Source: http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/ConstArticles/Art03.html
Timestamp: 2018-08-20 10:33:45
Document Index: 109769124

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 5', '§ 2', '§ 10', '§ 12', '§ 13', '§ 14', '§ 15', '§ 16', '§ 16', '§ 18', '§ 28', '§ 27', '§ 42', '§ 31', '§ 36', '§ 38', '§ 12', '§ 39', '§ 1', '§ 41', '§ 44', '§ 45', '§ 26', '§ 45', '§ 10', '§ 53', '§ 54', '§ 1', '§ 2']

←Article: 02
Article: 04→
Legislative power--general assembly.
Section 1. The legislative power shall be vested in a senate and house of representatives to be styled "The General Assembly of the State of Missouri."
Source: Const. of 1875, Art. IV, § 1.
(Repealed November 2, 1982, L. 1982 SJR 39, § 1)
Qualifications of representatives.
Section 4. Each representative shall be twenty-four years of age, and next before the day of his election shall have been a qualified voter for two years and a resident of the county or district which he is chosen to represent for one year, if such county or district shall have been so long established, and if not, then of the county or district from which the same shall have been taken.
Senators--number--senatorial districts.
Section 5. The senate shall consist of thirty-four members elected by the qualified voters of the respective districts for four years. For the election of senators, the state shall be divided into convenient districts of contiguous territory, as compact and nearly equal in population as may be.
Source: Const. of 1875, Art. IV, §§ 5, 9.
Section 6. Each senator shall be thirty years of age, and next before the day of his election shall have been a qualified voter of the state for three years and a resident of the district which he is chosen to represent for one year, if such district shall have been so long established, and if not, then of the district or districts from which the same shall have been taken.
Senatorial apportionment commission--number, appointment, duties, compensation.
(2012) Nonpartisan reapportionment commission, having approved and submitted a legislative redistricting plan and map, discharged its duty and lacked authority to later submit revised plan. State ex rel. Teichman v. Carnahan, 357 S.W.3d 601 (Mo. banc).
Term limitations for members of General Assembly.
Section 8. No one shall be elected to serve more than eight years total in any one house of the General Assembly nor more than sixteen years total in both houses of the General Assembly. In applying this section, service in the General Assembly resulting from an election prior to December 3, 1992, or service of less than one year, in the case of a member of the house of representatives, or two years, in the case of a member of the senate, by a person elected after the effective date of this section to complete the term of another person, shall not be counted.
(Adopted November 3, 1992).
Section 9. Until the convening of the Seventy-fourth General Assembly the House of Representatives shall consist of one hundred sixty-three members elected from the one hundred sixty-three representative districts, as they existed January 1, 1965.
Basis of apportionment--alteration of districts.
Section 10. The last decennial census of the United States shall be used in apportioning representatives and determining the population of senatorial and representative districts. Such districts may be altered from time to time as public convenience may require.
Source: Const. of 1875, Art. IV, §§ 2, 5, 7, 9.
Time of election of senators and representatives.
Section 11. The first election of senators and representatives under this constitution, shall be held at the general election in the year one thousand nine hundred and forty-six when the whole number of representatives and the senators from the districts having even numbers, who shall compose the first class, shall be elected, and two years thereafter the whole number of representatives and the senators from districts having odd numbers, who shall compose the second class, shall be elected, and so on at each succeeding general election.
Source: Const. of 1875, Art. IV, § 10.
Members of general assembly disqualified from holding other offices.
Section 12. No person holding any lucrative office or employment under the United States, this state or any municipality thereof shall hold the office of senator or representative. When any senator or representative accepts any office or employment under the United States, this state or any municipality thereof, his office shall thereby be vacated and he shall thereafter perform no duty and receive no salary as senator or representative. During the term for which he was elected no senator or representative shall accept any appointive office or employment under this state which is created or the emoluments of which are increased during such term. This section shall not apply to members of the organized militia, of the reserve corps and of school boards, and notaries public.
Source: Const. of 1875, Art. IV, § 12.
Vacation of office by removal of residence.
Section 13. If any senator or representative remove his residence from the district or county for which he was elected, his office shall thereby be vacated.
Source: Const. of 1875, Art. IV, § 13.
Writs of election to fill vacancies.
Section 14. Writs of election to fill vacancies in either house of the general assembly shall be issued by the governor.
Source: Const. of 1875, Art. IV, § 14.
Oath of office of members of assembly--administration--effect of refusal to take oath and conviction of violation.
Section 15. Every senator or representative elect, before entering upon the duties of his office, shall take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation: "I do solemnly swear, or affirm, that I will support the Constitution of the United States and of the state of Missouri, and faithfully perform the duties of my office, and that I will not knowingly receive, directly or indirectly, any money or other valuable thing for the performance or nonperformance of any act or duty pertaining to my office, other than the compensation allowed by law." The oath shall be administered in the halls of the respective houses to the members thereof, by a judge of the supreme court or a circuit court, or after the organization by the presiding officer of either house, and shall be filed in the office of the secretary of state. Any senator or representative refusing to take said oath or affirmation shall be deemed to have vacated his office, and any member convicted of having violated his oath or affirmation shall be deemed guilty of perjury, and be forever disqualified from holding any office of trust or profit in this state.
Source: Const. of 1875, Art. IV, § 15.
Compensation, mileage allowance and expenses of general assembly members.
Section 16. 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.
Source: Const. of 1875, Art. IV, § 16.
(Amended November 3, 1942)
Limitation on number of legislative employees.
Section 17. Until otherwise provided by law, the house of representatives shall not employ more than one hundred twenty-five and the senate shall not employ more than seventy-five employees elective, appointive or any other at any time during any session.
Source: Const. of 1875, Art. IV, § 16a. (Adopted November 8, 1932) (Amended November 3, 1970)
Appointment of officers of houses--jurisdiction to determine membership--power to make rules, punish for contempt and disorderly conduct and expel members.
Legislative privileges.
Section 19. Senators and representatives shall, in all cases except treason, felony, or breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during the session of the general assembly, and for the fifteen days next before the commencement and after the termination of each session; and they shall not be questioned for any speech or debate in either house in any other place.
Source: Const. of 1875, Art. IV §§ 18, 19, 20, 23. (Amended November 3, 1970)
(Amended November 8, 1988)
Automatic adjournment--tabling of bills, when.
(Adopted November 4, 1952).
(Amended November 8, 1960)
Special session, procedure to convene--limitations--automatic adjournment.
Section 20(b). 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.
Style of laws--bills--limitation on amendments--power of each house to originate and amend bills--reading of bills.
Section 21. The style of the laws of this state shall be: "Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows." No law shall be passed except by bill, and no bill shall be so amended in its passage through either house as to change its original purpose. Bills may originate in either house and may be amended or rejected by the other. Every bill shall be read by title on three different days in each house.
Referral of bills to committees--recall of referred bills--records of committees--provision for interim meetings.
Section 22. 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.
Limitation of scope of bills--contents of titles--exceptions.
Section 23. No bill shall contain more than one subject which shall be clearly expressed in its title, except bills enacted under the third exception in section 37 of this article and general appropriation bills, which may embrace the various subjects and accounts for which moneys are appropriated.
Source: Const. of 1875, Art. IV, § 28.
Printing of bills and amendments.
Section 24. No bill shall be considered for final passage in either house until it, with all amendments thereto, has been printed and copies distributed among the members. If a bill passed by either house be returned thereto, amended by the other, the house to which the same is returned shall cause the amendment or amendments so received to be printed and copies distributed among the members before final action on such amendments.
Source: Const. of 1875, Art. IV, §§ 27, 30.
Limitation on introduction of bills.
Section 25. No bill other than an appropriation bill shall be introduced in either house after the sixtieth legislative day unless consented to by a majority of the elected members of each house or the governor shall request a consideration of the proposed legislation by a special message. No appropriation bill shall be taken up for consideration after 6:00 p.m. on the first Friday following the first Monday in May of each year.
Legislative journals--demand for yeas and nays--manner and record of vote.
Section 26. Each house shall publish a journal of its proceedings. The yeas and nays on any question shall be taken and entered on the journal on the motion of any five members. Whenever the yeas and nays are demanded, or required by this constitution, the whole list of members shall be called and the names of the members voting yea and nay and the absentees shall be entered in the journal.
Source: Const. of 1875, Art. IV, § 42.
Concurrence in amendments--adoption of conference committee reports --final passage of bills.
Section 27. No amendments to bills by one house shall be concurred in by the other, nor shall reports of committees of conference be adopted in either house, nor shall a bill be finally passed, unless a vote by yeas and nays be taken and a majority of the members elected to each house be recorded as voting favorably.
Source: Const. of 1875, Art. IV, §§ 31, 32.
Form of reviving, reenacting and amending bills.
Section 28. No act shall be revived or reenacted unless it shall be set forth at length as if it were an original act. No act shall be amended by providing that words be stricken out or inserted, but the words to be stricken out, or the words to be inserted, or the words to be stricken out and those inserted in lieu thereof, together with the act or section amended, shall be set forth in full as amended.
Effective date of laws--exceptions--procedure in emergencies and upon recess.
Section 29. No law passed by the general assembly, except an appropriation act, shall take effect until ninety days after the adjournment of the session in either odd-numbered or even-numbered years at which it was enacted. However, in case of an emergency which must be expressed in the preamble or in the body of the act, the general assembly by a two-thirds vote of the members elected to each house, taken by yeas and nays may otherwise direct; and further except that, if the general assembly recesses for thirty days or more it may prescribe by joint resolution that laws previously passed and not effective shall take effect ninety days from the beginning of the recess.
Source: Const. of 1875, Art. IV, § 36.
Signing of bills by presiding officers--procedure on objections --presentation of bills to governor.
Section 30. No bill shall become a law until it is signed by the presiding officer of each house in open session, who first shall suspend all other business, declare that the bill shall now be read and that if no objection be made he will sign the same. If in either house any member shall object in writing to the signing of a bill, the objection shall be noted in the journal and annexed to the bill to be considered by the governor in connection therewith. When a bill has been signed, the secretary, or the chief clerk, of the house in which the bill originated shall present the bill in person to the governor on the same day on which it was signed and enter the fact upon the journal.
Governor's duty as to bills--time limitations--failure to return, bill becomes law.
Section 31. Every bill which shall have passed the house of representatives and the senate shall be presented to and considered by the governor, and, within fifteen days after presentment, he shall return such bill to the house in which it originated endorsed with his approval or accompanied by his objections. If the bill be approved by the governor it shall become a law. When the general assembly adjourns, or recesses for a period of thirty days or more, the governor shall return within forty-five days any bill to the office of the secretary of state with his approval or reasons for disapproval. If any bill shall not be returned by the governor within the time limits prescribed by this section it shall become law in like manner as if the governor had signed it.
Source: Const. of 1875, Art. IV, § 38, Art. V, § 12.
Vetoed bills reconsidered, when.
Section 32. Every bill presented to the governor and returned with his objections shall stand as reconsidered in the house to which it is returned. If the governor returns any bill with his objections on or after the fifth day before the last day upon which a session of the general assembly may consider bills, the general assembly shall automatically reconvene on the first Wednesday following the second Monday in September for a period not to exceed ten calendar days for the sole purpose of considering bills returned by the governor. The objections of the governor shall be entered upon the journal and the house shall proceed to consider the question pending, which shall be in this form: "Shall the bill pass, the objections of the governor thereto notwithstanding?" The vote upon this question shall be taken by yeas and nays and if two-thirds of the elected members of the house vote in the affirmative the presiding officer of that house shall certify that fact on the roll, attesting the same by his signature, and send the bill with the objections of the governor to the other house, in which like proceedings shall be had in relation thereto. The bill thus certified shall be deposited in the office of the secretary of state as an authentic act and shall become a law.
Source: Const. of 1875, Art. IV, § 39.
(Repealed August 5, 1986, L. 1986 HCS HJR 4 & 20, § 1)
Revision of general statutes--limitation on compensation.
Section 34. In the year 1949 and at least every ten years thereafter all general statute laws shall be revised, digested and promulgated as provided by law. No senator or representative shall receive any compensation in addition to his salary as a member of the general assembly for any services rendered in connection with said revision.
Source: Const. of 1875, Art. IV, § 41 (Adopted November 8, 1932).
Committee on legislative research.
Section 35. 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.
Payment of state revenues and receipts to treasury--limitation of withdrawals to appropriations--order of appropriations.
Section 36. All revenue collected and money received by the state shall go into the treasury and the general assembly shall have no power to divert the same or to permit the withdrawal of money from the treasury, except in pursuance of appropriations made by law. All appropriations of money by successive general assemblies shall be made in the following order:
Limitation on state debts and bond issues.
Section 37. The general assembly shall have no power to contract or authorize the contracting of any liability of the state, or to issue bonds therefor, except (1) to refund outstanding bonds, the refunding bonds to mature not more than twenty-five years from date, (2) on the recommendation of the governor, for a temporary liability to be incurred by reason of unforeseen emergency or casual deficiency in revenue, in a sum not to exceed one million dollars for any one year and to be paid in not more than five years from its creation, and (3) when the liability exceeds one million dollars, the general assembly as on constitutional amendments, or the people by the initiative, may also submit a measure containing the amount, purpose and terms of the liability, and if the measure is approved by a majority of the qualified electors of the state voting thereon at the election, the liability may be incurred, and the bonds issued therefor must be retired serially and by installments within a period not exceeding twenty-five years from their date. Before any bonds are issued under this section the general assembly shall make adequate provision for the payment of the principal and interest, and may provide an annual tax on all taxable property in an amount sufficient for the purpose.
Source: Const. of 1875, Art. IV, § 44.
Additional water pollution control bonds authorized--procedure.
Section 37(c). 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 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.
Rural water and sewer grants and loans--bonds authorized, procedure --appropriation of funds, limitations.
Section 37(g). 1. In addition to any other indebtedness authorized under this constitution or the laws of this state, 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 million dollars for the purpose of providing rural water and sewer grants and loans, including grants for the establishment of water supply hook-ups in unincorporated areas of any county to water supplies, whether or not a particular county as a whole is classified as rural, through grants and loans administered by the clean water commission and the department of natural resources pursuant to procedures in chapter 640, RSMo, and chapter 644, RSMo. 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 the program of the clean water commission and the department of natural resources as determined by the general assembly for the financing and constructing of these improvements by any county, municipality, sewer district, water district, or any combination of the same. 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 bonds before such bonds 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 the water pollution control bond 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 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.
2. The bonds and the interest thereon shall be paid out of the water pollution control bond and interest fund and the payment of such 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 such bonds shall have been issued, for the payment of interest on the bonds in the next succeeding fiscal year, and to pay such 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 such bonds maturing in the next succeeding fiscal year.
3. It shall be the duty of the commissioner of administration to transfer at least monthly, from the state general 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 such fund the amount so certified to the commissioner of administration by the state board of fund commissioners, as provided by this section.
4. If at any time after the issuance of any of the bonds, it shall become apparent to the commissioner of administration that the funds available in the state general revenue fund 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 the 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 such 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 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 such clerks and the 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 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.
5. 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 bonds, there to remain until paid out in discharge of the principal of such 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 such bonds and the interest thereon shall be unpaid. The general assembly may appropriate in any year such amount from the water pollution control fund as it determines to be necessary for the purposes specified herein. However, such appropriations may not exceed ten million dollars for the purpose of providing rural water and sewer grants and loans, including grants for the establishment of water supply hook-ups from unincorporated areas of any county to water supplies, whether or not a particular county as a whole is classified as rural, administered by the department of natural resources pursuant to law. The general assembly may enact such laws as may be necessary to carry this amendment into effect.
(Adopted November 3, 1998).
Storm water control plans, studies and projects--bonds authorized, procedure--storm water control bond and interest fund created, administration (includes St. Louis City and counties of the first classification).
Section 37(h). 1. In addition to any other indebtedness authorized under this constitution or the laws of this state, 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 stormwater control plans, studies and projects in counties of the first classification and in any city not within a county, through grants and loans administered by the clean water commission and the department of natural resources pursuant to the procedures in chapter 644, RSMo. 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 the program of the clean water commission and the department of natural resources as determined by the general assembly for the financing and constructing of these plans, studies and projects by any municipality, public sewer district, sewer district established pursuant to article VI, section 30(a) of the Missouri Constitution, public water district, or any combination of the same located in a county of the first classification or in any city not within a county or by any county of the first classification. 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 bonds before such bonds 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 "Stormwater 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 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.
(Amended November 4, 2008)
Limitation on use of state funds and credit--exceptions--public calamity--blind pensions--old age assistance--aid to children--direct relief--adjusted compensation for veterans--rehabilitation --participation in federal aid.
Section 38(a). The general assembly shall have no power to grant public money or property, or lend or authorize the lending of public credit, to any private person, association or corporation, excepting aid in public calamity, and general laws providing for pensions for the blind, for old age assistance, for aid to dependent or crippled children or the blind, for direct relief, for adjusted compensation, bonus or rehabilitation for discharged members of the armed services of the United States who were bona fide residents of this state during their service, and for the rehabilitation of other persons. Money or property may also be received from the United States and be redistributed together with public money of this state for any public purpose designated by the United States.
Source: Const. of 1875, Art. IV, §§ 45, 46, 47 (as amended in 1916, 1920, 1932, 1936, and 1938).
Tax levy for blind pension fund.
Section 38(b). The general assembly shall provide an annual tax of not less than one-half of one cent nor more than three cents on the one hundred dollars valuation of all taxable property to be levied and collected as other taxes, for the purpose of providing a fund to be appropriated and used for the pensioning of the deserving blind as provided by law. Any balance remaining in the fund after the payment of the pensions may be appropriated for the adequate support of the commission for the blind, and any remaining balance shall be transferred to the distributive public school fund.
Neighborhood improvement districts, cities and counties may be authorized to establish, powers and duties--limitation on indebtedness.
Section 38(c). 1. The general assembly may authorize cities and counties to create neighborhood improvement districts and incur indebtedness and issue general obligation bonds to pay for all or part of the cost of public improvements within such districts. The cost of all indebtedness so incurred shall be levied and assessed by the governing body of the city or county on the property benefited by such improvements. The city or county shall collect the special assessments so levied and use the same to reimburse the city or county for the amount paid or to be paid by it on the general obligation bonds issued for such improvements.
2. Neighborhood improvement districts may be created by a city or county only when approved by the vote of a percentage of electors voting thereon within such district, or by a petition signed by the owners of record of a percentage of real property located within such district, that is equal to the percentage of voter approval required for the issuance of general obligation bonds under article VI, section 26.
3. The total amount of city or county indebtedness for all such districts shall not exceed ten percent of the assessed valuation of all taxable tangible property, as shown by the last completed property assessment for state or local purposes, within the city or county.
(Adopted August 7, 1990).
(1996) "Neighborhood" does not require multiple parcels or multiple residents. Section creates an exception to Art. VI, § 26(f). Spradlin v. City of Fulton, 924 S.W.2d 259 (Mo. banc).
Section 38(d). 1. This section shall be known as the "Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative."
(Adopted by Initiative November 7, 2006).
Limitation of power of general assembly.
Section 39. The general assembly shall not have power:
(3) To grant or to authorize any county or municipal authority to grant any extra compensation, fee or allowance to a public officer, agent, servant or contractor after service has been rendered or a contract has been entered into and performed in whole or in part;
(4) To pay or to authorize the payment of any claim against the state or any county or municipal corporation of the state under any agreement or contract made without express authority of law;
(5) To release or extinguish or to authorize the releasing or extinguishing, in whole or in part, without consideration, the indebtedness, liability or obligation of any corporation or individual due this state or any county or municipal corporation;
(6) To make any appropriation of money for the payment, or on account of or in recognition of any claims audited or that may hereafter be audited by virtue of an act entitled "An Act to Audit and Adjust the War Debts of the State," approved March 19, 1874, or any act of a similar nature, until the claim so audited shall have been presented to and paid by the government of the United States to this state;
(7) To act, when convened in extra session by the governor, upon subjects other than those specially designated in the proclamation calling said session or recommended by special message to the general assembly after the convening of an extra session;
(9) Except as otherwise provided in section 39(b), section 39(c), section 39(e) or section 39(f) of this article, to authorize lotteries or gift enterprises for any purpose, and shall enact laws to prohibit the sale of lottery or gift enterprise tickets, or tickets in any scheme in the nature of a lottery; except that, nothing in this section shall be so construed as to prevent or prohibit citizens of this state from participating in games or contests of skill or chance where no consideration is required to be given for the privilege or opportunity of participating or for receiving the award or prize and the term "lottery or gift enterprise" shall mean only those games or contests whereby money or something of value is exchanged directly for the ticket or chance to participate in the game or contest. The general assembly may, by law, provide standards and conditions to regulate or guarantee the awarding of prizes provided for in such games or contests under the provision of this subdivision;
(10) To impose a use or sales tax upon the use, purchase or acquisition of property paid for out of the funds of any county or other political subdivision.
Source: Const. of 1875, Art. IV, §§ 45, 48, 51, 52, 55, 56, Art. XIV § 10.
State lottery, authority to establish--lottery proceeds fund established, purpose.
Section 39(b). 1. The general assembly shall have authority to authorize a Missouri state lottery by law. If such legislation is adopted, there shall be created a "State Lottery Commission" consisting of five members who shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate and who may be removed, for cause by the governor and who shall be chosen from the state at large and represent a broad geographic spectrum with no more than one member chosen from each federal congressional district. Each member at the time of his appointment and qualification shall have been a resident of this state for a period of at least five years next preceding his appointment and qualification and shall also be a qualified elector therein and be not less than thirty years of age. No more than three members of the commission shall be members of the same political party. Members of the commission shall have three-year terms as provided by law. Members of the commission shall receive no salary but shall receive their actual expenses incurred in the performance of their responsibilities. The commission shall employ such persons as provided by law. The commission shall have the authority to join other states and jurisdictions for the purpose of conducting joint lottery games.
(Adopted November 6, 1984).
(Amended August 4, 1992)
Gaming revenues to be appropriated to public institutions of elementary, secondary and higher education.
Section 39(d). All state revenues derived from the conduct of all gaming activities as are now or hereafter authorized by this constitution or by law, unless otherwise provided by law on the effective date of this section, shall be appropriated beginning July 1, 1993, solely for the public institutions of elementary, secondary and higher education and shall not be included within the definition of "total state revenues" in section 17 of article X of this constitution.
(Adopted August 4, 1992).
Riverboat gambling authorized on Missouri and Mississippi Rivers --boats in moats authorized.
Section 39(e). The general assembly is authorized to permit upon the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers only, which shall include artificial spaces that contain water and that are within 1000 feet of the closest edge of the main channel of either of those rivers, lotteries, gift enterprises and games of chance to be conducted on excursion gambling boats and floating facilities. Any license issued before or after the adoption date of this amendment for any excursion gambling boat or floating facility located in any such artificial space shall be deemed to be authorized by the General Assembly and to be in compliance with this Section. NOTICE: You are advised that the proposed constitutional amendment may be construed to change, repeal, or modify by implication Article III, Sections 39, 39(9), and 39(e).
Raffles and sweepstakes, charitable or religious organizations may sponsor, standards and conditions.
Section 39(f). Any organization recognized as charitable or religious pursuant to federal law may sponsor raffles and sweepstakes in which a person risks something of value for a prize. The general assembly may, by law, provide standards and conditions to regulate or guarantee the awarding of prizes provided for in such raffles or sweepstakes.
Indirect enactment of local and special laws--repeal of local and special laws.
Section 41. The general assembly shall not indirectly enact a special or local law by the partial repeal of a general law; but laws repealing local or special acts may be passed.
Source: Const. of 1875, Art. IV, § 53(33).
Notice of proposed local or special laws.
Section 42. No local or special law shall be passed unless a notice, setting forth the intention to apply therefor and the substance of the contemplated law, shall have been published in the locality where the matter or thing to be affected is situated at least thirty days prior to the introduction of the bill into the general assembly and in the manner provided by law. Proof of publication shall be filed with the general assembly before the act shall be passed and the notice shall be recited in the act.
Source: Const. of 1875, Art. IV, § 54.
Title and control of lands of United States--exemption from taxation --taxation of lands of nonresidents.
Section 43. The general assembly shall never interfere with the primary disposal of the soil by the United States, nor with any regulation which Congress may find necessary for securing the title in such soil to bona fide purchasers. No tax shall be imposed on lands the property of the United States; nor shall lands belonging to persons residing without the state ever be taxed at a higher rate than lands belonging to persons residing within the state.
Source: Const. of 1875, Art. XIV, § 1.
Uniform interest rates.
Section 44. No law shall be valid fixing rates of interest or return for the loan or use of money, or the service or other charges made or imposed in connection therewith, for any particular group or class engaged in lending money. The rates of interest fixed by law shall be applicable generally and to all lenders without regard to the type or classification of their business.
Section 45. When the number of representatives to which the state is entitled in the House of the Congress of the United States under the census of 1950 and each census thereafter is certified to the governor, the general assembly shall by law divide the state into districts corresponding with the number of representatives to which it is entitled, which districts shall be composed of contiguous territory as compact and as nearly equal in population as may be.
Term limitations for members of U.S. Congress--effective when --voluntary observance required, when.
Section 45(a). (1) No United States Senator from Missouri shall serve more than two terms in the United States Senate, and no United States Representative from Missouri shall serve more than four terms in the United States House of Representatives. This limitation on the number of terms shall apply to terms of office beginning on or after the effective date of this section. Any person appointed or elected to fill a vacancy in the United States Congress and who serves at least one-half of a term of office shall be considered to have served a term in that office for purposes of this subsection (1). The provisions of this subsection (1) shall become effective whenever at least one-half of the states enact term limits for their members of the United States Congress.
(2) The people of Missouri declare that the provisions of this section shall be deemed severable and that their intention is that federal officials elected from Missouri will continue voluntarily to observe the wishes of the people as stated in this section in the event any provision thereof is held invalid.
Section 46. The general assembly shall provide for the organization, equipment, regulations and functions of an adequate militia, and shall conform the same as nearly as practicable to the regulations for the government of the armed forces of the United States.
Source: Const. of 1875, Art. XIII, § 2.
Emergency duties and powers of assembly on enemy attack.
Section 46(a). The General Assembly, in order to insure continuity of state and local governmental operations in periods of emergency only resulting from disasters occurring in this state caused by enemy attack on the United States, shall have the power to such extent as the General Assembly deems advisable. In the event there occurs in this state a disaster caused by enemy attack on the United States, the General Assembly shall immediately convene in the City of Jefferson or in such place as designated by joint proclamation of the highest presiding officers of each house, and shall have power
State parks--appropriations for, required.
Section 47. 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.
Historical memorials and monuments--acquisition of property.
Section 48. 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 petitions--signatures required--form and procedure.
Section 50. Initiative petitions proposing amendments to the constitution shall be signed by eight percent of the legal voters in each of two-thirds of the congressional districts in the state, and petitions proposing laws shall be signed by five percent of such voters. Every such petition shall be filed with the secretary of state not less than six months before the election and shall contain an enacting clause and the full text of the measure. Petitions for constitutional amendments shall not contain more than one amended and revised article of this constitution, or one new article which shall not contain more than one subject and matters properly connected therewith, and the enacting clause thereof shall be "Be it resolved by the people of the state of Missouri that the Constitution be amended:". Petitions for laws shall contain not more than one subject which shall be expressed clearly in the title, and the enacting clause thereof shall be "Be it enacted by the people of the state of Missouri:".
Appropriations by initiative--effective date of initiated laws --conflicting laws concurrently adopted.
Section 51. The initiative shall not be used for the appropriation of money other than of new revenues created and provided for thereby, or for any other purpose prohibited by this constitution. Except as provided in this constitution, any measure proposed shall take effect when approved by a majority of the votes cast thereon. When conflicting measures are approved at the same election the one receiving the largest affirmative vote shall prevail.
Referendum--exceptions--procedure.
Veto power--elections--effective date.
Basis for computation of signatures required.
Section 53. The total vote for governor at the general election last preceding the filing of any initiative or referendum petition shall be used to determine the number of legal voters necessary to sign the petition. In submitting the same to the people the secretary of state and all other officers shall be governed by general laws.