Reply #72: I need to research the mechanism for bringing new states into the union. [View All]

[Old and In the Way]

I don't believe this is like a Constitutional amendment that's voted on State by State. I believe it's an act of Congress to ratify a Bill, but it doesn't seem very clear how the process works.-

From the Constitution-

- New States

New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new States shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.

The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the United States, or of any particular State.

Section 4 - Republican government

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.

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While States have a say in any new States created within the boundaries of existing States, I don't see a Constitutional role for each State to vote on the decision to include a territory not already part of the existing Union. It appears to be a federal act.