Malcolm Rivera
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. Missouri has had four constitutions in its history, the most recent of which was created and ratified in 1945 and is still in effect today. The Missouri Constitution has been amended 126 times, with the most recent amendments, of which there were four, approved in 2024. Amendments can be proposed by the General Assembly or by the initiative process, and they require a simple majority vote for approval.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of amendments to date | 119-126 |
| Current constitution adopted | 1945 |
| Number of constitutions in state history | 4 |
| Proposal of amendments | By the General Assembly or by the initiative |
| Frequency of constitutional convention question | Every 20 years |
| Requirement for voter approval | Simple majority |
| Number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment | Equal to 8% of the gubernatorial vote in two-thirds of Missouri's congressional districts |
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What You'll Learn
Citizen-initiated amendments
Missouri is one of eighteen states that allow citizens to initiate constitutional amendments. The process for amending the Missouri Constitution through citizen-initiated amendments is as follows:
First, proponents of the amendment must collect a certain number of signatures to initiate the constitutional amendment process. The number of signatures required is based on the number of votes cast for governor in the state's most recent gubernatorial election. Specifically, proponents must collect signatures equal to 8% of the gubernatorial vote in two-thirds of Missouri's congressional districts.
Once the required number of signatures is obtained, the proposed amendment is placed on the ballot for a vote by all the voters of Missouri. For the amendment to be approved and the constitution to be changed, a simple majority of voters (more than half) must agree to it.
The Missouri Constitution outlines the rules and processes for governing the state, including the powers, structure, and limitations of the state government, individual and civil rights, and other matters. It is the supreme law of the state, subject only to the federal Constitution and the people. The Missouri Constitution is divided into three branches of government: the legislative branch (the Missouri General Assembly), the executive branch (the Governor of Missouri), and the judicial branch (the Supreme Court of Missouri).
Since its adoption in 1945, the current Missouri Constitution has been amended over 100 times, with the most recent amendments being approved in 2024. Missourians have been asked every twenty years since 1962 if they wish to convene a constitutional convention to revise the constitution, but a majority of voters have rejected the proposal each time.
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Legislative amendments
The Missouri Constitution is the state constitution of Missouri, which is a US state. 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 Missouri Constitution has been amended 126 times since its adoption in 1945.
Once a bill proposing a constitutional amendment has passed both chambers of the General Assembly, it is then referred to the ballot for a vote by the people of Missouri. A simple majority of voters is required to approve the amendment. The governor of Missouri does not have to sign the amendment for it to be referred to the ballot.
In addition to the legislative process, citizens of Missouri can also initiate constitutional amendments through a process called the initiative. Eighteen states in the US allow citizens to initiate constitutional amendments, and Missouri is one of them. For an initiated constitutional amendment in Missouri, proponents must collect signatures equal to 8% of the votes cast for governor in the state's most recent gubernatorial election in two-thirds of Missouri's congressional districts. Once enough signatures have been collected, the amendment is then placed on the ballot for a vote by the people. A simple majority of voters is required for approval.
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Convention-referred amendments
Missouri's current constitution, its fourth, was adopted in 1945 and has been amended 126 times since. Missouri is one of 18 states that allow citizens to initiate constitutional 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 for initiated constitutional amendments. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval.
Every 20 years, starting in 1942, a question about whether to hold a state constitutional convention is automatically put on the state's ballot. Missouri voters have been asked every 20 years since 1962 if they would like to convene a constitutional convention to revise the constitution, and each time a majority of voters have rejected the proposal.
The Missouri Constitution can be amended through a convention-referred constitutional amendment process. This involves a constitutional convention, which can be called for by reformers using the initiative process. The initiative must then be passed by voters. The convention is made up of delegates who propose amendments to the constitution. The ballot form permits a separate vote on each amendment, with a simple majority allowing adoption.
The first Missouri Constitution was drafted in 1820 and was in effect from 1821 to 1865. The second constitution was passed in 1865 and was known as the "Draconian Constitution" due to its loyalty oath provisions. The third constitution was drafted in 1875, and the fourth and current constitution was drafted in 1942 and ratified in 1945.
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Voter approval
Missouri's 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 has been amended 126 times since 1945, with four amendments approved as recently as 2024.
The Missouri Constitution can be amended through a process of voter approval. This can be initiated by the General Assembly or the people of Missouri. For the General Assembly to propose a change, more than half of the senators and half of the representatives need to support it before it can be put to a vote. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot. For an amendment to be approved, a simple majority of voters—more than half—must agree to the change.
In Missouri, citizens can also initiate constitutional amendments. The number of signatures required for this is 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. Once this threshold is met, a simple majority vote is required for voter approval of the amendment.
Missouri is one of 14 states that provides for an automatic constitutional convention question to appear on the state's ballot every 20 years. Since 1962, Missourians have been asked if they would like to convene a constitutional convention to revise the constitution; each time, a majority of voters have rejected the proposal.
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Missouri's four constitutions
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.
The first constitution was drafted in 1820 in just 38 days and was in effect from 1821 to 1865. It was written by a Constitutional Convention and adopted on July 19, 1820, taking effect the day Missouri joined the union as the 24th state on August 10, 1821. This constitution included an exclusion clause that was interpreted vaguely as a "second" compromise to forestall Congress from admitting Missouri to the union.
The second constitution was known as the "Draconian Constitution" due to its strict loyalty oath provisions, which were struck down by the US Supreme Court in 1867. This constitution was in effect for ten years, from 1865 to 1875.
The third constitution was drafted in 1875 during the Reconstruction Era, as the nation dealt with the aftermath of the Civil War. This version included a provision to segregate Missouri's school system and allocate 25% of the state's general revenue to education. It remained in effect for 70 years, from 1875 to 1945.
The fourth and current constitution was ratified in 1945 after the sixth Constitutional Convention. This constitution has been amended 126 times, with the most recent amendments approved in 2024. Missourians have been asked every twenty years since 1962 if they wish to convene a constitutional convention to revise the constitution, and each time the proposal has been rejected by a majority of voters.
To amend the Missouri Constitution, a person or the General Assembly must gain enough voter support for the proposed change. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval, with more than half of voters needing to agree to the change. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
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Frequently asked questions
The Missouri Constitution is the state constitution of the U.S. State of Missouri. It 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 Missouri Constitution has been amended at least 119 times since 1945, with four more amendments approved in 2024, bringing the total number of amendments to 123.
Amendments to the Missouri Constitution can be proposed by the General Assembly or by the people of Missouri. For the General Assembly to propose an amendment, more than half of the senators and half of the representatives must support it. Citizens can also initiate constitutional amendments by collecting signatures equal to 8% of the gubernatorial vote in two-thirds of Missouri's congressional districts.
Once an amendment is proposed, it is voted on by all the voters of Missouri. If more than half of the voters agree to the change, the Missouri Constitution is amended.
Since 1942, a question about whether to hold a state constitutional convention has automatically appeared on the state's ballot every 20 years. Missouri voters have rejected the proposal to convene a constitutional convention each time.
