What is the responsibility of each state under Article IV, Section 1 of the United States Constitution?

Each state has the responsibility to recognize the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state under Article IV, Section 1 of the United States Constitution. This provision, known as the Full Faith and Credit Clause, establishes that states must respect and uphold the legal documents and actions taken in other states, thereby promoting legal consistency and unity across the nation.

This recognition includes laws, court decisions, and public records like marriage licenses, divorce decrees, and property records. It ensures that a legal judgment or official act in one state is applicable in another, facilitating cooperation and reducing legal discrepancies between states.

The other options do not accurately reflect the intent of this clause. For instance, it is critical that states do not ignore or modify the public acts of other states, as doing so could lead to conflict and legal chaos between jurisdictions. Instead, the Full Faith and Credit Clause is designed to foster respect and uniformity in the legal system among states.