Simone Lawson
Missouri has had four constitutions in its history, with the fourth and current Missouri Constitution being adopted in 1945. This constitution is the supreme law that formulates the law and government of Missouri and is subject only to the federal Constitution and the people. The fourth constitution was drafted in a constitutional convention and ratified by voters in 1945, and it is still in place today.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of fourth constitution | 1945 |
| Number of constitutions in Missouri's history | 4 |
| Number of amendments to the fourth constitution | 119 or more |
| Number of articles in the fourth constitution | 14 |
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What You'll Learn
The fourth Missouri Constitution was adopted in 1945
Missouri has had four constitutions in its history. The fourth and current Missouri Constitution was adopted in 1945. It is the supreme law that formulates the law and government of Missouri, subject only to the federal Constitution and the people.
The fourth Missouri Constitution was drafted in a constitutional convention, and voters ratified it in 1945. This constitution is still in place today. Since 1945, there have been at least 119 amendments made to the Constitution, with the most recent amendments, of which there were four, approved in 2024. The Missouri Constitution can be changed if more than half of the voters agree to the change. Interestingly, most changes in Missouri's constitutional interpretation have occurred not due to government action but rather through the people's votes on explicit amendments.
The fourth 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. The legislative branch in Missouri is called the "General Assembly" and is split into the Senate and the House of Representatives. Missourians choose their representatives and senators by voting for them in elections. Senators keep their jobs for four years and then have to run for reelection, while representatives have a two-year term.
The fourth Missouri Constitution was adopted almost two centuries after the first constitution was adopted on July 19, 1820, more than a year before Missouri officially became a state on August 10, 1821.
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It is the current constitution and has been amended over 100 times
The current Missouri Constitution, the fourth in the state's history, was ratified in 1945 and has been amended over 100 times since. It is the state's supreme law, outlining its framework for governance, including the powers, structure, and limitations of the state government, individual and civil rights, and other matters.
The Missouri Constitution can be amended if more than half of the voters agree to the change. In two-thirds of Missouri's congressional districts, proponents must collect signatures equal to 8% of the gubernatorial vote for initiated constitutional amendments. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
The Missouri Constitution has been amended to legalise commercial gambling, allow the production of human embryos for stem cell research, prohibit same-sex marriage, and, more recently, to legalise and regulate medical marijuana.
The 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.
The current constitution has been in place for over 70 years and has been amended to keep up with the needs of modern society. It is a reflection of the changes that the nation has gone through over time.
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It was drafted in 1942 and ratified in 1945
Missouri has had four constitutions in its history. The fourth and current Missouri Constitution was drafted in 1942 and ratified in 1945. It is the supreme law that formulates the law and government of Missouri, subject only to the federal Constitution and the people.
The fourth constitution was drafted in a constitutional convention, and voters ratified it in 1945. The 1945 constitution is still in place today. 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, and the initiative was passed by the voters in 1942. The fourth constitution has been amended more than 100 times since its adoption in 1945, each time by popular vote following either referral by the legislature or a petition by voters to place a proposal on the ballot.
The Missouri Constitution can be changed if more than half of the voters agree to the change. If a person wants to change the Missouri Constitution, they must get enough voters to support it. The change, or amendment, is then voted on by all the voters of Missouri. The laws of Missouri can be written by senators, representatives, and even Missouri citizens. The first step to making a law is writing what is called a "bill." A senator or representative can write a bill they want to be a law. A smaller group of senators or representatives called a "committee" then looks over the bill and discusses it.
The fourth 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. The Missouri Constitution splits Missouri’s government into three branches: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial. The Legislative Branch in Missouri is called the “General Assembly,” and is split into the Senate and the House of Representatives.
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It provides for three branches of government
Missouri's fourth and current constitution was ratified in 1945. It has been amended more than 100 times since then, with the most recent amendments approved in 2024. The constitution provides for three branches of government: the legislative, executive, and judicial.
The legislative branch of Missouri's government is called the "General Assembly" and is split into the Senate and the House of Representatives. Senators and representatives are chosen by the people of Missouri through elections. Senators serve for four years before having to run for reelection, while representatives serve for two years. Bills are proposed and passed by senators, representatives, and even Missouri citizens. A bill must be supported by more than half of the Senate or House before it goes to the other side of the General Assembly. If it is supported by more than half of that side, the bill goes to the governor, who can sign it into law or veto it. If the governor vetoes the bill, it can still become a law if two out of three senators and representatives support it.
The executive branch is headed by the governor, who is elected by Missouri voters. The governor signs bills into law and ensures that the rules in those laws are followed. The governor serves for four years before having to run for reelection.
The judicial branch is made up of judges who serve on different courts, including the Supreme Court of Missouri, Missouri Courts of Appeals, and Circuit Courts. The role of a judge is to interpret the constitution and laws. The 1820 constitution gave the Supreme Court of Missouri jurisdiction over only appellate cases, but it also bestowed the Court with "control over all inferior courts of law." Today, the Supreme Court of Missouri continues to hear appeals and exercise "superintending authority" over all the state's lower courts.
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It is the law of Missouri, subject only to the federal Constitution
Missouri has had four constitutions in its history, with the current one being adopted in 1945. This makes it the law of Missouri, subject only to the federal Constitution. The Missouri Constitution is the supreme law that formulates the law and government of Missouri. It is changed if more than half of the voters agree to the change. Missouri citizens can propose and pass laws, but the laws must not limit the rights that the U.S. Constitution empowers states to have.
The 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). The legislative branch is further divided into the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate has 34 members who keep their jobs for four years, while the House of Representatives has 163 members who keep their jobs for two years. Bills are proposed and passed in the House of Representatives, after which they are sent to the Senate for debate. If more than half of the Senate or House supports the 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. The Governor can sign the bill into law or veto it. If vetoed, the bill can still become a law if two out of three senators and representatives support it.
The executive branch is run by the Governor, who is elected by Missouri voters and keeps their job for four years. The judicial branch is made up of judges who serve on different courts, such as the Supreme Court of Missouri, Missouri Courts of Appeals, and Circuit Courts. A judge's job is to interpret what the constitution and laws mean.
The Missouri Constitution has been amended more than 100 times since its adoption in 1945. Some notable amendments include legalizing commercial gambling in 1993, allowing the production of human embryos for stem cell research in 2006, and legalizing and regulating medical marijuana in 2018.
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Frequently asked questions
Missouri got its fourth constitution in 1945.
Missouri has had four constitutions in its history.
The fourth constitution has been in place since 1945, so as of 2024, it has been in place for 79 years.
According to Article XII of the current constitution, the people of Missouri can vote for a new constitutional convention every 20 years.
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