Article Four of the United States Constitution facts for kids

Article Four of the Constitution of the United States explains how the different states in the United States work together. It also describes the connection between the states and the federal government.

Section 1: Full Faith and Credit

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.

This first part means that each state must respect the laws, records, and court decisions of every other state. For example, if a court in one state makes a ruling, other states must usually accept that ruling as valid.

This rule helps stop people from trying to find a state court that might give them a better outcome for their legal case. It also prevents someone from moving to another state just to avoid a court decision against them.

The Supreme Court of the United States has said that court decisions made in one state must generally be accepted by courts in other states. This means cases that have already been decided usually cannot be reopened in a different state. However, sometimes a state's own rules, like time limits for enforcing a judgment, can still apply.

Section 2: Rights of State Citizens; Extradition

Clause 1: Privileges and Immunities

The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.

This part says that citizens from one state should have the same basic rights when they are in another state. It means states generally cannot treat citizens from other states unfairly.

For example, a state cannot charge a citizen from another state much more for a basic service than it charges its own citizens. However, there can be some exceptions. A state might charge non-residents a higher fee for things like a hunting or fishing license.

Clause 2: Extradition of Fugitives

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.

This clause explains extradition. This is the process of sending a person accused of a crime back to the state where the crime happened. If someone commits treason, a serious crime (like a felony), or any other crime and then runs away to another state, that person can be sent back to face justice.

The Supreme Court has decided that federal courts can now order state governors to send fugitives back. This means that states must cooperate in returning people accused of crimes.

Clause 3: Fugitive Slave Clause

No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, under the Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein, be discharged from such Service or Labour, but shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or Labour may be due.

This clause was added to the Constitution to deal with slavery. It meant that if an enslaved person escaped from a state where slavery was legal and went to another state, they would not become free. Instead, they had to be returned to their owner.

This clause was later removed from the Constitution in 1865. This happened when the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was approved, which officially ended slavery in the United States.

Section 3: New States and Federal Property

Clause 1: New States

New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new States 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.

This part gives Congress the power to add new states to the United States. Since the country started with 13 states, it has grown to 50 states today.

This clause also says that new states cannot be created by taking land from an existing state without that state's permission. For example, West Virginia was formed from part of Virginia, but only after Virginia agreed.

Clause 2: Property Clause

The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the United States, or of any particular State.

This clause gives Congress the power to manage and control all the land and property owned by the United States. This includes places like national parks, national forests, and military bases.

The federal government owns a lot of land, especially in the western states. For instance, in Nevada, the federal government owns more than 80% of the land!

Section 4: Obligations of the United States

Clause 1: Republican Government

The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, [...]

This part, often called the Guarantee Clause, means that every state in the U.S. must have a republican form of government. This means the government gets its power from the people, and citizens elect representatives to make decisions for them.

This clause helps make sure that all states have the same basic type of government.

Clause 2: Protection from Invasion and Domestic Violence

[...] and [the United States] shall protect each of them [the States] against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.

This section requires the United States government to protect each state from attacks by other countries. It also says the U.S. will help states deal with serious internal problems or violence, but only if the state's government asks for help.

See also

In Spanish: Artículo IV de la Constitución de los Estados Unidos para niños