Final answer:
The Constitution requires that states give full faith and credit to the public acts, records, and civil judicial proceedings of every other state, as stated in Article IV, Section 1. This ensures that legal decisions and records are respected across state lines.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Constitution requires that states give full faith and credit to the public acts, records, and civil judicial proceedings of every other state. This principle is enshrined in Article IV, Section 1 of the United States Constitution, sometimes referred to as the Full Faith and Credit Clause. It ensures a level of legal uniformity across states, meaning that legal decisions or official records from one state are respected and recognized in all others. This clause has been at the heart of various legal debates, including those surrounding same-sex marriage before it was legalized nationwide.
Congress also has the power to prescribe by general laws the manner in which such acts, records, and proceedings are proved and the effect thereof. For example, if a person enters into a contract in one state, they are bound by that contract in any other state they may move to. Similarly, driver's licenses and marriage licenses issued by one state must be recognized by all other states.