Section VI Section 20

Constitution

Effective - 27 Feb 1945, see footnote   

  VI Section 20.  Amendment to city charters — procedure to submit and adopt. — 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 registered qualified electors of the city, filed with the body or official having charge of the city elections, setting forth the proposed amendment.  The legislative body shall at once provide, by ordinance, that any amendment so proposed shall be submitted to the electors at the next election held in the city not less than sixty days after its passage, or at a special election held as provided for a charter.  Any amendment approved by a majority of the qualified electors voting thereon, shall become a part of the charter at the time and under the conditions fixed in the amendment; and sections or articles may be submitted separately or in the alternative and determined as provided for a complete charter.

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Source: Const. of 1875, Art. IX, § 17 (Adopted November 2, 1920).

(1955) Since extension of boundaries requires amendment of charter of city organized under § 20, Art. VI of the Constitution, § 71.015 is invalid as to such city, because compliance therewith would make impossible submission of charter amendment in accordance with such constitutional provision. McConnell v. City of Kansas City (Mo.), 282 S.W.2d 518.

(1962) Where requisite petitions were filed the city council was obligated to pass an ordinance submitting a proposed amendment to a vote and its failure to do so would not prevent the court from ordering the placing of the matter upon the ballot. State ex rel. Lane v. Chambers (A.), 353 S.W.2d 835.

(1963) The annexation of additional territory to a constitutional charter city, by amendment of the charter, is a matter of more than merely municipal affairs and concern and is subject to judicial review as to whether such action was reasonable and necessary. McDonnell Aircraft Corp. v. City of Berkeley (Mo.), 367 S.W.2d 498.

(1965) Sets out the exclusive mode of annexation for constitutional charter cities. City of Hannibal v. Winchester (Mo.), 391 S.W.2d 279.

(1965) Sawyers Act applies to all cities of all classes, except those where terms of the Sawyers Act conflict with constitutional provisions relating to annexation, and those cities to which Sawyers Act is made inapplicable by subsequent legislation. Julian v. Mayor, Councilmen and Citizens of the City of Liberty (Mo.), 391 S.W.2d 864.

(1967) Shortening term of office by amending charter to change term from four years to two years not violative of Art. VII, § 12, Constitution of Missouri. State v. Davis (Mo.), 418 S.W.2d 163.

(1968) A determination of what methods of charter amendments are permitted and which of these methods were used by a city is an application of and not a constriction of the constitutional provisions, and appeals court had jurisdiction. City of Joplin v. Village of Shoal Creek Drive (A.), 434 S.W.2d 25.