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To: Bubba Ho-Tep
every one of those...passed through the status of US territory

Playing your 50% equals "every" game...

Each state had to ratify their respective, sovereign state constitution before qualifying to be admitted as an equal of the existing states. They also had to ratify their statehood before continuing into admittance into the union. The Enabling Acts (now we're down to what, a 25% rule) were the owner's authorization to allow formation of a state (the owner being the U.S. in the case of the territories - i.e. all states had to agree that it was cool to let their collectively-owned territory transform into a new sovereign, equal state complete with congressional representation).

"What you apparently fail to read" is common sense, and sad how often it needs repeating. Otherwise Congress would just draw a line and call that area a "state" without their consent - completely in agreement with your bootlicking view of the fed. Unfortunately it doesn't work that way. Since the people are in land collectively owned, they have to apply to be independent. Once the collective agree it's ok, they form their independent constitution. Once they've codified their state powers (as every other state had), they are admitted as an equal. All the while retaining their state rights (or so we thought.)
861 posted on 05/02/2011 1:08:01 PM PDT by phi11yguy19
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To: phi11yguy19
They also had to ratify their statehood before continuing into admittance into the union.

No, they could ratify their constitution, but until that ratification was voted on by Congress, it had no effect. There was no time, between the ratification of the state constitution and president signing the bill admitting the state to the union, that the state was an independent nation.

The Enabling Acts (now we're down to what, a 25% rule)

30 out of 50 states passed through formal US territorial status. Maybe that qualifies as 25% in your math. For the record, there were the 13 original states. Five states were formed out of other states, one was an independent country annexed at their request, and one was admitted to statehood shortly after being ceded by Mexico, before a territorial government was organized.

were the owner's authorization to allow formation of a state (the owner being the U.S. in the case of the territories - i.e. all states had to agree...

Well, a simple majority, but I guess in the world were 60% equals 25%, it should be expected that 50%+1 equals "all."

Once they've codified their state powers (as every other state had), they are admitted as an equal.

Colorado ratified its state constitution in 1865. Their admission as a state, however, was vetoed by Andrew Johnson and it wasn't until 1876 that they entered the Union. What was Colorado's status during those 11 years?

869 posted on 05/02/2011 1:55:42 PM PDT by Bubba Ho-Tep ("More weight!"--Giles Corey)
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