Admission to the Union

Admission to the Union refers to the process by which new states are admitted to the United States. This process is governed by Article IV, Section 3 of the United States Constitution, which outlines the procedures and requirements for a territory or region to become a state.

History

The first state to be admitted to the Union was Delaware on December 7, 1787. Since then, a total of 50 states have been admitted, with Hawaii being the most recent, admitted on August 21, 1959. The process of admission has varied over time, with some territories becoming states shortly after settlement, while others remained territories for many years before becoming states.

Process

The process for admission to the Union typically begins with a territory petitioning Congress for admission. This is usually done through a territorial delegate or a resident commissioner, who represents the territory in Congress but does not have voting rights. The petition is then referred to the Committee on Territories, which reviews the petition and makes a recommendation to the full Congress.

If the petition is approved, Congress passes an enabling act, which authorizes the territory to draft a state constitution. The constitution must be republican in form and must not be in conflict with the U.S. Constitution or any federal laws. Once the constitution is drafted, it is submitted to Congress for approval.

If Congress approves the constitution, it passes an act of admission, which officially admits the territory as a state. The President then signs the act into law, and the new state is admitted to the Union.

Controversies

The process of admission to the Union has not been without controversy. Disputes have arisen over issues such as the balance of power between slave and free states, the rights of Native Americans, and the status of territories acquired through war or purchase. Some territories, such as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, have sought statehood but have not been admitted.

See also

• List of U.S. states by date of admission to the Union
• Territories of the United States
• Statehood movement in the District of Columbia
• Puerto Rico statehood movement