Texas can't secede

[TwilightZone]

"To begin with, the answer is clear. If there was any constitutional issue resolved by the Civil War, it is that there is no right to secede."

-Antonin Scalia

I really wish we'd stop taking the bait every single time this happens. Just because the GOP pretends they don't get it doesn't mean we have to get worked up about it every time it comes up. It's not going to happen because it can't happen. It really is that simple.

An explanation from 2016 for those who are trying to compare it to Brexit:

https://www.texastribune.org/2016/06/24/can-texas-legally-secede-united-states/

"Simply put, the answer is no. Historical and legal precedents make it clear that Texas could not pull off a Texit "

[Delphinus]

1. I'm kind of

thinking Scalia might have been one of their (Texas' {ahem} current republican leadership) - perhaps they should hear this?

[walkingman]

2. It is merely a political stunt that will resonate with millions of the hillbillies and beer joint

crowd. There is something in the water (mostly likely oil) - I always drink bottled water.

[NutmegYankee]

12. Article I, Section 8, Clause 15 deals with that. nt

[TwilightZone]

26. The platform is irrelevant.

It has no legal standing.

[PJMcK]

4. Republicans are stupid

Sorry but it's really that simple.

[brooklynite]

5. Who's taking the bait?

[TwilightZone]

27. There are dozens of threads every time the topic arises.

Let's not be daft. This happens every time it hits the news.

One of the current ones has 200+ replies and nearly 100 recs. That's one of many.

[Eko]

6. That's a shame.

[Buckeyeblue]

7. I don't think they would do well as a sovereign nation

They would lose all federal funds and protection. They would have to implement a tax. NASA would be gone. All military bases would be gone. I suspect a lot of US companies would have to pull out of Texas.

Alaska has their independence party. But Alaska wouldn't last 2 seconds as a sovereign nation, either.

[redstatebluegirl]

10. No military bases, no federal grants for their universities

no medicare or social security. Most if not all of the companies would leave. No money for infrastructure. Go for it Abbott.

[C_U_L8R]

8. They should stop paying their taxes

And see how that works out.

[Tarc]

14. The Supreme Court cannot rule that the Constitution is unconstitutional

Let's not be daft here.

[roamer65]

29. That is correct.

There is no verbage in the Constitution that prevents it. The 10th amendment says powers that are not specifically granted to the federal government are left to the states and people.

The only way the SCOTUS could be bypassed is if there was a constitution amendment defining a specific secessionary process, like the EU’s Article 50 of their Lisbon Treaty.

[Tarc]

34. There most certainly is

The lack of proper civics education these days is sad to see.

[LeftInTX]

36. They aren't gonna do it.

My thumbs hurt from typing this over and over. It's red meat theater.

[NutmegYankee]

11. I don't fully agree. Concure it can't be unilateral, but

If Congress authorized it under Article IV, Section 3, first by Texas voting to stop being a state with Congressional Approval, and then Congress releasing the territory, Texas could become it's own nation. We of course know that won't happen in reality. No way is Congress going to vote to release Texas.

[GregariousGroundhog]

24. As an interesting side note, Congress has approved a statute allowing Texas to split itself up

Prior to being admitted to the Union, there was talk within the territory about whether it made sense to split into multiple smaller regions. As part of the legislation authorizing the admission of Texas, Congress included a clause that allowed Texas to admit itself as up five states. How to divide the territory and the state up was a topic of intense discussion in the early decades of Texas' history, but nobody could agree on how to do it and over time the idea pretty much fell by the wayside.

[Fiendish Thingy]

13. It's a gimmick to drive up Republican turnout in November. Nt

[SoCalDavidS]

16. What About Florida? nt

[jalan48]

17. Bummer.

[Diablo del sol]

18. they can try a ballot initiative in CA

I would guess 80+ percent of us would vote to set them free.

BTW - the OP could also be, "Texas can't succeed"

[Talitha]

19. "Texas can't secede"

Damn....

[Gore1FL]

20. Even if they could, I would think we would quickly occupy the state and take control of Austin. nt

[krispos42]

22. Ha.

No, Texas becomes a combative oil-rich nation. We'll have the CIA overthrow the government, install a puppet, and send in ExxonMobil, Haliburton, and KBR to steal all their oil.

[roamer65]

33. +1000

Just like we did to Mexico in 1845.

Sad but true.

[TwilightZone]

25. We already have control of Austin.

And, to some extent, Dallas and Houston.

[roamer65]

30. I'm not sure that would work.

Not in these days of asymmetric warfare.

We don’t have a good track record when we get involved in wars of occupation.

…Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc, etc.

[fishwax]

31. but the population centers would welcome us as liberators

[roamer65]

32. Austin and Houston?

Very probable.

[krispos42]

21. If a bill passed both houses of Congress and was signed by the President...

...freeing Texas from the United States, that would seem to be both completely legal and nonviolent.

If Texas is serious about this, I'd suggest introducing a bill.

On the plus side, we get to shift about 10% of our national debt to Texas.

[kacekwl]

23. Can't we make an exception?

For Texas and Florida.

[atreides1]

28. Okay

The current SCOTUS is becoming well known for flipping historical and legal precedents...what's to stop them from doing it here?

If Texas seriously goes ahead with this silly ass idea...who exactly is going to stop them?

You're statement "Texas can't secede", isn't really true...Texas doesn't appear to care about history or legal precedents and the question of who will stop them, is difficult to answer!

[LeftInTX]

37. They won't! They say this every year.

Whenever we have a Democratic president

[Model35mech]

38. Back in the 80's while living in Texas I heard this secessionist stuff regularly

It really seems to be a part of the Texas identity of perceiving themselves as rather exceptional, or at least postured to take exception.

I expect the loudest voices will never quit the bold talking or move to walk this herd of bullshit to market.

[48656c6c6f20]

39. Don't want them to secede, want to kick them out

Trust me we could do without the hassle. And Texass BBQ ain't all that. My only concern is we would need to arm México due to Texass being a rogue nation state and prone to violent human rights violations.