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.