Some 20 years ago at the Santa Monica Main Library, I was looking at a book about a man made disaster that kills most of the people in Georgia and the Carolinas. I didn’t read the story, but did read the epilog & the authors note. He claimed that the story was an actual account of what might happen in such a disaster.
In the epilog congress revokes the states charter for the 3 states. This is done to facilitate the clean up & eventual rebuilding in the area, by making the states federal territories.
Does the congress have this power?
What would happen in a mega disaster, one that affects a whole state or region?
Congress has no power in the Constitution to “de-certify” a state.
In the scenario described, it is possible that Congress would take extra-legal action to accomplish a goal and, if the crisis was sufficiently severe, be supported by the Supreme Court. (This is not too far off from what actually happened during the Civil War.)
Another remote possibility would be for an emergency Amendment to the Constitution to allow for de-certification if a state loses 92% of its population in a disaster or some such silliness.
It is all speculation until something actually happens.
Another remote possibility would be for an emergency Amendment to the Constitution to be passed that two thirds of the states would reluctantly approve in the crisis allowing for de-certification. . . .
