How To Cite The Constitution In Harvard Style

Citing the Constitution correctly is essential when writing academic papers, legal essays, or research reports. The Constitution is a legal document, so it should be referenced in a formal and consistent way. In Harvard style, the format used depends on whether you are citing a specific country’s constitution, a particular section, or the document as a whole. The goal is to make it clear which version or country’s constitution you are referring to and to include the year of publication or adoption.

1. Basic Format for Citing a Constitution

The general format for citing a constitution in Harvard style is:

Country. (Year) Title of the Constitution. Place of publication: Publisher (if available).

If the constitution is available online, you should also include the URL and the date you accessed it.

Example:
South Africa. (1996) Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. Available at: https://www.justice.gov.za/legislation/constitution/SAConstitution-web-eng.pdf (Accessed: 18 October 2025).

In-text citation:
(South Africa, 1996)

2. Citing a Specific Section or Article

When referring to a specific part of the Constitution, you include the section, article, or clause number in your text rather than in the reference list.

Example (in-text citation):
According to Section 9 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, everyone is equal before the law.

Or:
Equality is protected under Section 9 of the Constitution (South Africa, 1996).

The reference list entry remains the same as the full citation of the Constitution.

3. Example for Another Country’s Constitution

If you are citing the Constitution of another country, follow the same structure but replace the country name and year.

Example (United States):
United States of America. (1787) Constitution of the United States of America. Available at: https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution (Accessed: 18 October 2025).

In-text citation:
(United States of America, 1787)

4. Example for a Printed Version

If you are using a printed version of the Constitution, include the publisher and place of publication:

Example:
Republic of Kenya. (2010) The Constitution of Kenya. Nairobi: National Council for Law Reporting.

In-text citation:
(Republic of Kenya, 2010)

5. When There Is No Author

Most constitutions do not have an individual author. In such cases, use the country name as the author in both your in-text citation and reference list.

6. Online Constitution Citation (Shortened Version)

If you are referring to a frequently accessed version of the Constitution online, a shortened version is acceptable in Harvard referencing:

Reference list:
South Africa. (1996) Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. Available at: https://www.gov.za/documents/constitution (Accessed: 18 October 2025).

In-text citation:
(South Africa, 1996)

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