This Part of the Constitution is Holding the Country Together Right Now

Barely

Welcome back to our crash course in the U.S. Constitution — everything you need to know to better debate those aunts and uncles of yours on Facebook, without the law school price or the weird professors. Each issue tackles a different big idea that’s shaped American life: free speech, due process, equal protection, search and seizure, etc.. Expect real-world examples, understandable explanations, and the occasional lawyer joke (now you’ve been warned, so you can’t be upset). Whether you're a news junkie, a student, or just someone who wants to finally understand what “strict scrutiny” actually means, you’ll leave each issue a little smarter — and way more equipped to fight mistruths. The law was meant to be understood by the people. This series is here to prove it.

Today’s issue: This Part of the Constitution is Holding the Country Together Right Now (Barely)

Previous issue: Martial Law: The Next Frontier of Order vs. Overreach

💡 Be sure to check out the “What Just Happened?” issues between today and our lesson on Martial Law, including analyses and discussions of the Sesame Street Executive Order and the striking down of the Alien Enemies Act for deportations out of parts of Texas.

Next issue: Why Texas and New York Must Respect Each Other: The Full Faith and Credit Clause

So, what exactly is holding the country together? Article IV of the Constitution. Think of it like the glue that keeps states from seceding or acting like they’re their own countries. So far, that glue has held up OK. But recently, we’re starting to see some cracks.

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Article IV doesn’t get the flashy headlines like the First Amendment or the drama of the Fourteenth. But don’t be fooled — this article is the carpool lane of the Constitution: unglamorous, essential, and the only thing keeping the rest of the union from screaming, “Are we there yet?” every ten minutes.

This part of the Constitution is all about how the states have to play nice with each other. Think of it like a group text between 50 very dramatic siblings who all claim Mom (aka the federal government) loves them the most. And yet, somehow, through chaos, compromise, and constitutional choreography, they mostly manage to share custody of democracy. Mostly.

Today, we’re deep diving into each of the four sections of Article IV, setting the proverbial stage for an in-depth examination of each one this week. So buckle up. This is the part of the Constitution that keeps your driver's license valid when you cross state lines, helps extradite that guy who fled Florida with a warrant, and, yes, makes West Virginia a thing.

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Section 1: When One Parent Says No But the Other Already Said Yes (Full Faith and Credit Clause)

“Each State shall give Full Faith and Credit to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State…”

If you’ve ever moved, gotten married, divorced, adopted a child, or just tried to use your driver’s license in another state without getting side-eyed by a cop, you’ve