Many Americans are unfamiliar with certain parts of the U.S. Constitution. That is unfortunate, because sections that are frequently ignored publicly, often have answers that can resolve current dilemmas.
For our discussion, let us examine Article Four. It reads in part:
"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 Laws prescribe the manner in which such Acts, Records and proceedings shall be proved and the Effect thereof."
Basically, it guarantees that Contracts, Court Decisions and the results of Criminal and Civil proceedings in one State, are acknowledged and accepted by all other States.
Examples include:
- Drivers Licenses.
- Court Decisions, both Criminal and Civil.
- Educational Achievements.
The only way to circumvent Article Four, is the Creation of a Universal Definition that is applied to all States, by Act of Congress.
The DOMA, ( Defense of Marriage Act), was created to define Marriage as Legally Valid only if it includes the joining of a Woman and a Man. However, the DOMA was eventually ruled to be Unconstitutional, violating the equal protection clause contained within the Fourteenth Amendment.
STATES THAT CURRENTLY DO NOT ALLOW SAME-SEX MARRIAGES TO BE LEGALLY PERFORMED WITHIN THEIR BOUNDARIES, (SUBJECT TO JUDICIAL REVIEW), ARE NOT BEING FORCED TO DO SO BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THEY ARE BEING REQUIRED TO RECOGNIZE A VALID LEGAL MARRIAGE PERFORMED IN ANOTHER STATE. THERE IS NO RIGHT TO INVALIDATE A MARRIAGE LEGALLY CONDUCTED ELSEWHERE. THEY CANNOT PICK AND CHOOSE WHICH MARRIAGES THAT WILL BE RECOGNIZED, NO STATE CAN. THIS IS THE GUARANTEE CONTAINED WITHIN ARTICLE FOUR.
I hope this puts to rest the irrational idea that some states are being forced to allow Same-Sex Marriage to be legally performed within their borders. This is an outright lie, put forth by dishonest politicians and their media flunkies.
Date- 4/25/2014.
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