NIf enough people signed a petition, could northern Virginia become its own state?

Answer 1

No it has to be in the Virginia constitution,

Answer 2

No. Secession is not allowable under the law. Virginia did seceed from the Union in 1861, which ripped Virginia apart and was a big blow to the Union because Virginia was so strategically close to Washington, D.C which was still the capitol of the North.

About the only state which could seceed from the Union is Texas because it was annexed into the Union as the Lone Star Republic.

But if enough people signed a petition and northern Virginia tried to put it to a vote, what would happen then? And, in a state that is right on the beltway, how could half of anyone in that area agree on anything?

I don't think it is a big enough of a possibility to take seriously because organizing a political cause of that magnitude would require more organization than a fledgling bunch of NIMBYists could muster.

Answer 3

My two cents. I really don't have a problem with NoVa being its own state, as long it pays for all the infrastructure build by the collective citizens of Va when it leaves the commonwealth. Pros: It can be its own state that doesn't pay taxes to Richmond NoVa doesn't have to deal with RoVA RoVa can focus on building and attracting more fortune 500 companies to their major metros----Hampton Roads, Richmond and Roanoke. ~Despite popular belief, there are more fortune 500-1000 companies in Richmond than there are in NoVa~ Cons: NoVa really doesn't have any substantial economy, unless you consider the federal government and government contracting a real industry There is no major university; GMU doesn't count. It doesn't have a comprehensive medical center, ie University of Maryland or VCU Health Systems, doesn't do much research (compared to Tech, Uva and VCU), and doesn't have any programs it is recognized for. It will not have an identity as a state. NoVa can't survive without sucking at the tit of the federal government (DC) because the government is its economy

Answer 4

Not likely.
According to the US Constitution, no state may be created out of a previously existing state, unless the State and Congress both agree to it.

From Article IV, Section 3:

"New states may be admitted by the Congress into this union; but no new states shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other state; nor any state be formed by the junction of two or more states, or parts of states, without the consent of the legislatures of the states concerned as well as of the Congress. "

Answer 5

Uh, no.