Constitution of the State of Missouri

1945

Missouri adopted its current constitution in 1945, replacing a document that had governed the state since 1875. The revision modernized state government, strengthened the merit system for civil service, and clarified the separation of powers after decades of political controversy. Missouri was the twenty-fourth state admitted to the Union, entering in 1821 under the terms of the Missouri Compromise. The 1945 constitution has been amended frequently, with voter initiative and referendum playing a significant role in shaping the document as it stands today.