The Window for D.C. Statehood Won’t Be Open Forever

The Atlantic ^ | FEBRUARY 19, 2021 | EDWARD-ISAAC DOVERE

[Lurkinanloomin]

It would be a direct violation of the Constitution (if we still had one)

[sergeantdave]

bigbob nailed you:

“Bloggers will blog. Many words will be written, most of them will be made-up bullshit. Many panties will be wadded, words of angst will be uttered, pearls will be clutched.”

Thanks, bigbob.

[rxsid]

"bigbob nailed you:"

Uh, what?

Nailed me? How?

[BenLurkin]

The suggestion that a middling sized city can or should be be a state is asinine from teh start.

Give it to Maryland.

(Sorry MD FReepers)

[Sacajaweau]

Yes Maryland

It was NEVER intended to be a State and no State has ever been subdivided.

Here's another possibility...DC residents but can vote in as represented by the original State in which it lies.

[Georgia Girl 2]

I’m going to theorize Wash, DC is going to be bulldozed and turned into a national park.

[MinorityRepublican]

I’m going to theorize Wash, DC is going to be bulldozed and turned into a national park.

That would be great. Relocate the residents to Prince George's County, Maryland.

[ml/nj]

Anyone who votes for legislation (as opposed to a Constitutional Amendment that would need to be ratified by three fourths of the States) that would make the District of Columbia a State should be immediately removed from Congress.

ML/NJ

[DBrow]

To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings

[seems to me an amendment may be required.]

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks. I’ll admit to not being up on the particulars.

It was my understanding that it wasn’t to be done, but that’s
about it.

[Dalberg-Acton]

It will take a Constitutional Amendment to make DC a state.
It’s a “District”, not a state.

[Menehune56]

Back in 1959 Alaska was granted statehood along with Hawaii to preserve the senate balance and overcome political resistance. That was 62 years ago.

[hanamizu]

“the newly mapped out D.C. could go from 3 to 2 (or even 1) E.V. in the Presidential elections. That 3 E.V. number is fluid...just like the state’s E.V.’s are.”

---

No, the E.V. number isn’t fluid. The 23rd Amendment says the district (unnamed in the Amendment) is entitled to the number of Electors it would have if it were a state, not to exceed the number of Electors of the smallest state. Since each state is guaranteed at least 3 Electors (one for each Senator and one for each Representative). The rump district, no matter how small would be entitled to 3 E.V.s

How many residents would the rump district have? Well, I guess the First Family and anyone they invite to live in the White House. Any others? I don’t know.

This can be dealt with by repealing the 23rd Amendment, but that, of course requires 2/3rds of each house as well as 3/4ths of the states.

[butlerweave]

Maybe they’ll make Big Hotels States as well

[The MAGA-Deplorian]

Welcome to the state of DC - The New Improved East Berlin!

Our State Motto - Only we can have a fence and the military to keep undesirables (like US Citizens) out!

[rxsid]

"It will take a Constitutional Amendment to make DC a state.
It’s a “District”, not a state."

Whether we like it or not, that's just simply false.

If Congress were to redraw their map, it will still be a "District." It will simply be a smaller "District."

There is nothing in the Constitution that mandates a minimum size. Only a maximum size.

[rxsid]

Yes, that is true. They would still need to have 3.

However, states E.V. do change over time (i.e. "fluid"). Ex, CA.

So they shrink the district down. Why couldn't they still have 3 E.V., just for a smaller area? How would that "run afoal" of the 23rd Amendment? Does that Amendment mandate the physical size of D.C.?

[hanamizu]

The 23rd Amendment does not say how big the seat of government has to be. But what do you think of the idea of say 15 people getting to elect 3 E.V.s? Do you think it would be a popular idea—to give the President and his family control over 3 votes in the E.C.? It’s obviously absurd.

Then there’s the whole business of why the seat of the Federal government is not in a state, but rather under the control of Congress. This is to keep a state from having control over the Federal government—that was the intent of the Founders.

Now, Congress may try to choose to ignore these Constitutional problems, but if they try to grant the District statehood, you can bet there will be objections on Constitutional grounds. My original point was that the threat of filibuster is not the main thing holding D.C. ‘statehood’ back. There are bigger things.

[Lisbon1940]

Whatwould the five Texas states be named?

[bIlluminati]

no State has ever been subdivided.

---

The good people of West by G-d Virginia would like to say something about that. Point out that Ohio, among others, was also part of Virginia early on.