The United States Congress has the authority to admit new states to the Union. This authority is granted in Article IV, Section 3, Clause 1 of the United States Constitution, which states that "New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union." The process of admitting a new state begins with a petition from a territory's legislature. The petition must be approved by a majority vote of both houses of Congress and signed by the President. Once these requirements are met, the territory becomes a state.