Malcolm Rivera
The Missouri Constitution is the state constitution of Missouri and the current version was adopted in 1945. Since then, it has been amended 126 times, with the most recent amendments being approved in 2024. The Missouri Constitution can be amended via three paths: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. The number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is based on the number of votes cast for governor in the state's most recent gubernatorial election. In two-thirds of Missouri's congressional districts, proponents must collect signatures equal to 8% of the gubernatorial vote for initiated constitutional amendments. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of amendments | 119-126 |
| Current constitution adopted | 1945 |
| Number of state constitutions | 4 |
| Number of constitutional articles | 14 |
| Amendment methods | Citizen-initiated process, legislative process, state constitutional convention |
| Voter-approval requirement | Majority vote |
| Amendment frequency | Average of 1.7 amendments per year |
| Amendment examples | Legalizing commercial gambling, allowing production of human embryos for stem cell research, prohibiting same-sex marriage, legalizing medical marijuana |
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What You'll Learn
Citizen-initiated amendments
The Missouri Constitution is the state constitution of Missouri and is the supreme law that formulates the law and government of the state. The current Missouri Constitution was adopted in 1945 and has been amended 126 times since then.
The Missouri Constitution can be amended via three different paths: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. Citizen-initiated amendments, also known as initiated constitutional amendments, are citizen-initiated ballot measures that amend a state's constitution. Missouri is one of only 18 states that permit citizen-initiated amendments.
The number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is based on the number of votes cast for governor in the state's most recent gubernatorial election. Proponents must collect signatures equal to 8% of the gubernatorial vote in two-thirds of Missouri's congressional districts. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval.
In the November 2024 general election, Missouri voters approved three constitutional amendments: Amendments 2, 3, and 7. These amendments laid the groundwork to legalize sports betting, establish abortion protections, and explicitly ban non-citizen and ranked-choice voting in the state. The amendments were certified by the Missouri Secretary of State's Office and took effect 30 days after the election.
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Legislative amendments
The Missouri Constitution, which is the state constitution of Missouri, has been amended 126 times since it came into effect in 1945. It is the fourth constitution of the state. The Missouri Constitution can be amended via three paths: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention.
The Missouri Constitution is unique in that it is one of only 18 states that permit citizen-initiated amendments. In two-thirds of Missouri's congressional districts, proponents must collect signatures equal to 8% of the gubernatorial vote for initiated constitutional amendments. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval.
The Missouri Constitution has been amended several times in recent years, including controversial and high-profile amendments such as legalizing commercial gambling in 1993, allowing the production of human embryos for stem cell research in 2006, prohibiting same-sex marriage in 2004, and an English-only amendment in 2008.
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State constitutional conventions
Missouri's current constitution was adopted in 1945 and has been amended 126 times since then. The state's constitution can be amended via three paths: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention.
The Missouri Constitution is the state constitution of the U.S. 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 current Missouri Constitution is the fourth constitution, providing 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 first constitution was written by the Constitutional Convention in 1820 and was adopted on July 19, 1820. This constitution took effect the day Missouri joined the union as the 24th state, on August 10, 1821. The second convention in 1845 produced a constitution rejected by voters. During the American Civil War, the Missouri Constitutional Convention (1861–63) decided against secession and operated as the de facto pro-Union government of Missouri. The fourth constitutional convention was held in 1875, which drafted the state's third constitution. The convention met from May 5 to August 2, and the resulting constitution provided for, among other things, separate schools for African-American children.
Since 1942, a question about whether to hold a state constitutional convention has automatically appeared on the state's ballot every 20 years. Missouri is one of 14 states that provides for an automatic constitutional convention question.
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Constitutional convention questions
The Missouri Constitution is the state constitution of Missouri. It is the supreme law that outlines the state's framework for governance, including the powers, structure, and limitations of the state government, individual and civil rights, and other matters. The current Missouri Constitution, adopted in 1945, is the state's fourth constitution.
The Missouri Constitution can be amended via three paths: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. A question about whether to hold a state constitutional convention appears on the state's ballot every 20 years, starting in 1942. This is in accordance with Section 3a of Article XII of the Missouri Constitution. Missouri is one of 14 states that provides for an automatic constitutional convention question.
The number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is based on the number of votes cast for governor in the state's most recent gubernatorial election. Proponents must collect signatures equal to 8% of the gubernatorial vote in two-thirds of Missouri's congressional districts. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval.
Since 1962, Missourians have voted against holding a constitutional convention to revise the constitution. However, the constitution has been amended 126 times since its adoption in 1945, with the most recent amendments being approved in 2024. These amendments include laying the groundwork to legalize sports betting, establishing abortion protections, and explicitly banning non-citizen and ranked-choice voting in the state.
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Amendment frequency
The Missouri Constitution, first written in 1820, is the state constitution of Missouri. The current constitution, adopted in 1945, is the state's fourth constitution and has been amended 126 times since. This amounts to an average of 1.7 amendments per year, making Missouri's amendment frequency the 11th highest among the 50 states.
The Missouri Constitution can be amended via three paths: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. The number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is based on the number of votes cast for governor in the state's most recent gubernatorial election. In two-thirds of Missouri's congressional districts, proponents must collect signatures equal to 8% of the gubernatorial vote for initiated constitutional amendments. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval.
Since 1962, Missourians have been asked every twenty years if they would like to convene a constitutional convention to revise the constitution; each time, a majority of the state's voters have rejected the proposal. Missouri is one of 14 states that provides for an automatic constitutional convention question.
In recent years, some amendments have been both controversial and high-profile, such as legalizing commercial gambling in 1993, allowing the production of human embryos for stem cell research in 2006, and an amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage in 2004. The most recent amendments, of which there were three, were approved in 2024. These amendments laid the groundwork to legalize sports betting, establish abortion protections, and explicitly ban non-citizen and ranked-choice voting in the state of Missouri.
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Frequently asked questions
The Missouri Constitution has been amended 126 times since it was adopted in 1945, averaging 1.7 amendments per year.
Missouri has the 11th-highest amendment frequency among the 50 states.
The Missouri Constitution can be amended via three paths: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention.
Proponents must collect signatures equal to 8% of the gubernatorial vote in two-thirds of Missouri's congressional districts. A simple majority vote is then required for voter approval.
Missouri holds a state constitutional convention every 20 years, with the question of whether to hold one appearing automatically on the state's ballot.
