U.S. Constitution Article 4 Explained.

How States Work Together and Stay United

Article IV of the U.S. Constitution deals with the relationships between states and how they interact with each other. It also outlines what happens if new states are added or if states face internal problems. Here’s a breakdown of Article IV, made simple.

Section 1

The U.S. must respect the laws, records, and legal decisions made by other states. For instance, if you’re in one state and you get married, that marriage is recognized in all other states. Congress has the authority to set rules on how these laws and records are verified and what impact they have across state lines.

Section 2

If you’re a citizen in one state, you have the same rights in any other state. If someone commits a serious crime in one state and tries to escape to another, the state they fled from can request their return to face justice. Additionally, if someone is working off a debt or fulfilling a labor contract in one state and moves to another, they cannot escape their obligations; the new state must return them to their original state if requested.

Section 3

New states can join the U.S., but they cannot be created from existing states or combine multiple states without the approval of the state legislatures and Congress. Congress also manages U.S. territories and property, ensuring that new regulations are fair and that existing claims are respected.

Section 4 

Section 4 guarantees that every state will have a form of government that is representative of its people (a Republican Form of Government). It also promises protection from invasions and help with internal violence if a state asks for it, especially if the state legislature cannot meet.

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