Under the Federal system, as originally designed by the Framers, the Federal Gov't was an agent of the several States. They ceded no more authority to their agent than what is written in the Constitution, and reserved all other powers to themselves.
The ability to fire your agent and hire one which better suits your needs is fundamental. Who is the master? The States or the Federal Gov't?
SD
secession: formal withdrawal from an organization.
Source: Webster's.
Quite frankly, my dear dwbh1342, I'm predicting that within 20 years this whole debate will be academic. The federal government, which is already so broke it has to beg Norway to help protect its own airspace, is on its last legs. Federal land grabs, federal campaigns against school prayer, Waco, Ruby Ridge--the federal government is regarded far and wide as an arrogant, tyrannical interloper. An FBI agent looking for Eric Rudolph interviewing a local Tarheel asked the man his profession. The Tarheel's response was, "Sittin' in this g**d*** chair!" Most U.S. citizens don't even bother to vote--the government can't even claim the consent of a majority anymore. That's why its representatives blockade themselves behind concrete and travel in armed caravans.
It's only a matter of time.
No it doesn't, follows Art. 1 Sec. 10:
Section. 10. No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility. No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing it's inspection Laws; and the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts, laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury of the United States; and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision and Controul of the Congress. No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.
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You may be thinking of this from Art. 2 Sec. 8.
Congress shall have the power ... To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
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Secession need not be insurection. Sucession is an act of the duely elected government of a state. Insurrection is an attempt to overthrow such a government, or that of the United States. Sucession in not an attempt to overthrow the government being seceeded from, just an attempt to not be part of it any longer.
Once a state seceeded, it would no longer be a state of the Union, and it would not be bound by anything in the Constitution.