A U.S. State Can Declare War Itself You Know...

[El Brujo]

No state shall, without the consent of Congress, lay any duty of tonnage, keep troops, or ships of war in time of peace, enter into any agreement or compact with another state, or with a foreign power, or engage in war, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as will not admit of delay.
-Article I Section X of the U.S. Constitution

With the implication being that they can declare war if somebody invades them. Somebody like, oh I don't know... Mexico? As in if the state government decided that the ridiculous levels of illegal immigration constitutes an invasion, would they not have the power to declare war on Mexico?

All the evidence is there. Mexican nationals are illegally crossing the border in massive numbers and occupying American territory, and the Mexican government is actively aiding and abetting these trespassers. This means the Mexican government is more or less responsible for an invasion of the U.S. As far as I can tell, then, any state would be perfectly within its rights to call out Mexico.

I know it won't happen and I certainly don't wish for it to happen, but the Constitution is pretty clear. If in the unlikely event **** hits the fan and something like this happens, do you think a state could get away with this legally? What would the federal government's reaction be? Would you support such action or would you think the state in question has lost its marbles? How would Mexico react?

[Kanaric]

Don't let Texas know about this.

[Rush Limbaugh]

With the implication being that they can declare war if somebody invades them.

So again theres another reason the south had the right to fight.

[Kanaric]

So again theres another reason the south had the right to fight.

Against who? States havn't declared war in years if ever.

[removeduser_487563287433]

States cannot declare war. This has been done to death.

[Shaun]

Does each state have their own army as well?

[Kaidonni]

Point is, even though I'm not American, I would say that whether or not a state had the right to declare war is pointless. If Texas or anywhere else were to be invaded, I'd put my money on the whole of the USA declaring war. So, basically, you could say all you want how a single state does or doesn't have the right to declare war - soon after an invasion, the whole of the USA would be at it, not just a single state. In fact, such a law would be pointless...an invasion would never revolve around a single state.

Just the same in England...there'd be no point to allowing individual counties to declare wars. So, the West Midlands doesn't need any right to declare a war if invaded, because all of the UK, not just England, would respond anyway.

If I'm not being clear, which I suspect is the case because I ramble on...an entire nation would be involved in any declaration of war. Not just the invaded state/county/whatever. Basically, it's an act of war against the very people of the nation, not just an area of the nation. I mean, it isn't like you'd abandon a state being invaded so it had to carry out it's own war effort. Your whole nation would rally to the war. So, no need to allow individual states, etc, to declare war, because if they were invaded, there'd be hell to pay in the first place. They'd never stand alone. Plus I doubt central government would appreciate individual states taking the issue of starting wars into their own hands. There's a reason why a state is part of a country, and not entirely a country unto itself. If individual states could declare war without being invaded, it might cause a lot of trouble for the rest of a country. I mean, say the Texans didn't like Mexico...they could simply declare a war and fubar everything for the USA - would that be a logical thing to allow? I know it gets complex, but in the end, a war should only be declared by central government, to stop abuse of power (although I suppose I'm entertaining the far-fetched idea that individual states will go rogue and start wars against the will of the nation, especially in the USA, and it's very unlikely...no one is that stupid) - and also, an individual state being invaded would never stand alone anyway (if it did, independence if they survived would be the way to go. A nation wouldn't abandon one of it's provinces like that...or at least, I'd hope not...).

[Farnan]

Does each state have their own army as well?

Yes, actually they do, and their own Air Force.

Texas for example has an Infantry Division and two Fighter Wings along with some airlift units.

[El Brujo]

If Texas or anywhere else were to be invaded, I'd put my money on the whole of the USA declaring war.

They are being invaded right now and nobody is lifting a finger.

[Kaidonni]

Are the invaders an actual army of soldiers, with tanks, weapons, aircraft, a plan of action? How many American troops have engaged them in combat in Texas? How many cities laid to waste there?

I will remind you that the USA was built on immigration. Uncontrolled immigration is not a good idea, but immigration in itself is not the problem. It's who is let in. And who decides who is let in. To deny any immigration at all...well, can the Native Americans have all their land back? Thought not.

[Justice and Mercy]

Are the invaders an actual army of soldiers, with tanks, weapons, aircraft, a plan of action? How many American troops have engaged them in combat in Texas? How many cities laid to waste there?

I will remind you that the USA was built on immigration. Uncontrolled immigration is not a good idea, but immigration in itself is not the problem. It's who is let in. And who decides who is let in. To deny any immigration at all...well, can the Native Americans have all their land back? Thought not.

No one here is against immigration.

[Shaun]

They are being invaded right now and nobody is lifting a finger.

The invaders are trying out the new sought after military gear of choice for invaders: the invisible cloak, because no one can see them ... or even hear them.

[Kaidonni]

No one here is against immigration.

I assumed that this 'invasion' of Texas would be about immigration. Sorry to anyone if I mis-interpreted.

[Yuiis]

This is just another sign of how open and decentralised the US is/was in its origin. Some of us europeans envy this fact in some way...

[King Edward III]

Does it really matter? O.o

[NaptownKnight]

Does each state have their own army as well?

Well technically the National Guard is under command of each state's governor, so yes.


By the way, Mexico has already invaded, millions of their troops are already here, waiting for the signal to attack...

[Last Roman]

With the implication being that they can declare war if somebody invades them. Somebody like, oh I don't know... Mexico? As in if the state government decided that the ridiculous levels of illegal immigration constitutes an invasion, would they not have the power to declare war on Mexico?

All the evidence is there. Mexican nationals are illegally crossing the border in massive numbers and occupying American territory, and the Mexican government is actively aiding and abetting these trespassers. This means the Mexican government is more or less responsible for an invasion of the U.S. As far as I can tell, then, any state would be perfectly within its rights to call out Mexico.

I know it won't happen and I certainly don't wish for it to happen, but the Constitution is pretty clear. If in the unlikely event **** hits the fan and something like this happens, do you think a state could get away with this legally? What would the federal government's reaction be? Would you support such action or would you think the state in question has lost its marbles? How would Mexico react?

Well, I don't really think that Texas, California etc could declare war since it's not really a military invasion (which is what I think the constitution is getting at)

[Rush Limbaugh]

Well, I don't really think that Texas, California etc could declare war since it's not really a military invasion (which is what I think the constitution is getting at)

But they could if it were a military invasion which is the point.

[jankren]

Is California the strongest state?

[chilon]

Is California the strongest state?

Economically? Yes. California would be a Top 7 national economy if it were its own country.