perfidy

All we need to do is set up colonies on the moon, and then incorporate them into the US as states. The procedure for adding new states to the union actually predates the Constitution - going back to the Northwest Ordinance.

We pass a law for dividing the area into several territories, and each would be administered initially by a governor, a secretary, and three judges, all appointed by Congress. Whenever a district reaches a population of five thousand, it could elect a bicameral legislature and send a nonvoting member to Congress. When its population reaches sixty thousand inhabitants, the district becomes eligible for statehood.

Then, we add new stars to the flag.

Bro,
Reading that took me back to those days of yore, when we all had to take American Government or Civics or whatnot. The last time I knew any of that stuff was when I was 16 or 17, and likely as not, the night before the exam.

But since we're talking about space matters, it reminded me of a more recent time- reading the sliding-into-infinity synopses at the beginning of the final...erm, first?...Star Wars trilogy:

"..Meanwhile, as Representatives from the Trade Federation sought to expand the President's powers, a caucus of Free Worlders pressured opponents to filibuster the proposed vote. As the mood on Coruscant darkened, domestic policy makers sought to address the new malaise, and commissioned multi-lateral studies of the Republic's societies..."

So ok, let's get through the lawyer stuff so we can get on with the spaceships and laser swords!

I'm for Buckethead's idea; colonize, incorporate as territories, petition for administration.

Or not - there were straggling commonwealths and separatist republics before and after the Revolution. As late as 1840 Texas nursed dreams of a republic stretching west to the Pacific.

If people can live up yonder and if the United States does not take lively action, the future could be quite interesting.