Isabella Carter
The Missouri Constitution is the state constitution of the U.S. State of Missouri. It is the supreme law that outlines the governance of Missouri, subject only to the federal Constitution and the people. The current Missouri Constitution, adopted in 1945, is the state's fourth constitution and has been amended 126 times. It provides for three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. It also sets up local governments in the form of counties and cities. The Missouri Constitution also has a Bill of Rights, which gives the people of Missouri important freedoms, such as the right to speak, the right to practice religion, the right to own a gun, and the right to farm.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of state constitutions | 4 |
| Current constitution adopted | 1945 |
| Number of amendments | 126 |
| Number of constitutional articles | 14 |
| Number of amendments in 2024 | 4 |
| Constitution revision frequency | Every 20 years |
| Number of branches of government | 3 |
| Legislative branch | Missouri General Assembly |
| Executive branch | Governor of Missouri |
| Judicial branch | Supreme Court of Missouri |
| Number of articles preceding the preamble | 13 |
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What You'll Learn
Missouri's constitution history
The Missouri Constitution is the state constitution of Missouri and is the supreme law that outlines the state's framework for governance, law, and government. It is subject only to the federal Constitution and the people of Missouri. The current Missouri Constitution is the fourth in the state's history and was adopted in 1945. It has been amended 126 times, most recently in 2024.
The first Missouri Constitution was written by a Constitutional Convention in 1820 and adopted on July 19, 1820. This constitution took effect the day Missouri joined the union as the 24th state on August 10, 1821. Notably, this 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. However, it was chosen to be interpreted vaguely, and Missouri was admitted.
The second convention in 1845 produced a constitution that was rejected by voters. During the American Civil War, the Missouri Constitutional Convention (1861-63) chose not to secede from the Union. They did not produce a new constitution but instead operated as the de facto pro-Union government of Missouri when the governor and other politicians who supported the Confederacy fled from Jefferson City.
A new constitutional convention was elected in November 1864 and met in January 1865. They passed the second Missouri state constitution, which abolished slavery and was ratified on June 6, 1865. This second constitution was known as the "Draconian Constitution" due to its strict loyalty oath provisions, which were later struck down by the US Supreme Court.
The fourth constitutional convention was held in 1875, resulting in the state's third constitution. This constitution provided for, among other things, separate schools for African-American children. In the early 1900s, the 1875 Constitution was amended to allow constitutional amendment by the initiative process.
The Missouri Constitution can be amended via three paths: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. The General Assembly or the people of Missouri can suggest changes, but for an amendment to be approved, more than half of the voters in Missouri must agree to it.
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Missouri's government structure
The Missouri Constitution is the state constitution of Missouri and is the supreme law formulating the law and government of the state, subject only to the federal Constitution and the people. Missouri has had four constitutions, the current one being adopted in 1945. The Missouri Constitution provides for three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial.
Legislative Branch
The legislative branch of Missouri's government consists of the Missouri General Assembly, which is made up of the Senate and the House. Senators and representatives can write bills, which are proposed laws. If more than half of the Senate or House supports a bill, it goes to the other side of the General Assembly. If more than half of that side of the General Assembly supports the bill, it goes to the Governor. Missouri citizens can also propose and pass laws.
Executive Branch
The executive branch of Missouri's government consists of the Governor of Missouri. The Governor can sign a bill into law or veto it. If the Governor vetoes a bill, it can still become a law if two out of three senators and representatives support it.
Judicial Branch
The judicial branch of Missouri's government consists of judges who serve on different courts, including the Supreme Court of Missouri, Missouri Courts of Appeals, and Circuit Courts. Judges interpret the constitution and laws. The Missouri Constitution also includes a Bill of Rights, which gives the people of Missouri important freedoms, such as the right to speak, the right to practice religion, the right to own a gun, and the right to farm.
Local Government
The Missouri Constitution also sets up local governments in the form of counties and cities. The constitution includes articles on various topics, such as corporations, amending the constitution, public employees, and medical cannabis.
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Missouri's Bill of Rights
The Missouri Constitution is the state constitution of Missouri, which is the supreme law that outlines the governance and law of the state, subject only to the federal Constitution and the people. The current Missouri Constitution, the fourth in the state's history, was adopted in 1945 and has been amended 126 times.
The Missouri Constitution's Bill of Rights gives the people of Missouri important freedoms. For example, the Bill of Rights protects the right to free speech, the right to practice religion, the right to own a gun, and the right to farm.
The Missouri Constitution provides for three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative branch is the Missouri General Assembly, which can suggest changes to the constitution. If more than half of the senators and representatives support a change, it can then be voted on by the people of Missouri. A change is implemented if more than half of the voters agree to it. The executive branch is led by the Governor of Missouri, who can sign bills into law or veto them. The judicial branch is made up of judges who serve on different courts, including the Supreme Court of Missouri, the Missouri Courts of Appeals, and Circuit Courts.
The Missouri Constitution also includes articles on a variety of topics, such as "Corporations," "Amending the Constitution," "Public Employees," "Executive Department," "Judicial Department," and "Local Government."
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Amending the constitution
The Missouri Constitution is the state constitution of Missouri and is the supreme law that outlines the state's framework for governance, law, and government. It is subject only to the federal Constitution and the people of Missouri. The current Missouri Constitution, adopted in 1945, is the state's fourth constitution and has been amended 126 times. The constitution can be amended via three paths: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention.
The Missouri Constitution can be amended through a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, or a state constitutional convention.
Citizen-Initiated Process
Citizens of Missouri can suggest changes to the state constitution. To do so, a person or group must gather enough voter support for their proposed amendment. The suggested change, or amendment, is then put to a vote by all voters in the state. If more than half of the voters agree to the change, the constitution is amended.
Legislative Process
The General Assembly, consisting of senators and representatives, can also initiate changes to the Missouri Constitution. For this process, more than half of the senators and half of the representatives must support a proposed change before it can be put to a vote by the people. If more than half of the voters agree to the change, the constitution is amended.
State Constitutional Convention
Since 1962, Missourians have been asked every twenty years if they would like to convene a constitutional convention to revise the constitution. This process allows for a more comprehensive review and revision of the constitution. The convention can propose a slate of amendments or even a new constitution, which would then be put to a vote by the citizens of Missouri.
The Missouri Constitution has a robust framework for amending its provisions, ensuring that the state's framework for governance, law, and government can adapt to the changing needs and values of its citizens.
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Missouri's judiciary
The Missouri Constitution provides for three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. The judicial branch is made up of judges who serve on different courts, including the Supreme Court of Missouri, the Missouri Courts of Appeals, and Circuit Courts. The role of a judge is to interpret the constitution and laws.
The Missouri Constitution has a Bill of Rights, which guarantees important freedoms to the people of Missouri. These include the right to free speech, the right to practice religion, the right to own a gun, and the right to farm.
The process of changing the Missouri Constitution is outlined in the constitution itself. Changes can be suggested by the General Assembly or the people of Missouri. For a change to be made, more than half of the voters in Missouri must agree to it. The laws of Missouri can be written by senators, representatives, and even citizens. The first step to making a law is writing a "bill," which can be done by a senator or representative. If more than half of the Senate or House supports the bill, it then goes to the other side of the General Assembly. If it receives majority support there, it goes to the Governor. The Governor can sign the bill into law or veto it. Even if vetoed, the bill can still become a law if two out of three senators and representatives support it.
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Frequently asked questions
A preamble is an introductory statement, in this case, to the Missouri Constitution.
The Missouri Constitution is the state constitution of the U.S. State of Missouri. It is the fundamental document outlining the state's framework for governance, including the powers, structure, and limitations of the state government, individual and civil rights, and other matters.
There have been four Missouri Constitutions, the current one being adopted in 1945. The first was written and adopted in 1820, and the second and third were written in 1845 and 1865, respectively. The second constitution was rejected by voters, and the third was in effect for 10 years.
The current Missouri 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 and includes a Bill of Rights, protecting important freedoms such as the right to speak, the right to practice religion, and the right to own a gun.
The Missouri Constitution can be amended in three ways: through a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, or a state constitutional convention. For a citizen-initiated change, a person must gather enough voter support for the amendment, and then it is voted on by all Missouri voters. For a legislative process, more than half of the senators and representatives must support the change before putting it to a public vote. Finally, a state constitutional convention can propose amendments, which are then voted on by the people of Missouri.
