Art. IV, § 3

New States and federal territory

Power States & Federalism Art. IV · The States

Official text rightpowerlimitif conditionlegal term

1 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.

2 The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the United States, or of any particular State.

4 provisions here

1 New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union power
Who holds it
- Congress
1 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 limit
Who is bound
- The United States
Forbids
- forming or erecting a new State within the Jurisdiction of any other State
- forming a State by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States
Exceptions
- with the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress
2 The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States power
Who holds it
- Congress
2 nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the United States, or of any particular State limit
Forbids
- construing this Constitution so as to Prejudice any Claims of the United States, or of any particular State

Simplified explanation

Congress may admit new States, but no State may be formed within another State or by joining States without the consent of the State Legislatures and Congress. Congress may make all needful Rules for the Territory and other Property of the United States.

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