Article IV, Section 1''s Full Faith and Credit Clause mandates that states give "full Faith and Credit" to other states'' public records, ensuring official documents retain legal validity across state lines. Public records include birth certificates, property deeds, court filings, marriage licenses, and corporate registrations—the authenticated documentation governments produce. Congress exercised its authority under the clause in 1790, requiring records to be authenticated with court seals and clerk attestations before receiving recognition elsewhere. A Massachusetts birth certificate must be accepted as proof of citizenship in Texas, and Florida can''t reject a New York property deed properly recorded in its original jurisdiction. The Supreme Court has noted that while the clause is "exacting" for court judgments, it''s "less demanding" for records in choice-of-law disputes. The provision prevents states from undermining each other''s administrative systems and protects Americans from losing documented rights when relocating. However, states sometimes resist recognizing records that conflict with local policy, testing federalism''s limits.