The United States Shall Protect Against Violence The Domestic Violence Clause in Article IV, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution: "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." This constitutional provision obligates and empowers the American people to protect themselves against threats to their safety and survival. Learn about this provision bequeathed to us by America's Founders at: DomesticViolenceClause.org. Back to the Great Seal