U.S. Constitution · Article IV, Section 4
Republican Government and Protection of the States
Alerts when a new grade, SI Solution or Think Tank idea cites Art. IV, § 4.
Also known as: Guarantee Clause
Live in the VFA record
Cited in 1 Constitution Index grade this month.
1 public item cites this provision · 1 in October 2026 (last month: 0)
Citations per week, last 12 weeks
The text
The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.
National Archives transcription (public domain; original spelling and capitalization). archives.gov
SI explainer
An explainer for this provision is in the queue. It appears here once it passes the SI Editorial Standard’s automated checks. The text, founding-era sources and live citations below are complete.
In the founders’ words
- “In a confederacy founded on republican principles, and composed of republican members, the superintending government ought clearly to possess authority to defend the system against aristocratic or monarchial innovations. The more intimate the nature of such a union may be, the greater interest have the members in the political institutions of each other; and the greater right to insist that the forms of government under which the compact was entered into should be SUBSTANTIALLY maintained.” James Madison, The Federalist No. 43 (1788-01-23)
- “Mr. Govr. MORRIS -thought the Resol: very objectionable. He should be very unwilling that such laws as exist in R. Island should be guaranteid. Mr. WILSON . The object is merely to secure the States agst. dangerous commotions, insurrections and rebellions. Col. MASON . If the Genl. Govt. should have no right to suppress rebellions agst. particular States, it will be in a bad situation indeed. As Rebellions agst. itself originate in & agst. individual States, it must remain a passive Spectator of its own subversion.” James Madison, Madison's Notes of Debates in the Federal Convention, July 18, 1787 (1787-07-18)
Public-domain primary sources, quoted word for word and checked against the linked text.
Leading Supreme Court cases
- Luther v. Borden, 48 U.S. 1 (1849)
- Pacific States Telephone & Telegraph Co. v. Oregon, 223 U.S. 118 (1912)
- Baker v. Carr, 369 U.S. 186 (1962)
Cited in the VFA record
“Where this provision is cited”
grades (1)
-
Executive Order 14287: Protecting American Communities From Criminal Aliens
2026-10-08 · Grade C (Significant issues)
Roll-call votes are listed when the measure voted on has a current Constitution Index grade citing this provision. Counts include only published items.
Cite this page
Values for America Constitution Explorer, https://www.valuesforamerica.com/constitution (text: National Archives transcription, public domain), Article IV, Section 4, https://www.valuesforamerica.com/constitution/article-4/section-4
Data: this provision as JSON.