                   CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI
                          (as revised to 1974)

                                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

   In  order to assert our rights,  acknowledge our duties,  and proclaim the 
principles on which our government is founded, we declare:

Section  1.   That  all  political power is vested in and  derived  from  the 
people;  that all government of right originates from the people,  is founded 
upon their will only, and is instituted solely for the good of the whole.

Section  2.   That  all Constitutional government is intended to promote  the 
general welfare of the people; that all persons have a natural right to life, 
liberty, the pursuit of happiness and the enjoyment of the gains of their own 
industry; that all persons are created equal and are entitled to equal rights 
and  opportunity under the law;  that to give security to these things is the 
principal office of government, and that when government does not confer this 
security, it fails in its chief design.

Section  3.   That  the  people of this state have  the  inherent,  sole  and 
exclusive  right to regulate the internal government and police thereof,  and 
to  alter and abolish their Constitution and form of government whenever they 
may deem it necessary to their safety and happiness,  provided such change be 
not repugnant to the Constitution of the United States.

Section 4.    That Missouri is a free and independent state,  subject only to 
the  Constitution of the United States;  that all proposed amendments to  the 
Constitution  of  the  United States qualifying or affecting  the  individual 
liberties  of  the people or which in anywise may impair the right  of  local 
self-government belonging to the people of this state, should be submitted to 
conventions of the people.

Section  5.   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 of 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.   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  7.    That  no money shall ever be taken from the  public  treasury, 
directly  or  indirectly,  in aid of any church,  sect,  or  denomination  of 
religion, or in aid of any priest, preacher, minister or teacher thereof,  as 
such;  and  that no preference shall be given to nor any discrimination  made 
against any church, sect or creed of religion, or any form of religious faith 
or worship.

Section 8.   That no law shall be passed impairing the freedom of speech,  no 
matter  by what means communicated;  that every person shall be free to  say, 
write  or publish,  or otherwise communicate whatever he will on any subject, 
being  responsible for all abuses of that liberty;  and that in all suits and 
prosecutions for libel or slander the truth thereof may be given in evidence; 
and in suits and prosecutions for libel the jury,  under the direction of the 
court, shall determine the law and the facts.

Section  9.    That the people have the right to peaceably assemble for their 
common good, and to apply to those invested with the powers of government for 
redress of grievances by petition or remonstrance.

Section  10.   That no person shall be deprived of life,  liberty or property 
without due process of law.

Section  11.   That no person  shall be imprisoned for debt,  except for non-
payment of fines and penalties imposed by law.

Section  12.  That the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall never  be 
suspended.

Section 13.   That no ex post facto law,  nor law impairing the obligation fo 
contracts, or retrospective in its operation, or making any irrevocable grant 
of special privileges or immunities, can be enacted.

Section  14.   That the courts of justice shall be open to every person,  and 
certain  remedy afforded for every injury to person,  property or  character, 
and  that  right and justice shall be administered without  sale,  denial  or 
delay.

Section 15.  That the people shall be secure in their persons, papers,  homes 
and  effects,  from  unreasonable searches and seizures;  and no  warrant  to 
search  any  place,  or  seize  any person  or  thing.  shall  issue  without 
describing the place to be searched. or the person or thing to be seized,  or 
nearly  as may be;  nor without probable cause,  supported by written oath or 
affirmation.

Section 16.  That a grand jury shall consist of twelve citizens,  any nine of 
whom  concurring  may find an indictment or a true bill:  Provided,  that  no 
grand  jury  shall  be convened except upon an order of a judge  of  a  court 
having  the power to try and determine felonies;  but when so assembled  such 
grand  jury  shall have power to investigate and return indictments  for  all 
character and grades of crime;  and that the power of grand juries to inquire 
into  the  willful  misconduct  in office of public  officers,  and  to  find 
indictments in connection therewith, shall never be suspended.

Section   17.   That  no person shall be prosecuted criminally for felony  or 
misdemeanor  otherwise  than  by indictment or information,  which  shall  be 
concurrent  remedies,  but this shall not be applied to cases arising in  the 
land  or naval forces or in the militia when in actual service in time of war 
or  public danger,  nor to prevent arrests and preliminary examination in any 
criminal case.

Section  18(a).   That  in criminal prosecutions the accused shall  have  the 
right  to appear and defend,  in person and by counsel;  to demand the nature 
and cause of the accusation;  to meet the witnesses against him face to face; 
to  have process to compel the attendance of witnesses in his behalf;  and  a 
speedy public trial by an impartial jury of the county.

Section  18(b).  Upon a hearing and finding by the circuit court in any  case 
wherein  the accused is charged with a felony,  that it is necessary to  take 
the  deposition  of any witness within the state,  other than  defendant  and 
spouse,  in order to preserve the testimony,  and on condition that the court 
make  such orders as will fully protect the rights of personal  confrontation 
and  cross-examination  of the witness by defendant,  the state may take  the 
deposition of such witness and either party may use the same at the trial, as 
in  civil  cases,  provided there has been substantial compliance  with  such 
orders. The reasonable personable and traveling expenses of defendant and his 
counsel shall be paid by the state or county as provided by law.

Section 19.   That no person shall be compelled to testify against himself in 
a  criminal cause,  nor shall any person be put again in jeopardy of life  or 
liberty  for the same offense,  after being once acquitted by a jury;  but if 
the jury fail to render a verdict the court may, in its discretion, discharge 
the  jury and commit or bail the prisoner for trial at the same or next  term 
of  court;  and  if  judgement  be arrested after a verdict of  guilty  on  a 
defective  indictment or information,  or if judgement on a verdict of guilty 
be  reversed  for error in law,  the prisoner may be tried anew on a   proper 
indictment or information, or according to the law.

Section  20.   That  all  persons shall be bailable by  sufficient  sureties, 
except  for  capital offenses,  when the proof is evident or the  presumption 
great.

Section 21.   That excessive bail shall not be required,  nor excessive fines 
imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishment inflicted

Section  22(a).  That the right of trial by jury as heretofore enjoyed  shall 
remain inviolate:  Provided,  that a jury for the trial of criminal and civil 
cases in courts not of record may consist of less than twelve citizens as may 
be prescribed by law, and a two-thirds majority of such number concurring may 
render  a  verdict in all civil cases;  that in all civil cases in courts  of 
record,  three-fourths  of  the members of the jury concurring may  render  a 
verdict;  and that in every criminal case and defendant may,  with the assent 
of  the  court,  waive a jury trial and submit the trial of such case to  the 
court, whose finding shall have the force and effect of a verdict of a jury.

Section 22(b).  No citizen shall be disqualified from jury service because of 
sex,  but  the court shall excuse any woman who requests exemption  therefrom 
before being sworn as a juror.

Section 23.  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.

Section 24.  That the military shall be always in strict subordination to the 
civil  power;  that  no soldier shall be quartered in any house  without  the 
consent  of  the  owner  in time of peace,  nor in time  of  war,  except  as 
prescribed by law.

Section 25.  That all elections shall be free and open;  and no power,  civil 
or military,  shall at any time interfere to prevent the free exercise of the 
right of suffrage.

Section  26.   That private property shall not be taken or damaged for public 
use  without just compensation.  Such compensation shall be ascertained by  a 
jury  or board of commissioners of not less than three freeholders,  in  such 
manner  as  may be provided by law;  and until the same shall be paid to  the 
owner,  or  into court for the owner,  the property shall not be disturbed or 
the  proprietary rights of the owner therein divested.  The fee of land taken 
for  railroad purposes without the consent of the owner thereof shall  remain 
in such owner subject to the use for which it is taken.

Section  27.   That  in  such  manner and under such limitations  as  may  be 
provided  by  law,  the state,  or any county or city may acquire by  eminent 
domain such property, or rights in property, in excess of that actually to be 
occupied by the public improvement or used in connection therewith, as may be 
reasonably  necessary to effectuate the purposes intended,  and may be vested 
with the fee simple title thereto, or the control of the use thereof, and may 
sell  such excess property with such restrictions as shall be appropriate  to 
preserve the improvements made.

Section 28.  That private property shall not be taken for private use with or 
without compensation, unless by consent of the owner, except for private ways 
of  necessity,  and except for drains and ditches across the lands of  others 
for agricultural and sanitary purposes, in the manner prescribed by law.; and 
that when an attempt is made to take private property for a use alleged to be 
public,  the  question  whether  the  contemplated use4 be  public  shall  be 
judicially  determined without regard to any legislative declaration that the 
use is public.

Section  29.   That employees shall have the right to organize and to bargain 
collectively through representatives of their own choosing.

Section  30.  That treason against the state can consist only in levying  war 
against it, or in adhering to its enemies, giving them aid and comfort;  that 
no  person  can  be  convicted of treason,  unless on the  testimony  of  two 
witnesses to the same overt act, or on his confession in open court;  that no 
person can be attainted of treason or felony by the General Assembly; that no 
conviction  can  work corruption of blood or forfeiture of estate;  that  the 
estates  of such persons as may destroy their own lives shall descend or vest 
as  in  cases  of  natural death;  and when any person  shall  be  killed  by 
casualty, there shall be no forfeiture by reason thereof.

Section 31.  That no law shall delegate to any commission,  bureau,  board or 
other  administrative  agency  authority to make any rule fixing  a  fine  or 
imprisonment as punishment for its violation.
