Missouri
State Constitution
Constitution Text
Preamble
We, the people of Missouri, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His goodness, do establish this Constitution for the better government of the state.
Article I: BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 5: Religious freedom—liberty of conscience and belief—limitations. That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences; that no human authority can control or interfere with the rights of conscience; that no person shall, on account of his religious persuasion or belief, be rendered ineligible to any public office or trust or profit in this state, be disqualified from testifying or serving as a juror, or be molested in his person
or estate; but this section shall not be construed to excuse acts of licentiousness, nor to justify practices inconsistent with the good order, peace or safety of the state, or with the rights of others.
Section 6: Practice and support of religion not compulsory—contracts therefor enforcible. That no person can be compelled to erect, support or attend any place or system of worship, or to maintain or support any priest, minister, preacher or teacher of
any sect, church, creed or denomination of religion; but if any person shall voluntarily make a contract for any such object, he shall be held to the performance of the same.
Section 23: Right to keep and bear arms—exception. That the right of every citizen to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, person and property, or when lawfully summoned in aid of the civil power, shall not be questioned; but this shall not
justify the wearing of concealed weapons.
Article III: LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT
Section 2: Election of representatives—apportionment commission, appointment, duties, compensation. The house of representatives shall consist of one hundred sixty-three members elected at each general election and apportioned in the following manner: Within sixty days after the population of this state is reported to the President for each decennial census of the United States and, in the event that a reapportionment has been invalidated by a court of competent jurisdiction, within sixty days after notification by the governor that such a ruling has been made, the congressional district committee of each of the two parties casting the highest vote for governor at the last preceding election shall meet and the members of the committee shall nominate, by a majority vote of the members of the committee present, provided that a majority of the elected members is present, two members of their party, residents in that district, as nominees for reapportionment commissioners. Neither party shall select more than one nominee from any one state legislative district. The congressional committees shall each submit to the governor their list of elected nominees. Within thirty days the governor shall appoint a commission consisting of one name from each list to reapportion the state into one hundred and sixty-three representative districts and to establish the numbers and boundaries of said districts.
If any of the congressional committees fails to submit a list within such time the governor shall appoint a member of his own choice from that district and from the political party of the committee failing to make the appointment. Members of the commission shall be disqualified from holding office as members of the general assembly for four years following the date of the filing by the commission of its final statement of apportionment. For the purposes of this article, the term congressional district committee or congressional district refers to the congressional district committee or the congressional district from which a congressman was last elected, or, in the event members of congress from this state have been elected at large, the term congressional district committee refers to those persons who last served as the congressional district committee for those districts from which congressmen were last elected, and the term congressional district refers to those districts from which congressmen were last elected. Any action pursuant to this section by the congressional district committee shall take place only at duly called meetings, shall be recorded in their official minutes and only members present in person shall be permitted to vote. The commissioners so selected shall on the fifteenth day, excluding Sundays and holidays, after all members have been selected, meet in the capitol building and proceed to organize by electing from their number a chairman, vice chairman and secretary and shall adopt an agenda establishing at least three hearing dates on which hearings open to the public shall be held. A copy of the agenda shall be filed with the clerk of the house of representatives within twenty-four hours after its adoption. Executive meetings may be scheduled and held as often as the commission deems advisable. The commission shall reapportion the representatives by dividing the population of the state by the number one hundred sixty-three and shall establish each district so that the population of that district shall, as nearly as possible, equal that figure. Each district shall be composed of contiguous territory as compact as may be. Not later than five months after the appointment of the commission, the commission shall file with the secretary of state a tentative plan of apportionment and map of the proposed districts and during the ensuing fifteen days shall hold such public hearings as may be necessary to hear objections or testimony of interested persons. Not later than six months after the appointment of the commission, the commission shall file with the secretary of state a final statement of the numbers and the boundaries of the districts together with a map of the districts, and no statement shall be valid unless approved by at least seven-tenths of the members. After the statement is filed members of the house of representatives shall be elected according to such districts until a reapportionment is made as herein provided, except that if the statement is not filed within six months of the time fixed for the appointment of the commission, it shall stand discharged and the house of representatives shall be apportioned by a commission of six members appointed from among the judges of the appellate courts of the state of Missouri by the state supreme court, a majority of whom shall sign and file its apportionment plan and map with the secretary of state within ninety days of the date of the discharge of the apportionment commission. Thereafter members of the house of representatives shall be elected according to such districts until a reapportionment is made as herein provided. Each member of the commission shall receive as compensation fifteen dollars a day for each day the commission is in session but not more than one thousand dollars, and, in addition, shall be reimbursed for his actual and necessary expenses incurred while serving as a member of the commission. No reapportionment shall be subject to the referendum.
Section 7: Senatorial apportionment commission—number, appointment, duties, compensation. Within sixty days after the population of this state is reported to the President for each decennial census of the United States, and within sixty days after notification by the governor that a reapportionment has been invalidated by a court of competent jurisdiction, the state committee of each of the two political parties casting the highest vote for governor at the last preceding election shall, at a committee meeting duly called, select by a vote of the individual committee members, and thereafter submit to the governor a list of ten persons, and within thirty days thereafter the governor shall appoint a commission of ten members, five from each list, to reapportion the thirty-four senatorial districts and to establish the numbers and boundaries of said districts.
If either of the party committees fails to submit a list within such time the governor shall appoint five members of his own choice from the party of the committee so failing to act. The commissioners so selected shall on the fifteenth day, excluding Sundays and holidays, after all members have been selected, meet in the capitol building and proceed to organize by electing from their number a chairman, vice chairman and secretary and shall adopt an agenda establishing at least three hearing dates on which hearings open to the public shall be held. A copy of the agenda shall be filed with the secretary of the senate within twenty-four hours after its adoption. Executive meetings may be scheduled and held as often as the commission deems advisable. The commission shall reapportion the senatorial districts by dividing the population of the state by the number thirty-four and shall establish each district so that the population of that district shall, as nearly as possible, equal that figure; no county lines shall be crossed except when necessary to add sufficient population to a multi-district county or city to complete only one district which lies partly within such multi-district county or city so as to be as nearly equal as practicable in population. Any county with a population in excess of the quotient obtained by dividing the population of the state by the number thirty-four is hereby declared to be a multi-district county. Not later than six months after the appointment of the commission, the commission shall file with the secretary of state a final statement of the numbers and the boundaries of the districts together with a map of the districts, and no statement shall be valid unless approved by at least seven members. After the statement is filed senators shall be elected according to such districts until a reapportionment is made as herein provided, except that if the statement is not filed within six months of the time fixed for the appointment of the commission, it shall stand discharged and the senate shall be apportioned by a commission of six members appointed from among the judges of the appellate courts of the state of Missouri by the state supreme court, a majority of whom shall sign and file its apportionment plan and map with the secretary of state within ninety days of the date of the discharge of the apportionment commission. Thereafter senators shall be elected according to such districts until a reapportionment is made as herein provided. Each member of the commission shall receive as compensation fifteen dollars a day for each day the commission is in session, but not more than one thousand dollars, and, in addition, shall be reimbursed for his actual and necessary expenses incurred while serving as a member of the commission.
Section 16: Compensation, mileage allowance and expenses of general assembly members. Senators and representatives shall receive from the state treasury as salary such sums as are provided by law. No law fixing the compensation of members of the general assembly shall become effective until the first day of the regular session of the general assembly next following the session at which the law was enacted. Upon certification by the president and secretary of the senate and by the speaker and chief clerk of the house of representatives as to the respective members thereof, the state comptroller shall audit and the state treasurer shall pay such compensation without legislative enactment. Until otherwise provided by law senators and representatives shall receive one dollar for every ten miles traveled in going to and returning from their place of meeting while the legislature is in session, on the most usual route.
Until otherwise provided by law, each senator or representative shall be reimbursed from the state treasury for the actual and necessary expenses incurred by him in attending sessions of the general assembly in the sum of ten dollars ($10.00) per day for each day on which the journal of the senate or house respectively shows the presence of such senator or representative. Upon certification by the president and secretary of the senate and by the speaker and chief clerk of the house of representatives as to the respective members thereof, the state comptroller shall approve and the state treasurer shall pay monthly such expense allowance without legislative enactment.
Section 20: Regular sessions of assembly—quorum—compulsory attendance—public sessions—limitation on power to adjourn. The general assembly shall meet on the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January following each general election. The general assembly may provide by law for the introduction of bills during the period between the first day of December and the first Wednesday after the first Monday of January.
The general assembly shall reconvene on the first Wednesday after the first Monday of January after adjournment at midnight on May thirtieth of the preceding year. A majority of the elected members of each house shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may compel the attendance of absent members in such manner and under such penalties as each house may provide. The sessions of each house shall be held with open doors, except in cases which may require secrecy but not including the final vote on bills, resolutions and confirmations. Neither house shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than ten days at any one time, nor to any other place than that in which the two houses may be sitting.
Section 20: (a). Automatic adjournment—tabling of bills, when. The general assembly shall adjourn at midnight on May thirtieth until the first Wednesday after the first Monday of January of the following year, unless it has adjourned prior thereto. All bills in either house remaining on the calendar after 6:00 p.m. on the first Friday following the second Monday in May are tabled. The period between the first Friday following the second Monday in May and May thirtieth shall be devoted to the enrolling, engrossing, and the signing in open session by officers of the respective houses of bills passed prior to 6:00 p.m. on the first Friday following the second Monday in May.
The general assembly shall automatically stand adjourned sine die at 6:00 p.m. on the sixtieth calendar day after the date of its convening in special session unless it has adjourned sine die prior thereto.
Section 20: (b). Special session, procedure to convene—limitations—automatic adjournment. Upon the filing with the secretary of state of a petition stating the purpose for which the session is to be called and signed by three-fourths of the members of the senate and three-fourths of the members of the house of representatives, the president pro tem of the senate and the speaker of the house shall by joint proclamation convene the general assembly in special session. The proclamation shall state specifically each matter contained in the petition on which action is deemed necessary. No appropriation bill shall be considered in a special session convened pursuant to this section if in that year the general assembly has not passed the operating budget in compliance with Section 25 of this article.
The general assembly shall automatically stand adjourned sine die at 6:00 p.m. on the thirtieth calendar day after the date of its convening in special session under this section unless it has adjourned sine die prior thereto. #### LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS
Section 22: Referral of bills to committees—recall of referred bills—records of committees—provision for interim meetings. Every bill shall be referred to a committee of the house in which it is pending. After it has been referred to a committee, one-third of the elected members of the respective houses shall have power to relieve a committee of further consideration of a bill and place it on the calendar for consideration. Each committee shall keep such record of its proceedings as is required by rule of the respective houses and this record and the recorded vote of the members of the committee shall be filed with all reports on bills.
Each house of the general assembly may provide by rule for such committees of that house as it deems necessary to meet to consider bills or to perform any other necessary legislative function during the interim between the session ending on the thirtieth day of May and the session commencing on the first Wednesday after the first Monday of January.
Section 35: Committee on legislative research. There shall be a permanent joint committee on legislative research, selected by and from the members of each house as provided by law. The general assembly, by a majority vote of the elected members, may discharge any or all of the members of the committee at any time and select their successors. The committee may employ a staff as provided by law. The committee shall meet when necessary to perform the duties, advisory to the general assembly, assigned to it by law. The members of the committee shall receive no compensation in addition to their salary as members of the general assembly, but may receive their necessary expenses while attending the meetings of the committee.
#### LIMITATION OF LEGISLATIVE POWER
Section 37: (a). State building bond issue authorized—interest rate—payment from income tax and other funds. In addition to the exceptions made in Section 37, the General Assembly shall have power to contract, or to authorize the contracting of, a debt or liability on behalf of the state, and to issue bonds or other evidence of indebtedness therefor, not exceeding in the aggregate Seventy-five Million Dollars ($75,000,000), for the purpose of repairing, remodeling or rebuilding, or of repairing, remodeling and rebuilding state buildings and properties at all or any of the penal, correctional and reformatory institutions of this state, the state training schools, state hospitals and state schools and other eleemosynary institutions of this state, and institutions of higher education of this state, and for building additions thereto and additional buildings where necessary, and for furnishing and equipping any such improvements.
Such bonds shall bear interest at a rate not exceeding three percentum (3%) per annum, payable semiannually, except that the first interest payable thereon may be paid not later than one year from the date of issuance, and maturing not later than twenty-five years from their date. Such bonds shall be issued by the State Board of Fund Commissioners in such amount, from time to time, as may be necessary to carry on the building program as determined by the General Assembly. The proceeds of the sale or sales of any bonds issued hereunder shall be paid into the state treasury and be credited to a fund to be designated the “Second State Building Fund.” The proceeds of the sale of the bonds herein authorized shall be expended for the purposes for which the bonds are hereinabove authorized to be issued. The bonds and the interest thereon shall be paid out of the Second State Building Bond Interest and Sinking Fund, which is hereby created. Upon the issuance of such bonds, or any portion thereof, the State Board of Fund Commissioners shall notify the State Comptroller of the amount of money required, in the remaining portion of the fiscal year during which said bonds shall have been issued, for the payment of interest on the said bonds, and of the amount of money required for the payment of interest on the said bonds in the next succeeding fiscal year, and for the establishment and maintenance of a sinking fund to pay said bonds as they mature. Thereafter, within thirty days after the beginning of each fiscal year, the State Board of Fund Commissioners shall notify the State Comptroller of the amount of money required for the payment of interest on the said bonds in the next succeeding fiscal year and for the maintenance of the sinking fund to pay said bonds maturing in such next succeeding fiscal year. It shall be the duty of the State Comptroller to transfer, at least monthly, the proceeds of the state income tax, after deducting therefrom the proportionate part thereof appropriated for the support of the free public schools, to the credit of the Second State Building Bond Interest and Sinking Fund until there shall have been transferred to said fund the amount so certified to him by the State Board of Fund Commissioners, as hereinabove provided. If at any time after the issuance of any of the said bonds, it shall become apparent to the State Comptroller that the proceeds of the state income tax, as aforesaid, will not be sufficient for the payment of the principal and interest maturing and accruing on said bonds during the next succeeding fiscal year, a direct tax shall be levied upon all taxable tangible property in the state for the payment of said bonds and the interest that will accrue thereon. In such event, it shall be the duty of the State Comptroller annually, on or before the first day of July, to determine the rate of taxation necessary to be levied upon all taxable tangible property within the state to raise the amount of money needed to pay the principal of and interest on such bonds maturing and accruing in the next succeeding fiscal year, taking into consideration available funds, delinquencies and costs of collection. The State Comptroller shall annually certify the rate of taxation so determined to the county clerk of each county and to the comptroller or other officer in the city of St. Louis whose duty it shall be to make up and certify the tax books wherein are extended the ad valorem state taxes. It shall be the duty of said clerks and the said comptroller or other proper officer in the city of St. Louis to extend upon the tax books the taxes to be collected and to certify the same to the collectors of the revenue of their respective counties and of the city of St. Louis, who shall collect such taxes at the same time and in the same manner and by the same means as are now or may hereafter be provided by law for the collection of state and county taxes, and to pay the same into the state treasury for the credit of the Second State Building Bond Interest and Sinking Fund. If at any time the balance in said Second State Building Bond Interest and Sinking Fund should be insufficient to pay accruing interest or maturing principal of said bonds, the Board of Fund Commissioners shall direct the State Comptroller to transfer from the State Revenue Fund to said Second State Building Bond Interest and Sinking Fund the sum required for said purposes, or either of them, and said sum so transferred shall be reimbursed to the State Revenue Fund whenever there may be a balance in the Second State Building Bond Interest and Sinking Fund in excess of the amount which may then be needed to meet the accruing interest and maturing principal of the said bonds during one fiscal year next succeeding. All funds paid into the Second State Building Bond Interest and Sinking Fund shall be and stand appropriated without legislative action to the payment of principal and interest of the said bonds, there to remain until paid out in discharge of the principal of said bonds and the interest accruing thereon, and no part of such fund shall be used for any other purpose so long as any of the principal of said bonds and the interest thereon shall be unpaid, provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall prevent the reimbursement from the said Second State Building Bond Interest and Sinking Fund of the State Revenue Fund, as hereinabove provided. The General Assembly shall enact such laws as may be necessary to carry this amendment into effect.
Section 37: (b). Water pollution control fund established—bonds authorized—funds to stand appropriated. The general assembly may authorize the contracting of an indebtedness on behalf of the state of Missouri and the issuance of bonds or other evidences of indebtedness not exceeding in the aggregate the sum of one hundred fifty million dollars for the purpose of providing funds for use in this state for the protection of the environment through the control of water pollution. The bonds shall be issued by the state board of fund commissioners from time to time and in such amounts as may be necessary to carry on a program by the water pollution board of the state as determined by the general assembly for the planning, financing and constructing sewage treatment facilities by any county, municipality, sewer district, or any combination of the same and the board of fund commissioners shall offer such bonds at public sale, and shall provide such method as it may deem necessary for the advertisement of the sale of each issue of said bonds before the same are sold.
The proceeds of the sale or sales of any bonds issued hereunder shall be paid into the state treasury and be credited to a fund to be designated the “Water Pollution Control Fund”. The bonds shall be retired serially and by installments within a period not to exceed twenty-five years from their date of issue and shall bear interest at a rate or rates not exceeding the rate permitted by law. The bonds and the interest thereon shall be paid out of the “Water Pollution Control Bond and Interest Fund”, which is hereby created, and the payment of said bonds and the interest thereon shall be secured by a pledge of the full faith, credit and resources of the state of Missouri. Upon the issuance of such bonds, or any portion thereof, the state board of fund commissioners shall notify the state comptroller of the amount of money required, in the remaining portion of the fiscal year during which said bonds shall have been issued, for the payment of interest on the said bonds, and of the amount of money required for the payment of interest on the said bonds in the next succeeding fiscal year, and to pay said bonds as they mature. Thereafter, within thirty days after the beginning of each fiscal year, the state board of fund commissioners shall notify the state comptroller of the amount of money required for the payment of interest on the said bonds in the next succeeding fiscal year and to pay said bonds maturing in such next succeeding fiscal year. It shall be the duty of the state comptroller to transfer, at least monthly, from the state revenue fund, after deducting therefrom the proportionate part thereof appropriated for the support of the free public schools, and to credit to the water pollution control bond and interest fund such sum as may be necessary from time to time until there shall have been transferred to said fund the amount so certified to him by the state board of fund commissioners, as hereinabove provided. If at any time after the issuance of any of the said bonds, it shall become apparent to the state comptroller that the funds available in the state revenue fund, as aforesaid, will not be sufficient for the payment of the sinking fund and interest on outstanding obligations of the state and for the purpose of public education and the principal and interest maturing and accruing on said bonds during the next succeeding fiscal year, a direct tax shall be levied upon all taxable tangible property in the state for the payment of said bonds and the interest that will accrue thereon. In such event, it shall be the duty of the state comptroller annually, on or before the first day of July, to determine the rate of taxation necessary to be levied upon all taxable tangible property within the state to raise the amount of money needed to pay the principal of and interest on such bonds maturing and accruing in the next succeeding fiscal year, taking into consideration available funds, delinquencies and costs of collection. The state comptroller shall annually certify the rate of taxation so determined to the county clerk of each county and to the comptroller or other officer in the city of St. Louis whose duty it shall be to make up and certify the tax books wherein are extended the ad valorem state taxes. It shall be the duty of said clerks and the said comptroller or other proper officer in the city of St. Louis to extend upon the tax books the taxes to be collected and to certify the same to the collectors of the revenue of their respective counties and of the city of St. Louis, who shall collect such taxes at the same time and in the same manner and by the same means as are now or may hereafter be provided by law for the collection of state and county taxes, and to pay the same into the state treasury for the credit of the water pollution control bond and interest fund. All funds paid into the water pollution control bond and interest fund shall be and stand appropriated without legislative action to the payment of principal and interest of the said bonds, there to remain until paid out in discharge of the principal of said bonds and the interest accruing thereon, and no part of such fund shall be used for any other purpose so long as any of the principal of said bonds and the interest thereon shall be unpaid. The general assembly may enact such laws as may be necessary to carry this amendment into effect.
Section 37: (c). Additional water pollution control bonds authorized—procedure. The general assembly may authorize the contracting of an indebtedness on behalf of the state of Missouri and the issuance of bonds or other evidences of indebtedness not exceeding in the aggregate the sum of two hundred million dollars for the purpose of providing funds for use in this state for the protection of the environment through the control of water pollution. The bonds shall be issued by the State Board of Fund Commissioners from time to time and in such amounts as may be necessary to carry on a program by the Clean Water Commission of the state as determined by the General Assembly for the planning, financing and constructing sewage treatment facilities by any county, municipality, sewer district, or any combination of the same and the Board of Fund Commissioners shall offer such bonds at public sale, and shall provide such method as it may deem necessary for the advertisement of the sale of each issue of said bonds before the same are sold.
The proceeds of the sale or sales of any bonds issued hereunder shall be paid into the state treasury and be credited to a fund to be designated the “Water Pollution Control Fund.” The bonds and the interest thereon shall be paid out of the Water Pollution Control Bond and Interest Fund, which is hereby created, and the payment of said bonds and the interest thereon shall be secured by a pledge of the full faith, credit and resources of the State of Missouri. Upon the issuance of such bonds, or any portion thereof, the State Board of Fund Commissioners shall notify the Commissioner of Administration of the amount of money required, in the remaining portion of the fiscal year during which said bonds shall have been issued, for the payment of interest on the said bonds, and of the amount of money required for the payment of interest on the said bonds in the next succeeding fiscal year, and to pay said bonds as they mature. Thereafter, within thirty days after the beginning of each fiscal year, the State Board of Fund Commissioners shall notify the Commissioner of Administration of the amount of money required for the payment of interest on the said bonds in the next succeeding fiscal year and to pay said bonds maturing in such next succeeding fiscal year. It shall be the duty of the Commissioner of Administration to transfer at least monthly, from the State Revenue Fund, after deducting therefrom the proportionate part thereof appropriated for the support of the free public schools, and to credit to the Water Pollution Control Bond and Interest Fund such sum as may be necessary from time to time until there shall have been transferred to said fund the amount so certified to him by the State Board of Fund Commissioners, as hereinabove provided. If at any time after the issuance of any of the said bonds, it shall become apparent to the Commissioner of Administration that the funds available in the State Revenue Fund, as aforesaid, will not be sufficient for the payment of the sinking fund and interest on outstanding obligations of the state and for the purpose of public education and the principal and interest maturing and accruing on said bonds during the next succeeding fiscal year, a direct tax shall be levied upon all taxable tangible property in the state for the payment of said bonds and the interest that will accrue thereon. In such event, it shall be the duty of the Commissioner of Administration annually, on or before the first day of July, to determine the rate of taxation necessary to be levied upon all taxable tangible property within the state to raise the amount of money needed to pay the principal of and interest on such bonds maturing and accruing in the next succeeding fiscal year, taking into consideration available funds, delinquencies and costs of collection. The Commissioner of Administration shall annually certify the rate of taxation so determined to the county clerk of each county to the comptroller or other officer in the city of St. Louis whose duty it shall be to make up and certify the tax books wherein are extended the ad valorem state taxes. It shall be the duty of said clerks and the said comptroller or other proper officer in the city of St. Louis to extend upon the tax books the taxes to be collected and to certify the same to the collectors of the revenue of their respective counties and of the city of St. Louis, who shall collect such taxes at the same time and in the same manner and by the same means as are now or may hereafter be provided by law for the collection of state and county taxes, and to pay the same into the state treasury for the credit of the “Water Pollution Control Bond and Interest Fund.” All funds paid into the Water Pollution Control Bond and Interest Fund shall be and stand appropriated without legislative action to the payment of principal and interest of the said bonds, there to remain until paid out in discharge of the principal of said bonds and the interest accruing thereon, and no part of such fund shall be used for any other purpose so long as any of the principal of said bonds and the interest thereon shall be unpaid. The General Assembly may enact such laws as may be necessary to carry this amendment into effect.
Section 37: (d). Third state building bond issue authorized—procedures—use of funds. The general assembly may authorize the contracting of an indebtedness on behalf of the state of Missouri and the issuance of bonds or other evidences of indebtedness in the aggregate sum of six hundred million dollars for the purpose of providing funds for improvements of state buildings and property, including state parks, including but not limited to repairing, remodeling, or rebuilding buildings and properties of the state, providing additions thereto or additional buildings where necessary, and for planning, furnishing, equipping and landscaping such improvements and for expenditures for state parks as specified in section 253.040, RSMo, and for grants administered pursuant to sections 204.031, RSMo, 192.600 through 192.620, RSMo, 68.010 to 68.070, RSMo, and 278.080, RSMo, and for construction and improvement of rail and highway access within this state.
The bonds shall be issued by the state board of fund commissioners as necessary to carry on the program of financing, planning, and constructing the improvements specified in this section as determined by the general assembly, provided that the total amount of the bonds authorized hereunder shall be issued and the same amount appropriated by the general assembly by December 31, 1987. The board of fund commissioners shall offer the bonds at public sale, and shall provide such method as it deems necessary for the advertisement of the sale of each issue of the bonds before they are sold. The proceeds of the sale of the bonds issued hereunder shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to a fund to be designated the “Third State Building Fund” and shall be expended only in the manner provided in this section for the purposes for which the bonds are hereinbefore authorized to be issued. The bonds shall be retired serially and by installments within a period not to exceed twenty-five years from their date of issue and shall bear interest at a rate or rates not exceeding the rate permitted by law. The bonds and the interest thereon shall be paid out of the “Third State Building Bond Interest and Sinking Fund”, which is hereby created, and the payment of the bonds and the interest thereon shall be secured by a pledge of the full faith, credit and resources of the state of Missouri. Upon the issuance of the bonds, or any portion thereof, the state board of fund commissioners shall notify the commissioner of administration of the amount of money required, in the remaining portion of the fiscal year during which the bonds are issued, for the payment of interest on the bonds, and of the amount of money required for the payment of interest on the bonds in the next succeeding fiscal year, and to pay the bonds as they mature. Thereafter, within thirty days after the beginning of each fiscal year, the state board of fund commissioners shall notify the commissioner of administration of the amount of money required for the payment of interest on the bonds in the next succeeding fiscal year and to pay the bonds maturing in such next succeeding fiscal year. The commissioner of administration shall transfer at least monthly from the state revenue fund, after deducting therefrom the proportionate part thereof appropriated for the support of the free public schools, to the credit of the third state building bond interest and sinking fund such sum as may be necessary from time to time until there is transferred to the fund the amount certified to him by the state board of fund commissioners, as hereinbefore provided. If at any time after the issuance of the bonds it becomes apparent to the commissioner of administration that the funds available in the state revenue fund will not be sufficient for the payment of the third state building bond interest and sinking fund and interest on outstanding obligations of the state, and for the purpose of public education, and the principal and interest maturing on the bonds issued hereunder during the next succeeding fiscal year, a direct tax shall be levied upon all taxable tangible property in the state for the payment of the bonds and the interest that will accrue thereon. In such event, the commissioner of administration shall annually, on or before the first day of July, determine the rate of taxation necessary to be levied upon all taxable tangible property within the state to raise the amount of money needed to pay the principal and interest on such bonds maturing and accruing in the next succeeding fiscal year, taking into consideration available funds, delinquencies and costs of collection. The commissioner of administration shall annually certify the rate of taxation so determined to the county clerk of each county and to the comptroller or other officer in the city of St. Louis whose duty it is to make up and certify the tax books wherein are extended the ad valorem state taxes. The clerks and the comptroller, or other proper officer in the city of St. Louis, shall extend upon the tax books the taxes to be collected and shall certify the same to the collectors of the revenue of their respective counties and of the city of St. Louis, who shall collect such taxes at the same time and in the same manner and by the same means as are now or may hereafter be provided by law for the collection of state and county taxes, and pay the same into the state treasury to the credit of the third state building bond interest and sinking fund. All funds paid into the third state building bond interest and sinking fund shall be and stand appropriated without legislative action to the payment of principal and interest of the bonds, there to remain until paid out in discharge of the principal of the bonds and the interest accruing thereon, and no part of such fund shall be used for any other purpose so long as any of the principal of the bonds and interest thereon are unpaid. The general assembly may appropriate in any year such amount from the third state building fund as it determines to be necessary for the purposes specified herein. Any amount so appropriated in any year shall be distributed according to the following guidelines: The general assembly may enact such laws as may be necessary to carry this amendment into effect. With the exception of those projects involving the repair, replacement or maintenance of state buildings or facilities for which at least 20% of any year's appropriations from the fund are reserved as provided above, no project proposed to be funded from the third state building fund shall be commenced unless the general assembly shall first have specifically authorized such undertaking by passage of legislation apart from its ordinary appropriation process. The additional revenue provided by this section shall not be part of “total state revenue” in sections 17 and 18 of article X of this constitution. The expenditure of this additional revenue shall not be an “expense of state government” under section 20 of article X of this constitution.
Section 38: (d). Stem cell research—title of law—permissible research—violations, penalty—report required, when—prohibited acts—definitions.
“8. The provisions of this section are self-executing. All of the provisions of this section are severable. If any provision of this section is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unconstitutional or unconstitutionally enacted, the remaining provisions of this section shall be and remain valid.
Section 39: (a). Bingo may be authorized—requirements. The game commonly known as bingo when conducted by religious, charitable, fraternal, veteran or service organizations is not a lottery or gift enterprise within the meaning of subdivision (9) of section 39 of this article if the general assembly authorizes by law that religious, charitable, fraternal, service, or veteran organizations may conduct the game commonly known as bingo, upon the payment of the license fee and the issuance of the license as provided for by law. Any such law shall include the following requirements:
#### STATE LOTTERY
Section 47: State parks—appropriations for, required. For twelve years beginning with the year 1961, the general assembly shall appropriate for each year out of the general revenue fund, an amount not less than that produced annually at a tax rate of one cent on each one hundred dollars assessed valuation of the real and tangible personal property taxable by the state, for the exclusive purpose of providing a state park fund to be expended and used by the agency authorized by law to control and supervise state parks, and historic sites of the state, for the purposes of the acquisition, supervision, operation, maintenance, development, control, regulation and restoration of state parks and state park property, as may be determined by such agency; and thereafter the general assembly shall appropriate such amounts as may be reasonably necessary for such purposes.
The amount required to be appropriated by this section may be reduced to meet budgetary demands provided said appropriation is not less than that appropriated for the prior similar appropriation period.
Section 48: Historical memorials and monuments—acquisition of property. The general assembly may enact laws and make appropriations to preserve and perpetuate memorials of the history of the state by parks, buildings, monuments, statues, paintings, documents of historical value or by other means, and to preserve places of historic or archaeological interest or scenic beauty, and for such purposes private property or the use thereof may be acquired by gift, purchase, or eminent domain or be subjected to reasonable regulation or control.
#### INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM
Article IV: EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
Section 21: Limitation on changes of salaries—fees, costs. The officers named in this article shall receive for their services salaries fixed by law, which shall not be increased or diminished during their terms. After the expiration of the terms of those now in office the officers named shall not receive to their own use any fees, costs, perquisites of office or other compensation, and all fees provided by law for any service performed by them shall be paid in advance into the state treasury.
#### REVENUE
Section 28: Treasury withdrawals, how made, certified how—appropriation, period of. No money shall be withdrawn from the state treasury except by warrant drawn in accordance with an appropriation made by law, nor shall any obligation for that payment of money be incurred unless the commissioner of administration certifies it for payment and certifies that the expenditure is within the purpose as directed by the general assembly of the appropriation and that there is in the appropriation an unencumbered balance sufficient to pay it. At the time of issuance each such certification shall be entered on the general accounting books as an encumbrance on the appropriation. No appropriation shall confer authority to incur an obligation after the termination of the fiscal period to which it relates, and every appropriation shall expire six months after the end of the period for which made.
#### HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORTATION
Section 34: Recognition of outstanding bonds—determination, certification and collection of annual state highway bond tax. All bonds issued under or recognized by section 44a of article IV of the previous constitution, which remain unpaid shall be valid obligations of the state and shall be paid according to the tenor thereof. On or before the first day of July of each year the state auditor shall determine the rate of taxation for that year necessary to raise the amount of money needed to pay the principal and interest maturing in the next succeeding year, taking into consideration available funds, delinquencies and the cost of collection. The auditor shall annually certify the rate of taxation so determined to the officer in each county whose duty it is to make up and certify the tax books wherein are extended the state taxes. Said officers shall extend upon the tax books the taxes to be collected and certify the same to the collector of revenue of their respective counties, who shall collect such taxes at the same time and in the same manner and by the same means as are provided by law for the collection of state and county taxes, and pay the same into the state treasury.
#### AGRICULTURE
Section 36: Forestry and forest fires. The general assembly may enact laws to encourage forestry, and prevent and suppress forest fires on private lands.
#### ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Section 36: (a). Economic development, department of—duties of department—director, how appointed. The department of economic development shall be in charge of a director appointed by the governor, by and with the advice and consent of the senate. The department shall administer all programs provided by law relating to the promotion of the economy of the state, the economic development of the state, trade and business, and other activities and programs impacting on the economy of the state.
#### INSURANCE
Section 36: (b). Department of insurance, established—director, appointment—office of consumer affairs to be established within department, duties. The department of insurance shall be headed by a director of the department of insurance who shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. The organization and duties of the department of insurance shall be determined by law. All references to the division of insurance and the insurance division in this constitution and in the statutes shall mean the department of insurance. There shall be an office of consumer affairs within the department of insurance to investigate in conjunction with other personnel of the department all allegations of unfair or unlawful acts by any person or entity whose activities are regulated by the department of insurance.
#### SOCIAL SERVICES
Section 37: Social services, department of—duties of department—director, how appointed. The health and general welfare of the people are matters of primary public concern; and to secure them there shall be established a department of social services in charge of a director appointed by the governor, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, charged with promoting improved health and other social services to the citizens of the state as provided by law, and the general assembly may grant power with respect thereto to counties, cities or other political subdivisions of the state.
#### MENTAL HEALTH
Section 39: Cooperation with federal and other state governments. In all matters of public welfare the general assembly may provide by law for cooperation with the United States, or other states.
#### CONSERVATION
Section 46: Distribution of rules and regulations. The commission shall supply to all persons on request, printed copies of its rules and regulations not relating to organization or internal management.
#### NATURAL RESOURCES
Section 47: (c). Provisions self-enforcing, exception—not part of general revenue or expense of state—effective and expiration dates. All laws inconsistent with this amendment shall no longer remain in full force and effect after the effective date of this section. All of the provisions of Sections 47(a), 47(b) and 47(c) shall be self-enforcing except that the General Assembly shall adjust brackets for the collection of the sales and use taxes. The additional revenue provided by Sections 47(a), 47(b) and 47(c) shall not be part of the "total state revenue" within the meaning of Sections 17 and 18 of Article X of this Constitution. The expenditure of this additional revenue shall not be an "expense of state government" under Section 20 of Article X of this Constitution. Upon voter approval of this measure in a general election held in 2006, or at a special election to be called by the governor for that purpose, the provisions of this section, 47(b), and 47(a) shall be reauthorized and continue until a general election is held in 2016 or at a special election to be called by the governor for that purpose. Every ten years thereafter, the issue of whether to continue to impose the sales and use tax described in this section shall be resubmitted to the voters for approval. If a majority of the voters fail to approve the continuance of such sales and use tax, Section 47(a), 47(b), and 47(c) shall terminate at the end of the second fiscal year after the last election was held.
#### PUBLIC SAFETY
Section 48: Public safety, department of—duties of department—director, how appointed. The department of public safety shall be in charge of a director to be appointed by the governor by and with the advice and consent of the senate, and shall administer the programs provided by law to protect and safeguard the lives and property of the people of the state.
#### LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
Section 49: Labor and industrial relations, department of—duties—commission members, how appointed, terms, qualifications. The department of labor and industrial relations shall be in charge of a "Labor and Industrial Relations Commission" consisting of three members appointed by the governor by and with the advice and consent of the senate. One member of the commission shall be a person who, on account of his previous vocation, employment, affiliation or interests shall be classified as a representative of employers, and one member who, on account of his previous vocation, employment, affiliation or interests shall be classified as a representative of employees, and one member, who, by reason of his previous activities and interests shall be classified as a representative of the public and who is licensed to practice law in the state of Missouri; except that not more than two members of the commission shall be of the same political party. A member of the commission shall be designated by the governor as the chairman. The labor and industrial commission shall be the successor to the industrial commission and the terms of members shall be as provided by law for the industrial commission. The department shall also administer the programs of the state relating to the protection and improvement of human rights.
#### OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION
Section 50: Administration, office of—commissioner, how appointed. The office of administration shall be in charge of a commissioner of administration. The commissioner shall be appointed by the governor by and with the advice and consent of the senate.
#### APPOINTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEADS
Section 51: Appointments, how made—failure to confirm, effect of. The appointment of all members of administrative boards and commissions and of all department and division heads, as provided by law, shall be made by the governor. All members of administrative boards and commissions, all department and division heads and all other officials appointed by the governor shall be made only by and with the advice and consent of the senate. The authority to act of any person whose appointment requires the advice and consent of the senate shall commence, if the senate is in session, upon receiving the advice and consent of the senate. If the senate is not in session, the authority to act shall commence immediately upon appointment by the governor but shall terminate if the advice and consent of the senate is not given within thirty days after the senate has convened in regular or special session. If the senate fails to give its advice and consent to any appointee, that person shall not be reappointed by the governor to the same office or position.
#### HIGHER EDUCATION
Section 52: Higher education, department of established—coordinating board for higher education established, members, terms, qualifications. There shall be established a department of higher education. A "Coordinating Board for Higher Education" which shall consist of nine members appointed by the governor by and with the advice and consent of the senate shall be established within the department. The qualifications and terms of the members of the board shall be fixed by law, but not more than five of its members shall be of the same political party. The coordinating board shall succeed the commission on higher education with all its powers and duties and shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by law.
#### NONDISCRIMINATION IN APPOINTMENTS
Article V: JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT
Section 25: (b). Adoption of plan in other circuits—petitions and elections—form of petition ballots. At any general election the qualified voters of any judicial circuit outside of the city of St. Louis and Jackson County, may by a majority of those voting on the question elect to have the circuit and associate circuit judges appointed by the governor in the manner provided for the appointment of judges to the courts designated in section 25(a), or, outside the city of St. Louis and Jackson County, to discontinue any such plan. The question of whether the circuit and associate circuit judges of any such circuit shall be so appointed shall be submitted to the voters of each county in any circuit at the next general election whenever petitions therefor signed by ten percent of the legal voters of each county in the circuit voting for the office of governor at the last election thereof are filed in the office of secretary of state at least 90 days before such election. The question shall be presented as follows: "Shall the circuit and associate circuit judges of the ............ judicial circuit be selected as provided in Section 25 of Article V of the Missouri Constitution? Yes No (Mark One)" The provisions of law with respect to initiative petitions shall apply insofar as applicable relative to the certification of the petitions to local officials by the secretary of state, the preparation, printing, publishing and distribution of the judicial ballots required by this section, the holding and conduct of the election, and the counting, canvassing, return, certification, and proclamation of the votes. If a majority of the votes upon the question are cast in favor of the adoption in each county comprising the circuit, the nonpartisan selection of the circuit and associate judges shall be adopted in the circuit. The question of selection of circuit and associate circuit judges in the manner provided in section 25(a) shall not be submitted more often than once every four years. If any judicial circuit adopts the nonpartisan selection of the circuit and associate circuit judges under the provisions of this section, the question of its discontinuance shall not be submitted more often than once every four years and may be submitted at any general election and shall be proceeded upon insofar as may be applicable in like manner as prescribed in this section for the original adoption of the plan.
The petition shall be in substantially the following form: To the Honorable Officials in general charge of elections for the county of ......... for the state of Missouri: We, the undersigned, legal voters of the state of Missouri, and of the county of ........., respectfully demand that the question of the discontinuance of the nonpartisan selection of the circuit and associate circuit judges be submitted to the legal voters of the ......... judicial circuit, for their approval or rejection, at the general election to be held on the ......... day of ............, A.D. 19... The ballot shall provide as follows: "Shall the nonpartisan appointment by the governor of the circuit and associate circuit judges be discontinued in the ......... judicial circuit? (Place an "X" in one square.)" If a majority of the votes upon the question are cast in favor of such discontinuance in each county comprising the circuit, the nonpartisan selection of the circuit and associate circuit judges shall be discontinued in such judicial circuit. If the nonpartisan selection of the judges be discontinued in any such judicial circuit, other than the city of St. Louis and Jackson County, the selection of such judges therein shall be made as otherwise prescribed by law. This section shall be self-enforcing.
Section 25: (c)(1). Tenure of judges—declaration of candidacy—form of judicial ballot—rejection and retention. Each judge appointed pursuant to the provisions of sections 25(a)-(g) shall hold office for a term ending December thirty-first following the next general election after the expiration of twelve months in the office. Any judge holding office, or elected thereto, at the time of the election by which the provisions of sections 25(a)-(g) become applicable to his office, shall, unless removed for cause, remain in office for the term to which he would have been entitled had the provisions of sections 25(a)-(g) not become applicable to his office. Not less than sixty days prior to the holding of the general election next preceding the expiration of his term of office, any judge whose office is subject to the provisions of sections 25(a)-(g) may file in the office of the secretary of state a declaration of candidacy for election to succeed himself. If a declaration is not so filed by any judge, the vacancy resulting from the expiration of his term of office shall be filled by appointment as herein provided. If such declaration is filed, his name shall be submitted at said next general election to the voters eligible to vote within the state if his office is that of judge of the supreme court, or within the geographic jurisdiction limit of the district where he serves if his office is that of a judge of the court of appeals, or within the circuit if his office is that of circuit judge, or within the county if his office is that of associate circuit judge on a separate judicial ballot, without party designation, reading:
"Shall Judge .............................................. (Here the name of the judge shall be inserted) of the ........................................................ (Here the title of the court shall be inserted) be retained in office? Yes No (Mark an "X" in the box you prefer.)" If a majority of those voting on the question vote against retaining him in office, upon the expiration of his term of office, a vacancy shall exist which shall be filled by appointment as provided in section 25(a); otherwise, said judge shall, unless removed for cause, remain in office for the number of years after December thirty-first following such election as is provided for the full term of such office, and at the expiration of each such term shall be eligible for retention in office by election in the manner here prescribed.
Article VI: LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Section 17: Consolidation and separation as between municipalities and other political subdivisions. The government of any city, town or village not in a county framing, adopting and amending a charter for its own government, may be consolidated or separated, in whole or in part, with or from that of the county or other political subdivision in which such city, town or village is situated, as provided by law.
#### SPECIAL CHARTERS
Section 18: (c). Provisions authorized in county charters—participation by county in government of other local units. The charter may provide for the vesting and exercise of legislative power pertaining to any and all services and functions of any municipality or political subdivision, except school districts, in the part of the county outside incorporated cities; and it may provide, or authorize its governing body to provide, the terms upon which the county may contract with any municipality or political subdivision in the county and perform any of the services and functions of any such municipality or political subdivision.
The charter may provide for the vesting and exercise of legislative power pertaining to any and all services and functions of any municipality or political subdivision, except school districts, throughout the entire county within as well as outside incorporated municipalities; any such charter provision shall set forth the limits within which the municipalities may exercise the same power collaterally and coextensively. When such a proposition is submitted to the voters of the county the ballot shall contain a clear definition of the power, function or service to be performed and the method by which it will be financed.
Section 18: (r). Certified copies of county constitution to be filed, where— amendments to constitution, procedure. Duplicate certificates shall be made, setting forth the adopted county constitution, and its ratification signed by the election authority of the county after canvassing election returns. One of the certified copies shall be deposited in the office of the secretary of state and the other, after being recorded in the records of the county, shall be deposited among the archives of the county and all courts shall take judicial notice thereof. Amendments shall be certified and deposited in the same way. Amendments to the county constitution shall be approved by the voters and shall become part of the county constitution at the time and under the conditions fixed in each amendment.
#### LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Section 22: Laws affecting charter cities—officers and employees. No law shall be enacted creating or fixing the powers, duties or compensation of any municipal office or employment, for any city framing or adopting its own charter under this or any previous constitution, and all such offices or employments heretofore created shall cease at the end of the terms of any present incumbents.
#### FINANCES
Section 27: Political subdivision revenue bonds for utility, industrial and airport purposes—restrictions. Any city or incorporated town or village in this state, by vote of a majority of the qualified electors thereof voting thereon, and any joint board or commission, established by a joint contract between municipalities or political subdivisions in this state, by compliance with then applicable requirements of law, may issue and sell its negotiable interest bearing revenue bonds for the purpose of paying all or part of the cost of purchasing, construction, extending or improving any of the following projects:
The project shall be owned by the municipality or by the cooperating municipalities or political subdivisions or the joint board or commission, either exclusively or jointly or by participation with cooperatives or municipally owned or public utilities, the cost of operation and maintenance and the principal and interest of the bonds to be payable solely from the revenues derived by the municipality or by the cooperating municipalities or political subdivisions or the joint board or commission from the operation of the utility or the lease or operation of the project. The bonds shall not constitute an indebtedness of the state, or of any political subdivision thereof, and neither the full faith and credit nor the taxing power of the state or of any political subdivision thereof is pledged to the payment of or the interest on such bonds. Nothing in this section shall affect the ability of the public service commission to regulate investor-owned utilities.
Section 29: Application of funds derived from public debts. The moneys arising from any loan, debt, or liability contracted by the state, or any county, city, or other political subdivision, shall be applied to the purposes for which they were obtained, or to the repayment of such debt or liability, and not otherwise.
#### CITY AND COUNTY OF ST. LOUIS
Section 30: (b). Appointment of member by governor—meetings of board—vacancies—compensation and reimbursement of members—preparation of plan—taxation of real estate affected—submission at special elections—effect of adoption—certification and recordation—judicial notice. Upon certification of the filing of such similar petitions by the officials in general charge of elections of the city and the county, the governor shall appoint one member of the board who shall be a resident of the state, but shall not reside in either the city or the county, who shall be given a certificate of his appointment signed by the governor and attested by the seal of the state. The freeholders of the city and county shall fix reasonable compensation and expenses for the freeholder appointed by the governor and the cost shall be paid equally by the city and county. The appointment of the board shall be completed within thirty days after the certification of the filing of the petition, and at ten o'clock on the second Monday after their appointment the members of the board shall meet in the chamber of the board of aldermen in the city hall of the city and shall proceed with the discharge of their duties, and shall meet at such other times and places as shall be agreed upon. On the death, resignation or inability of any member of the board to serve, the appointing authority shall select the successor. The board shall prepare and propose a plan for the execution of the powers herein granted and for the adjustment of all matters and issues arising thereunder. The members of the board shall receive no compensation for their services as members, but the necessary expenses of the board shall be paid one-half by the county and one-half by the city on vouchers signed by the chairman of the board. The plan shall be signed in duplicate by the board or a majority thereof, and one copy shall be returned to the officials having general charge of elections in the city, and the other to such officials in the county, within one year after the appointment of the board. Said election officials shall cause separate elections to be held in the city and county, on the day fixed by the freeholders, at which the plan shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the city and county separately. The elections shall not be less than ninety days after the filing of the plan with said officials, and not on or within seventy days of any state or county primary or general election day in the city or county. The plan shall provide for the assessment and taxation of real estate in accordance with the use to which it is being put at the time of the assessment, whether agricultural, industrial or other use, giving due regard to the other provisions of this constitution. If a majority of the qualified electors of the city voting thereon, and a majority of the qualified electors of the county voting thereon at the separate elections shall vote for the plan, then, at such time as shall be prescribed therein, the same shall become the organic law of the territory therein defined, and shall take the place of and supersede all laws, charter provisions and ordinances inconsistent therewith relating to said territory. If the plan be adopted, copies thereof, certified to by said election officials of the city and county, shall be deposited in the office of the secretary of state and recorded in the office of the recorder of deeds for the city, and in the office of the recorder of deeds of the present county, and the courts of this state shall take judicial notice thereof.
#### CITY OF ST. LOUIS
Article VIII: SUFFRAGE AND ELECTIONS
Section 16: Congressional term limits amendment
Therefore, We, the people of the State of Missouri, have chosen to amend the state constitution to inform voters regarding incumbent and non-incumbent federal candidates' support for the above proposed CONGRESSIONAL TERM LIMITS AMENDMENT.
Section 18: Voter instruction on term limit pledge for non-incumbents
I support term limits and pledge to use all my legislative powers to enact the proposed Constitutional Amendment set forth in the Term Limits Act of 1996. If elected, I pledge to vote in such a way that the designation "DISREGARDED VOTERS' INSTRUCTION ON TERM LIMITS" will not appear adjacent to my name.
Article X: TAXATION
Section 4: (b). Basis of assessment of tangible property—real property—taxation of intangibles—limitations. Property in classes 1 and 2 and subclasses of those classes, shall be assessed for tax purposes at its value or such percentage of its value as may be fixed by law for each class and for each subclass. Property in class 3 and its subclasses shall be taxed only to the extent authorized and at the rate fixed by law for each class and subclass, and the tax shall be based on the annual yield and shall not exceed eight percent thereof. Property in class 1 shall be subclassed in the following classifications:
Property in the subclasses of class 1 may be defined by law, however subclasses (1), (2), and (3) shall not be further divided, provided, land in subclass (2) may by general law be assessed for tax purposes on its productive capability. The same percentage of value shall be applied to all properties within any subclass. No classes or subclass shall have a percentage of its true value in money in excess of thirty-three and one-third percent.
Section 6: (b). Intangible property exempt from taxation, when—local governments may be reimbursed, when. The general assembly may by general law exempt from taxation all intangible property, including taxation on the yield thereof, when owned by:
Any such law may provide for approximate reimbursement to the various political subdivisions, by the state, of revenues lost because of the exemption.
Article XI: CORPORATIONS
Section 8: Limitation of liability of stockholders. No stockholder or subscriber to stock of a corporation shall be individually liable in any amount in excess of the amount originally subscribed on such stock.
#### RAILROADS
Section 12: Prohibition of discrimination, favoritism and preferences. No discrimination in charges or facilities in transportation shall be made between transportation corporations and individuals, or in favor of either, by abatement, drawback or otherwise; and no common carrier, or any lessee, manager or employee thereof, shall make any preference in furnishing cars or motive power.
#### BANKS
Article XII: AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION
Section 1: Limitation on revision and amendment. This constitution may be
revised and amended only as therein provided.
Section 2: (a). Proposal of amendments by general assembly. Constitutional amendments
may be proposed at any time by a majority of the members-elect of each house of the general assembly, the vote to be taken by yeas and nays and entered on the journal.
Section 3: (a). Referendum on constitutional convention—qualifications of delegates—selection of nominees for district delegates and delegates-at-large—election procedure.
At the general election on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November 1962, and every twenty years thereafter, the secretary of state shall, and at any general or special election the general assembly by law may, submit to the electors of the state the question "Shall there be a convention to revise and amend the constitution?" The question shall be submitted on a separate ballot without party designation, and if a majority of the votes cast thereon is for the affirmative, the governor shall call an election of delegates to the convention on a day not less than three nor more than six months after the election on the question. At the election the electors of the state shall elect fifteen delegates-at-large and the electors of each state senatorial district shall elect two delegates. Each delegate shall possess the qualifications of a senator; and no person holding any other office of trust or profit (officers of the organized militia, school directors, justices of the peace and notaries public excepted) shall be eligible to be elected a delegate. To secure representation from different political parties in each senatorial district, in the manner prescribed by its senatorial district committee each political party shall nominate but one candidate for delegate from each senatorial district, the certificate of nomination shall be filed in the office of the secretary of state at least thirty days before the election, each candidate shall be voted for on a separate ballot bearing the party designation, each elector shall vote for but one of the candidates, and the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes in each senatorial district shall be elected. Candidates for delegates-at-large shall be nominated by nominating petitions only, which shall be signed by electors of the state equal to five percent of the legal voters in the senatorial district in which the candidate resides until otherwise provided by law, and shall be verified as provided by law for initiative petitions, and filed in the office of the secretary of state at least thirty days before the election. All such candidates shall be voted for on a separate ballot without party designation, and the fifteen receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected. Not less than fifteen days before the election, the secretary of state shall certify to the county clerk of the county the name of each person nominated for the office of delegate from the senatorial district in which the county, or any part of it, is included, and the names of all persons nominated for delegates-at-large.
Article XIII: PUBLIC EMPLOYEES
Section 3: Compensation of state elected officials, general assembly members and judges to be set by Missouri Citizens’ Commission on Compensation—members qualifications, terms, removal, vacancies, duties—procedure.
Other provisions of this constitution to the contrary notwithstanding, in order to ensure that the power to control the rate of compensation of elected officials of this state is retained and exercised by the tax paying citizens of the state, after the effective date of this section no elected state official, member of the general assembly, or judge, except municipal judges, shall receive compensation for the performance of their duties other than in the amount established for each office by the Missouri citizens' commission on compensation for elected officials established pursuant to the provisions of this section. The term "compensation" includes the salary rate established by law, milage allowances, per diem expense allowances. There is created a commission to be known as the "Missouri Citizens' Commission on Compensation for Elected Officials". The Commission shall be selected in the following manner: (1) One member of the commission shall be selected at random by the secretary of state from each congressional district from among those registered voters eligible to vote at the time of selection. The secretary of state shall establish policies and procedures for conducting the selection at random. In making the selections, the secretary of state shall establish a selection system to ensure that no more than five of the members shall be from the same political party. The policies shall include, but not be limited to, the method of notifying persons selected and for providing for a new selection if any person declines appointment to the commission; (2) One member shall be a retired judge appointed by the judges of the supreme court, en banc; Twelve members shall be appointed by the governor, by and with the advice and consent of the senate. Not more than six of the appointees shall be members of the same political party. Of the persons appointed by the governor, one shall be a person who has had experience in the field of personnel management, one shall be a person who is representative of organized labor, one shall be a person representing small business in this state, one shall be the chief executive officer of a business doing an average gross annual business in excess of one million dollars, one shall be a person representing the health care industry, one shall be a person representing agriculture, two shall be persons over the age of sixty years, four shall be citizens of a county of the third classification, two of such citizens selected from a county of the third classification shall be selected from north of the Missouri River and two shall be selected from south of the Missouri River. No two persons selected to represent a county of the third classification shall be from the same county nor shall such persons be appointed from any county represented by an appointment to the commission by the secretary of state pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection. All members of the commission shall be residents and registered voters of the state of Missouri. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this section, no state official, no member of the general assembly, no active judge of any court, no employee of the state or any of its institutions, boards, commissions, agencies or other entities, no elected or appointed official or employee of any political subdivision of the state, and no lobbyist as defined by law shall serve as a member of the commission. No immediate family member of any person ineligible for service on the commission under the provisions of this subsection may serve on the commission. The phrase "immediate family" means the parents, spouse, siblings, children, or dependant relative of the person whether or not living in the same household. Members of the commission shall hold office for a term of four years. No person may be appointed to the commission more than once. No member of the commission may be removed from office during the term for which appointed except for incapacity, incompetence, neglect of duty, malfeasance in office, or for a disqualifying change of residence. Any action for removal shall be brought by the attorney general at the request of the governor and shall be heard in the circuit court for the county in which the accused commission member resides. The first appointments to the commission shall be made not later than February 1, 1996, and not later than February first every four years thereafter. All appointments shall be filed with the secretary of state, who shall call the first meeting of the commission not later than March 1, 1996, and shall preside at the first meeting until the commission is organized. The members of the commission shall organize and elect a chairperson and such other officers as the commission finds necessary. Upon a vacancy on the commission, a successor shall be selected and appointed to fill the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment was made. The appointment to fill a vacancy shall be made within thirty days of the date the position becomes vacant. Members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties from appropriations made for that purpose. The commission shall, beginning in 1996, and every two years thereafter, review and study the relationship of compensation to the duties of all elected state officials, all members of the general assembly, and all judges, except municipal judges, and shall fix the compensation for each respective position. The commission shall file its initial schedule of compensation with the secretary of state and the revisor of statutes no later than the first day of December, 1996, and by the first day of December each two years thereafter. The schedule of compensation shall become effective unless disapproved by concurrent resolution adopted by a two-thirds majority vote the general assembly before February 1 of the year following the filing of the schedule. Each schedule shall be published by the secretary of state as a part of the session laws of the general assembly and may also be published as a separate publication at the discretion of the secretary of state. The schedule shall also be published by the revisor of statutes as a part of the revised statutes of Missouri. The schedule shall apply and represent the compensation for each affected person beginning on the first day of July following the filing of the schedule. In addition to any compensation established by the schedule, the general assembly may provide by appropriation for periodic uniform general cost-of-living increases or decreases for all employees of the state of Missouri and such cost-of-living increases or decreases may also be extended to those persons affected by the compensation schedule fixed by the commission. No cost-of-living increase or decrease granted to any person affected by the schedule shall exceed the uniform general increase or decrease provided for all other state employees by the general assembly. Prior to the filing of any compensation schedule, the commission shall hold no less than four public hearings on such schedule, at different geographical locations within the state, within the four months immediately preceding the filing of the schedule. All meetings, actions, hearings, and business of the commission shall be open to the public, and all records of the commission shall be available for public inspection. Until the first day of July next after the filing of the first schedule by the commission, compensation of the persons affected by this section shall be that in effect on the effective date of this amendment. Schedules filed by the commission shall be subject to referendum upon petition of the voters of this state in the same manner and under the same conditions as a bill enacted by the general assembly. Beginning January 1, 2007, any public official subject to this provision who is convicted in any court of a felony which occurred while in office or who has been removed from office for misconduct or following impeachment shall be disqualified from receiving any pension from the state of Missouri. No compensation schedule filed by the commission after the effective date of this subsection shall take effect for members of the general assembly until January 1, 2009.
Source: Imported from all_50_state_constitutions_FINAL.md
Last Updated: June 28, 2026
Overview
The Missouri Constitution of 1945 serves as the fundamental law of the state, establishing the framework for government and protecting the rights of its citizens.
History
Missouri was admitted to the Union on August 10, 1821.
The current constitution was adopted in 1945. State constitutions are often amended more frequently than the federal Constitution, reflecting changing needs and values of state residents.
Structure of Government
Legislative
State Legislature
Executive
Governor & Cabinet
Judicial
State Courts
Bill of Rights
Like the U.S. Constitution, the Missouri Constitution includes protections for individual rights and liberties. State constitutions often provide broader protections than the federal Constitution, serving as a "floor" rather than a "ceiling" for rights.