Interstate Relations

Article IV- Relations Among the StatesThe Roots: Conflict among states was a

key reason for the adoption of the Constitution in 1789.

Efforts were taken within the Constitution to alleviate conflict in the

new government

Interstate Compacts★A “compact” is an agreement★Interstate compacts are contracts

between two or more states creating an agreement on a particular policy issue, adopting a certain standard or cooperating on regional or national matters

Interstate CompactsThere are over 200 compacts in existence todayOn average a state belongs to 25 different compacts

Interstate Compacts★ Conservation of Oil★ Conservation of

Wildlife & Life★ Prevention of Forest

Fires★ Prevent Stream &

Harbor Pollution

★ Provide for tax collection

★ Motor Vehicle Safety★ Licensing of Drivers★ Cooperative Use of

Public Universities★ Conservation of

WaterAlabama belongs to 30 interstate compacts

Full Faith & CreditThe Constitution states that:“Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the Public Acts, records and judicial proceeding of every other state.”

Article IV, Section 1

“Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the Public Acts, records and judicial proceedings of every other State.”

Public Acts = Laws of StateRecords:

Birth CertificatesMarriage LicensesDeeds of PropertyCar registrations,

etc.

“Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the Public Acts, records and judicial proceedings of every other State.”

Judicial Proceedings…Outcome of court actions:➢ Damage Awards➢ Probating of

wills

Full Faith & CreditSo a civil court case tried in Alabama does not have to be retried in Georgia. Instead, Georgia has to give full faith and credit to the process in Alabama.

Full Faith & Credit- Exceptions

1.Criminal Cases- One State cannot enforce another State’s criminal law.

2.Full faith & credit cannot be given in certain divorces granted by one state with respect to another State

i.e. If you were married in Texas, you need to get a divorce based through Texas

Extradition● The legal process by which a fugitive

from justice in one State is returned to that State

● The Governor must approve it● Sometimes these requests are

contestedo Custody cases, cases with political or racial

overtones

Extradition- historical● Until the 1980’s governors could, and

on occasion did, refuse to return fugitives

● For more than a century the constitutional wording was read instead of shall to may.

● In 1987, the Supreme Court held that fugitives had to be extradited.

Privileges & Immunities“The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of Citizens in the several States.”

Article IV, section 2, Clause 1

Privileges & ImmunitiesThis clause means that no State can draw unreasonable distinctions between its own residents and those who happen live in other states.

Privileges & Immunities

Each State must facilitate:

● Recognize the right to travel

● Become a resident

● Use of courts● Make contracts ● Marry

Privileges & ImmunitiesStates can still require:● The right to vote in a state is based on

time lived there● Period of residence before its licensed

practice of a profession● Pay different fees for non-residents

Political Cartoons- 1

Political Cartoons- 2

Political Cartoons- 3

1. What is happening as the car is moving from one state to the other?

2. Does the cartoon imply that the states have very little power or a great deal of power over environmental resources?

3. Do you think the cartoonist would like to see more cooperation between the states? Explain.

4. Predicting Consequences- What might happen if States have vastly different policies toward essential resources like air and water?