They have "a voice". 

And the states also have a unique and separate voice.

I realize some people don't accept the Catholic principle of subsidiarity - and thus, don't really understand the idea of "states", but they live in country that gives "states" their own voice, in addition to the people in those states. 

Texans fly the state flag at the same height as the US flag, denoting something important about their heritage and culture.

There are some people who would prefer to "hammer down" such diversity among the states, but gladly these people aren't in power at the moment.