Can a US State Reduce Its Borders?

Discussion in 'Political Opinions & Beliefs' started by Longshot, May 23, 2018.

  1. Longshot

    Longshot Well-Known Member

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    Does the constitution contain any prohibition on a state reducing its borders? For example, could the state of Pennsylvania make a law stating that the new western border of Pennsylvania is now five miles west of Philadelphia?
     
  2. MissingMayor

    MissingMayor Well-Known Member

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    So much wrong with your post...
     
  3. Lesh

    Lesh Banned

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    Yea...a map would be a start...and a compass
     
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  4. jay runner

    jay runner Banned

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    Is there really a chance them good ole boys in Harrisburg would want to do that?

    The whole struggle of history has been about taking territory by force of arms and then holding it by force of law.
     
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  5. TedintheShed

    TedintheShed Banned

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    You really need to stop trying to illustrate your question. People tend to lock onto the illustration and discussing it instead of the real question at hand.


    Now you are going to see 30 responses about Pennsylvania and none of them will adreess your question.

    But I will: no, not that I know of.
     
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  6. Longshot

    Longshot Well-Known Member

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    Wrong? How so?
     
  7. Longshot

    Longshot Well-Known Member

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    I see no language that prevents a state from pulling in its borders.
     
  8. jay runner

    jay runner Banned

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    Would the lump of land excised revert to the status of being a U.S. Territory with the president appointing the governor?
     
    Last edited: May 23, 2018
  9. TedintheShed

    TedintheShed Banned

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    What?

    This was the original question:

    Do you understand that a map is not the Constitution? I understand that they may both be on paper, but that is where the similarities pretty much end.
     
    Last edited: May 23, 2018
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  10. Longshot

    Longshot Well-Known Member

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    I don't see why it would. Do you?
     
  11. jay runner

    jay runner Banned

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    I'm just beginning to think about it. It seems that a whole lot of people who are no longer part of a state would no longer be able to vote in national elections or their former state's elections. That's like land that was in a U.S. Territory before it was taken in by the congress by law as a state -- the president appointed the territorial governor and the people didn't vote.
     
    Last edited: May 23, 2018
  12. TOG 6

    TOG 6 Well-Known Member

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    This can be done with the approval of Congress and the state legislature(s) of the relevant state(s)
     
  13. TOG 6

    TOG 6 Well-Known Member

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    Can't answer his questions, eh?
     
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  14. Longshot

    Longshot Well-Known Member

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    I see no prohibition on a state pulling in its borders in the constitution, or any mention that such an act would require the approval of congress.
     
  15. TedintheShed

    TedintheShed Banned

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    Specifically what is weong with his post?
     
  16. TOG 6

    TOG 6 Well-Known Member

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    I guess it depends on if the abandoned territory is to become a new state.
    Otherwise, the 10th amendment applies.
     
  17. Longshot

    Longshot Well-Known Member

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    I would agree.

    But when you say "a new state", do you mean a new state in the union or a new state like canada or france? Because it would seem very unlikely that the people in the abandoned region would live in anarchy. They would likely form some manner of government (i.e. state)
     
    Last edited: May 23, 2018
  18. Questerr

    Questerr Banned

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    A state pulling back its borders would either be creating a new state in the union or creating new United States territory, both of which require the consent of Congress.
     
  19. TOG 6

    TOG 6 Well-Known Member

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    A new state of the United States called, for instance, West Pennsylvania.

    Now, I suppose those people - could- form their own government and declare an independent state.
     
  20. jay runner

    jay runner Banned

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    Yeah man. Political sublimation like going directly from a solid to a gas. Maybe that would work but you would need three parties to the agreement to be in complete agreement: The old state, the new state, and the US congress along with a president who would not veto them or let it sit on the desk. It might take awhile to mix up and bake that cake. With a single fly spoiling the batter they might not ever have the recipe again.

    A new state can only be admitted to the union by the US congress.
     
    Last edited: May 23, 2018
  21. TOG 6

    TOG 6 Well-Known Member

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    Not necessarily so. There's no mechanism in the constitution or federal for the federal government to immediately assume possession of territory abandoned by a state.
     
  22. Questerr

    Questerr Banned

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    Except said territory would by definition be within established US borders.
     
  23. TOG 6

    TOG 6 Well-Known Member

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    This is more or less how West Virginia came to be.
    More or less.
     
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  24. TOG 6

    TOG 6 Well-Known Member

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    Except that US borders are the borders of the 50 states.
     
  25. Lesh

    Lesh Banned

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    Pardon. I misread the OP.

    For the record, the border between Texas and Oklahoma fluctuates fairly often.

    Something this drastic would require bigtime state law and probably Federal as well
     
    Last edited: May 23, 2018

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