Jonah Patel
The Missouri Constitution is the state constitution of the US State of Missouri. It is the supreme law that formulates the law and government of Missouri, subject only to the federal Constitution and the people. The Missouri Constitution is a product of direct democracy, and since its adoption in 1945, it has been amended more than 200 times, each time by popular vote. The US Constitution, on the other hand, is amended by a method of indirect democracy, requiring approval by elected representatives. While the US Constitution contains about 7,300 to 7,500 words, the Missouri Constitution has about 42,600 to 65,000 words.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of words | Missouri Constitution: 42,600-65,000; US Constitution: 7,300-7,500 |
| Number of versions | Missouri Constitution: 4; US Constitution: 1 |
| Ratification | Missouri Constitution: Adopted by popular vote; US Constitution: Ratified by state legislatures |
| Amendments | Missouri Constitution: Amended by popular vote; US Constitution: Amended by approval of elected representatives |
| Number of branches of government | Missouri Constitution: 3; US Constitution: 3 |
| Legislative branch | Missouri Constitution: General Assembly; US Constitution: Congress |
| Executive branch | Missouri Constitution: Governor of Missouri; US Constitution: President |
| Judicial branch | Missouri Constitution: Supreme Court of Missouri; US Constitution: Supreme Court of the US |
| Local government | Missouri Constitution: Counties and cities; US Constitution: N/A |
| Bill of Rights | Missouri Constitution: Yes; US Constitution: Yes |
| Right to bear arms | Missouri Constitution: Yes; US Constitution: Yes |
| Right to farm | Missouri Constitution: Yes; US Constitution: N/A |
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What You'll Learn
- Missouri's constitution is a product of direct democracy
- The Missouri Constitution has been amended over 100 times since 1945
- The US Constitution was adopted after ratification by state legislatures
- The Missouri Constitution has 65,000 words, compared to 7,500 in the US Constitution
- The Missouri Constitution has a Bill of Rights
Missouri's constitution is a product of direct democracy
The Missouri Constitution has a more democratic character than the US Constitution, with several significant differences. It is more philosophic, with about 42,600 words compared to the US Constitution's 7,300 words. It also provides for a more explicit form of direct democracy, with citizens being able to initiate constitutional amendments. Eighteen states allow citizens to initiate constitutional amendments, and in Missouri, the number of signatures required is based on the number of votes cast for the governor in the state's most recent gubernatorial election.
The Missouri Constitution also has a more explicit focus on protecting the rights of individuals and political minorities from oppression by the majority. It establishes a federal republic, recognizing the sovereignty and power of the states over all matters not assigned to the central government. It also distributes power among three coequal branches of government: a legislative branch to write laws, an executive branch to carry them out, and a judicial branch to resolve disputes and ensure that laws do not disturb the sovereign power of the people.
The Missouri Constitution also has a Bill of Rights, which gives the people of Missouri important freedoms. For example, it protects the right to speak, the right to practice religion, the right to own a gun, and the right to farm. The Missouri Constitution also has rules about how it can be changed, with amendments requiring the support of more than half of the voters.
The Missouri Constitution is a living document that has evolved through direct democracy to meet the needs of modern society. While the US Constitution is amended through indirect democracy, the Missouri Constitution is amended through popular vote, with citizens having the power to initiate amendments and make their voices heard directly.
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The Missouri Constitution has been amended over 100 times since 1945
The Missouri Constitution is the state constitution of the U.S. State of Missouri. It is the supreme law formulating the law and government of Missouri, subject only to the federal Constitution and the people. The current Missouri Constitution was ratified in 1945 and remains in effect today. It is the fourth constitution in the state's history.
The Missouri Constitution has been amended to address a variety of issues. Some notable amendments include the legalization of commercial gambling in 1993, the allowance of human embryo production for stem cell research in 2006, the prohibition of same-sex marriage in 2004, an English-only amendment in 2008, and the legalization and regulation of medical marijuana in 2018.
The Missouri Constitution provides for three branches of government: the legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative branch, known as the General Assembly, consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The executive branch is led by the Governor of Missouri, while the judicial branch comprises the Supreme Court of Missouri, Missouri Courts of Appeals, and Circuit Courts.
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The US Constitution was adopted after ratification by state legislatures
The Missouri Constitution has been amended over 200 times since its adoption in 1945, with each amendment being passed by a popular vote following either a referral by the legislature or a petition by voters. The people of Missouri have the power to call a new constitutional convention every 20 years through an automatic referendum. The Missouri Constitution can be amended via three paths: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. Citizens can propose constitutional amendments by gathering signatures equal to 8% of the gubernatorial vote in two-thirds of Missouri's congressional districts.
The US Constitution is amended by a method of indirect democracy, with amendments being proposed by Congress and ratified by state legislatures or state ratifying conventions. The US Constitution has been amended 27 times since its adoption in 1789.
The Missouri Constitution has a more democratic character than the US Constitution. The Missouri Constitution is more philosophic and verbose, with about 42,600 words compared to the US Constitution's 7,300 words. The Missouri Constitution has been amended numerous times to keep up with modern society, often driven by the votes of its people rather than government action. For example, Missouri's Constitution forbade gaming until the 1990s when it was changed by voters in popular elections rather than through legislators or judges.
The Missouri Constitution provides for three branches of government: legislative (the Missouri General Assembly), executive (the Governor of Missouri), and judicial (the Supreme Court of Missouri). It also establishes local governments in the form of counties and cities. The US Constitution, on the other hand, establishes a federal republic with a distribution of power among three coequal branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial.
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The Missouri Constitution has 65,000 words, compared to 7,500 in the US Constitution
The Missouri Constitution is the state constitution of the US State of Missouri. It is the supreme law that formulates the law and government of Missouri, subject only to the federal Constitution and the people of Missouri. The current Missouri Constitution was ratified in 1945 and has been amended more than 200 times since then, with at least 119 amendments. The Missouri Constitution has 65,000 words, compared to 7,500 in the US Constitution.
The Missouri Constitution is a product of direct democracy, with its constitutions being drafted during constitutional conventions and adopted by a vote of the people. The people of Missouri are given the option to call a new constitutional convention every 20 years through an automatic referendum. The Missouri Constitution can be changed if more than half of the voters support it. The laws of Missouri can be written by senators, representatives, and even Missouri citizens.
The US Constitution, on the other hand, is a brief document with only a few thousand words. It was created in 1787 after heated arguments about the form of the new American government. The drafters of the US Constitution wanted to avoid a concentration of power and included provisions to protect citizens from government abuses.
The Missouri Constitution provides for three branches of government: the legislative (the Missouri General Assembly), the executive (the Governor of Missouri), and the judicial (the Supreme Court of Missouri). It also sets up local governments in the form of counties and cities. The Missouri Constitution has a Bill of Rights that guarantees important freedoms, such as the right to speak, the right to practice religion, the right to own a gun, and the right to farm.
In summary, the Missouri Constitution is much longer than the US Constitution and is a product of direct democracy, with the power to amend it resting with the people of Missouri. The US Constitution, on the other hand, is brief and was created through a series of compromises. Both constitutions share similarities in their structure of government and protections for citizens but differ in their level of detail and the process of amendment.
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The Missouri Constitution has a Bill of Rights
The Missouri Constitution is the state constitution of the US State of Missouri. It is the most recent Missouri Constitution, created in 1945, and the rules from that constitution still apply today. The Missouri Constitution is the supreme law that formulates the law and government of Missouri, subject only to the federal Constitution and the people.
The Missouri Constitution splits Missouri's government into three branches: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial. The Legislative Branch in Missouri is called the "General Assembly" and is split into the Senate and the House of Representatives. Missourians choose their representatives and senators by voting for them in elections. Senators keep their jobs for four years and then have to run for re-election. There are 34 people in the Senate. Representatives get to keep their jobs for two years and then they have to run for re-election. There are 163 people in the House of Representatives. The people in the Senate and House of Representatives write Missouri's laws.
The Missouri Constitution is different from the US Constitution in that it is specific to the state of Missouri and its government. It provides for three branches of government: legislative (the Missouri General Assembly), executive (the Governor of Missouri), and judicial (the Supreme Court of Missouri). It also sets up local governments in the form of counties and cities. The Missouri Constitution has been amended several times since its adoption in 1945, with at least 119 amendments made to it.
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Frequently asked questions
The Missouri Constitution is about 42,600 to 65,000 words long, while the U.S. Constitution is about 7,300 to 7,500 words long.
The Missouri Constitution can be amended via three paths: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. Missouri's constitution is ultimately controlled directly by the votes of its people. Amendments can be proposed by citizens, legislators, or a constitutional convention, and they are adopted if more than half of voters support them.
According to Article XII of the present constitution, the people of Missouri can call a new constitutional convention every 20 years through an automatic referendum.
The current Missouri Constitution, adopted in 1945, is the fourth version. The first was created in 1820, a year before Missouri became a state, and lasted until the end of the Civil War. The second and third Missouri Constitutions were adopted in 1865 and 1875, respectively.
