[txhurl]

I’m ignorant about new states, but is there NO mechanism for
‘the several states’ being able to approve/ratify a new state?

I mean, what if the RATS wanted to grant a leper colony, or a tiny island whose only industry is drug smuggling or money laundering or internet gambling?

What if we decided to make Bikini Island a state and had to incur massive responsibility for nuclear waste messing up coral reefs discovered afterwards?

The several states have no say, other than booting their reps who voted for it?

[muawiyah]

States can join interstate compacts ~ New York Port Authority is the most famous one. MetroRail in the DC area is another.

New states can be erected out of existing states, or a state, with the approval of the state, but Congress must still vote that state into existence.

I believe the people of Illinois would leap at the chance to cleanse themselves of Chicago.