Proposed Amendment 1 to the Missouri constitution asks voters to require all official government business to be conducted in English, and only English, when public policy is discussed or decided. The mandate includes meetings, video and conference calls, Internet chats and message boards.

A few facts hiding just behind the face value of the amendment make it obsolete, ignorant and unworthy of the ballot.

1. The amendment is unnecessary. Amendment 1 would alter Missouri’s founding document to exclude other languages from practice in government. Since English-language dominance was signed into law in Missouri in 1998, it seems foolish to ask voters to drive the point again.

State Rep. Brian Nieves, R-Union, who sponsored the measure, says that some city council meetings in his jurisdiction have been conducted partly in a non-English language to accommodate business owners.

“[This] is a huge problem in my mind,” Nieves said in an Associated Press article. “Anyone should be able to understand what his or her government is doing.”

Well put, Mr. Nieves. In that case, you should provide translators for constituents and yourself, rather than change the Constitution and insist that it is your version of the American Way or the highway.

2. The amendment is dangerous. This amendment, if passed, would keep other languages out of public discourse, even when it might be practical or necessary to have them.

Demands for instant assimilation are ignorant and impractical. Banning the languages( and cultures) of citizens with varied backgrounds would be a slap in the face to our state’s cultural diversity.

3. The amendment is xenophobic. Missouri hosts immigrant populations from across the globe. Yes, translating official documents into all languages would take time and money, but that’s not at stake here: This amendment is about exclusion.

True, many Missourians will side with the amendment because they are native English speakers, or because they have little contact with non-native speakers. But, unless Missouri voters and lawmakers reject Amendment 1, they effectively slam the doors on two-way communication.

As the official ballot title reads: “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?”

Absolutely not.

How’s that for plain English?