The U.S. Congress—both House and Senate—pass, by a simple majority vote, a joint resolution accepting the territory as a state. The President of the United States signs the joint resolution and the territory is acknowledged as a U.S. state. Dec 1, 2022

• Territory must request statehood.
• Congress must pass an Enabling Act (allows the Constitution writing process to begin).
• Territory writes a Constitution for acceptance.
• Constitution is presented to Congress for official approval.
• Congress passes the Act of Admission.

Before a territory becomes a state, Congress usually passes an Enabling Act to allow the territory's population to convene a constitutional convention. The convention's purpose is to draft a constitution for the new state and apply for admission to Congress.

The Sequoyah Convention

In August 1905, leaders of the Five Tribes met in Muskogee to write a constitution and memorial for separate statehood for Indian Territory (I.T.)

The Constitutional Convention

In 1787, delegates from every state but Rhode Island gathered in Philadelphia to create the U.S. Constitution.

• Being subject to the Articles of Confederation and acts of Congress

• Paying federal debts

• Not taxing federal properties within the state border

• Not taxing non-residents at a higher rate than residents

• Having a republican form of government

Early in its history the U.S. Congress set up an orderly way for western lands to become states. Senators and representatives in Congress remembered how unhappy the American colonists were under Great Britain’s rule. They were so unhappy that they fought the American Revolution to become free of Great Britain. 

One of the most important acts that Congress passed was the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. It set up a system of government for the territory that became the states of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin. It was a model for other U.S. territories to follow when they wanted to become states.

When the American Revolution ended, the United States owned the land east of the Mississippi River and south of the Great Lakes. Because this area was beyond the borders of the original 13 states, it became the responsibility of the federal government.

Many settlers were moving west. Congress knew that the settlers would need a government in their new home. A plan for setting up a government was made. 

Until the population of an area reached 5,000 voters, the region was a district. At this time, only free white males were voters. It was ruled by a governor and three judges. The settlers did not vote for them. The president appointed them. 

When the population reached 5,000 the settlers could elect their own legislature. The area was called a territory. The governor, however, was still appointed, not elected by the voters. The territory could also elect a representative to Congress. The representative could speak on issues in Congress but had no vote. When the population reached 60,000 the territory could apply for full statehood.

Iowa’s path to statehood followed the steps laid out in the Northwest Ordinance. In 1834 the land that would become Iowa was attached to the Michigan Territory. In 1836 as Michigan prepared for its own admission as a state, Iowa was transferred to the Wisconsin Territory. 

With more and more settlers crossing the Mississippi River, a separate Iowa Territory was formed on July 4, 1838. Its boundaries stretched far north of the current border. It went into Minnesota and the Dakotas. Because the population had already reached 22,859 the settlers had the right to elect their own legislature.

President Martin Van Buren, a Democrat, appointed Robert Lucas as Iowa’s first territorial governor. Burlington became the first capital. In 1840 William Henry Harrison, a member of the Whig Party, became president. He appointed another Whig, John Chambers, Iowa’s second territorial governor. The territorial capital was moved to Iowa City. 

Both Lucas and Chambers urged Iowans to push for statehood. But many settlers were in no hurry. As long as Iowa was a territory, the federal government paid the costs of much of the government. If Iowa became a state, the settlers’ taxes would pay for much of the government. Early settlers did not want to see their tax bills increase. Iowans in the Whig party were happy to have a Whig president appoint the governor. They feared that the Democrats would win an election for governor if Iowa became a state.

Sources:

• Sage, Leland. A History of Iowa. Ames, Iowa: Iowa State Press, 1974.

• Wall, Joseph. Iowa: A Bicentennial History. New York, New York: Norton, 1978.

• Schwieder, Dorothy. Iowa: The Middle Land. Ames, Iowa: Iowa State Press, 1996.

Admission to Statehood by Clifford K. Berryman, Washington Post, May 24, 1911

On June 20, 1910, Congress passed an act to authorize the people of the New Mexico and Arizona Territories to form constitutions and state governments, and provide for the admission of the states into the Union once those constitutions were approved by Congress. After the Territories held constitutional conventions and had their constitutions ratified by the people, each Territory submitted their new constitution to Congress. Arizona's constitution, however, contained a provision for the recall of judges—a provision which was opposed by many members of Congress as well as by President William H. Taft.

GRIEVANCE is DEFINED as a real or imagined wrong or other cause for complaint or protest, especially unfair treatment.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Secession is the formal withdrawal of a group from a political entity. The process begins once a group proclaims an act of secession (such as a declaration of independence).^[1] A secession attempt might be violent or peaceful, but the goal is the creation of a new state or entity independent of the group or territory from which it seceded.^[2] Threats of secession can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.^[3]

Most sovereign states do not recognize the right to self-determination through secession in their constitutions. Many expressly forbid it. However, there are several existing models of self-determination through greater autonomy and through secession.

“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

Democratic Secessionism: the right of secession, as a variant of the right of self-determination, is vested in a "territorial community" which wishes to secede from "their existing political community"; the group wishing to secede then proceeds to delimit "its" territory by the majority.

Secession from Virginia was the hope of some western Virginians as early as 1829. Many western Virginians felt underrepresented in the legislature, overtaxed, and shortchanged in state spending. In many counties, rugged terrain made plantation agriculture impractical.

The division of sprawling Kentucky County into three counties in 1780 indicated its rapid growth, and that growth accelerated during the following decade. With population increase came sentiment for separation from Virginia.

• Kentucky – 1792, was a part of Virginia.
• Maine – 1820, was a part of Massachusetts.
• West Virginia – 1863, was a part of Virginia.
• Vermont - 1791 was part of New York
• Tennessee - 1796 was part of North Carolina

• Long Island - 2025 was part of New York

An upper portion of the Province of New York seceded: the northeastern corner of the province became self-governing in 1777 during the American Revolution, and it was granted statehood in its own right as Vermont in 1791. It was the first state in the union which had not been a separate British colony.

The online blog Constitution Daily states Kentucky, Vermont, West Virginia, Maine and Tennessee were all were formed from other states. So the argument that states cannot be formed from other states may not hold much water.

Past Efforts to Split U.S. States. Four U.S. states were admitted to the union after being split from an existing state: Kentucky, Maine, Vermont, and West Virginia. The last such split—West Virginia’s split from Virginia—occurred in 1863 during the Civil War. Various efforts have been made to split up other states, including California. In 1859, the California Legislature—with the approval of voters in Southern California—consented to the separation of areas south of the Tehachapi Mountains (including Los Angeles and San Diego) into a separate territory or state. The Congress, however, never acted on this proposal, and it was never implemented.

"Consent of the governed" is a phrase found in the 1776 United States Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson.

Using thinking similar to that of John Locke, the founders of the United States believed in a state built upon the consent of "free and equal" citizens; a state otherwise conceived would lack legitimacy and rational-legal authority. This was expressed, among other places, in the 2nd paragraph of the Declaration of Independence (emphasis added):^[6]

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

An upper portion of the Province of New York seceded: the northeastern corner of the province became self-governing in 1777 during the American Revolution, and it was granted statehood in its own right as Vermont in 1791. It was the first state in the union which had not been a separate British colony.

Advocates of the unicameral legislature say:

• There is no reason for people to vote for representatives to two separate houses to serve the same purpose. "One man - one vote" has negated the original intent of having each house elected on a different basis.
• The unicameral form simplifies bill passage. The process is more direct. Bills are more readily available for scrutiny by legislators and the public.
• The Conference Committee, and inherent evil necessary for the operation of a bicameral system, is eliminated.
• Lobbyists are less influential in the unicameral legislature because the lawmaking process is more public.
• In a unicameral system, it is easier to achieve cooperation between executive and legislative branches.
• A unicameral system is more economical.
• A unicameral system offers greater responsibility to legislators.
• Legislators are more accountable to the public and their constituency because their position is a matter of public record. They are not able to urge opposite positions within the other house.

The third branch of government is the Judicial branch. The Judiciary is made up of courts -- Supreme, Circuit, the magistrate (local) and municipal (city) courts. The Judicial branch interprets the laws.

The state judges are elected by the citizens rather than being appointed. They also run for their office as members of a political party.

The duties of the judicial branch include:

• Interpreting state laws;

• Settling legal disputes;

• Punishing violators of the law;

• Hearing civil cases;

• Protecting individual rights granted by the state constitution;

• Determing the guilt or innocence of those accused of violating the criminal laws of the state;

• Acting as a check upon the legislative and executive branches of state government.

The Supreme Court of Appeals is the highest court in Long Island and supervises the lower courts. It is comprised of five judges who are elected for six year terms by the voters. The Supreme Court is required to meet twice a year, in January and in September, and may hold special terms when necessary. The Supreme Court has the authority to determine if state laws and actions of state officials, including the Governor, are constitutional. Laws and executive orders cannot be enforced if they violate the state constitution.

Most cases brought before the Supreme Court are appeals that have been tried in the circuit or magistrate courts. Once a decision has been made by the Supreme Court that is the final decision, with the exception of conflicts between state and federal laws, which may be appealed to the United States Supreme Court.

Of the five Supreme Court justices, one is selected to be the Chief Justice. The selection process is a rotation between the five justices, each who serve as the chief justice for one year. The Chief Justice's duties include submitting a budget to the Legislature, and according to the state constitution, the Supreme Court will be appropriated for whatever amount it requests. The Chief Justice also assigns justices to write opinions and decisions of the Court.

Long Island, a large island directly south of New England, has made attempts in the past to secede from New York and become its own state. Mentions of Long Island secession range from 1896 to 2010. The proposed 51st state has also speculated the combination of Nassau and Suffolk counties into one county in order to reduce costs.^[1]

The state of Long Island would include over 2.7 million people, not including the more populous west end of the island. Nassau County executive Ed Mangano came out in support of such a proposal in April 2010 and was said to be commissioning a study on it.^[2]

Under Article Four, Section 3, clause 1 of the federal Constitution, both the New York State Legislature and the United States Congress would need to approve any secession from New York.^[3][4] The State Legislature has thus far resisted all attempts at secession.^[3][4]

The Long Island statehood movement has been featured on the History Channel series How the States Got Their Shapes.^[5]

The first known proposal of Long Island as its own state was published in The New York Times in 1896.
Sugar refiner Adolph Molenhaur claimed other big cities in New York did not take Long Island into account when making decisions and were spending money without any benefit to Long Island's interests.

In 1996,
a non-binding vote took place in which the idea of secession was approved.
However, no further action was taken at that time.

In 1996 - Voters approved a nonbinding secession measure on Nov. 5.
The next step is petitioning the Legislature for a binding vote.

On March 28, 2008, Suffolk County, New York comptroller Joseph Sawicki proposed a plan that would make Long Island (specifically, Nassau and Suffolk counties) the 51st state of the United States of America^[3] (or, should Upstate New York and/or Western New York be included in the breakup of New York State, the 52nd or 53rd). Sawicki said that all the Long Island taxpayers' money would stay on Long Island, rather than the funds being dispersed all over the entire state of New York.^{[citation needed]}

In 2009, there was a call for home rule of Long Island by political leaders who were angry about a tax. Suffolk County was on board with the plan but Nassau County showed no support.

In 2010, the Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano had a plan to combine Nassau and Suffolk counties and to secede from New York and wanted to formally look into the idea.