U.S. Government and Civics / Unit 3: Federalism
3.4 Relations Among the States
Notes
Article IV sets rules for how states treat each other, and the national government's duties to states.
- Full faith and credit clause: states must honor other states' public acts, records and court rulings, such as marriages, wills and court judgments.
- Privileges and immunities clause: a state may not unreasonably discriminate against citizens of other states.
- Extradition: a state must return a person charged with a crime who flees to it.
- Interstate compacts: agreements between states, which need Congress's approval when they affect federal power (example: the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey).
- The national government must guarantee each state a republican form of government and protect states from invasion.
- Congress admits new states.
Practice
A person accused of robbery in Ohio flees to Indiana. Indiana sends her back to Ohio for trial. This is called:
Article IV requires states to return people charged with crimes.
A couple married in Texas moves to Oregon, and Oregon recognizes their marriage. Which clause applies?
States must respect other states' public records and legal acts.
A state charges out-of-state residents much more to buy a house there than its own residents. This would most likely violate:
States may not unreasonably discriminate against citizens of other states.
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