How to Cite the First Amendment in APA Format

We The People - US Constitution

If you are writing a paper on U.S. History or law, you may have to cite the First Amendment in your sources. American Psychological Association (APA) format provides a simple template for citing constitutional amendments in both your reference list and the body of your text.

Reference List

When citing an amendment of the Constitution, the Constitution and amendment are abbreviated. The following format is used in APA style:

U.S. Const. amend. Amendment # (in Roman numerals).

So when citing the First Amendment in your reference list, use the following:

U.S. Const. amend. I.

In-Text Citation

When referencing a constitutional amendment in the body of your work, include an in-text citation. The text of an in-text citation for a constitutional amendment is the same as that of the reference list citation, only contained in parentheses. Use the following in-text citation for the First Amendment:

(U.S. Const. amend. I)

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