Firstly, this is obviously entirely hypothetical. Academic. I personally wouldn't even want a dissolution, but I know a lot of folks on this board would entertain versions of the notion, so it seems like an interesting question to post.
What would the next secession attempt look like? Could we do it peacefully this time? Would the current federal government invade seceeding states and force adherence? Or have we progressed beyond such barbarism? Obviously open armed rebellion would be met with force- but that's NOT what I'm talking about here. I'm talking about a vote, and declaration of independence from one or some states, dissolving their membership in the USA. NOT a fringe militant uprising. Think Civil War, not Revolutionary War.
States take a vote... let's say Oregon, Washington, and Idaho (hypothetical- I realize these three states are not going to band together for anything) democratically vote, by supermajority, to leave the union and each become their own sovereign state. The legislative assemblies of each issue orders, signed by each governor, for all non-resident federal officials and military personnel to leave their respective states. Residents who wish to remain must abandon their posts. They each demand their congressional representatives go to DC and deliver their declarations of independence, signed by each governor. Representatives take said declarations to the House... now what? Does congress hold a vote to recognize? What would be the result? Would the president sign? Would the White House immediately order invasion of rebelling states? Would preparing each state's national guard forces for battle be deterrent to invasion? How many national guard soldiers would stand by their states, and how many would abandon and surrender to the federal government, even before open war?
In our modern era, could the union be legally, democratically, civilly, dissolved?
What would the next secession attempt look like? Could we do it peacefully this time? Would the current federal government invade seceeding states and force adherence? Or have we progressed beyond such barbarism? Obviously open armed rebellion would be met with force- but that's NOT what I'm talking about here. I'm talking about a vote, and declaration of independence from one or some states, dissolving their membership in the USA. NOT a fringe militant uprising. Think Civil War, not Revolutionary War.
States take a vote... let's say Oregon, Washington, and Idaho (hypothetical- I realize these three states are not going to band together for anything) democratically vote, by supermajority, to leave the union and each become their own sovereign state. The legislative assemblies of each issue orders, signed by each governor, for all non-resident federal officials and military personnel to leave their respective states. Residents who wish to remain must abandon their posts. They each demand their congressional representatives go to DC and deliver their declarations of independence, signed by each governor. Representatives take said declarations to the House... now what? Does congress hold a vote to recognize? What would be the result? Would the president sign? Would the White House immediately order invasion of rebelling states? Would preparing each state's national guard forces for battle be deterrent to invasion? How many national guard soldiers would stand by their states, and how many would abandon and surrender to the federal government, even before open war?
In our modern era, could the union be legally, democratically, civilly, dissolved?
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