Admission to the Union

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Admission to the Union

Annotation

Article IV grants Congress the exclusive authority to admit new states. While territories can become states with Congressional approval, the Constitution doesn't specify exact requirements. A new state cannot be formed within an existing state or by merging states without the consent of the affected state legislatures and Congress.

Citations

Article IV, Section 3, Clause 1

Citations

Article IV, Section 3, Clause 1

New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State 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.