Article XXVII

This article exists because millions of Americans living in U.S. territories and the District of Columbia are governed by the federal government without enjoying the same political representation as citizens living in the states. For generations, questions of statehood, independence, and political status have often remained unresolved, leaving affected communities without a clear path to determine their own future. 

This article creates a binding democratic process through which residents of non-represented jurisdictions can choose their preferred political status and have that decision implemented without political interference or indefinite delay. By ensuring that sovereignty is grounded in the consent of the governed, the article seeks to strengthen democratic legitimacy, equal representation, and national unity while respecting the right of each jurisdiction to choose its own future.

Section 1 — Constitutional Imperative

A resilient and legitimate Republic cannot indefinitely exercise sovereignty over populations that lack full and equal voting representation in both Houses of Congress and participation in the election of the President and Vice President.

The continued governance of such jurisdictions without a defined and democratic process for determining political status undermines consent of the governed, weakens national cohesion, and conflicts with the foundational principles of this Constitution.

Accordingly, this Article establishes an orderly, binding, and democratic mechanism through which all jurisdictions subject to United States sovereignty whose residents do not possess full federal political equality may determine their political status.

Section 2 — Covered Jurisdictions

This Article applies to all territories, districts, possessions, and other areas subject to the sovereignty or jurisdiction of the United States whose residents do not possess full Federal political equality. 

Covered jurisdictions include, but are not limited to:

1. Puerto Rico;
2. Guam;
3. The United States Virgin Islands;
4. American Samoa;
5. The District of Columbia; and
6. Any other territory, possession, district, or jurisdiction lacking full federal political equality at the time of ratification.

No change in nomenclature, administrative classification, or statutory designation shall remove a jurisdiction from coverage under this Article.

Section 3 — Guaranteed Choice of Political Status

Upon ratification of this Amendment, each covered jurisdiction shall be guaranteed the opportunity to determine its political status through a free, fair, and binding democratic vote conducted under uniform standards of neutrality and transparency.

For United States territories, the ballot shall include the following options:

1. Admission as a State of the United States, with full and equal rights, representation, and obligations afforded to all other States;
2. Full national independence and sovereignty;
3. Continuation of territorial status under United States jurisdiction.

For the District of Columbia, the ballot shall include only the following options:

1. Admission into the United States as a State, with full and equal rights, representation, and obligations afforded to all other States; or
2. Continuation of the District of Columbia as the federal seat of government under Article I, Section 8, Clause 17 of the Constitution, without voting representation in Congress.

Each option shall be presented in neutral language and with equal prominence.

No option shall be privileged, weighted, delayed, conditioned, or excluded by Congress or any federal authority.

The ballot shall be structured to ensure that the final outcome reflects the majority-supported preference of the voters of the jurisdiction, consistent with Section 4 of this Article.

Nothing in this Article eliminates the constitutional requirement for a federal seat of government.

Section 4 — Method and Timing of Decision

The political-status determination election(s) for each covered jurisdiction shall be conducted in accordance with the requirements of Article III of this Amendment.

Such election shall occur during the first nationwide general election following ratification of this Amendment, provided that such election date occurs not fewer than one hundred eighty (180) days after ratification to allow for orderly preparation.

A covered jurisdiction may, through its legislature or by referendum under its own laws, request that the vote occur at a later general election date. Such request shall be binding upon the United States and shall not be subject to federal approval, veto, or modification.

The election shall be administered by the appropriate local election authorities of the jurisdiction, in coordination with federal authorities solely for purposes of ensuring uniform ballot standards, voter access, and certification integrity.

The results of the election shall be certified according to uniform standards established by law and shall be transmitted to Congress for implementation pursuant to Section 6 of this Article.

Section 5 — Constitutional Consent for Admission as a State

With respect to any covered jurisdiction that selects admission as a State pursuant to this Article, the ratification of this Amendment by the People of the United States shall constitute full constitutional consent for purposes of Article IV, Section 3 of the Constitution.

No further act of admission, enabling act, congressional approval, or state consent shall be required to effectuate statehood once the jurisdiction has selected admission by majority vote pursuant to Section 4.

Upon certification of such vote:

1. The jurisdiction shall be admitted as a State of the Union on a date specified in implementing legislation enacted pursuant to Section 6, which date shall not exceed one (1) year from certification of the vote selecting statehood;
2. The jurisdiction shall be entitled to equal sovereignty, equal representation in Congress, and equal footing      with all other States; and
3. Congress shall provide for representation consistent with this Constitution pending the next regular apportionment cycle.

Congress shall not condition, alter, or deny admission based upon political considerations, policy preferences, or subsequent legislative action.

Statehood pursuant to this Article shall be automatic and binding upon certification of the vote.

This Section supersedes any inconsistent provision of Article IV, Section 3 of the Constitution to the extent necessary to give full effect to the certified will of a jurisdiction selecting statehood pursuant to this Article.

Section 6 — Binding Effect and Implementation

The result of each political-status election conducted pursuant to this Article shall be binding upon the United States and the covered jurisdiction.

Upon certification of the election result, Congress shall, within one hundred eighty (180) days, enact legislation necessary to implement the selected outcome in full.

Such legislation shall be ministerial in nature and shall not alter, condition, narrow, or otherwise modify the substance of the chosen status.

If the selected outcome is admission as a State, Congress shall provide for representation, apportionment, transitional governance, and such other administrative measures as may be necessary to effectuate admission consistent with this Constitution.

If the selected outcome is independence, Congress shall provide for an orderly transition to full sovereignty, including citizenship options, treaty arrangements, economic relations, defense matters, and the protection of civil and political rights during the transition period. Such transition shall be conducted in good faith and shall not include punitive measures designed to coerce reversal of the jurisdiction's chosen status.

Legislation enacted pursuant to this Section shall be passed by a simple majority of those present and voting in each House of Congress and shall not be subject to supermajority procedural requirements.

Failure of Congress to enact implementing legislation within one hundred eighty (180) days shall not invalidate the certified outcome. The federal courts shall possess authority to compel timely implementation consistent with this Article.

Congress shall not delay, disregard, reinterpret, or condition the expressed will of the People as determined pursuant to this Article.

If a covered jurisdiction selects continuation of territorial status, a subsequent political-status vote may be conducted not sooner than eight (8) years following certification of the prior vote upon request of the jurisdiction through its legislature or by referendum under its own laws.

Section 7 — Rule of Construction

Nothing in this Article shall be construed to:

1. Compel any covered jurisdiction to select statehood, independence, or any particular political status;
2. Compel independence as a remedy for non-representation;
3. Require the dissolution, relocation, or alteration of the federal seat of government except as expressly chosen      pursuant to this Article;
4. Confer voting representation in Congress upon any jurisdiction absent statehood; or
5. Diminish any existing constitutional rights of the residents of any covered jurisdiction.

This Article exists solely to provide an orderly, binding, and democratic mechanism for determining the political status of covered jurisdictions and to ensure that sovereignty exercised by the United States rests upon the consent of the governed.