The Contract Clause of the Constitution applies only to the actions of state governments and not to the federal government.

Contract Clause

is a component of the U.S. Constitution that prevents states from enacting laws that retroactively impair contract rights.

Constitution

Core tenets or long-standing norms that guide the governance of a state or similar entity.

State Governments

The governing bodies of individual states within a federation, responsible for legislating and implementing state-specific laws and regulations.