Malcolm Rivera
The Missouri Constitution can be amended through three methods: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. Amendments can be proposed by citizens through ballot measures, by the Missouri General Assembly through a simple majority vote, or through a state constitutional convention that appears on the state's ballot every 20 years. However, Republican lawmakers have recently voted to increase the threshold for approving constitutional amendments, making it harder to amend the Missouri Constitution. This move comes amid a campaign to restore abortion rights through a voter-backed constitutional amendment. The proposed changes would require a majority of votes in five out of eight congressional districts, in addition to a statewide majority, to approve amendments.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of ways to amend the constitution | 3 |
| Citizen-initiated process | |
| Legislative process | |
| State constitutional convention | |
| Citizen-initiated constitutional amendment | Required number of signatures based on 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 | |
| Requires a simple majority vote for voter approval | |
| Legislative constitutional amendment | Requires a simple majority vote during one legislative session |
| Requires a minimum of 82 votes in the Missouri House of Representatives and 18 votes in the Missouri State Senate | |
| Does not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot | |
| State constitutional convention | A question about whether to hold a state constitutional convention automatically appears on the state's ballot every 20 years starting in 1942 |
| Missouri is one of 14 states that provides for an automatic constitutional convention question |
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What You'll Learn
Citizen-initiated process
The Missouri Constitution can be amended through three different routes: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. This response will focus on the citizen-initiated process.
The citizen-initiated process, also known as an initiated constitutional amendment, is a mechanism that allows citizens to directly propose and enact amendments to the Missouri Constitution. This process empowers citizens to take an active role in shaping the laws that govern them.
To initiate this process, citizens must propose a constitutional amendment through a ballot measure or initiative petition. This proposal must address a specific aspect of the constitution that they wish to modify or introduce. The number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is based on the votes cast for governor in Missouri's most recent gubernatorial election. Proponents of the amendment must collect signatures equal to 8% of the gubernatorial vote in two-thirds of Missouri's congressional districts. This requirement ensures that the amendment has sufficient support from a significant portion of the state's population.
Once the required number of signatures is obtained, the proposed amendment is placed on the ballot for a statewide vote. For the amendment to be enacted, it must receive approval from a majority of voters across the state. This simple majority vote ensures that the amendment reflects the will of the people and has the necessary democratic support.
The citizen-initiated process is a powerful tool for Missouri citizens to directly influence the content and direction of their constitution. By bypassing the legislature and proposing amendments directly to the voters, citizens can drive change and adapt the constitution to meet the evolving needs and values of the state's population.
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Legislative process
The Missouri Constitution can be amended through three different routes: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, or a state constitutional convention. This response will focus on the legislative process.
The Missouri General Assembly can place a constitutional amendment on the ballot with a simple majority vote during one legislative session. This equates to a minimum of 82 votes in the Missouri House of Representatives and 18 votes in the Missouri State Senate, assuming no vacancies. The governor does not need to sign off on the amendments for them to be referred to the ballot.
The legislative process is one of the three ways to amend the Missouri Constitution. The other two methods are the citizen-initiated process and the state constitutional convention. The Missouri Constitution provides for an automatic constitutional convention question to be put to voters every 20 years, with the first one taking place in 1942.
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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 Missouri Constitution can be amended via three different paths: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention.
A state constitutional convention is a gathering of elected delegates who propose changes to the state's constitution. Missouri is one of 14 states that provides for an automatic constitutional convention question to appear on the state's ballot every 20 years, starting in 1942. The question was last put to voters in 2022 and was defeated, as it had been in 1962, 1982, 2002, and 2022.
If a constitutional convention is approved, voters will elect 68 delegates from partisan state senate district balloting and 15 nonpartisan at-large delegates in a statewide vote. The convention can then submit an entirely new constitution or a series of amendments. Any proposed changes must be approved by a majority of voters.
The first Missouri Constitution was written by a constitutional convention in 1820 and was adopted on July 19, 1820. The current constitution was ratified in 1945, and there have been at least 119 amendments made since then.
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Republican lawmakers' efforts to make it harder
The Missouri Constitution can be amended through three different paths: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. In the case of the former, an initiated constitutional amendment is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends a state's constitution. Eighteen states allow citizens to initiate constitutional amendments. In Missouri, 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.
Republican lawmakers have voted to make it more difficult to amend the state's constitution. GOP senators voted to raise the threshold for voters to approve constitutional amendments. This comes amid a campaign to restore abortion rights through an initiative petition. Republicans view the current initiative process as a vehicle for progressive forces to supplant Missouri's Republican supermajority. One citizen from Jefferson County argued that the process is "being used to hijack our state constitution to corrupt Missouri".
In 2024, a state House committee advanced four different proposals that could change how citizen-led measures can get on the ballot. The changes proposed by Missouri Republicans will change or add new requirements to that initiative process. One bill, sponsored by Republican state Rep., seeks to nearly double the required amount of signatures in Missouri's 4th Congressional District, which includes Boone County, to bring proposed laws and amendments to the ballot.
In other states, similar Republican efforts have largely failed. In South Dakota, lawmakers struck down a similar measure, and more than half of Ohio voters rejected Republican attempts to raise their ballot measure threshold.
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Majority votes required
The Missouri Constitution can be amended via three paths: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention.
Citizen-Initiated Process
In Missouri, 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 for initiated constitutional amendments. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval.
Legislative Process
A simple majority vote is required during one legislative session for the Missouri General Assembly to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 82 votes in the Missouri House of Representatives and 18 votes in the Missouri State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments referred by the legislature do not require the governor's signature.
State Constitutional Convention
According to Section 3a of Article XII of the Missouri Constitution, a question about whether to hold a state constitutional convention is to automatically appear on the state's ballot every 20 years starting in 1942. Missouri is one of 14 states that provides for an automatic constitutional convention question.
Recent Developments
On February 22, 2024, Republican lawmakers voted to make it harder to change the Missouri Constitution by requiring a majority of votes in five of the state's eight congressional districts to approve amendments, in addition to a majority of votes statewide. This proposal was made amid a campaign to restore abortion rights through a voter-backed constitutional amendment.
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Frequently asked questions
The Missouri Constitution can be amended via three paths: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention.
In Missouri, 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.
A simple majority vote is required during one legislative session for the Missouri General Assembly to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 82 votes in the Missouri House of Representatives and 18 votes in the Missouri State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
According to Section 3a of Article XII of the Missouri Constitution, a question about whether to hold a state constitutional convention is to automatically appear on the state's ballot every 20 years starting in 1942.
Currently, Missouri constitutional changes are enacted if approved by a majority of votes statewide. However, there is a recent push by Republican lawmakers to raise the threshold by also requiring a majority of votes in five of the state's eight congressional districts to approve amendments.
