Congress Prescribes Manner

                The topic of discussion for this Constitution Monday comes from Article IV and Section 1:  “And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.”  In other words, Congress has the power and authority to determine how the official papers of one state will be prepared in order to be accepted by other states.

                “Official state records are authenticated by having a copy with the seal of a particular state certified by an officer of that state that it is a true and correct record.  Court records of a state are authenticated by having the clerk and the judge of that court certify to their authenticity with the seal of that court attached.”  (See W. Cleon Skousen in The Making of America – The Substance and Meaning of the Constitution, page 631.)