Final answer:
The Full Faith and Credit Clause in Article IV, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution ensures that states honor the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of other states, with Congress having the power to dictate how these are to be recognized and enforced. It has significant implications for interstate relationships and the administration of justice, as demonstrated by its role in the recognition of same-sex marriages through Obergefell v. Hodges.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Full Faith and Credit Clause is a significant constitutional provision found in Article IV, Section 1 of the United States Constitution. This clause mandates that all states must recognize the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state. The requirement to recognize such acts pertains to various legal documents and court decisions, including but not limited to, adoption certificates, marriage certificates, and driver's licenses.
Congress has the authority to legislate the manner in which these acts, records, and proceedings are to be proven across state lines, as well as their corresponding effects. This was put to the test with the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and was highlighted by the landmark Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which established that same-sex couples have the fundamental right to marry under the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
The clause also plays a critical role in interstate relationships and the administration of justice, as seen in provisions for the attendance of fugitives from justice in other states, where they must be returned to the state having jurisdiction over the crime.