1875 Constitution
Missouri went through a fair amount of political transition and turmoil in the years following the Civil War. By the mid-1870s the Radical Republican bent in Missouri (and the nation) was shifting. Republican influence on the whole fell away in Missouri during the last half of the nineteen century, except in the southwestern and northern border regions and the Missouri River counties where German culture thrived.
1875 brought in a concern over the then-current state constitution. A certain portion of the population took issue with the “Drake Constitution” of 1865 and wanted it replaced. When the Missouri people voted to replace the Drake Constitution by a mere 283 votes, a new convention began to work on a new constitution for the state.
One primary change presented in the proposed constitution was the reduction of legislative power and increase of the power of the governor. The governor was given the right of item veto power over appropriation bills. A veto override would now need a two-thirds majority instead of the simply majority as the legislature was used to seeking.
The convention unanimously accepted the constitution and sent it to the public to for approval. Very few Missourians bothered with voting on the constitution. Where over 261,000 had voted to create a new constitution, only 105,000 cast a vote toward the ratification of the bill. Still the constitution passed and would remain Missouri’s law of the land until 1945. It would provide a foundation of conservatism for the Show-Me state throughout this time.
1875 brought in a concern over the then-current state constitution. A certain portion of the population took issue with the “Drake Constitution” of 1865 and wanted it replaced. When the Missouri people voted to replace the Drake Constitution by a mere 283 votes, a new convention began to work on a new constitution for the state.
One primary change presented in the proposed constitution was the reduction of legislative power and increase of the power of the governor. The governor was given the right of item veto power over appropriation bills. A veto override would now need a two-thirds majority instead of the simply majority as the legislature was used to seeking.
The convention unanimously accepted the constitution and sent it to the public to for approval. Very few Missourians bothered with voting on the constitution. Where over 261,000 had voted to create a new constitution, only 105,000 cast a vote toward the ratification of the bill. Still the constitution passed and would remain Missouri’s law of the land until 1945. It would provide a foundation of conservatism for the Show-Me state throughout this time.