This claim will be judged TRUE if by 11:59PM, December 31st 2007, ANY of the following occurs:
1) One or more new states are created. (See 51st)
2) One or more states are merged, otherwise removed or declared independent from the U.S. Independence would have to be recognized by both the state and the U.S. government.
3) A state formally changes its name. (eg. North Dakota becomes 'Dakota')
4) Any state formally designates a different city as its capital. (NOTE: it must be a different city entirely; renaming the current capital does not qualify.)
5) The U.S. designates a different city as its national capital.
6) A state's total land area changes by the GREATER of 5% or 500 square miles. The change may be political, or may be cause by natural events (eg. earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or rises in sea level). NOTE: if the changes are climate-related, they must last for six months or longer; the intent being that the change is long-term (eg. rise in sea level) and not temporary or seasonal (eg. flooding).
The claim will be judge FALSE if none of these occur by the due date. Judging may be suspended for up to six months if necessary to verify that climate-related changes are long-term. Political changes must have taken effect by the due date in order to count towards the claim.
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