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State of Missouri November 4, 2008 Election
Amendment 1
Proposed by the 94th General Assembly (First Regular Session) HJR 7
State of Missouri
Legislative Consitutional Amendment - Majority Approval Required

Pass: 2,407,536 / 86.3% Yes votes ...... 381,874 / 13.7% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures
Results as of Jan 24 10:46am, 100.0% of Precincts Reporting (3507/3507)
Information shown below: Fiscal Impact | Yes/No Meaning | Impartial Analysis | Full Text

Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to add a statement that English shall be the language of all governmental meetings at which any public business is discussed, decided, or public policy is formulated whether conducted in person or by communication equipment including conference calls, video conferences, or Internet chat or message board?

It is estimated this proposal will have no costs or savings to state or local governmental entities.

Yes

No

Fiscal Impact from the Legislative Analyst:
This proposition will have no impact on taxes.

Meaning of Voting Yes/No
A YES vote on this measure means:
A "yes" vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to add a statement that English shall be the language of all governmental meetings at which any public business is discussed, decided, or public policy is formulated. This includes meetings conducted in person or by other means of communication including conference calls, video conference, Internet chat, or Internet message board.

A NO vote on this measure means:
A "no" vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution to add a statement that English shall be the language of all governmental meetings at which any public business is discussed, decided, or public policy is formulated. This proposition will have no impact on taxes.

Impartial Analysis from League of Women Voters of Saint Louis
This Constitutional amendment was proposed by the 94th General Assembly of the Missouri State Legislature. If passed, a statement would be added to the Missouri Constitution to the effect that English would be the only language used at all governmental meetings at which any public business is discussed, decided, or public policy is made. This mandate would cover all meetings including those held face-to- face, by conference call, video conference, Internet chat or Internet message board venues.

Proponents of this amendment argue that it is important that the result of establishing English as the official language of business to protect the American identity of government business and encourage immigrants to learn English and participate in government using English.

Opponents argue that this measure is inappropriate for an amendment to the Missouri Constitution, is unnecessary, and is motivated by "anti-immigrant" sentiment.

If passed, this proposal will incur no costs to state or local governmental entities and thus have no impact on taxes.

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Full Text of Amendment 1
FIRST REGULAR SESSION [TRULY AGREED TO AND FINALLY PASSED] SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 7 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY 0401S.02T 2007 JOINT RESOLUTION Submitting to the qualified voters of Missouri, an amendment to article I of the Constitution of Missouri relating to English as the official state language. Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring therein:
That at the next general election to be held in the state of Missouri, on Tuesday next following the first Monday in November, 2008, or at a special election to be called by the governor for that purpose, there is hereby submitted to the qualified voters of this state, for adoption or rejection, the following amendment to article I of the Constitution of the state of Missouri:

Section A. Article I, Constitution of Missouri, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 34, to read as follows:

Section 34. That English shall be the language of all official proceedings in this state. 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, conference call, video conference, Internet chat, or Internet message board. The term "official proceeding" shall not include an informal gathering of members of a public governmental body for ministerial or social purposes, but the term shall include a public vote of all or a majority of the members of a public governmental body, by electronic communication or any other means, conducted in lieu of holding an official proceeding with the members of the public governmental body gathered at one location in order to conduct public business.

Yes

No

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Created: January 24, 2009 10:47 PST
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