[Old Teufel Hunden]

"Allowed - that seems to be the question :D"

And this is the crux of the argument. I don't see anywhere where this power of secession is given to any state or local government. You are talking about a right, but rights are accorded individuals, not states. I don't see any constitution (Federal or State) where the citizens delegated a power to allow a state to secede on their behalf. Citizens have the power to secede if they want. They can move to a different state or different country. Where did the citizens delegate this power to our Federal, State or Local governments?

[An.American.Expatriate]

Citizens have the power to secede if they want.

And this is my point! The power of a state to seceed from the national government is a representative power - it expresses the will of the people of the state!

I admit to sometimes falling victim to the common mix up between "powers" and "rights". You are quite correct - governments, whether local, state or national have powers - only people have rights.