What specified when a territory could not apply for statehood?

A territory could not apply for statehood if it did not meet certain criteria established by Congress, such as having a sufficient population, a stable government, and the ability to uphold obligations and responsibilities of statehood. Additionally, the conditions of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 specified that territories needed to demonstrate readiness by establishing a constitution and governance structure. Furthermore, Congress retained the authority to determine whether a territory could qualify for statehood based on political, economic, and social factors.