What is it that prevents a state from seceding from the United States?

Answer 1

Since the Civil War the power of the federal government-prior to that it was up to how you interpreted the power of the federal government but the Confederacy lost. From a purely Constitutional legal aspect I do not think a basis could be formed that would say a state can't but, losing the war made it a doctrine-meaning a legal premise was formed that you can't since the Union won the war about it being legal or not. I wonder if Virginia should require West Virginia to return to being part of Virginia based on the secession being illegal?

Answer 2

I think it's because the states that contribute the most in federal taxes derive the most benefit from the union, while the states that desire the least federal interference derive the most benefit from federal funding.

Answer 3

Not only would the U.S. not recognize it, it is likely that there would be no International recognition...

There usually is an inherent international right for self determination. The preferred use would be through its own political process. There is also the use of external self-determination through unilateral secession. Usually, unilateral secession is recognized internationally when the state or territory has been oppressed or has been denied access to the political process. It is likely that none of the states would meet this.
Furthermore there usually are other certain requirements including a fully functional government, a defined territory and peoples, and the ability to deal with other countries. This might be a problem becaus the federal governmnet has held the monopoly on international relations.

Answer 4

the military !

Answer 5

California, Texas and New York may be the only states that could support themselves as a country. BUT, not for long. Washington could refuse to recognize them, blockade ports, close the land borders stopping exports. CA would run out of fuel in days. Texas would starve, but have plenty of gas. New York is primarily a financial center. Ewell Gibbons might have eaten parts of a pine tree, but money is not edible.

Simple economics is what stops them.

If Vermont goes who would miss them?? I doubt that Canada wants them. Once they go getting back in is the big problem.

Answer 6

Cookie, I do not know what Constitution you read, but no state has special rights over another. Texas ratified the constitution just the same as any other state.

But to answer the question, nothing in the Constitution prevents any state from succeeding. In fact their is a notable movement in Vermont to succeed, with I think like 20% of the state supporting it. Also their have been plans by the residents in the Northwest Angle in Minnesota to sucede from MN and the US to become part of Canada. However that later plan is controlled by the Constitution which states only congress can authorize the forming, or divsision of states within states. This was only done once, with West Virginia forming from Virginia in 1863.

Answer 7

Getting it's @ss kicked would be my guess. Is history not a subject you are familiar with ? Look under C for Civil war !

This whole war was about the southern states wanting to secede from the Union. War broke out and half a million Americans died!

Answer 8

hmm... the military threat from the USA is a deterrent, i would imagine.

the Civil War set the precedent that if a state secedes, the US government is willing to start a war to make sure the secession is unsuccessful.

other things that make secession unappealing include

* losing protection of the US military (losing protection from the most effective army in the world)

* complexities of relationships with other countries (will they recognize the new state/country or not?)

* economic uncertainty as old arrangements are renegotiated.

Answer 9

Money, security just to name the basics.

Vet-USAF

@dded : If you don't want to be part of the USA feel free to move any where you want, But my I suggest Iran.

Answer 10

Technically, nothing.

However, any movement to secede will be put down by the federal governemnt, politically, if possible, militarily if neccessary.

Not only would the USA be losing territory, resources, and people, it would now have a presumably unfreindly (or else they wouldn't have left) new nation neighbor.

I was once told that Texas has a clause in their state constitution which allows them to secede under certain conditions. Making them the only state that legally could. But I have never verified this.