Eleanor Finch
The Missouri Constitution is the state constitution of Missouri, USA. 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 current Missouri Constitution was adopted in 1945 and is the state's fourth constitution. It provides for three branches of government: legislative (the Missouri General Assembly), executive (the Governor of Missouri), and judicial (the Missouri Supreme Court and lower courts). The Missouri Constitution also includes a Bill of Rights, protecting important freedoms such as the right to speak, the right to practice religion, the right to own a gun, and the right to farm. The constitution can be amended through a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, or a state constitutional convention.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Current constitution | Adopted in 1945, Missouri's fourth constitution |
| Previous constitutions | Three previous constitutions, drafted in 1820, 1845, and 1875 |
| Government structure | Legislative, executive, and judicial branches |
| Legislative branch | Missouri General Assembly (senators and representatives) |
| Executive branch | Governor of Missouri |
| Judicial branch | Supreme Court of Missouri, Missouri Courts of Appeals, Circuit Courts |
| Local government | Counties and cities |
| Amendments | At least 119 amendments since 1945, including controversial changes such as legalizing commercial gambling and prohibiting same-sex marriage |
| Bill of Rights | Protects freedoms such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to bear arms, and the right to farm |
| Amendment process | Initiated by citizen petition, legislative process, or state constitutional convention; requires support from over half of voters |
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What You'll Learn
The Missouri Constitution's Bill of Rights
The Missouri Constitution is the state constitution of Missouri, USA, and 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 current Missouri Constitution was adopted in 1945 and is the state's fourth constitution.
In addition, the Missouri Constitution's Bill of Rights addresses the powers of the people over internal affairs, the constitution, and the form of government. It includes provisions for religious freedom, liberty of conscience and belief, the right to pray, and academic religious freedoms. The Bill of Rights also outlines the independence of Missouri and the submission of certain amendments to the Constitution of the United States.
The Missouri Constitution can be amended through three paths: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. To suggest a change to the Missouri Constitution, more than half of the senators and representatives must support it before putting it to a vote. The constitution can then be amended if more than half of the voters agree to the change.
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The three branches of government
The Missouri Constitution is the state constitution of Missouri, USA. 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 current Missouri Constitution, adopted in 1945, is the state's fourth constitution. It provides for three branches of government: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
The legislative branch of the Missouri government is the Missouri General Assembly. The General Assembly is responsible for proposing changes to the Missouri Constitution. To suggest a change, more than half of the senators and half of the representatives must support it before putting it to a vote for the people. The Missouri Constitution can be amended if more than half of the voters agree to the proposed change. The laws of Missouri can be written by senators, representatives, and even Missouri citizens. The first step to making a law is writing a "bill." A senator or representative can write a bill they want to be enacted into law. A smaller group of senators or representatives, called a "committee," then reviews the bill and discusses it. If a Missouri citizen wants to pass a bill, five per cent of Missouri voters must sign a petition showing their support. If enough people sign the petition, all Missouri voters decide through a vote if that bill should become a law.
The executive branch of the Missouri government is the Governor of Missouri. The Governor of Missouri is the state's chief executive and is responsible for overseeing the state's executive branch agencies and departments. The governor also has the power to sign or veto bills passed by the General Assembly and propose legislation.
The judicial branch of the Missouri government is made up of judges who serve on different courts, including the Supreme Court of Missouri, Missouri Courts of Appeals, and Circuit Courts. The judges' role is to interpret the constitution and laws, deciding what they mean. The Missouri Constitution also includes a Bill of Rights, which guarantees the people of Missouri important freedoms, such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to own a gun, and the right to farm.
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Judicial Department
The Missouri Constitution is the state constitution of Missouri, USA. 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 current Missouri Constitution, adopted in 1945, is the state's fourth constitution. It provides for three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial.
Judicial Branch
The Judicial Branch, or Judicial Department, is outlined in Article V of the Missouri Constitution, which consists of 27 sections. The Missouri judiciary is made up of judges who serve on different courts, including the Supreme Court of Missouri, the Missouri Courts of Appeals, and the Circuit Courts. The role of a judge is to interpret the constitution and laws.
The Missouri Constitution also includes a Bill of Rights, which grants the people of Missouri important freedoms and protections. These include the right to freedom of speech and religion, the right to own a gun, and the right to farm. Other sections within the Bill of Rights address due process of law, habeas corpus, open courts, and more.
The Missouri Constitution can be amended through three paths: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. For a citizen-initiated amendment, citizens must gather support through petitions, and if successful, all Missouri voters decide on the proposed amendment. Similarly, for a legislative amendment, more than half of the senators and representatives must support the change before putting it to a vote by all Missouri voters. A simple majority is required for the amendment to pass in both cases.
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Local Government
The Missouri Constitution is the state constitution of Missouri, and it is the supreme law that formulates the law and government of the state. It establishes three branches of government: the legislative, executive, and judicial. It also sets up local governments in the form of counties and cities.
The Missouri Constitution's Local Government section (Article VI) outlines the powers and limitations of local governments in the state. It includes provisions for the cooperation of local governments with other governmental units and the consolidation and separation of municipalities and political subdivisions. It also addresses the powers and limitations of charter cities and counties, including taxation, the use of credit, grants of public funds, and the acquisition of industrial plants.
For instance, Section 19 of the Local Government article states that certain cities may adopt a charter form of government, with specific procedures outlined for framing and adopting the charter. The power of these charter cities is limited, as outlined in Section 19(a). Section 20 outlines the procedure for submitting and adopting amendments to city charters, while Section 21 addresses the reclamation of blighted, substandard, or insanitary areas.
The Local Government article also includes financial considerations for local governments. Section 23, for example, places limitations on the ownership of corporate stock and the use of credit and grants of public funds by local governments. It also addresses the ability of cities to acquire and furnish industrial plants and incur related indebtedness. Section 24 requires local governments and municipally-owned utilities to prepare annual budgets and reports, which are subject to audits.
Additionally, the Missouri Constitution outlines the process for amending the constitution or passing bills. To suggest a change to the constitution, more than half of the senators and representatives in the General Assembly must support it before putting it to a vote for all Missouri voters. A bill can be proposed by senators, representatives, or even Missouri citizens, and it must be supported by five percent of Missouri voters through a petition before all Missouri voters decide on it in an election.
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Amending the Constitution
The Missouri Constitution is the state constitution of Missouri, USA. 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 current Missouri Constitution was adopted in 1945 and is the state's fourth constitution. It provides for three branches of government: legislative (the Missouri General Assembly), executive (the Governor of Missouri), and judicial (the Supreme Court of Missouri).
The Missouri Constitution can be amended via three different paths: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. For the legislative process, more than half of the senators and half of the representatives need to support a change to the Missouri Constitution before the people can vote for it. The Missouri Constitution can then be amended if more than half of the voters agree to the change. If a Missouri citizen wants to pass a bill, five per cent of Missouri's voters must sign a petition showing their support. If enough people sign the petition, all Missouri voters vote and decide if that bill should become law.
In the early 20th century, Missouri was dominated by corrupt political "bosses", such as Tom Pendergast of Kansas City. In reaction to this, reformers used the initiative to call for a sixth constitutional convention, which was passed by voters in 1942. The voters ratified the new constitution in 1945. Since 1945, there have been at least 119 amendments made to the Constitution. Some of these amendments include legalizing commercial gambling in 1993, allowing the production of human embryos for stem cell research in 2006, and an amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage in 2004.
The Missouri Constitution also has a Bill of Rights, which gives the people of Missouri important freedoms. For example, the Bill of Rights protects freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to own a gun, and the right to farm.
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Frequently asked questions
The Missouri Constitution is the state constitution of the U.S. State of Missouri. It is the supreme law that outlines the law and government of Missouri, subject only to the federal Constitution and the people.
The Missouri Constitution includes 14 articles that outline the state's framework for governance, including the powers, structure, and limitations of the state government, individual and civil rights, and other matters. It provides for three branches of government: legislative (the Missouri General Assembly), executive (the Governor of Missouri), and judicial (the Missouri Supreme Court and other courts). It also sets up local governments in the form of counties and cities and includes a Bill of Rights that gives the people of Missouri important freedoms, such as the right to speak, practice religion, own a gun, and farm.
The Missouri Constitution can be amended via three paths: a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. For a citizen-initiated amendment, five percent of Missouri voters must sign a petition showing their support. If enough people sign, all Missouri voters then vote, and the amendment is passed if more than half agree. For a legislative amendment, more than half of the senators and representatives must support the change before putting it to a vote. The constitution can also be amended by a state constitutional convention, which can be called by a majority of voters every 20 years.
