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204 II. To grant statehood to Territories which have a population of eighty thousand inhabitants and the necessary means to provide for their political existence.

III. To form new States within the boundaries of existing ones, provided the following requisites are complied with:

1. That the section or sections aspiring to statehood have a population of one hundred and twenty thousand inhabitants at least;

2. That proof be given to the Congress that it has sufficient means to provide for its political existence;

3. That the legislatures of the States affected be heard as to the advisability or inadvisability of granting such statehood, which opinion shall be given within six months reckoned from the day on which the respective communication is forwarded;

4. That the opinion of the Executive of the Federal Government be also heard on the subject; this opinion shall be given within seven days after the date on which it was requested.

5. That the creation of the new State be voted upon favorably by two-thirds of the Representatives and Senators present in their respective Houses.

6. That the resolution of the Congress be ratified by a majority of the State Legislatures, upon examination of a copy of the record of the case, provided that the Legislatures of the States