(2) The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder
of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the
Person attainted.
COMMENTARY:
The phrase “no attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood” means that the family
of a traitor does not share the guilt. Formerly, an offender’s family could also be punished.
Article IV*
Section 1
RELATION OF THE STATES TO EACH OTHER
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.
COMMENTARY:
This section requires the states to honor one another’s laws, records, and court rulings.
Article IV
Section 2
(1) The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens
in the several States.
COMMENTARY:
This means that citizens traveling from state to state are entitled to all the privileges and
immunities that automatically go to citizens of those states. Some privileges, such as the right
to vote, do not automatically go with citizenship, but require a period of residence and perhaps
other qualifications. The word “citizen” in this provision does not include corporations.
- Much of this article was taken word for word from the old Articles of Confederation.