Enabling Act of 1889

The Territory of Dakota was to be split on the "seventh standard parallel produced due west to the western boundary".

[2] Soon after the Enabling Act was passed, each of the newly formed states was to hold an election for congressional representatives, and submit their results by the fifteenth of April, 1889.

Montana, Washington, and North Dakota were all entitled to one representative in the United States House of Representatives at the time of the bill's passing, while South Dakota was allowed two due to its higher population.

No private companies or individuals were entitled to the land, as it was now property of the federal government.

Other items on the agenda that were to be split between the two states were public records, territory debt, and property.