2012 Initiative Petitions
Approved for Circulation in Missouri

Constitutional Amendment to Article III, Relating to Citizen Initiative Petitions, version A, 2012-123

Be it resolved by the people of the state of Missouri that the Constitution be amended:

One new section, to be known as Section 54 of Article III, is enacted, and Sections 39, 52(a), and 52(b) of Article III of the Constitution of Missouri are amended, to read as follows:

Section 54. (1)

A statute enacted by citizen initiative pursuant to this article shall not be repealed or amended by the general assembly, except by either a two-thirds vote of the members of each house or a vote of the people through a referendum or unless such statute explicitly provides that the general assembly may repeal or amend it by a majority vote of the members of each house.

(2) This section shall apply prospectively to actions of the general assembly relating to statutes enacted by citizen initiative pursuant to this article, whether the initiative statute was enacted before or is enacted after the effective date of this section.

Section 39.  The general assembly shall not have the power:

(1) To give or lend or to authorize the giving or lending of the credit of the state in aid or to any person, association, municipal or other corporation;

(2) To pledge the credit of the state for the payment of the liabilities, present or prospective, of any individual, association, municipal or other corporation;

(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;

(8) To remove the seat of government from the City of Jefferson;

(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[.];

(11) As provided in section 54 of this article, to repeal or amend any statute enacted by citizen initiative pursuant to this article, except by either a two-thirds vote of the members of each house or by a vote of the people through a referendum or unless such statute explicitly provides that the general assembly may repeal or amend it by a majority vote of the members of each house.

Section 52(a).  A referendum may be ordered (except as to laws necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health or safety, and laws making appropriations for the current expenses of the state government, for the maintenance of state institutions and for the support of public schools) either by petitions signed by five percent of the legal voters in each of two-thirds of the congressional districts in the state, or by the general assembly, as other bills are enacted except that a two-thirds vote of the members of each house shall be required.   Referendum petitions shall be filed with the secretary of state not more than ninety days after the final adjournment of the session of the general assembly which passed the bill on which the referendum is demanded.

Section 52(b).  The veto power of the governor shall not extend to measures referred to the people.  All elections on measures referred to the people shall be had at the general state elections. [, except when the general assembly shall order a special election.]  Any measure referred to the people shall take effect when approved by a majority of the votes cast thereon, and not otherwise.  This section shall not be construed to deprive any member of the general assembly of the right to introduce any measure.