A Missouri court has rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that aimed to create robust protections for laws passed through citizen initiatives. The ruling by Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green upholds Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins' decision to exclude the measure from the November ballot, despite the collection of thousands of petition signatures.
Hoskins had asserted that the proposed amendment violated the state constitution by encompassing multiple subjects and restricting a republican form of government. The group backing the initiative, Respect Missouri Voters, stated its intention to appeal the decision.
The proposed amendment sought to make it significantly more difficult for the state legislature to repeal or amend laws and constitutional amendments that have been approved by voters. Specifically, it would have required an 80% legislative supermajority to alter or overturn citizen-backed measures. Furthermore, the amendment aimed to prevent lawmakers from increasing the signature threshold for initiatives, shortening the signature collection period, or otherwise weakening the initiative process.
Attorney Chuck Hatfield, representing Respect Missouri Voters, argued in court that all provisions of the amendment were focused on the singular goal of "protecting and strengthening citizen law-making power." However, Kathleen Hunker, arguing on behalf of the attorney general's office, contended that the amendment improperly combined disparate topics.
Judge Green agreed with the state's argument, ruling that the proposal "makes sweeping reforms affecting multiple provisions of the Missouri Constitution."
Missouri has recently been a focal point in national discussions surrounding direct democracy. In August, voters decisively rejected a legislative measure that would have imposed stringent new standards for passing citizen-initiated amendments. Roughly half of U.S. states permit citizen initiatives, a process allowing residents to propose laws or constitutional amendments by gathering petition signatures to place them before voters.
Respect Missouri Voters initiated its signature drive following legislative actions last year, including the repeal of a paid sick leave initiative previously approved by voters and the referral of a new amendment to the ballot that sought to reverse voter-approved abortion rights.