Which constitutional principle requires states to recognize each other's judicial proceedings and records?

• A. The Full Faith and Credit Clause
• B. The Commerce Clause
• C. The Establishment Clause
• D. The Privileges and Immunities Clause

Answer: (A)

The principle being tested is that states must recognize the records and judicial proceedings of other states. This is the Full Faith and Credit Clause, found in the Constitution, which requires that public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of one state be given full faith and credit by other states. This means a court judgment, a marriage or divorce decree, or official records valid in one state should be recognized and enforceable in others, helping people move between states without having to redo legal processes. It keeps the nationwide legal system coherent, so, for example, a valid judgment or a valid civil record stays effective across state lines. This isn’t about commerce, religion, or general privileges and immunities—that’s handled by other provisions—though those areas interact with interstate relations in different ways. There are limits, too: a state can sometimes refuse to recognize another state’s judgment if due process wasn’t upheld or if recognizing it would violate its own public policy in a meaningful way.