On Secession and Admission
If autonomy matters for individuals, it matters for states. 70% threshold for both.
"A State may withdraw from the Union upon satisfaction of the following requirements: approval by seventy percent of voters in the seceding State in a free and fair referendum conducted over two separate occasions at least one year apart."
— Constitution of the United States, Version 2.0, Article VI, Section 6
The Principle
If individual autonomy is sacred, then collective autonomy must also be respected. A union that cannot be left is not a union — it's an empire. The original Constitution was silent on secession, leading to the bloodiest war in American history.
The Autonomist framework provides a clear, principled answer: the same threshold to join as to leave.
Symmetric Thresholds
| Action | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Admission of new state | 70% of territory's voters + 70% of Congress |
| Secession of existing state | 70% of state's voters, twice, one year apart |
This symmetry is intentional. If 70% is enough to make a permanent commitment to join, 70% should be enough to unmake that commitment.
Why 70%?
- Supermajority ensures seriousness — not a 51-49 impulse decision
- Higher than simple majority — prevents temporary political frustration from driving permanent separation
- Lower than unanimity — which would make secession impossible in practice
- Two votes, one year apart — ensures sustained conviction, not momentary passion
Secession Requirements
Beyond the 70% threshold, secession requires:
- Two referenda at least one year apart (prevents impulse decisions)
- Provision for dissenters — citizens who wish to remain U.S. citizens must have their rights protected
- Debt settlement — equitable division of federal obligations
- Five-year transition — orderly separation, not chaotic rupture
The Vision
Secession should be rare — a last resort for genuine, sustained disagreement. But knowing it's possible changes the relationship between states and federal government. Power that can be withdrawn is power that must be earned.