Sunday, January 12, 2014

Adopting a State is not a simple process.

The process of becoming a state of the United States of America actually begins with the a territory and the desire of its people for Statehood. It requires adopting the laws of the USA before it becomes a state. So, the state legislature is the governing body in this process.

The federal government is the last legislative body to become a part of the process in accepting the territory's desire for Statehood. The federal legislature requires a convention of the proposed state to elect their representatives. That convention has occurred as quickly as ten days and as many as 60 days.

There have been few exceptions to that process. California was created as a state without any recognition of territories. West Virginia objected to the slave trade and was admitted by the federal government as a state separate from the confederate Virginia. Vermont was actually an autonomous republic before proposing statehood.

So, if any changes were to be proposed regarding the creation or annexation of states, it has to begin with the people and the legislature.

Secession is unconstitutional. The case before the Supreme Court was "Texas v. White" (click here).

The only method of separating from the United States of America is through a civil war or the consent of the other states.