---
title: "Compacts Definition and Overview | Model Diplomat"
description: "Compacts are formal agreements between U.S. states or between states and the federal government, crucial for understanding U.S. constitutional law."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/compacts"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- Compacts are formal, legally binding agreements between two or more U.
- S.
- What constitutional provision authorizes interstate compacts?
- Do all interstate compacts require congressional consent?
- What is the legal status of a compact once Congress consents?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

Compacts are formal, legally binding agreements between two or more U.S. states, or between states and the federal government, authorized under Article I, Section 10 of the Constitution.

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In 1921, New York and New Jersey entered the Port Authority Compact—consented to by Congress—creating the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to jointly manage harbor and transportation infrastructure across state lines.

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