentence case): "Multimedia Narration: Constructing Possible Worlds;" "The One Where Chandler Can't Cry."

Short quotations

If you are directly quoting from a work, you will need to include the author, year of publication, and page number for the reference (preceded by "p." for a single page and “pp.” for a span of multiple pages, with the page numbers separated by an en dash).

You can introduce the quotation with a signal phrase that includes the author's last name followed by the date of publication in parentheses.

If you do not include the author’s name in the text of the sentence, place the author's last name, the year of publication, and the page number in parentheses after the quotation.

Long quotations

Place direct quotations that are 40 words or longer in a free-standing block of typewritten lines and omit quotation marks. Start the quotation on a new line, indented 1/2 inch from the left margin, i.e., in the same place you would begin a new paragraph. Type the entire quotation on the new margin, and indent the first line of any subsequent paragraph within the quotation 1/2 inch from the new margin. Maintain double-spacing throughout, but do not add an extra blank line before or after it. The parenthetical citation should come after the closing punctuation mark.

Because block quotation formatting is difficult for us to replicate in the OWL's content management system, we have simply provided a screenshot of a generic example below.

Formatting example for block quotations in APA 7 style.

Quotations from sources without pages

Direct quotations from sources that do not contain pages should not reference a page number. Instead, you may reference another logical identifying element: a paragraph, a chapter number, a section number, a table number, or something else. Older works (like religious texts) can also incorporate special location identifiers like verse numbers. In short: pick a substitute for page numbers that makes sense for your source.

Summary or paraphrase

If you are paraphrasing an idea from another work, you only have to make reference to the author and year of publication in your in-text reference and may omit the page numbers. APA guidelines, however, do encourage including a page range for a summary or paraphrase when it will help the reader find the information in a longer work.