Relationship Between the State and National Government
Government in the United States is shared between local, state, and federal governments. The distribution of power between state and national governments has changed over time in response to societal needs.The appropriate distribution of power has been interpreted differently over time. At some points, measures have been taken to enhance or increase federal power, while at other points, the Framers, and later, the Supreme Court, have enhanced state power.
- Article IV establishes that the states will give “full faith and credit” to the laws of other states. For example, if a citizen gets legally married in one state, he is still married if he moves to another state. Likewise, if a citizen commits a crime in one state, she cannot escape to another state and evade justice. States also can’t discriminate against citizens of other states if they move; any US citizen who moves to a state is entitled to the same “privileges and immunities” of citizenship in that state as someone born there.
- Article IV also promises states the protection of the federal government. It does this by promising to defend states against invasion, guaranteeing them a republican form of government, and barring the federal government from splitting up a state without the consent of its legislature and Congress.
- Article V describes the process of amending the Constitution, which requires the ratification of three-quarters of the states. In other words, 3/4 of the states must give consent. This provision of the Constitution demonstrates the importance of the states in approving the workings of the US government.
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