
Freedom of movement is a fundamental right in the United States, protected by the Privileges and Immunities Clause of the Constitution. This clause states that The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. However, the Supreme Court has not invested the federal government with the authority to protect freedom of movement. This has significant implications for state attempts to limit abortion rights, ban or refuse to recognise same-sex marriages, and enact anti-crime or consumer protection laws.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Freedom of movement is protected by | The Privileges and Immunities Clause of the United States Constitution |
| Freedom of movement is a | Fundamental Constitutional right |
| Freedom of movement is defined as | "The right of free ingress into other States, and egress from them" |
| The federal government does not have the authority to protect freedom of movement | The Supreme Court did not invest the federal government with this authority |
| The right to travel is protected by the Constitution | The right to enter one state and leave another |
| The right to travel is related to | Freedom of association and freedom of expression |
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What You'll Learn
- The right to enter and leave a state
- The right to be treated as a welcome visitor
- Freedom of movement and its relation to freedom of association and expression
- The Supreme Court's position on the federal government's power to protect freedom of movement
- The implications of strong constitutional protection for the right to travel

The right to enter and leave a state
The Supreme Court has acknowledged that freedom of movement is closely related to freedom of association and expression. As such, strong constitutional protection for the right to travel may have significant implications for state attempts to limit abortion rights, ban or refuse to recognise same-sex marriages, and enact anti-crime or consumer protection laws.
The Wheeler court in United States v. Wheeler, 254 U.S. 281 (1920) dramatically changed the interpretation of the right to travel by locating it within the Privileges and Immunities Clause, providing a specific guarantee of constitutional protection.
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The right to be treated as a welcome visitor
Freedom of movement is a fundamental right in the United States, as recognised by the Privileges and Immunities Clause of the United States Constitution. This states that "The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States". The right to be treated as a welcome visitor is an important aspect of freedom of movement. This means that a person has the right to enter one state and leave another, and should be treated as a welcome visitor rather than an unwelcome intruder. This right has historical support from the Articles of Confederation.
The Supreme Court has acknowledged that freedom of movement is closely related to freedom of association and freedom of expression. Strong constitutional protection for the right to travel may have significant implications for state attempts to limit certain rights, such as abortion rights or same-sex marriage. It may also impact anti-crime or consumer protection laws and current court-fashioned concepts of federalism.
The Wheeler court was the first to locate the right to travel in the Privileges and Immunities Clause, providing a specific guarantee of constitutional protection. This was a significant development, as it clarified that the right to be treated as a welcome visitor is not just a moral or ethical principle, but a legal right protected by the Constitution.
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Freedom of movement and its relation to freedom of association and expression
Freedom of movement is a fundamental right in the United States, as outlined in the Privileges and Immunities Clause of the United States Constitution. This clause states that "The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States". The right to freedom of movement has been recognised by the Supreme Court as closely related to freedom of association and freedom of expression.
The Supreme Court has acknowledged that a strong right to freedom of movement may have far-reaching implications. For example, it could impact state attempts to limit abortion rights, ban or refuse to recognise same-sex marriages, and enact anti-crime or consumer protection laws. It may also undermine current court-fashioned concepts of federalism.
The right to freedom of movement includes the right to enter one state and leave another, as well as the right to be treated as a welcome visitor. This was established in the case of Crandall v. Nevada, 73 U.S. 35 (1868), where the Supreme Court declared that a state cannot inhibit people from leaving the state by taxing them.
The Wheeler court located the right to travel in the Privileges and Immunities Clause, providing a specific guarantee of constitutional protection. This was a significant development, as it clarified the vague roots of the clause and provided a strong foundation for the protection of the right to freedom of movement.
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The Supreme Court's position on the federal government's power to protect freedom of movement
The Supreme Court has acknowledged that freedom of movement is closely related to freedom of association and freedom of expression. In Crandall v. Nevada, 73 U.S. 35 (1868), the U.S. Supreme Court declared that freedom of movement is a fundamental right and therefore a state cannot inhibit people from leaving the state by taxing them. In Paul v. Virginia, 75 U.S. 168 (1869), the court defined freedom of movement as "the right of free ingress into other States, and egress from them". The Supreme Court has also reiterated its position that the Constitution did not grant the federal government the power to protect freedom of movement. In United States v. Wheeler, 254 U.S. 281 (1920), the Supreme Court held that the United States Constitution protected three separate aspects of the right to travel among the states: (1) the right to enter one state and leave another; (2) the right to be treated as a welcome visitor; and (3) the right to travel through or over a state. The Wheeler court was the first to locate the right to travel in the privileges and immunities clause, providing the right with a specific guarantee of constitutional protection. Strong constitutional protection for the right to travel may have significant implications for state attempts to limit abortion rights, ban or refuse to recognize same-sex marriages, and enact anti-crime or consumer protection laws.
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The implications of strong constitutional protection for the right to travel
Freedom of movement is a fundamental right in the United States, as recognised by the Supreme Court in 1868. This means that states cannot inhibit people from leaving by taxing them. However, the Supreme Court has also ruled that the Constitution does not grant the federal government the power to protect freedom of movement.
Despite this, the Constitution does protect the right to travel between states. This includes the right to enter one state and leave another, and the right to be treated as a welcome visitor.
Strong constitutional protection for the right to travel could have significant implications for state attempts to limit abortion rights, ban or refuse to recognise same-sex marriages, and enact anti-crime or consumer protection laws. It could also undermine current court-fashioned concepts of federalism.
The right to freedom of movement is closely related to freedom of association and freedom of expression.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the US Constitution protects freedom of movement. In Crandall v. Nevada, 73 U.S. 35 (1868), the U.S. Supreme Court declared that freedom of movement is a fundamental right.
Freedom of movement means the right to enter one state and leave another. It also means the right to be treated as a welcome visitor.
The right to freedom of movement is closely related to freedom of association and freedom of expression. Strong constitutional protection for the right to travel may have significant implications for state attempts to limit abortion rights, ban or refuse to recognize same-sex marriages, and enact anti-crime or consumer protection laws.

























