Should States have Citizenship

[Englebert]

I was reading Ty Cobb's response on the topic of Texas Democrat legislators running out on their duties. His proposal was to not allow the politicians that fled to re-enter Texas. This got me to thinking about an issue that I have contemplated for many years. Should individual States have the ability to require State citizenship for a person to reside in their State?

I'm not asking for current law (although that is welcomed). I'm asking about the feasibility, pitfalls, morality, duty of protection, etc. of possible future law. I'm not asking about a State revoking American citizenship, just State citizenship. I've read articles, opinions, trash, inciteful opinions...the whole gamut (it seems like) of pros and cons. I haven't thought about the topic in a while, so I would love to revisit it. In full disclosure, after all that I have read on the subject, I have no opinion on the subject. Some of the pondering issues: Should American citizenship be required for State citizenship? Should federal discrimination laws trump State citizenship requirements? What happens if every State rejects an American citizen? Should federal courts be allowed to intervene on State citizenship rulings? If States can require citizenship, can Counties and Cities also require citizenship? The subject will very quickly enter into quicksand if rules were actually applied in practice. I'm just curious as to everyone's opinion.

In the state of cancel culture that we now reside in, should individual States be able to cancel you?

[bullets13]

Interesting topic.  It brings up a lot of questions: does one only become a citizen by being born in the state?  Can the state reject your moving into the state based on your political beliefs?  What about college students who want to attend college out of state?  I can think of a dozen more

[LumRaiderFan]

We would have to do away with the United States of America.  I’m almost there.  States that handle their business shouldn’t have to support states that don’t.  Also, states that are concerned about border security shouldn’t have to fund it themselves while at the same time other states are providing sanctuary cities.

[Englebert]

26 minutes ago, bullets13 said:

Interesting topic.  It brings up a lot of questions: does one only become a citizen by being born in the state?  Can the state reject your moving into the state based on your political beliefs?  What about college students who want to attend college out of state?  I can think of a dozen more

Awesome. I can think of a thousand more. The topic is so wide open that it is almost impossible to discuss.

Not only can a State reject you from moving into the state based on..., can they reject you from leaving the State based on... If ruled that a State cannot reject you from leaving, can they still tax you based on your former citizenship? We might want to ask California. 

What I find most interesting is that when the colonies were debating on unionizing, i.e. forming the United States, that this topic was not discussed more thoroughly...then especially after independence was won. It makes sense though, considering any breathing body was an asset. No benefits existed at that time. 

The "what if's" will render the topic either dead on arrival or hotly debated for decades. (Exaggerated of course.) But that is the also the most intriguing part of the debate. What other scenarios will pose problems in implementation? What solutions can be implemented to facilitate the realization of such legislation? Should it even be considered?

[5GallonBucket]

If Texans wanted to save itself it should ve already done this a long time ago. 😉

[Ty Cobb]

Are we really the UNITED States of America anymore? As of the last couple of years, I would answer no.
The States are very divided on many issues, but none more than what this country was made of. Good people with Christian beliefs. 
To be 100% honest, Im more proud to be a Texan than I am to be an American.

[Hagar]

I’m reminded of a meme.  I think I’ve posted the words before, but they’re pertinent to this discussion.

I wish Americans loved America like Texans love Texas.

I suspect it wasn’t considered when the country was founded because at that time, States Rights was the law of the land.  The Federal Government didn’t interfere.  Now, there’s little States Rights left.  The Feds want to take Voting Regulations, chipping one of the few things left the States control.  One of the most important, the Electoral College, is also under attack.  To abolish that would leave small States at the mercy of the big States (population, not area).  If that happens, essentially we’ll be America, and not the United States.

[tvc184]

On 7/13/2021 at 9:00 PM, Englebert said:

I was reading Ty Cobb's response on the topic of Texas Democrat legislators running out on their duties. His proposal was to not allow the politicians that fled to re-enter Texas. This got me to thinking about an issue that I have contemplated for many years. Should individual States have the ability to require State citizenship for a person to reside in their State?

I'm not asking for current law (although that is welcomed). I'm asking about the feasibility, pitfalls, morality, duty of protection, etc. of possible future law. I'm not asking about a State revoking American citizenship, just State citizenship. I've read articles, opinions, trash, inciteful opinions...the whole gamut (it seems like) of pros and cons. I haven't thought about the topic in a while, so I would love to revisit it. In full disclosure, after all that I have read on the subject, I have no opinion on the subject. Some of the pondering issues: Should American citizenship be required for State citizenship? Should federal discrimination laws trump State citizenship requirements? What happens if every State rejects an American citizen? Should federal courts be allowed to intervene on State citizenship rulings? If States can require citizenship, can Counties and Cities also require citizenship? The subject will very quickly enter into quicksand if rules were actually applied in practice. I'm just curious as to everyone's opinion.

In the state of cancel culture that we now reside in, should individual States be able to cancel you?

I believe that question has already been decided by the US Supreme Court.

In one of my favorite movie lines, from the movie G.I. Jane, the base captain talking to United States senator says that he can do what she ask as long as she will just “trim a little fat off the Constitution”.

[tvc184]

On 7/13/2021 at 10:10 PM, Ty Cobb said:

Are we really the UNITED States of America anymore? As of the last couple of years, I would answer no.
The States are very divided on many issues, but none more than what this country was made of. Good people with Christian beliefs. 
To be 100% honest, Im more proud to be a Texan than I am to be an American.

The United States Constitution, which created this country we now have (as a follow-up to the Articles of Confederation) , was enacted for the very reason to not have states united. That was the entire point of the articles and ultimately the Constitution.