Science Fair Project Encyclopedia Full Faith and Credit Clause
Full faith and credit is mutual understanding between courts of
the 50 states of the United States to recognize, honor and
enforce each other's actions. The doctrine is rooted in the
United States Constitution. Section one of Article four of the
United States Constitution is known as the Full Faith and Credit
Clause. It was primarily intended to provide for the continuity
between states and enforcement across state lines of non-federal
laws, civil claims and court rulings. Without this clause,
enforcement of state-to-state extradition, portability of court
orders, nationwide recognition of legal status, out-of-state
taxation, spousal and child support, and the collection of fees
and fines would all be impossible without separate federal
action, or a similar action by the other states. - "Full Faith
and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts,
Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the
Congress may by general Law