What would it REALLY take to secede?
 

I'm not talking about guns and ammo. I'm talking about a theoretical legal manner for a state to decide to leave the union.

I'm not a lawyer, I don't play one on TV. I'm a not so humble Mechanical/Nuclear Engineer.

There is a mechanism built into the Constitution to join the Union by creating a new state. But can someone discern if there is a way for a state to take a legal path to leaving the United States?

Would it take a new amendment?

Or is there something existing in the Framework that would allow it?

2/3rds of the states would need to create an ammendment to change the constitution. Then a mechanism would be put in place.

Either that or is mostly likely going to happen to our southwest states, they will just be absorbed back into Mexico..

vermont or New Hampshire have been wanting to cede from the USA...and they have the votes to do it from their citizens...it comes up every once and a while
Texas, upon joining the USA reserved theright to cede and break up into 13 individual countries...
just some historical trivia

Believe that Texas is the only state that is its on republic, and has the ability to break away from the US.

If they start to do so may think very strongly about moving back to Texas...

I researched Texas a little before I moved here last month; I found nothing that states Texas reserved any right to secede from the union. I even brought this up while touring the State Capital and was told that this is just a myth.

I certainly would.

I honestly think CA seceding would be a good thing for both CA and for the U.S. . . Both would be happier. Dunno which one I'd side with though.

Such self-loathing for the country that is THE place most people want to come to!

What the H*ll is wrong with the USA that hasn't always been wrong, and always been getting slightly better, year by year? People still making millions despite the taxes. People still getting care when they are sick. People still worshipping as they please (or not to if they so choose). It's not perfect, but, sheesh!

Maybe we are a bunch of whiners!

Secession is NOT a can of worms you want to open up. Look at how it's consumed the greater part of the Quebec provincial government for the last several decades. IMO, the province is much worse the wear for it, because so many separatist provincial gov'ts have wasted so much time, energy and resources on it that other areas of gov't (particularly the economy) have been badly neglected.

The fact of the matter seems to be that, as we've always known, there's greater strength in unity, despite internal difference. Unless a group is significantly oppressed, the reasons to stay together are much stronger than those to split.

Sucession
 

Seems like a few states tried that a few years back and started the worse war we have ever had. The Feds. won't allow it they want all of our money.

I know nothing about Texas' right to secede; however, it is true that upon joing the nation Texas retained the right to split inot what I believe is five STATES. thereby gaining additional representation in the U.S. Senate. It is largely believed/understood that Texas gave up this right when it joined the Confederacy and the South subsequently lost the War of Northern Aggression.

It would cause another Civil War. Like it or not we are all in this together, till the bitter end.

Key West did it:
http://www.conchrepublic.com/welcome.htm

This is true. . . I have a good friend of mine who lives there and proudly hang the Conch Republic flag in my garage (right next to the Gadsen "don't tread on me" flag).

My favorite expression: "we seceded where others failed". :)

This is true. . . I have a good friend of mine who lives there and proudly hang the Conch Republic flag in my garage (right next to the Gadsen "don't tread on me" flag).

My favorite expression: "we seceded where others failed". :)

It would take winning a civil war.

We did win the Civil War.

You know exactly what I meant, Mr. Lawyer.

The United States of America won the Civil War. You, as a citizen of the United States can lay claim to that great heritage. In fact, as a resident of the State of Illinois, you have a double claim.

It is proper to refer to a lawyer as "counselor". As in, "You're a poopyhead, counselor." There. I saved you the trouble of posting a reply.

They could start a race to see who could get in the most debt.


oh wait.....they are already doing that

People, this is not a discussion of Texas leaving the Union. It is a theoretical discussion on what it would take for ANY state to leave the Union. I don't see an mechanism to leave, which imply that once married, never can divorce.

So it would seem a Constitutional Amendment, would be needed.

Texas didn't maintain the right to leave. It had an agreement to be able to break up into 6 separate states. I'm not sure if this has already happened, since a lot of what was Texas is now part of New Mexico, Colorado, etc.

you need to call fastpat.

These google ads are killing me! The one on this page is about firearm training. The one on the 2 chicks getting married was a lesbian dating site....

I hope you're well paid for them, Wayne. They do ad some humor!

I don't know of anything in the US Const. that allows secession. I think it is a one way street when ya join up....

The closest thing I know is the Equal Footing Doctrine - when you join - even if late to the party - you get the same stuff the first 13 got. It includes title to submerged lands, navigable rivers, etc.

South Carolina... still technically at war with the rest of the union.

Hey I Like This Guy!

There is no provision for state succession in US Law as far as i know.

OK here it is: Texas v. White, 1868

http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0074_0700_ZO.html


No can do. Even Texa, a former Sovereign country all to itslef cannot get out. The Union is like a black hole. Once you're in you can never leave (OK I apologize to The Eagles too, not just to Schwarzschild...)