AG 4.C

Lawsuits Between States

Relationship Among States

• Since 1789 nearly 200 cases between states have been settled in court.
• Cases between more than two states are herd in the supreme court
• Most cases involve water rights, Arizona, California, and Colorado have gone to court over water rights from the Colorado River.

• Under the constitution states must honor laws of other states
• Such as driver licenses being valid in other states
• While states set and enforce their own, the constitution requires governors to Extradite criminals back to the state they committed the crime in.

Interstate Compacts

Unit IV Part C

State Powers

• The principle way states settle disputes if through interstate compacts
• Written agreements between two or more states.
• Before 1900 only 13 had been approved, now over 200 compacts have been signed,
• States use compacts to handle issues with air and water pollution, pest control, and toll roads.

• States can make laws about anything not prohibited by the Constitution or national law.
• States regulate corporations within their borders
• States regulate safety and sanitary conditions for workers
• State courts handle the most criminal cases
• Education, health, and Welfare account for much of state spending
• States also try to preserve natural resources by passing regulations on pollution.

Privileges and Immunities

State Powers and Interstate Relations

• According to the Constitution:
• “the Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States”
• This is very vague, and has never been explained by the states but much has to do with “residency”
• Resident Status depends state to state it can be a requirement to live there for a certain amount of time, or practice their profession before getting a license from the state.