>The states really are very powerful, even ~250 years into the experiment.
And in fact, the states hold absolute power over the federal government because the Constitution can be amended by a two-thirds majority of the states. Absolutely noone in the federal government, including Congress and the Supreme Court, can get in their way because the federal government derives their power from the states.
The only entity that the states answer to is the people, from whom the states derive their powers.
2/3 of states required to call a convention, 3/4 of the convention (which includes the states that show up, not just the callers) to amend the constitution.
Or 2/3 majority of both houses to propose and 3/4 of state legislatures to ratify amendments.
And in fact, the states hold absolute power over the federal government because the Constitution can be amended by a two-thirds majority of the states. Absolutely noone in the federal government, including Congress and the Supreme Court, can get in their way because the federal government derives their power from the states.
The only entity that the states answer to is the people, from whom the states derive their powers.