Not that international law is the same as contract law, but if you view the federal system as a treaty between each state and the white house, violation of the

Not that international law is the same as contract law, but if you view the federal system as a treaty between each state and the white house, violation of the treaty terms could void the agreement. The federal system does guarantee rights to the states, but treaty enforcement goes more to balance of power than the text of the agreement. Early on when the local militias were our primary fighting force and we had to hire pirates to be our navy, state rights were secure. These days not so much. For example, I wouldn't bet on stop and frisk to stop the Army Rangers if NYC voted to return to dutch rule (or Lenape). Also, not to be a textualist, 'right of the people to alter or abolish'.