Petition to Separate from California

state of jefferson white paper

Since 1965, northern California has not had adequate representation in the state legislature. The most expeditious way to restore representation to the counties of northern California is to create a new state with those counties that want representation restored. The only viable plan to restore representation is the “Jefferson” state movement which is using the only legal method of engineering a state split through the formula required by Article IV, Section 3 of the US Constitution.i This formula necessitates a simple majority of both houses of the state legislature and Congress approve the split in order to create a state out of an existing state or states. This process has created four new states in our nation's history.

In order for “Jefferson” to be successful, two tenets must be completed and one verified. First, counties that want to be part of the new state must give the Jefferson Committee some indication of support. Typically this is done by the Board of Supervisors affirming a Declaration and Petition to Withdraw from the State of California. This is not the only avenue open to a County. Second, the state and national legislative actions outlined above must achieve a simple majority result.

Third, although not required by Article IV, Section 3, the Committees will illustrate the financial viability of the new State to its citizens.

As of January 1, 2015, six counties have Declared and Petitioned to Separate from California and join the new state of “Jefferson”. Both the California Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) and an internally generated financial model have shown that “Jefferson” is a viable entity. By the end of January 2015, four counties will have had their Declarations filed with the Secretary of State of California which could initiate the legislative phase of state separation.