---
title: U.S. Const. Art. IV, Sec. 4. Guarantee of Republican Government and Protection
collection: code
id: us-const:art-iv-sec-4
cite_as: U.S. Const. Art. IV, Sec. 4
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date: 2025
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---

# U.S. Const. Art. IV, Sec. 4. Guarantee of Republican Government and Protection

A constitution provision shown as in force is in force as printed in the volume. A court decision can make a printed provision unenforceable without changing the volume, and the volume does not record that.

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.

## Law Reviews

For article, “Free Speech and the Interest in Local Law and Order,” see 1 J. of Pub. L. 41 (1952).

For article arguing against constitutional justification for the sending of federal troops to Little Rock, Arkansas and the federalization of Arkansas troops, see 20 Ga. B.J. 325 (1957).

For article, “The Law of the Land,” focusing on the role of the Supreme Court, see 6 J. of Pub. L. 444 (1957).

For article, “Whether the Appellate Power of the Supreme Court Should Be Limited, Or More Expressly Declared,” see 21 Ga. B.J. 19 (1958).

For article, “Reapportionment Reca-pitulated: 1960-1970,” see 7 Ga. St. B.J. 191 (1970).

For article, “Constitutional Issues In Federal No-Fault,” see 27 Mercer L. Rev. 273 (1975).

For article, “Problems in Search of Principles: The First Amendment in the Supreme Court from 1791-1930,” see 35 Emory L.J. 59 (1986).

For article, “Ideology, Religion, and the Constitutional Protection of Private Property: 1760-1860,” see 39 Emory L.J. 65 (1990).

## United States Is a Democratic coun-Effect of Section on State Constitutional Provision.

United States Const., art. II, sec. III, means that the laws must be executed as required by other constitutional provisions, such as the one that demands a request from the Legislature or the Governor of the state before federal troops are used to put down domestic violence (U.S. Const., art. IV, sec. IV). 1957 Ga. Op. Att’y Gen. 8.

## Circumstances Necessary for Implementation of Section.

The Constitution only authorizes the United States to take protective action against domestic violence in any state on application of the Legislature or of the executive; U.S. Const., art. IV, sec. IV has been construed in a number of cases, and there are several Supreme Court decisions that call attention to the fact that the United States can only intervene to suppress violence in a state on application of the Legislature or of the executive of that state. 1957 Ga. Op. Att’y Gen. 8.

## Am. Jur. 2d.

16 Am. Jur. 2d, Constitutional Law, §§ 21, 97. 16B Am. Jur. 2d, Constitutional Law, §§ 678, 684. 32AAm. Jur. 2d, Federal Courts, § 574. 72 Am. Jur. 2d, States, Territories, and Dependencies, § 17.

## C.j.s.

16 C.J.S., Constitutional Law, §§ 28, 400. 64A C.J.S., Municipal Corporations, § 2137. 81A C.J.S., States, §§ 11, 41. 91 C.J.S., United States, § 21.