Article I — Bill of Rights
36 sections · 0 paragraphs in this article.
Mo. Const. art. I, § 1 Source of political power—origin, basis and aim of government
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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.
Mo. Const. art. I, § 2 Promotion of general welfare—natural rights of persons—equality under the law—purpose of government
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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 …
Mo. Const. art. I, § 3 Powers of the people over internal affairs, constitution and form of government
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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 ch…
Mo. Const. art. I, § 4 Independence of Missouri—submission of certain amendments to Constitution of the United States
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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 any wise may impair the right of …
Mo. Const. art. I, § 5 Religious freedom—liberty of conscience and belief—limitations
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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, b…
Mo. Const. art. I, § 6 Practice and support of religion not compulsory—contracts therefor enforcible
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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…
Mo. Const. art. I, § 7 Public aid for religious purposes—preferences and discriminations on religious grounds
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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 mad…
Mo. Const. art. I, § 8 Freedom of speech—evidence of truth in defamation actions—province of jury
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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…
Mo. Const. art. I, § 9 Rights of peaceable assembly and petition
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That the people have the right peaceably to assemble for their common good, and to apply to those invested with the powers of government for redress of grievances by petition or remonstrance.
Mo. Const. art. I, § 10 Due process of law
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That no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law.
Mo. Const. art. I, § 11 Imprisonment for debt
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That no person shall be imprisoned for debt, except for nonpayment of fines and penalties imposed by law.
Mo. Const. art. I, § 12 Habeas corpus
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That the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall never be suspended.
Mo. Const. art. I, § 13 Ex post facto laws—impairment of contracts—irrevocable privileges
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That no ex post facto law, nor law impairing the obligation of contracts, or retrospective in its operation, or making any irrevocable grant of special privileges or immunities, can be enacted.
Mo. Const. art. I, § 14 Open courts—certain remedies—justice without sale, denial or delay
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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.
Mo. Const. art. I, § 15 Unreasonable search and seizure prohibited—contents and basis of warrants
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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, as…
Mo. Const. art. I, § 16 Grand juries—composition—jurisdiction to convene—powers
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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 s…
Mo. Const. art. I, § 17 Indictments and informations in criminal cases—exceptions
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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 …
Mo. Const. art. I, § 18(b) Depositions in felony cases
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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 co…
Mo. Const. art. I, § 18(a) Rights of accused in criminal prosecutions
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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; an…
Mo. Const. art. I, § 19 Self-incrimination and double jeopardy
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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…
Mo. Const. art. I, § 20 Bail guaranteed—exceptions
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That all persons shall be bailable by sufficient sureties, except for capital offenses, when the proof is evident or the presumption great.
Mo. Const. art. I, § 21 Excessive bail and fines—cruel and unusual punishment
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That excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishment inflicted.
Mo. Const. art. I, § 22(a) Right of trial by jury—qualification of jurors—two-thirds verdict
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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 conc…
Mo. Const. art. I, § 22(b) Female jurors—optional exemption
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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.
Mo. Const. art. I, § 23 Right to keep and bear arms—exception
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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.
Mo. Const. art. I, § 24 Subordination of military to civil power—quartering soldiers
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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.
Mo. Const. art. I, § 25 Elections and right of suffrage
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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.
Mo. Const. art. I, § 26 Compensation for property taken by eminent domain—condemnation juries—payment—railroad property
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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 …
Mo. Const. art. I, § 27 Acquisition of excess property by eminent domain—disposition under restrictions
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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 m…
Mo. Const. art. I, § 28 Limitation on taking of private property for private use—exceptions—public use a judicial question
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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 prescrib…
Mo. Const. art. I, § 29 Organized labor and collective bargaining
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That employees shall have the right to organize and to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing.
Mo. Const. art. I, § 30 Treason—attainder—corruption of blood and forfeitures—estate of suicides—death by casualty
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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; t…
Mo. Const. art. I, § 31 Fines or imprisonments fixed by administrative agencies
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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.
Mo. Const. art. I, § 32 Crime victims' rights
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Mo. Const. art. I, § 33 Marriage, validity and recognition
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That to be valid and recognized in this state, a marriage shall exist only between a man and a woman.
Mo. Const. art. I, § 34 That English shall be the language of all official proceedings in this state
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Official proceedings shall be limited to any meeting of a public governmental body at which any public business is discussed, decided, or public policy formulated, whether such meeting is conducted in person or by means of communication equipment, including, but not limited to, c…