Article VI — Local Government
64 sections · 0 paragraphs in this article.
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 1 Recognition of existing counties
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The existing counties are hereby recognized as legal subdivisions of the state.
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 2 Continuation of existing organization of counties
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The existing organization of counties shall continue until further provisions applicable thereto shall be provided, as authorized in this constitution.
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 3 Consolidation of counties—allocation of liabilities
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Two or more counties may be consolidated by vote of a majority of the qualified electors voting thereon in each county affected, but no such vote shall be taken more than once in five years. The former areas shall be held responsible for their respective outstanding liabilities a…
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 4 Division or diminution of counties
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No county shall be divided or have any portion stricken therefrom except by vote of a majority of the qualified electors voting thereon in each county affected.
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 5 Dissolution of counties—annexation
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A county may be dissolved by vote of two-thirds of the qualified electors of the county voting thereon, and when so dissolved all or portions thereof may be annexed to the adjoining county or counties as provided by law.
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 6 Removal of county seats
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No county seat shall be removed except by vote of two-thirds of the qualified electors of the county voting thereon at a general election, but no such vote shall be taken more than once in five years.
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 7 County courts—number of members—powers and duties
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In each county not framing and adopting its own charter or adopting an alternative form of county government, there shall be elected a county court of three members which shall manage all county business as prescribed by law, and keep an accurate record of its proceedings. The vo…
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 8 Classification of counties—revisions to article VI passed by the 88th general assembly to be retroactive
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Provision shall be made by general laws for the organization and classification of counties except as provided in section 18(a) or section 18(m) of this article or otherwise in this constitution. The number of classes shall not exceed four, and the organization and powers of each…
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 9 Alternative forms of county government
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Alternative forms of county government for the counties of any particular class and the method of adoption thereof may be provided by law.
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 10 Terms of city and county offices
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The terms of city or county offices shall not exceed four years.
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 11 Compensation of county officers—increases in compensation not to require additional services—statement of fees and salaries
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Mo. Const. art. VI, § 12 Officers compensated only by salaries in certain counties
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All public officers in the city of St. Louis and all state and county officers in counties having 100,000 or more inhabitants, excepting public administrators and notaries public, shall be compensated for their services by salaries only.
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 13 Compensation of officers in criminal matters—fees
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All state and county officers, except constables and justices of the peace, charged with the investigation, arrest, prosecution, custody, care, feeding, commitment, or transportation of persons accused of or convicted of a criminal offense shall be compensated for their official …
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 14 Joint participation by counties in common enterprises
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By vote of a majority of the qualified electors voting thereon in each county affected, any contiguous counties, not exceeding ten, may join in performing any common function or service, including the purchase, construction and maintenance of hospitals, almshouses, road machinery…
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 15 Classification of cities and towns—uniform laws—change from special to general law
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The general assembly shall provide by general laws for the organization and classification of cities and towns. The number of such classes shall not exceed four; and the powers of each class shall be defined by general laws so that all such municipal corporations of the same clas…
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 16 Cooperation by local governments with other governmental units
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Any municipality or political subdivision of this state may contract and cooperate with other municipalities or political subdivisions thereof, or with other states or their municipalities or political subdivisions, or with the United States, for the planning, development, constr…
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 17 Consolidation and separation as between municipalities and other political subdivisions
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The government of any city, town or village not in a county framing, adopting and amending a charter for its own government, may be consolidated or separated, in whole or in part, with or from that of the county or other political subdivision in which such city, town or village i…
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 18(n) Circuit judges may appoint constitution commission, members, qualifications
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If the question is approved, the circuit judges of the circuit where such county is located shall, within sixty days after certification of the election results by the election authority, appoint a commission to frame the county constitution, consisting of fourteen residents of t…
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 18(o) County constitution, effective when—submission to electorate for separate vote on any part or alternative sections
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The county constitution framed by the commission shall take effect on the day fixed therein and shall supersede any existing charter, county constitution or government, if approved by the majority of the qualified voters of the county voting thereon. The county constitution shall…
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 18(p) Publication requirements for text of constitution—election to adopt procedure
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In addition to notices required under the election laws of the state, the election authority shall publish the full text of the county constitution in each newspaper of general circulation in the county at least once a week for at least three weeks, the last publication to be not…
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 18(r) Certified copies of county constitution to be filed, where— amendments to constitution, procedure
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Duplicate certificates shall be made, setting forth the adopted county constitution, and its ratification signed by the election authority of the county after canvassing election returns. One of the certified copies shall be deposited in the office of the secretary of state and t…
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 18(k) Amendments of county charters
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All amendments to such charter approved by the voters shall become a part of the charter at the time and under the conditions fixed in the amendment.
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 18(l) Limitation on resubmission after defeat of charter
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No charter shall be submitted to the electors within the two years next following the election at which a charter was defeated.
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 18(a) County government by special charter—limitations—counties adopting charter or constitutional form shall be a separate class of counties from classification system
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Any county having more than 85,000 inhabitants, according to the census of the United States, may frame and adopt and amend a charter for its own government as provided in this article, and upon such adoption shall be a body corporate and politic. In addition and as an alternativ…
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 18(b) Provisions required in county charters—exception
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The charter shall provide for its amendment, for the form of the county government, the number, kinds, manner of selection, terms of office and salaries of the county officers, and for the exercise of all powers and duties of counties and county officers prescribed by the constit…
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 18(c) Provisions authorized in county charters—participation by county in government of other local units
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The charter may provide for the vesting and exercise of legislative power pertaining to any and all services and functions of any municipality or political subdivision, except school districts, in the part of the county outside incorporated cities; and it may provide, or authoriz…
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 18(d) Taxation under county charters
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The county shall only impose such taxes as it is authorized to impose by the constitution or by law.
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 18(e) Laws affecting charter counties—limitations
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Laws shall be enacted providing for free and open elections in such counties, and laws may be enacted providing the number and salaries of the judicial officers therein as provided by this constitution and by law, but no law shall provide for any other office or employee of the c…
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 18(f) Petitions for charter commissions—signatures required—procedure
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Whenever a petition for a commission, signed by qualified electors of the county numbering ten percent of the total vote for governor in the county at the last preceding general election, is filed with the county commission or other governing body, the officer or body canvassing …
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 18(g) Charter commission—appointment, number and qualification of members
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Within sixty days thereafter said judges shall appoint a commission to frame the charter, consisting of fourteen qualified electors who shall serve without pay and be equally divided between the two political parties casting the greater number of votes for governor at the last pr…
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 18(h) Adoption of charter—special election—manner of submission
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The charter framed by the commission shall take effect on the day fixed therein and shall supersede any existing charter or government, if approved by vote of a majority of the qualified electors of the county voting thereon at a special election held on a day fixed by the commis…
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 18(i) Notice of special charter election
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The body canvassing election returns shall publish notice of the election at least once a week for at least three weeks in at least two newspapers of general circulation in the county, the last publication to be not more than three nor less than two weeks next preceding the elect…
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 18(j) Certificates of adoption of charter—recordation and deposit—judicial notice
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Duplicate certificates shall be made, setting forth the charter adopted and its ratification, signed by the officer or members of the body canvassing election returns; one of such certified copies shall be deposited in the office of the secretary of state and the other, after bei…
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 18(q) Constitution may be adopted or rejected by voters—resubmission procedure
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If a majority of the votes cast by the qualified voters voting on the county constitution are in favor of the proposal, then the county constitution shall be adopted. If a majority of the votes cast by the qualified voters voting thereon are opposed to the proposal, the county co…
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 18(m) County of the first classification may provide a county constitution—content, procedure, limitations
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Any county of the first classification may adopt an alternative form of government to that provided in sections 18(a)-(g) of this article and frame a county constitution as provided in sections 18(m)-(r) of this article. The constitution may provide for the vesting of any and all…
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 19(a) Power of charter cities, how limited
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Any city which adopts or has adopted a charter for its own government, shall have all powers which the general assembly of the state of Missouri has authority to confer upon any city, provided such powers are consistent with the constitution of this state and are not limited or d…
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 19 Certain cities may adopt charter form of government—procedure to frame and adopt—notice required—effect of
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Any city having more than five thousand inhabitants or any other incorporated city as may be provided by law may frame and adopt a charter for its own government. The legislative body of the city may, by ordinance, submit to the voters the question: "Shall a commission be chosen …
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 20 Amendment to city charters—procedure to submit and adopt
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Amendments of any city charter adopted under the foregoing provisions may be submitted to the electors by a commission as provided for a complete charter. Amendments may also be proposed by the legislative body of the city or by petition of not less than ten percent of the regist…
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 21 Reclamation of blighted, substandard or insanitary areas
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Laws may be enacted, and any city or county operating under a constitutional charter may enact ordinances, providing for the clearance, replanning, reconstruction, redevelopment and rehabilitation of blighted, substandard or insanitary areas, and for recreational and other facili…
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 22 Laws affecting charter cities—officers and employees
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No law shall be enacted creating or fixing the powers, duties or compensation of any municipal office or employment, for any city framing or adopting its own charter under this or any previous constitution, and all such offices or employments heretofore created shall cease at the…
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 23 Limitation on ownership of corporate stock, use of credit and grants of public funds by local governments
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No county, city or other political corporation or subdivision of the state shall own or subscribe for stock in any corporation or association, or lend its credit or grant public money or thing of value to or in aid of any corporation, association or individual, except as provided…
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 23(a) Cities may acquire and furnish industrial plants—indebtedness for
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By vote of two-thirds of the qualified electors thereof voting thereon, any county, city or incorporated town or village in this state may become indebted for and may purchase, construct, extend or improve plants to be leased or otherwise disposed of pursuant to law to private pe…
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 24 Annual budgets and reports of local government and municipally owned utilities—audits
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As prescribed by law all counties, cities, other legal subdivisions of the state, and public utilities owned and operated by such subdivisions shall have an annual budget, file annual reports of their financial transactions, and be audited.
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 25 Limitation on use of credit and grant of public funds by local governments—pensions and retirement plans for employees of certain cities and counties
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No county, city or other political corporation or subdivision of the state shall be authorized to lend its credit or grant public money or property to any private individual, association or corporation except as provided in Article VI, Section 23(a) and except that the general as…
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 26(f) Annual tax to pay and retire obligations within twenty years
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Before incurring any indebtedness every county, city, incorporated town or village, school district, or other political corporation or subdivision of the state shall provide for the collection of an annual tax on all taxable tangible property therein sufficient to pay the interes…
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 26(a) Limitation on indebtedness of local governments without popular vote
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No county, city, incorporated town or village, school district or other political corporation or subdivision of the state shall become indebted in an amount exceeding in any year the income and revenue provided for such year plus any unencumbered balances from previous years, exc…
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 26(g) Contest of elections to authorize indebtedness
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All elections under this article may be contested as provided by law.
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 26(b) Limitation on indebtedness of local government authorized by popular vote
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Any county, city, incorporated town or village or other political corporation or subdivision of the state, by vote of the qualified electors thereof voting thereon, may become indebted in an amount not to exceed five percent of the value of taxable tangible property therein as sh…
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 26(c) Additional indebtedness of counties and cities when authorized by popular vote
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Any county or city, by vote of the qualified electors thereof voting thereon, may incur an additional indebtedness for county or city purposes not to exceed five percent of the taxable tangible property shown as provided in section 26(b). For elections referred to in this section…
Mo. Const. art. VI, § 26(d) Additional indebtedness of cities for public improvements—benefit districts—special assessments
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Any city, by vote of the qualified electors thereof voting thereon, may become indebted not exceeding in the aggregate an additional ten percent of the value of the taxable tangible property shown as provided in section 26(b), for the purpose of acquiring rights-of-way, construct…