Equal footing

Equal footing is a constitutional law doctrine upon which States admitted to the United States are given the same legal rights as the preexisting states. The doctrine also prevents Congress from conditioning admission to the union on matters outside of its powers.[1]

Contents

Specific application

Water rights

Equal footing prescribes that even if admitted to the United States after the adoption of the US Constitution, new states to have the same rights in the submerged land and tidal waters as the original states.

See also

References

  1. ^ Coyle v. Smith, 221 U.S. 559 (1911)