Final answer:
The construction of statutes from other states involves the full faith and credit principle and the hierarchical legal structure, with the U.S. Constitution at the top. Issues such as DOMA demonstrate the complexity of interstate recognition of laws. New states can only be formed with the consent of Congress and the state legislatures involved.
Step-by-step explanation:
The construction of statutes adopted from other states or countries often involves the principles of full faith and credit, as well as the hierarchy of laws within the United States. The United States Constitution lays the foundation for how laws are recognized across state lines. For instance, Article IV mandates that every state must honor the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state, which is known as the Full Faith and Credit Clause. This clause ensures that states respect and recognize the laws and decisions of other states.
However, complexities arise, such as with the contentious Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which permitted states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages granted in other states. This act tested the limits of the full faith and credit principle until its eventual overruling by the Supreme Court. Congress also wields the power to admit new states into the Union, but no state can be formed within the jurisdiction of another without the consent of the affected states' legislatures and Congress, according to the Constitution. At the top of the legal hierarchy are the United States Constitution, Acts of Congress, and Treaties, followed by State Constitutions and State Laws.