Missouri’s Constitution
& State Government
All States Have Police Power
Under 10th Amendment state
governments and the people hold
powers neither given to the Federal
government nor prohibited to the
states
Residual powers broader than those
of the Federal government
States assumed to have all authority not
prohibited in Federal or state constitutions
Police Power: The principal state
power--gives each state authority to
provide for the health, morals, safety
and welfare of its people.
• Using its Police Power a
state can regulate
• Health
– Marijuana laws
• Safety
– Speed Limits
• Morals
– Liquor laws
• Welfare
– Outlaw child labor
How Is the MO
Constitution Organized?
ARTICLE I BILL OF RIGHTS
CONSTITUTION OF THE
STATE OF MISSOURI
Bill of Rights
In order to assert our rights, acknowledge
our duties, and proclaim the principles on
which our government is founded, we
declare:
Sec. 1. That all political power is vested
in and derived from the people; that all
government of right originates from
the people, is founded upon their will
only, and is instituted solely for the good of
the whole.
Popular Sovereignty
How Free Are You in Missouri?
This study scores economic freedom in three primary ways: (1) it includes
measures of social and personal freedoms such as peaceable citizens’ rights to
educate their own children, own and carry firearms, and be free from unreasonable
search and seizure; (2) measures of economic freedom; and (3) it measures
state’s fiscal policies.
How Free Are You in Missouri?
• 11th best on economic
freedom
– Labor laws
– Land use laws
• 6th best on personal
freedom.
– Drugs & Gambling
• 5th Freest Overall!
– Government spending is
nearly a full standard
deviation below average.
– State Freedom Video from
Mercatus.org
How is Our State’s
Government Organized?
• 3 Branches
– Legislative
• General Assembly
– Executive
• Governor & Lieutenant Governor
• Other Executive Branch Officials
– Judicial
• Supreme Court
– Lower appellate and trial courts
– Rules for all Missouri Officials
• Pay your taxes
• No felonies
• No election shenanigans
The General Assembly
• Consists of Two Chambers
– House of Representatives
• 163 Members
– Senate
• 34 Members
– General Assembly meets on the first Wednesday after the first
Monday in January following each general election.
– Sessions typically last till May.
– 3/4 of the members of both houses may vote to convene the General
Assembly in special session.
House of Representatives
• 163 members
• Members must be
– 24 years of age
– Voter for 2 years
– Dist. resident for 1 year
• Serve a 2 year term
• 8 year term limit
Stacy Newman--73rd
Tishaura Jones 63rd
Missouri House of Representatives Districts
from 2000 Census
St. Louis & K.C. House Districts
Senate
• 34 members
• Members must be
– 30 years of age
– Voter for 3 years
– Resident for 1 year
• Serve a 4 year term
• 8 year term limit
Missouri Senate Districts
from 2000 Census
CHS Senate Districts
24 = John Lamping* 14 = Maria Chapelle-Nadal 04= Jos. Keaveny 05 = Robin Wright-Jones
How Bills Are Passed
• What kinds of bills do they consider?
• Following perfection, and the bill’s passage by both
House and Senate, the bill it is presented to
Governor.
• Within 15 Days Governor must return bill with
signed approval or objections.
• Bills approved by the Governor become law.
• If the Governor fails to return a bill within the time
limits the bill becomes law.
The Initiative
• The people can propose new laws
– Don’t need action by Gen. Assy. or Gov.
• How does it work?
– To propose an amendment to the Constitution a petition
must be signed by 8% of the voters in each 2/3 of the
state’s 9 congressional districts.
– Petitions proposing new laws need signatures of 5% of
such voters.
– Petitions must be filed with the Secretary of State at least
4 months before the next election.
Referendum
• The people can block new laws from going
into effect if . . .
– Petitions signed by 5% of the voters in 2/3 of the
congressional districts in the state, or
– General Assembly directs it. Any measure
referred to the people shall take effect when
approved by a majority of the votes cast.
– Majority of the voters in next election decide.
MISSOURI STATE GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION
CHART
Executive Branch
• Governor
– Has state’s supreme executive power
• Appoints department heads with Senate approval
– Qualifications
•
•
•
•
At least 30 years of age
Citizen of the U.S. for at least 15 years
Resident of Missouri for at least 10 years
Can’t serve more than two terms.
Governor’s Powers
• Commander in chief of our national guard
– But not when it is called into the service of the U.S.
– May call it out to execute the laws, suppress insurrections,
and repel invasion.
• Judicial powers
– Can grant:
• Reprieves, commutations and pardons (but not parole) for all
offenses except treason and in cases of impeachment.
• Can appoint all appellate judges and some lower judges.
Governor’s Powers cont.
• Legislative Powers
– Gives General Assembly information about the state of
the government and makes recommendations.
– Spending Recommendations = Balanced Budget
– On extraordinary occasions can convene the General
Assembly
• Must state specifically each matter on which action is deemed
necessary.
Executive Departments








Revenue
Highways and Transportation
Agriculture
Economic Development
Insurance
Social Services
Mental Health
Conservation
Governor Appoints
Department Heads with
Senate Approval
 Natural Resources
 Public Safety
 Labor and Industrial
Relations
 Office of Administration
 Elementary &
Secondary Education
 Higher Education
 Corrections
 Health & Senior
Services
The Money
Missouri Government Revenue: 2011
Missouri Tax Revenue Sources: 2011
Missouri State Government Budget: 2011
Missouri State Government Budget: 2011
Corrections & Public
Safety 5%
Government
Administration 2%
Higher Ed. 5%
All Other
12%
Human Services
42%
Transportation 11%
Elementary &
Secondary Ed. 23%
Missouri is a low tax state
With a per
capita 2005
state tax
collection of
$1583.28 per
Missourian,
we rank 45th
out of 50.
Comparing MO to Other States
44th lowest for State Spending Per Capita
46th lowest for State and Local Spending Per Capita
39th lowest for Per Pupil Expenditures in K-12
Public Schools
46th Lowest Nationally for Per Capita spending on
Higher Education
One of the lowest eligibility levels for Health Care
assistance for parents
Statistics from Morgan Quitno State Rankings
Missouri is a low tax state
Other Executive Branch Officials
•
•
•
•
•
Lieutenant Governor
Secretary of State
State Auditor
State Treasurer
Attorney General
What do they do?
• Lieutenant Governor
– Same qualifications as the governor
– President Ex Officio of the Senate*.
– May debate all questions in Senate
– Votes to break ties in the Senate
– Acts acts Governor during absences
*Not the most powerful member of Senate, however.
Order of Succession
• If the Governor dies, is convicted, impeached
or resigns, then
– the Lieutenant Governor shall become governor
for the remainder of the term.
If there is no Lt. Governor
• Then
President Pro Tem of the Senate
Speaker of the House
Secretary of State
State Auditor
State Treasurer
Attorney General
State Auditor
• Official Duties
– Tax Payers’ Watchdog
– Establishes systems of accounting for all
public officials of the state
– Inspect the finances of all state agencies,
boards, and official groups.
– Audit the Treasury at least once annually
– Make all other audits and investigations
required by law (county and city audits).
Secretary of State
• Official Duties
– In charge of elections
– Custodian of the Seal of the State
– Keeps a register of official acts of the Governor.
– Maintains records of corporations and businesses
registered in Missouri
State Treasurer
• Official Duties
– Manages the state’s money.
– Custodian of all state funds and funds received
from the US government.
– Manages the Unclaimed Property Fund
Attorney General
• State’s Chief Legal Officer
– Acts as attorney for the state and its agencies
– Represents Missouri in all criminal appeals
– Protects against consumer fraud
– Must be an attorney and reside in Jefferson City
while in office
When are they elected?
• Governor*, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State,
State Treasurer* and Attorney General are
elected at presidential elections for four years
terms.
• State Auditor is elected to a four year term in
off year general elections
*Can’t be elected more than two times.
Who Gets to Vote
for These People?
Who can register to vote in Missouri?
Citizens living in Missouri must register in order to vote. Any U.S. citizen 17
years and
6 months of age or older, if a Missouri resident, may register and vote except:
•A person who is adjudged incapacitated
•A person who is confined under sentence of imprisonment
•A person who is on probation or parole after conviction of a felony
until finally discharged
•A person after conviction of a felony or misdemeanor connected with
the right of suffrage
How and where do
Missourians register to vote?
• Qualified citizens may register in person at the
office of their local election authority, by mail, at
the driver's license office or at participating state
agencies.
• YOU CAN REGISTER
–
–
–
–
Driver’s License Office
County Court House
St. Louis City/County Bd. Of Election Commrs.
By mail
When do Missourians register?
• New Missouri residents may register immediately.
• BUT: The deadline for registration is the fourth
Wednesday prior to an election.
• Official election dates in Missouri:
– General Municipal Election Day: 1st Tuesday after the first
Monday in April each year.
– Primary Election Day: 1st Tuesday after the first Monday in
August in even-numbered years.
– General Election Day: 1st Tuesday after the first Monday in
November of even-numbered years.
Voting
• You may be directed to vote in a
• School
• Government Building
• Church???
• Absentee
• Voting is Secret
• Missourians do not register their party affiliation. At primary
elections voters choose which "established party"ballot they
wish to vote.
• Can get non-partisan ballot for “issues”
• Party nominees and independent candidates are then listed
on the general election ballot.
How Missourians Vote . . .