Missouri Constitution and the Constitution of the United States
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Title Page E PLU M RI U BU N S U Constitution State of Missouri Constitution of the United States JOHN R. ASHCROFT SECRETARY OF STATE Revised January 2021 John R. Ashcroft Secretary of State State of Missouri James C. Kirkpatrick State State Capitol Information Center (573) 751-2379 (573) 751-4936 Dear Fellow Missourian, The Office of the Secretary of State is privileged to publish the Missouri Constitution and the Constitution of the United States. These documents lay the foundation of our freedoms, help guide us in times of uncertainty and establish our rights as citizens of Missouri and the United States of America. The Constitution of Missouri states that “all political power is vested in and derived from the people; that all government of right originates from the people.” There is great power in freedom; as Americans, we have created that strength and have a duty to maintain it. Our freedom is reliant on integrity, honesty, and civility – and we have been given an incredible opportunity to model this for the next generation. I am truly honored to be your Secretary of State, and invite you to read and study the Missouri Constitution and the United States Constitution. Sincerely, John R. Ashcroft Secretary of State Contents Constitution of Missouri Page Act of Admission ................................... 1 Ordinance of Acceptance ............................. 5 Admission of Missouri into the Union ................... 7 A Solemn Public Act ................................ 7 A Proclamation ..................................... 9 Preamble .......................................... 11 ARTICLE I Bill of Rights....................................... 11 ARTICLE II The Distribution of Powers............................ 18 ARTICLE III Legislative Department............................... 19 Legislative Proceedings .............................. 30 Limitation of Legislative Power ........................ 33 State Lottery ....................................... 54 Initiative and Referendum............................. 59 ARTICLE IV Executive Department................................ 61 Revenue........................................... 68 Highways and Transportation.......................... 72 Agriculture ........................................ 78 Economic Development .............................. 78 Insurance .......................................... 79 Social Services ..................................... 79 Mental Health ...................................... 80 Conservation ....................................... 80 Natural Resources ................................... 82 Public Safety ....................................... 83 Labor and Industrial Relations ......................... 84 Office of Administration.............................. 84 Appointment of Administrative Heads................... 84 Higher Education ................................... 84 Nondiscrimination in Appointments..................... 85 ARTICLE V Judicial Department ................................. 85 Schedule . 95 ARTICLE VI Local Government................................... 101 Special Charters .................................... 104 Local Government................................... 108 Finances........................................... 109 City and County of St. Louis .......................... 113 City of St. Louis . 115 ARTICLE VII Public Officers . 116 ARTICLE VIII Suffrage and Elections ............................... 118 ARTICLE IX Education.......................................... 133 ARTICLE X Taxation........................................... 136 ARTICLE XI Corporations ....................................... 146 Railroads .......................................... 148 Banks............................................. 148 ARTICLE XII Amending the Constitution............................ 148 Schedule . 151 ARTICLE XIII Public Employees ................................... 151 ARTICLE XIV Medical Cannabis ................................... 154 Index ............................................. 168 Constitution of the United States of America Preamble .......................................... 209 ARTICLE I The Legislative Department ........................... 209 ARTICLE II The Executive Department ............................ 213 ARTICLE III The Judicial Department.............................. 215 ARTICLE IV States and Territories ................................ 215 ARTICLE V Amendments to Constitution .......................... 216 ARTICLE VI Miscellaneous Provisions . 216 ARTICLE VII Ratification ........................................ 217 Amendments ....................................... 218 ______________ Authority to publish The Constitution of the State of Missouri is published by the Office of Secretary of State pursuant to the Revised Statutes of Missouri (RSMo 2.110). Copies of the Missouri Constitution are available in limited quantities, without charge, by writing to: Secretary of State John R. Ashcroft, Attention: Publica tions, PO Box 1767, Jefferson City, MO 65102-1767. This information was produced at public expense and is made available for the pur- poses stated by the requestor. Political, commercial or other nonpublic informational use may constitute a misuse of public resources and may result in denial of future requests by the offending party. ______________ ACT OF ADMISSION __________ An Act to authorize the people of the Missouri territory to form a constitution and state government, and for the admission of such state into the Union on an equal footing with the original states, and to prohibit slavery in certain territories. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the inhabitants of that portion of the Missouri territory included within the boundaries hereinafter designated, be, and they are hereby, authorized to form for themselves a consti tution and state government, and to assume such name as they shall deem prop er; and the said state, when formed, shall be admitted into the Union, upon an equal footing with the original states, in all respects whatsoever. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the said state shall consist of all the terri- tory included within the following boundaries, to wit: Beginning in the middle of the Mississippi river, on the parallel of thirty-six degrees of north latitude; thence west, along that parallel of latitude, to the St. Francois river; thence up, and following the course of that river, in the middle of the main channel thereof, to the parallel of latitude thirty-six degrees and thirty minutes; thence west, along the same, to a point where the said parallel is intersected by a meridian line passing through the middle of the mouth of the Kan sas river, where the same empties into the Missouri river, thence, from the point aforesaid north, along the said meridian line, to the intersection of the parallel of latitude which passes through the rapids of the river Des Moines, making the said line to correspond with the Indian boundary line; thence east, from the point of intersec- tion last aforesaid, along the said parallel of latitude, to the middle of the channel of the main fork of the said river Des Moines; thence down and along the middle of the main channel of the said river Des Moines, to the mouth of the same, where it empties into the Mississippi river; thence, due east, to the middle of the main channel of the Mississippi river; thence down, and following the course of the Mississippi river, in the middle of the main channel thereof, to the place of beginning: Provided, The said state shall ratify the boundaries aforesaid; And provided also, That the said state shall have concurrent jurisdiction on the river Mis sis sippi, and every other river bordering on the said state, so far as the said rivers shall form a common boundary to the said state; and any other state or states, now or hereafter to be formed and bounded by the same, such rivers to be common to both; and that the river Mississippi, and the navigable rivers and waters leading into the same, shall be common highways, and for ever free, as well to the inhabitants of the said state as to other citizens of the United States, without any tax, duty, impost, or toll, therefor, imposed by the said state. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That all free white male citizens of the United States, who shall have arrived at the age of twenty-one years, and have resided in said territory three months previous to the day of election, and all other persons qualified to vote for representatives to the general assembly of the said territory, shall be quali- fied to be elected, and they are hereby qualified and authorized to vote, and choose representatives to form a convention, who shall be apportioned amongst the several counties as follows: From the county of Howard, five representatives. From the county of Cooper, three representatives. From the county of Montgomery, two representatives. From the county of Pike, one representative. From the county of Lincoln, one representative. From the county of St. Charles, three representatives. From the county of Franklin, one § 4 ACT OF ADMISSION 2 representative. From the county of St. Louis, eight representatives. From the county of Jefferson, one representative. From the county of Washington, three representatives. From the county of St. Genevieve, four representatives. From the county of Madison, one representative. From the coun ty of Cape Girardeau, five representatives. From the