Article IV: States
Relations Between States and the Federal Government
Constitutional Text
Section 1. Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.
Section 2. The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. A Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or other Crime, who shall flee from Justice, and be found in another State, shall on Demand of the executive Authority of the State from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the State having Jurisdiction of the Crime.
Section 3. New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.
Section 4. The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.
Sections Summary
Section 1 - Full Faith and Credit
States must honor other states' laws, records, and court decisions. Your driver's license from one state is valid in another.
Section 2 - Privileges & Immunities
Citizens have the same basic rights in all states. States must extradite criminals back to where they committed crimes.
Section 3 - New States
Congress admits new states. Cannot create a state within another state without consent (exception: West Virginia during Civil War).
Section 4 - Republican Government
Federal government guarantees each state a republican form of government and protection from invasion and domestic violence.
Real-World Applications
Marriage Recognition
Full Faith and Credit means a marriage performed in one state must be recognized by all others.
Professional Licenses
Some licenses (like law) are state-specific, while others have reciprocity agreements.
Extradition
If you commit a crime in Texas and flee to California, California must return you to Texas.
Puerto Rico & DC Statehood
Section 3 outlines how territories could become states through Congressional action.
Key Takeaways
- Full Faith and Credit - states honor each other's legal documents
- Privileges and Immunities - equal treatment in all states
- Extradition - states must return accused criminals
- Republican guarantee - federal protection for state governments