STATE
GOVERNMENT
MISSOURI AND SAINT LOUIS GOVERNMENT
FEDERALISM
What is federalism (the federal system)?
-
Why federalism? What system failed and which system has America
never tried?
Since power is divided between the federal (central) government and
state governments, how are they shared?
-
What are the four types of powers which exist defined and
interpreted from the U.S. Constitution?
-
Where do state powers originate?
When conflicts of power do exist between states and the federal
government, how did the framers ensure that these conflicts could be
solved peacefully and legally?
-
Hint: Article 6 of the Constitution
When the framers wrote the U.S. Constitution, what clause was added
to help to define the relationships between states as cooperative and
based on trust?
STATE CONSTITUTIONS
The Guarantee Clause: “guarantees to every State in the Union a
Republican Form of Government.”- Article 4, Sec. 4
-
While the Constitution ensures a democratic and limited government
to each state, it does not define the organization, the institutions, or
the laws of that state.
-
Each state has a constitution, but each is different.
Qualities:
-
Each constitution has a bill of rights.
-
Each has a method of due process.
-
Each defines a structure/system of government (three branches)
-
Each has an amendment system.
Problems:
-
State constitutions are often very long because they add statutory
laws through an easy amendment process. The excessive details
makes it difficult to adapt and change and be made relevant.
MISSOURI’S CONSTITUTIONS
Discovery:
-
Modern Missouri was discovered by
Louis Joliet and Father Jacques
Marquette.
-
It would be claimed by Robert de La
Salle for France in 1673.
Louisiana Purchase (1803): Thomas
Jefferson Purchased the land from
Napoleon.
Missouri Compromise (1820)- Missouri
wanted to enter the US as a slave state.
Would create an unbalanced amount of
free states and slave states (unbalanced
political power). Maine broke off of
Massachusetts and entered as a free state
to keep the balance.
MISSOURI
CONSTITUTIONS
Constitution4 Constitutions- 1820, 1865 (anti-Confederate), 1875, and
1945
Amending the Constitution
Proposal- simple majority of both Houses (The General
Assembly). Ratified by majority of voters in popular election.
Popular Initiative- petition by voters. Ratified by majority of
voters in popular election.
Constitutional Convention- Every 20 years, the next is 2022.
Voters send delegates to convention.
STATE LEGISLATURES: CREATE LAWS
Two types (22 states defy either classification):
-
Citizen legislatures: part-time legislatures (17) (MO)
-
-
"It is not possible that an assembly of men called for the most part from
pursuits of a private nature, continued in appointment for a short time, and
led by no permanent motive to devote intervals of public occupation to a
study of the laws, the affairs, and the comprehensive interests of their
country, should, if left wholly to themselves, escape a variety of important
errors in the exercise of their legislative trust.” (James Madison, Federalist
62)
Professional legislatures: full-time legislatures (11)
All states have a bicameral legislature except Nebraska (WHY?).
State legislatures draw FEDERAL congressional districts from census data.
-
In the past, state senate seats were based off of land mass. (benefits
whom?)
Baker v. Carr- federal courts can force states to redraw state district lines
Reynolds v. Sims- “one man, one vote.” Districts should be equal in
population. (benefits whom?)
MISSOURI’S GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
The General Assembly -Term Limits of 8
years
Senate (34 members)
• four year terms (2 term max)
• 30 years old
• qualified voter for 3 years
• resident of the district for at least one year
House of Reps (163 members)
• two year terms (4 term max)
• 24 years old
• qualified voter for 2 years
• resident of the district for at least one year
Capital of Missouri: Jefferson City
CITIZEN LAWS AND
ACTIONS
Initiative: a citizen proposed law that is placed on the ballot.
Referendum: a proposal to repeal a law previously enacted by
congress, and place it on a ballot for citizen support or
disapproval.
Recall: an election is a procedure by which voters can remove an
elected official from office through a direct vote before his or her
term has ended.
EXECUTIVE BRANCH: ENFORCE
LAWS
Legislative process:
-
Line-item veto: can veto specific parts of bills.
-
Prepare budget (with approval of the legislature)
Foreign Policy:
-
Act as state’s ambassador (primarily attempting to promote
business)
Executive powers:
-
Head of state departments
-
Grant pardons
NOTE: Often, Governors make prime candidates for president
because of their executive experience.
MISSOURI
GOVERNOR
Jay Nixon (Democrat)
• at least 30 years old
• US citizen for 15 years
• lived in MO for at least 10 years
• four year terms
• two term max
15 executive departments
• appoints all the heads of the depts.
• chooses judges for state supreme court and appellate courts
JUDICIAL BRANCH:
MO
Three levels- circuit courts, court of appeals, and Missouri Supreme
Court
original jurisdiction- circuit courts
• civil and criminal cases
Court of Appeals- eastern, western, and southern districts
State Supreme Court- 7 judges
Missouri Court Plan:
-
Purpose: To keep judges away from politics
-
Judges are placed on list by State Bar Association => appointed
by Governor=> voted back in by public in non-partisan label on
ballot or let go by “no” vote (combines both appointment and
election)
-
Has been adopted by many other states.
MUNICIPAL
GOVERNMENT
What Constitutional powers do municipal governments have?
Municipality: a political unit (such as city, town, village) incorporated for
local self-government.
"Municipal corporations owe their origin to, and derive their powers and
rights wholly from, the legislature. It breathes into them the breath of life,
without which they cannot exist. As it creates, so may it destroy. If it may
destroy, it may abridge and control". – City of Clinton v. Cedar Rapids and
Missouri River Railroad
States define local authority through city charters (a document [contract]
which grants specific powers to local governments by the state legislature)
-
Home Rule: allows cities to determine their own type of government and
manage their own affairs. (create municipal laws specific to their
municipality)
-
Dillon’s Rule: cities only have the powers which are strictly and
expressly granted to them.
COUNTIES
Largest territorial and political subdivision of a state.
-
Helps to govern large areas where there are no large cities
or charters.
ST. LOUIS
Saint Louis County Executive: Steve Stenger
ST. LOUIS CITY
Strong Mayor System• Full time mayor, head of city
departments, quick and
efficient (but more corruption)
Weak Mayor System• Mayor’s authority is limited,
city council is in charge of
departments, slower action due
to consensus.
St. Louis City legislature:
- Board of Alderman
- 28 wards and 28 members.
Current Mayor: Mayor Slay
ST. LOUIS CITY
- Saint Louis was
founded as a fur
trading post by
Pierre Laclede and
his stepson, Rene
Auguste Chouteau.
- St. Louis was
named after King
Louis IX of France.
METROPOLITAN AREA
- The unplanned, uncontrolled spreading of
urban development into areas adjoining the
edge of a city
- expansion of cities => Urban Sprawl
• city and suburbs expand into rural area
• problems: transportation (auto-dependent),
pollution, law enforcement, infrastructure,
loss of rural lands
- Megalopolis: an area with a large population
which incorporates and embraces many
metropolitan centers.
SAINT LOUIS METROPOLITAN AREA
MEGALOPOLIS