Isabella Carter
Missouri has had four constitutions since 1820, with the current one being ratified in 1945. The first constitution was written by the Constitutional Convention in 1820 and adopted on July 19, 1820. The second constitution was ratified in 1865 following the end of the Civil War, and the third was adopted in 1875 during the Reconstruction Era. The fourth and current Missouri Constitution was drafted during the sixth Constitutional Convention, which was held from 1942 to 1945. This constitution has been amended numerous times and remains the state's current governing document.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Constitutions Adopted Since 1820 | 4 |
| First Constitution Adopted | July 19, 1820 |
| Current Constitution | Fourth Constitution, adopted in 1945 |
| Number of Amendments to Current Constitution | More than 119, or 200 |
| Frequency of Referendum to Call a New Constitutional Convention | Every 20 years |
| Next Referendum Year | 2042 |
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What You'll Learn
The first Missouri Constitution was adopted in 1820
The first Missouri Constitution was adopted on July 19, 1820, after the first Missouri Constitutional Convention assembled in St. Louis on June 12, 1820. The convention was made up of 40 men from 15 Missouri counties, and it took them 38 days to establish the foundation of Missouri's government. The first constitution included 13 articles, establishing the boundaries of the future state, the system of government, the Missouri militia, the education system, and the amendment process.
The territory of Missouri first applied for statehood in 1817 and was admitted as the 24th state of the Union on August 10, 1821. As a result of the Missouri Compromise, Missouri was initially admitted to the Union as a slave state, and the first constitution specifically excluded "free negroes and mulattoes" from the state. This "exclusion clause" initially prevented the US Congress from admitting Missouri to the Union.
Over its two centuries of statehood, Missouri has had four constitutions, reflecting the changes that the nation as a whole has gone through over time. The second constitution was ratified in 1865 following the end of the Civil War, and it ended the institution of slavery in the state. The third constitution was adopted in 1875 during the Reconstruction Era, and it included a provision establishing the segregation of Missouri's school system. The fourth and current constitution was ratified in 1945 after the sixth Constitutional Convention, and it has been amended numerous times since then.
The Missouri Constitution is the state constitution of Missouri, and it is the supreme law formulating the law and government of the state, subject only to the federal Constitution and the people. 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.
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The second was ratified in 1865, after the Civil War
Missouri has had four constitutions since it became a state in 1821. The first constitution was written and approved by the first Missouri Constitutional Convention, which assembled in St. Louis in 1820. This convention was made up of 40 men from 15 Missouri counties, and it took them 38 days to establish the foundation of Missouri's government before approving the document on July 19, 1820.
The second constitution was ratified in 1865, after the Civil War. This constitution ended the institution of slavery in Missouri, as the state was not included in the Emancipation Proclamation due to its status as a border state and part of the Union during the war. This second constitution was known as the "Draconian Constitution" due to its loyalty oath provisions, which were struck down by the US Supreme Court in Cummings v. Missouri in 1867. It remained in effect for ten years.
The third constitution was adopted in 1875 during the Reconstruction Era, as the nation dealt with the fallout of the Civil War. This draft included a provision establishing the segregation of Missouri's school system and the appropriation of 25% of the state's general revenue for education. The fourth and current Missouri Constitution was adopted in 1945 after the sixth Constitutional Convention wrote and approved it over the course of a year. This constitution has been amended numerous times and remains the state's current constitution.
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The third was adopted in 1875, during the Reconstruction Era
Missouri has had four constitutions since it became a state in 1821. The first Missouri Constitutional Convention assembled in St. Louis on June 12, 1820, and the first constitution was adopted on July 19, 1820. The second constitution was ratified in 1865 following the end of the Civil War. This ended slavery in the state, though Missouri was not included in the Emancipation Proclamation.
The third constitution was adopted in 1875, during the Reconstruction Era. This was drafted by the fourth constitutional convention, which met from May 5 to August 2, 1875. The constitution provided for separate schools for African-American children and appropriated 25% of the state's general revenue for education. The 1875 constitution was amended in the early 1900s to allow constitutional amendment by the initiative process.
The fourth and current Missouri Constitution was adopted in 1945. This constitution has been amended at least 119 times since its adoption, including high-profile amendments such as legalising commercial gambling in 1993, allowing the production of human embryos for stem cell research, and an English-only amendment in 2008.
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The fourth and current Missouri Constitution was adopted in 1945
Missouri has had four constitutions since 1820, with the fourth and current constitution being adopted in 1945. This latest version has been amended numerous times and remains the state's active constitution.
The first Missouri Constitutional Convention assembled in St. Louis in 1820, with 40 men from 15 Missouri counties in attendance. The convention met for 38 days to establish the foundation of Missouri's government before approving the document on July 19, 1820. This original constitution included 13 articles, establishing the boundaries of the future state, the system of government, the Missouri militia, the education system, and the amendment process.
The second constitution was ratified in 1865 following the end of the Civil War, and it ended the institution of slavery in the state. The third constitution was adopted in 1875 during the Reconstruction Era, and it included a provision for the segregation of Missouri's school system.
The fourth and current Missouri Constitution was drafted during the sixth Constitutional Convention, which was called in reaction to the corrupt political "bosses" who dominated the state in the early 20th century. The convention wrote and approved the new constitution over the course of a year, and it was ratified by voters in 1945. This 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 sets up local governments in the form of counties and cities.
Since 1945, there have been at least 119 amendments made to the Missouri Constitution, with over 200 amendments made as of 2017. These amendments have addressed a range of issues, including commercial gambling, stem cell research, same-sex marriage, and English-only laws. Missourians have been given the option to vote in favor of a referendum to call another constitutional convention every 20 years, but this measure has never passed.
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Since 1945, there have been over 100 amendments
Missouri has had four constitutions since 1820. The first constitution was written and adopted in 1820, and Missouri became a state in 1821. This original constitution included 13 articles, establishing the boundaries of the state, the system of government, the Missouri militia, the education system, and the amendment process.
The second constitution was ratified in 1865 following the end of the Civil War. As Missouri was not included in the Emancipation Proclamation, the second constitution ended the institution of slavery for the state. The third constitution was adopted in 1875 during the Reconstruction Era. This draft included a provision establishing the segregation of Missouri's school system and the appropriation of 25% of the state's general revenue for education.
The fourth and current Missouri Constitution was adopted in 1945 and remains in place today. Since 1945, there have been over 100 amendments to the constitution. The constitution can be amended by a change suggested by the General Assembly or the people of Missouri. For an amendment to be passed, more than half of the voters in Missouri must agree to the change.
Some of the amendments made to the 1945 constitution have been controversial and high-profile. For example, in 1993, an amendment was passed to legalise commercial gambling in Missouri. In 2006, another amendment allowed the production of human embryos for stem cell research. In 2004, an amendment was passed prohibiting same-sex marriage, and in 2008, an English-only amendment was passed.
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Frequently asked questions
Four.
The first Missouri constitution was adopted on July 19, 1820.
38 days.
1865.
The current Missouri constitution, ratified in 1945, has been amended at least 119 times.
