Time to split?
A new California secession proposal is making the rounds again. Here’s a look at the proposal and other notable failed attempts to carve up the state.
There have been at least 220 attempts to break up California.
After the state government’s Democratic push to get a redistricting proposal on the ballot for a special election, James Gallagher, the Republican leader of the California Assembly pitched the idea of splitting California into two states. See the map below.
How statehood is granted
The Constitution says statehood requires the approval of the U.S. Congress and the state’s Legislature. The territory applying for statehood must have a certain minimum population and a majority of its residents must favor statehood. The process can take decades.
The last state to successfully secede was West Virginia in 1863.
1. The territory holds a referendum vote to determine the people’s desire for or against statehood.2. Should a majority vote to seek statehood, the territory petitions the U.S. Congress for statehood.3. The territory, if it has not already done so, is required to adopt a form of government and constitution that are in compliance with the U.S. Constitution.4. The U.S. Congress — both House and Senate — must pass, by a simple majority vote, a joint resolution accepting the territory as a state.5. The president of the United States signs the joint resolution and the territory is acknowledged as a state.
The map below is the current plan for 2025.
Sources: The California State Library, NewCaliforniaState.com, The Associated Press, Politico, KPCC.org
The State of Jefferson map is in the public domain.
