Title Page T H E F S T O A L T E A E O D S ND I V F TA ID S E D T E E M PLU UM RI BU N S U W W E A D I F E A S E T I L N L U S R SALU ESTO S EX O G L P O P M A U E U L I S UP R E R H M I DT C C C X X Constitution State of Missouri Constitution of the United States JASON KANDER SECRETARY OF STATE Revised May 2015 T H E F S T O A L T E A E O D S ND I V F TA ID S E D T E E M PLU UM RI BU N S U W W E A D I F E A S E T I L N L U S R SALU ESTO S EX O G L P O P M A U E U L I S UP R E R H M I DT C C C X X JASON KANDER SECRETARY OF STATE STATE OF MISSOURI JAMES C. KIRKPATRICK STATE STATE CAPITOL INFORMATION CENTER ROOM 208 (573) 751-4936 (573) 751-2379 Dear Fellow Missourians, As your Secretary of State, it is my pleasure to provide you with a copy of both the Missouri Constitution and the Constitution of the United States. These are the docu- ments that provide the framework for the freedoms and rights that we hold most dear. They represent both a celebration of our past, as well as a path for our journey into the future. Missouri became a state in 1821 and has adopted four constitutions in that time. The first was adopted in 1820, and the most recent was adopted in 1945. Since then, this document has been amended many times to reflect the changes in our collective expe- riences and expanding knowledge. Currently, the Missouri Constitution is more than eight times the length of the United States Constitution. The government has an obligation to serve the people, and these Constitutions form the parameters by which our government fulfills those obligations. Missourians have sworn oaths to these documents. And, in almost every corner of the world, Missourians have died defending and upholding those oaths. It is the duty of every Missourian to honor their sacrifices by participating in and strengthening the democracy that makes Missouri such a wonderful place. I hope the documents contained within these pages will help you understand the ways your government works and enable you to be a more informed participant in the demo- cratic process. If my office can assist you in any way, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to serve you. Sincerely, Jason Kander 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 ..................................... 8 Preamble .......................................... 11 ARTICLE I Bill of Rights....................................... 11 ARTICLE II The Distribution of Powers............................ 19 ARTICLE III Legislative Department............................... 19 Legislative Proceedings .............................. 27 Limitation of Legislative Power ........................ 29 State Lottery ....................................... 50 Initiative and Referendum............................. 56 ARTICLE IV Executive Department................................ 57 Revenue........................................... 64 Highways and Transportation.......................... 68 Agriculture ........................................ 75 Economic Development .............................. 75 Insurance .......................................... 75 Social Services ..................................... 75 Mental Health ...................................... 76 Conservation ....................................... 76 Natural Resources ................................... 78 Public Safety ....................................... 79 Labor and Industrial Relations ......................... 80 Office of Administration.............................. 80 Appointment of Administrative Heads................... 80 Higher Education ................................... 81 Nondiscrimination in Appointments..................... 81 ARTICLE V Judicial Department ................................. 81 Schedule . 91 ARTICLE VI Local Government................................... 97 Special Charters .................................... 100 Local Government................................... 104 Finances........................................... 105 City and County of St. Louis .......................... 109 City of St. Louis . 111 ARTICLE VII Public Officers . 112 ARTICLE VIII Suffrage and Elections ............................... 114 ARTICLE IX Education.......................................... 118 ARTICLE X Taxation........................................... 121 ARTICLE XI Corporations ....................................... 131 Railroads .......................................... 133 Banks............................................. 133 ARTICLE XII Amending the Constitution............................ 134 Schedule . 136 ARTICLE XIII Public Employees ................................... 137 Index ............................................. 140 Constitution of the United States of America Preamble .......................................... 182 ARTICLE I Legislative Department............................... 182 ARTICLE II Executive Department................................ 186 ARTICLE III Judicial Department ................................. 188 ARTICLE IV States and Territories ................................ 188 ARTICLE V Amendments to Constitution .......................... 189 ARTICLE VI Miscellaneous Provisions . 190 ARTICLE VII Ratification ........................................ 190 Amendments ....................................... 192 ______________ 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 Jason Kander, Attention: Publi ca 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