Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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When Texas entered the Union in 1845, it came with a unique provision: the potential congressional authority to divide itself into up to five distinct states. Historian Eddie Weller and political scientist Brandon Rottinghaus join Houston Matters to explore the historical roots of this provision, the political shockwaves it would send through the U.S. Senate and the Electoral College, and the messy logistical battles that would arise if the state did split into multiple states.

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