# Can two states merge? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 27, 2005, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-two-states-merge/310010 "2005-06-27T06:57:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2005, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-two-states-merge/310010/1 "2005-06-27T06:57:03Z")
Is there anything in the U.S. Constitution that would prevent two states, with clear consent from their electorate (approval by both state legislatures, statewide referenda), and with said consent explicitly forfeiting two of their Senators and two of their Electoral Votes, from merging into one? Say, maybe, North and South Dakota decide that for whatever reason, they’d prefer to just be one big state of “Dakota”? Does the Constitution grant the Federal government or any neighboring states any say in the matter? A follow-up question, equally hypothetical: would there be any difference if the two states that wished to merge were Maryland and Virginia? Assuming the merger agreement would stipulate that Washington, DC is not a part of the combined state, is there anything in Federal law or the founding documents of the District of Columbia that says the district must not be contained within the borders of a single state? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2005, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-two-states-merge/310010/2 "2005-06-27T07:22:55Z")
[Article IV, s. 3 of the Constitution:](http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data/constitution/article04/) > [@](#): > > Section 3. > > New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State 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.** Although it’s framed in the negative, I would interpret the emphasised part as authorising two states to merge, provided it’s with the consent of each state legislature and the Congress. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2005, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-two-states-merge/310010/3 "2005-06-27T13:15:59Z")
Similarly, Article I, Section 8: > [@](#): > > To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of Particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States… This creates a federal district, what we now call the District of Columbia. Again, theoretically, it could be undone with the consent of Congress and the state or states involved. ---
**Author:** ![dqa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dqa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dqa)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2005, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-two-states-merge/310010/4 "2005-06-27T13:23:00Z")
> [@Exapno Mapcase](#): > > Again, theoretically, it could be undone with the consent of Congress and the state or states involved. Which is exactly what happened with the “Virginia” portion of DC in ~1848. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2005, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-two-states-merge/310010/5 "2005-06-27T13:29:33Z")
Well, that was more simple than I imagined. Guess those founders were pretty darned clever. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2005, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-two-states-merge/310010/6 "2005-06-27T18:36:00Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > forfeiting two of their Senators and two of their Electoral Votes, from merging into one? Why would they forfeit two Electoral Votes? Aren’t those more or less proportionate to population? ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2005, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-two-states-merge/310010/7 "2005-06-27T19:02:27Z")
For states, the number of electoral votes equals the number of Senators + Representatives. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2005, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-two-states-merge/310010/8 "2005-06-27T20:04:13Z")
If the remainder of the District of Columbia were de-federalized, would it have to be given to Maryland? Or, for instance, could Congress and the State of Delaware conspire together to give to Delaware, even over Maryland’s objections? ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2005, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-two-states-merge/310010/9 "2005-06-27T20:25:28Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > If the remainder of the District of Columbia were de-federalized, would it have to be given to Maryland? Or, for instance, could Congress and the State of Delaware conspire together to give to Delaware, even over Maryland’s objections? I don’t know of any reason why Maryland would have a say in the matter. Or rather, none beyond the say that Maryland’s senators and representatives have over any issue considered by Congress. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2005, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-two-states-merge/310010/10 "2005-06-27T21:12:02Z")
> [@Cliffy](#): > > I don’t know of any reason why Maryland would have a say in the matter. Or rather, none beyond the say that Maryland’s senators and representatives have over any issue considered by Congress. > > –Cliffy Without actually looking into it at all, because Maryland originally donated (swamp)land (:D) to create DC. As such, they might have a claim to get the land back upon the dissolution of DC, receiving back what they had put in. ---
**Author:** ![anson2995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2005, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-two-states-merge/310010/11 "2005-06-27T21:12:11Z")
> [@Spectre of Pithecanthropus](#): > > Why would they forfeit two Electoral Votes? Aren’t those more or less proportionate to population? States get one electoral vote for one for each member in the Senate and one for each member of the House of Representatives. North Dakota and South Dakota each currently has two senators (total of four). The new state of Dakota would have two senators. A merger would cost them two seats in the senate, and thus also two electoral votes. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2005, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-two-states-merge/310010/12 "2005-06-27T21:36:32Z")
> [@Only Mostly Dead](#): > > Without actually looking into it at all, because Maryland originally donated (swamp)land (:D) to create DC. But it ain’t Maryland now, anymore than Tennessee is Virginia now. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2005, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-two-states-merge/310010/13 "2005-06-27T21:44:49Z")
If it does happen, I’m really hoping Kansas and Arkansas merge to form “Arkansaskansas.” ---
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2005, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-two-states-merge/310010/14 "2005-06-27T21:48:39Z")
> [@Cliffy](#): > > But it ain’t Maryland now, anymore than Tennessee is Virginia now. > > –Cliffy If DC were to de-federalize, there’s really only about three choices: 1. It becomes a 51st state. 2. It’s incorporated into Virginia, who never had it in the first place, and who is on the other side of the river. 3. It’s incorporated into Maryland, who once upon a time donated its own land to use as a Federal center, and who is attached to the area only by artificial borders to PG and MoCo. (Considering something like option (4) it goes to Delaware, or any other state, is laughable because of the logistical nightmare -especially issues of intrastate commerce- of administering a non-contiguous zone. Michigan excluded because the water divider between the two masses doesn’t allow for the existence of another state between them.) Incorporating into Maryland is the most reasonable of the three, in part precisely because it once was Maryland land. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-two-states-merge/310010/15 "2005-06-28T03:45:25Z")
Minnesota + Wisconsin: “Wisconsota”. Doubtless that would gradually degenerate by popular demand into [phonetically] “whiskey-'n-soda”. Alaska + Hawaii = “Alaskwaii” – pron. roughly as “I’ll-Ask-Why”. Indeed… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-two-states-merge/310010/16 "2005-06-28T12:53:13Z")
I agree that the logistics of D.C. retroceeding into a state other than Maryland or Virginia presents large logistical headaches, and perhaps insurmountable ones, but that’s got nothing to do with the constitutional status of such an action. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![dqa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dqa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dqa)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-two-states-merge/310010/17 "2005-06-28T13:30:09Z")
> [@Only Mostly Dead](#): > > (Considering something like option (4) it goes to Delaware, or any other state, is laughable because of the logistical nightmare -especially issues of intrastate commerce- of administering a non-contiguous zone. Michigan excluded because the water divider between the two masses doesn’t allow for the existence of another state between them.) It would be like Illinois trying to administer land on the other side of the Mississippi, where they have to drive through Missouri to reach it. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-two-states-merge/310010/18 "2005-06-28T13:33:30Z")
Or the United States trying to administer Alaska, where they have to drive through Canada. Oh wait… ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-two-states-merge/310010/19 "2005-06-28T14:40:29Z")
Isn’t there a small enclave of Kentucky on the western side of the River, or is that a UL? –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Bytegeist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@Bytegeist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bytegeist)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-two-states-merge/310010/20 "2005-06-28T14:55:25Z")
> [@Cliffy](#): > > Isn’t there a small enclave of Kentucky on the western side of the River, or is that a UL? > > –Cliffy You mean [this bit](http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?ovi=1&zoom=5&mapdata=gWAG46U3irHaBl5uyPWih8q6BRKVyi4aWbAm1MSEpa7fk9LXw173GuR3bcnIvW3cfc%2bBYYzL2h9Fn624mrjHW2wEJw06M9mXWdnoDYURvf7KIUfHR7zmsWv%2bLOcfsdnHsNqb6RBlIjP68pciITpsWnSYN4JUuf6L7Wzle5m7cGbMfTaguxNcLKsQ1k5wLKS2hdhX%2fncoTGSq%2bmLEjHJY0De%2bV11GK3Vo4%2b%2bDeuBltSFeelhrZSAqUOmXRiY%2b8Zo12kW1Xmu2jUAd6UodFF3yeevJB7vQoedwFgO981BGO5yuVQrD1Vvr0I5m6ynQv15mV7KDthafB561Dcif1NoQg0LamiJ7Q%2bvQEhmh9Im2eTugxzKiXkO%2buksTulM4BO3OeeMlbqtu9JFy61gFhbgqhh5QiVR%2fhLf%2b) perhaps? (The round blob, south of New Madrid, Illinois, and north of Bessie, Tennessee.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-two-states-merge/310010.md?page=2)