The MO Constitution
 Was FIRST
complete
d in 1820
Legislative Branch – Makes Laws
 The General Assembly has two houses – Bicameral
 House
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 Senate
Committee of the Whole = when they meet together
Legislative Branch – Makes Laws
 Leader of the House
 Speaker of the House
 Elected by other
members of the
house
 Leader of the Senate
 Lieutenant Governor
 Elected by the
people
Executive Branch – Enforces Laws
 The Governor
 Requirements
 30 years old
 US Citizen for 10 years
 Live in Missouri 10 years
 4 year term
Executive Branch – Enforces Laws
 The Lieutenant Governor
 Replaces the governor when he is out dies, gets sick, or
leaves the state
 Same requirements as governor
 Is elected separately from the Governor
Executive Branch
 Secretary of State
 Record keeper
 Attorney General
 Chief Legal Officer
Judicial Branch – Interprets Laws
 Supreme Court
 7 Judges
 Serve 12 year terms (may seek to serve another)
Judicial Branch – Interprets Laws
 Missouri Non-Partisan Court Plan (The Missouri Plan)
1. A group of possible judges are selected by a non-partisan
commission
2. The Governor appoints a judge to serve from that
commission
3. After the judge has served for 1 year, the people vote on
whether to retain the judge
 If retained he will serve out the remainder 11 years of his
12 year term
Direct Democracy
 Initiative – the citizens
can propose their own
laws
 Referendum – the citizens
can pass laws
 Recall – citizens can
remove and replace
elected officials
Show-Me the Money!
 Over 50% of Missouri’s state revenues come from the
state income tax