What does the Full Faith and Credit Clause require?

The Full Faith and Credit Clause, found in Article IV, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution, mandates that states must recognize and enforce the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state. This means that judicial decrees—such as court rulings and legal contracts established in one state—must be given validity and enforceability in all other states. This ensures legal consistency and protects the rights of individuals as they move between states, preventing states from refusing to acknowledge legal transactions or judgments made in other jurisdictions.

The other options do not accurately reflect the purpose or scope of the Full Faith and Credit Clause. For instance, the requirement that all state laws be the same is overly simplistic, as states can have differing laws and regulations as long as they respect the full faith and credit obligations. Similarly, the idea that states must give preference to their own laws contradicts the principle that other states’ judicial decrees and contracts are valid. Lastly, while citizens must indeed abide by federal law, this requirement is rooted in the Supremacy Clause, not the Full Faith and Credit Clause. Thus, option B accurately encapsulates the essence of the clause’s requirements.