What protection does the Full Faith and Credit Clause guarantee?

The Full Faith and Credit Clause, which is found in Article IV, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution, requires that each state must recognize and uphold the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state. This means that rights, such as legal contracts, marriage licenses, and court judgments that are established in one state need to be honored by other states.

This principle promotes unity among the states and ensures that individuals have consistent legal protections and obligations, regardless of where they are within the United States. For example, if a court in one state issues a divorce decree, other states are obligated to recognize that divorce as valid and enforceable.

The other options do not accurately reflect the purpose or intent of the Full Faith and Credit Clause. Uniform election laws are not enforced by this clause, as election laws can vary significantly between states. Furthermore, the clause does not grant state legislation authority over federal law; in fact, the Supremacy Clause establishes the precedence of federal law over state law. Finally, the clause does not allow states to reject judicial decisions from other states; rather, it mandates that states must respect and enforce such rulings.