Simone Lawson
Missouri's first constitution was written in 1820, predating the city of St Louis. The first Missouri Constitutional Convention assembled in St Louis on June 12, 1820, and the constitution was adopted on July 19, 1820. The constitution was made up of 13 articles, establishing the boundaries of the future state, the system of government, the Missouri militia, the education system, and the amendment process.
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What You'll Learn
The first Missouri Constitutional Convention assembled in St Louis in 1820
The 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. It was written in only 38 days and was adopted on July 19, 1820, more than a year before Missouri was admitted as the 24th state of the union on August 10, 1821.
Missouri has had four constitutions over its two centuries of statehood, reflecting the changes that the nation as a whole has gone through over time. The territory of Missouri first applied for statehood in 1817 and was considered for the opportunity to become the 23rd state in the Union two years later.
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The first constitution was written in 38 days
The first Missouri Constitution was written in 1820 in just 38 days. The Missouri territory was given the authority to create a constitution, and on June 12, 1820, the first Missouri Constitutional Convention assembled in St. Louis. The convention was made up of 40 men from 15 Missouri counties, and they elected David Barton, one of eight delegates representing St. Louis County, as president of the convention. The 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 first constitution was adopted on July 19, 1820, more than a year before Missouri was admitted as the 24th state of the union on August 10, 1821. Article V, section 1 of the 1820 constitution provided that "the judicial powers as to matters of law and equity, shall be vested in a 'Supreme Court' in a 'Chancellor' in 'Circuit Courts,' and in such inferior tribunals as the general assembly may, from time to time, ordain and establish." This article remains the article pertaining to the courts in today's state constitution.
Missouri has had four constitutions over its two centuries of statehood, reflecting the changes that the nation 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 for the state. The current and fourth Missouri Constitution was adopted in 1945, and it provides for three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial.
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The first constitution was adopted in 1820
The first Missouri Constitution was adopted on July 19, 1820, more than a year before Missouri was admitted as the 24th state of the union on August 10, 1821. The first constitution was written by the Constitutional Convention, which assembled in St. Louis on June 12, 1820. The convention was made up of 40 men from 15 Missouri counties, and they elected David Barton, one of eight delegates representing St. Louis County, as president. The 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.
Article V, section 1 of the 1820 constitution provided that "the judicial powers as to matters of law and equity, shall be vested in a 'Supreme Court' in a 'Chancellor' in 'Circuit Courts,' and in such inferior tribunals as the general assembly may, from time to time, ordain and establish". This article remains the article pertaining to the courts in today's state constitution. The 1820 constitution also divided original jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases, giving the circuit courts original jurisdiction over all criminal cases and the "courts of chancery" jurisdiction over certain civil cases.
Missouri has had four constitutions over its two centuries of statehood, 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 for the state. The third constitution was adopted in 1945 and provided for three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial.
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The first constitution established the judicial branch of government
The Missouri Constitution came first, as it was adopted on July 19, 1820, more than a year before Missouri was admitted as the 24th state of the union on August 10, 1821. The first constitution established the judicial branch of government, as well as the legislative and executive branches.
The first Missouri Constitutional Convention assembled in St. Louis on June 12, 1820, and was made up of 40 men from 15 Missouri counties. The assembly elected David Barton, one of eight delegates representing St. Louis County, as president of the convention. The 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.
Article V, section 1 of the 1820 constitution provided that "the judicial powers as to matters of law and equity, shall be vested in a 'Supreme Court' in a 'Chancellor' in 'Circuit Courts,' and in such inferior tribunals as the general assembly may, from time to time, ordain and establish." This article remains the article pertaining to the courts in today's state constitution. The 1820 constitution divided original jurisdiction (the power to hear and decide cases) over criminal and civil cases, giving the circuit courts original jurisdiction over all criminal cases and the "courts of chancery" jurisdiction over certain civil cases.
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The second constitution was ratified in 1865
Missouri's first constitution was adopted on July 19, 1820, and its second constitution was ratified in 1865, following the end of the Civil War. The second constitution ended the institution of slavery in the state, as Missouri was not included in the Emancipation Proclamation due to its status as a border state and part of the Union during the war.
The first constitution was written by a convention of 40 men from 15 Missouri counties, who assembled in the Mansion House Hotel in St. Louis. The assembly elected David Barton, one of eight delegates representing St. Louis County, as president of the convention on the first day. The 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.
Missouri was admitted as the 24th state of the union on August 10, 1821, more than a year after the first constitution was adopted. The 1820 constitution provided for a 'Supreme Court', a 'Chancellor', and 'Circuit Courts', with the latter two having original jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases, respectively.
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Frequently asked questions
The first Missouri Constitution was written in 1820.
The first Missouri Constitution was adopted on July 19, 1820.
The first Missouri Constitution was written in St. Louis.
The first Missouri Constitution was written in 38 days.
The first Missouri Constitution was written in the Mansion House Hotel.
