Article IV of the U.S. Constitution primarily addresses the relationship between the states and the federal government, as well as the relationships among the states themselves. Its main purposes include:
- Full Faith and Credit: It requires states to respect the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of other states.
- Privileges and Immunities: It ensures that citizens of one state are entitled to the same privileges and immunities in other states.
- Extradition: It provides for the extradition of individuals charged with crimes who flee from one state to another.
- Admission of New States: It outlines the process for admitting new states to the Union and governs the formation of new states from existing states.
Overall, Article IV is essential for maintaining the unity and cooperation among the states and between the states and the federal government.