Simone Lawson
Voting on Missouri constitutional amendments can be done in two ways: by a simple majority vote of legislators or by a supermajority vote. A simple majority vote is currently the method used to amend the constitution, but there have been proposals to require a supermajority vote instead. This would mean that a larger proportion of the vote, such as 57% or 60%, would be necessary for any constitutional amendment to pass. Amendments always require voter approval before being added to the Missouri Constitution, and residents of Missouri have the power to initiate legislation as a constitutional amendment and to repeal legislation via veto referendum.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Voter eligibility | Only citizens of the United States of America, who are 18 years or older, residents of the State of Missouri, and properly registered to vote in the state |
| Types of amendments | Legislatively referred constitutional amendment or citizen-initiated constitutional amendment |
| Requirements for ballot placement | Simple majority vote in both the Missouri State Senate and the Missouri House of Representatives |
| Requirements for passing an amendment | Simple majority statewide vote; majority of votes in five out of eight congressional districts |
| Examples of amendments | Amendment 2: legalizing sports betting; Amendment 3: legalizing abortion; Amendment 5: issuing an additional gambling boat license |
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What You'll Learn
- Missouri residents can initiate legislation as a constitutional amendment
- Amendments require voter approval to be added to the constitution
- A simple majority vote is required to place amendments on the ballot
- Legislatively referred amendments require a majority in both the State Senate and House
- The Missouri Constitution can be amended with a supermajority vote
Missouri residents can initiate legislation as a constitutional amendment
The Missouri Constitution has been amended 126 times, with the most recent amendments, of which there were four, approved in 2024. The process of initiating a constitutional amendment requires a number of signatures based on the number of votes cast for the governor in the state's most recent gubernatorial election. In at least two-thirds of Missouri's congressional districts, proponents must collect signatures equal to 8% of the gubernatorial vote for initiated constitutional amendments. The number of signatures required for proposed amendments in the initiative petition process to get on the ballot was 171,592 in 2023.
A simple majority vote is required for voter approval of an initiated constitutional amendment. However, there have been legislative efforts to increase the threshold to a 60% supermajority vote or a 57% supermajority vote. As of 2024, residents of Missouri had the power to initiate legislation as a constitutional amendment and to repeal legislation via veto referendum. Amendments always require voter approval before being added to the Missouri Constitution.
Some examples of successful citizen-initiated constitutional amendments in Missouri include the legalization of marijuana, the expansion of Medicaid, and the raising of the minimum wage.
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Amendments require voter approval to be added to the constitution
In Missouri, amendments always require voter approval before they are added to the state's constitution. As of 2024, residents of Missouri have the power to initiate legislation as either a state statute or a constitutional amendment. To put a legislatively referred constitutional amendment before voters, a simple majority vote is required in both the Missouri State Senate and the Missouri House of Representatives.
The Missouri House of Representatives voted 108-50 to pass an amendment that would require a 60% supermajority vote for all new constitutional amendments. The Missouri State Senate amended the legislation, changing the 60% supermajority requirement to 57%, and passed the amendment by 24-10. The final legislation did not pass the House again before the end of the legislative session.
A “yes” vote on Amendment 2, for example, will amend the Missouri Constitution to permit licensed sports betting regulated by the Missouri Gaming Commission and restrict sports betting to individuals over the age of 21 who are physically located in the state. A “no” vote on Amendment 2 opposes legalizing and regulating sports betting in Missouri.
Similarly, a “yes” vote on Amendment 3 establishes a constitutional right to make decisions about reproductive health care, including abortion and contraceptives, with any governmental interference of that right presumed invalid. A “no” vote on Amendment 3 would leave Missouri's abortion ban in place.
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A simple majority vote is required to place amendments on the ballot
To place an amendment on the ballot in Missouri, a simple majority vote is required in both the Missouri State Senate and the Missouri House of Representatives. This means that a majority of legislators must vote in favour of the amendment for it to be put before voters. Once an amendment is on the ballot, it will become law if it receives a simple majority of votes.
For example, in 2023, the Missouri House of Representatives voted 108-50 in favour of an amendment that would require a 60% supermajority vote for any new constitutional amendments. This means that 108 representatives voted 'yes', and 50 voted 'no'. As this was a simple majority, the amendment was passed by the House and put before the State Senate for approval.
However, the Missouri State Senate amended the legislation, changing the required supermajority vote from 60% to 57%. This amendment passed with a simple majority of 24-10 votes. As a result, the amended legislation had to go back to the House for another vote, but the legislative session ended before this could happen.
So, while a simple majority is generally sufficient to place an amendment on the ballot, other factors can come into play, such as time constraints or amendments to the proposed legislation.
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Legislatively referred amendments require a majority in both the State Senate and House
In Missouri, legislatively referred constitutional amendments require a simple majority vote in both the State Senate and House before being put before voters for approval. This means that more than half of the members of each chamber must vote in favour of the amendment for it to proceed to the ballot. Once on the ballot, a simple majority vote is required from Missouri residents for the amendment to be added to the Missouri Constitution.
The process of proposing and approving constitutional amendments in Missouri involves several steps. Firstly, the amendment is introduced and debated in the Missouri House of Representatives. If it passes by a simple majority, it then moves to the State Senate, where it must again secure a simple majority to be approved. At this point, the State Senate may propose amendments or changes to the original legislation, as they did in April 2023 when they amended the supermajority requirement from 60% to 57%. The amended legislation must then pass a second time in the House by a simple majority before it can be placed on the ballot for voter consideration.
The specific threshold for a simple majority in the State Senate and House may vary depending on the total number of members present and voting. In the case of the Missouri House of Representatives, a simple majority of the 163 members would be 82, assuming all members are present and voting. However, the actual vote count may differ if there are absences or abstentions.
It is worth noting that the Missouri legislature has been considering changes to the simple majority requirement for constitutional amendments. For example, in 2023, the Missouri House of Representatives and State Senate debated an amendment to require a 60% supermajority vote, later amended to 57%, for any constitutional amendment. This proposal aimed to make it more challenging to amend the state's constitution. While this specific amendment did not pass, it reflects an ongoing discussion about the appropriate threshold for amending Missouri's Constitution.
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The Missouri Constitution can be amended with a supermajority vote
The Missouri Constitution can be amended with a simple majority statewide vote. However, there have been recent attempts to change this to a supermajority vote requirement.
In 2023, the Missouri House of Representatives voted to pass an amendment that would require a 60% supermajority vote for any new constitutional amendments. The Missouri State Senate amended this legislation, changing the required supermajority threshold to 57%, and passed the amendment by a vote of 24-10. This final legislation did not pass the House again before the end of the legislative session.
The Missouri 57% Supermajority Vote Requirement for Constitutional Amendments Measure was not on the ballot in Missouri on November 5, 2024. If it had passed, it would have created a 57% supermajority vote requirement for any constitutional amendment by the state legislature and a 57% supermajority vote requirement from voters.
As of 2024, residents of Missouri have the power to initiate legislation as either a state statute or a constitutional amendment. Amendments always require voter approval before being added to the Missouri Constitution. To put a legislatively referred constitutional amendment before voters, a simple majority vote is required in both the Missouri State Senate and the Missouri House of Representatives.
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Frequently asked questions
Amendments are added to the Missouri Constitution through a simple majority statewide vote. Both amendments and statutes require a simple majority vote of legislators to be placed on the ballot.
To place an amendment on the ballot, it must pass through the Missouri State Senate and the Missouri House of Representatives with a simple majority vote.
Yes, as of 2024, residents must be citizens of the United States, at least 18 years old, residents of Missouri, and properly registered to vote in the state.
Yes, residents of Missouri can initiate amendments as either state statutes or constitutional amendments. They also have the power to repeal legislation through a veto referendum.
If an amendment passes, it becomes part of the Missouri Constitution. The specific changes outlined in the amendment will then be implemented, such as changes to abortion rights, sports betting regulations, or gambling licenses.
