Isabella Carter
Missouri's fourth constitution was ratified by voters on February 27, 1945, marking a significant moment in the state's history. The referendum, which was held on this date, saw the proposed constitution approved by a significant majority of voters. The fourth constitution provided a modern framework for governance, reflecting the contemporary needs and aspirations of Missourians. The process of drafting the new constitution began in 1943, and it was the state's sixth constitutional convention, addressing issues such as demographic shifts, economic changes, and the influence of corrupt political bosses. The current constitution, adopted in 1945, has been amended over 100 times since its implementation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of ratification | February 27, 1945 |
| Previous number of constitutions | 3 |
| Number of constitutional conventions | 6 |
| Date of calling for a constitutional convention | 1942 |
| Date of drafting | 1943-1944 |
| Date of adoption | 1945 |
| Number of amendments since 1945 | Over 100 |
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What You'll Learn
The fourth constitution was ratified in 1945
Missouri's fourth constitution was ratified by voters on February 27, 1945, marking a significant moment in the state's history. This was the state's sixth constitutional convention, which was held in Jefferson City, the state capital. The convention brought together delegates from across Missouri. The need for a new constitution arose from various factors, including demographic shifts, economic changes, and the influence of corrupt political "bosses" on the state.
The drafting process for the new constitution began in 1943, a year after Missouri voters approved the initiative for a constitutional convention. The convention completed its work in 1944, and the proposed constitution was put to a statewide referendum in 1945. The 1945 constitution provided a modern framework for governance, reflecting the contemporary needs and aspirations of Missourians. It has been amended over 100 times since its adoption.
The Missouri Constitution is the state constitution of Missouri, formulating the law and government of the state and subject only to the federal Constitution and the people. It provides for three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative branch consists of the Missouri General Assembly, the executive branch is led by the Governor of Missouri, and the judicial branch comprises judges serving in various courts, including the Supreme Court of Missouri, Missouri Courts of Appeals, and Circuit Courts.
The Missouri Constitution can be amended if more than half of the voters agree to the changes. An automatic provision in the constitution also gives voters the option to call for another constitutional convention by ballot referendum every 20 years.
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It was drafted in 1943
Missouri's fourth and current constitution was drafted in 1943, and it took two years and three attempts to secure voter approval. The process began in 1942 when the Missouri General Assembly proposed a resolution to draft a new constitution, which was passed with wide support. A 31-member constitutional convention was elected by the people of Missouri in November 1942, and this group drafted the new constitution in 1943 and 1944.
The convention was made up of prominent Missourians, including political figures, lawyers, and business leaders. They met in the State Capitol Building in Jefferson City and held 60 working sessions over the course of several months. The draft constitution they produced was a comprehensive document that made significant changes to the structure and functions of Missouri's government.
One of the key changes proposed in the 1943 draft was the reorganization of the state's judicial system. It created a new system of state courts, including a Supreme Court, a Court of Appeals, and circuit courts. This change was designed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Missouri's judicial system. The draft constitution also made provisions for a number of other areas, including the establishment of a state civil service system, the creation of a state highway patrol, and the extension of suffrage to 18-year-olds.
The draft constitution was then put before the voters of Missouri for approval. The first attempt, in 1944, failed by a narrow margin. However, the supporters of the new constitution were undeterred and tried again in 1945, but this attempt also failed to secure the necessary majority. Finally, on March 28, 1945, the General Assembly ordered the proposal to be submitted again, and on November 6, 1945, Missouri voters approved the new constitution.
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Voters approved a convention in 1942
In 1942, Missouri voters approved an initiative to call for a constitutional convention. This was the sixth constitutional convention, and the fourth constitution for the state. The initiative was a response to the corrupt political "bosses" that had dominated Missouri in the early 20th century, such as Tom Pendergast of Kansas City.
The constitutional convention was held in Jefferson City, the state capital, and brought together delegates from across Missouri. The process of drafting the new constitution began in 1943, and the proposed constitution was put to a vote in 1944 after months of deliberation.
In 1945, Missouri voters were asked to approve or reject the new document in a statewide referendum. The referendum was held on February 27, 1945, and the proposed constitution was ratified by a significant majority of voters. This marked a significant moment in the state's history, providing a modern framework for governance that reflected the contemporary needs and aspirations of Missourians.
Since its adoption, the constitution has been amended over 100 times. An automatic provision in the constitution also gives voters the option to call for another constitutional convention by ballot referendum every 20 years.
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It was Missouri's sixth convention
Missouri's fourth constitution was ratified in 1945, marking a significant moment in the state's history. This constitution was written and approved during the state's sixth constitutional convention.
The process of drafting the new constitution began in 1943, and the convention was held in Jefferson City, the state capital, bringing together delegates from across Missouri. The convention completed its work in 1944, and the proposed constitution was put to a vote. In 1945, Missouri voters were asked to approve or reject the new document in a statewide referendum. The referendum was held on February 27, 1945, and the proposed constitution was ratified by a significant majority of voters.
The need for a new constitution arose from various factors, including demographic shifts, economic changes, and the perceived influence of corrupt machine politics on the state. Missouri's fourth constitution provided a modern framework for governance, reflecting the contemporary needs and aspirations of Missourians. It has been amended over 100 times since its adoption, and an automatic provision in the constitution gives voters the option to call for another constitutional convention by ballot referendum every 20 years.
The first constitution of Missouri was written by a Constitutional Convention in 1820 and adopted on July 19, 1820, the same year Missouri became a state. This convention met for 38 days to establish the foundation of Missouri's government. The territory of Missouri first applied for statehood in 1817 and was considered for the opportunity to become a state in the Union two years later.
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The first constitution was in 1820
The first Missouri Constitution was written by a Constitutional Convention in 1820, just 38 days after the process began. It was adopted on July 19, 1820, and took effect on August 10, 1821, the day Missouri joined the union as the 24th state. This first constitution specifically excluded "free negroes and mulattoes" from the state. This exclusion clause delayed Missouri's admission to the union, but it was eventually interpreted in a deliberately vague manner as a "second" compromise.
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 and did not produce a new constitution. Instead, they acted as the de facto pro-Union government of Missouri when the governor and other pro-Confederate politicians fled from Jefferson City.
The fourth and current Missouri Constitution was ratified by voters on February 27, 1945. The need for a new constitution arose from demographic shifts, economic changes, and the influence of corrupt machine politics on the state. The 1945 constitution provides a modern framework for governance, reflecting the contemporary needs and aspirations of Missourians. It establishes 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.
Since its adoption, the 1945 constitution has been amended at least 119 times. Some of these amendments have been controversial, such as the legalization of commercial gambling in 1993, the allowance of human embryo production for stem cell research, and an English-only amendment in 2008. The most recent amendments to the Missouri Constitution were approved in 2024.
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Frequently asked questions
Missouri's fourth constitution was approved by voters in 1945.
The fourth constitution was drafted in a constitutional convention, and voters ratified it in a statewide referendum on February 27, 1945.
A simple majority vote, or more than half of the voters, is required for voter approval.
A new constitution was needed to address various factors, including demographic shifts, economic changes, and the influence of corrupt machine politics on the state.
