Interstate Relations—Some Emergent Trends

Abstract

In addition to formally constituted relationships among the states in the American system, there have also evolved several informal relationships. The latter supple ment the former in making co-operation effective among the states. Of the informal relationships, perhaps the oldest and among the most effective has been the movement for uniform state laws. Through this movement, now almost three-quar ters of a century old, agreement has been sought and fre quently reached on an impressive number of social and eco nomic issues deemed to require uniform treatment among the several states. This uniform treatment has been accom plished primarily through the preparation of drafts of legis lation by a conference on uniform state laws, meeting annu ally, in which all states are represented. These drafts encom pass the recommendations of technical specialists and affected private interests, and are sponsored before the state legisla tures for adoption. A broad measure of uniform agreement among a great majority of states has been accomplished by this approach in many subject-matter areas, even though some of the topics dealt with have been very technical in nature. Besides this trend in interstate relations there also have emerged closer working relationships in the field of interstate trade and in other areas. Through them a greater measure of consistency and agreement on the part of each state with respect to certain interstate problems has been effected.