Missouri Constitution!!!
What makes Missouri Run?
How is this going to work???
• The notes are going to be broken up into 3
sections.
– 1 for each branch of government
• It might be beneficial to do these notes right on
your study guide to help prepare for the final!!
• After each section we will be taking an online poll
using text messages at www.polleverywhere.com
• So pay attention and be ready to answer!!!
Executive Branch
But we don’t have a President?!?!?!
Who is in charge???
• Just like the U.S. government is lead by the
President, the Missouri Governor serves as
the head of the Missouri Government
– Missouri’s governor: Jay Nixon
Who can be the governor?
• Qualifications:
– 30 years of age
– U.S. citizen for at least 15 years
– Missouri resident for 10 years
• Unofficially:
– All Missouri governors have also been white males
• Governor then serves a 4 year term
What does the Governor do?
• Powers of the governor:
– Administer laws
– Appoints and removes officials
– Ceremonial Head of State
– Liaison with federal government
Also….
• Powers (cont.)
– Recommends laws and budgets
– Signs or vetoes bills
• Line item veto
– Calls special sessions of the legislature
– Commands the Missouri National Guard
– Grants pardons, reprieves, or commutations
• What is a pardon or reprieve???
– definition
Is the Governor the only Executive
officer??
• Along with the governor there are 5 other
elected Executives in Missouri:
(save space after each)
– 1. Lieutenant Governor
– 2. Secretary of State
– 3. State Auditor
– 4. State Treasurer
– 5. Attorney General
Lieutenant Governor
• Same qualifications as the governor!
• Serves a 4 year term
• Powers:
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Ceremonial head of state (when needed)
President of the Senate
Next in line to succeed Governor
Acting governor when needed
Volunteer coordinator
Ombudsman?????
• definition
Secretary of State
• 4 year term
• Qualifications:
– Must be a Missouri resident for 1 year
Meet
Robin Carnahan!!!
Functions of the S.O.S.?
• Serves as the chief elections official
• Compiles, stores, and publishes, all state
documents
• Keeper of the Great Seal of Missouri!
Elections!!!
• Two types of election (like before!)
– 1. General Election:
• The official voting process for elected officials
– November 2nd, every 2 years
– 2. Primary Election
• Elections done within parties to determine candidates
for general elections
What do I have to do to vote???
• In order to register to vote, an individual must
be:
• A citizen of the United States;
• A resident of the State of Missouri; and
• 17 years and 6 months of age (must be 18 by
Election Day).
• That means you can vote in the next election!!
State Auditor
• 4 year term
• With the same qualifications as the Governor
• Role:
– Determines if tax dollars are being spent
“efficiently, economically, and legally”
State Treasurer
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Must be a Missouri resident for 1 year
4 year term
May only serve for 2 terms
Manages the state’s money!
Directs the state’s banking and investment
services
• Clint Zweifel
– lost???
Attorney General
• 4 year term
• Must be an attorney in Jefferson City, MO
during his term
• Serves as the Attorney for the state of
Missouri
– Represents all legal interests
of the state
Executive Departments
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1. Office of Administrations
2. Department of Agriculture
3. Department of Conservation
4. Department of Corrections
5. Department of Economic Development
6. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
7. Department of Health
8. Department of Higher Education
9. Department of Insurance
10. Department of Labor & Industrial Relations
11. Department of Mental Health
12. Department of Natural Resources
13. Department of Public Services
14. Department of Revenue
15. Department of Social Services
16. Department of Transportation
And over 350 boards and commissions
Poll time!!!
Legislative Branch
We have a Congress too!!!
Missouri General Assembly
• Just like Congress, Missouri General Assembly
has two houses (who would have thought?)
– 1. Missouri Senate
– 2. House of Representatives
Purpose of General Assembly
• Serve as the Legislative part of Missouri
Government
– Create laws
• The Missouri version of the U.S. Congress
Missouri Senate
• 34 members
• Serving 4 year terms
• Led by the President of the Senate
– Lieutenant Governor
• Qualifications of Members:
– 30 years of age
– Must be qualified voters in their district for 1 year
– Must have lived in the state for 3 years
Missouri House of Representatives
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163 members
Serving 2 year terms (max of 4 terms)
Led by the Speaker of the House
Qualifications:
– 24 years of age
– Must be qualified voters in their district for 1 year
– Resident of the state for 2 years
How are districts determined???
• Each Senate district has 1 vote
– About 150,000 people per Senator
• All representation is determined by
population!
– Census!!! (every 10 years)
• After every census, district lines are
reapportioned (redrawn)
– Missouri is notoriously bad at this!!!
Missouri Senatorial Districts
Can only Legislators propose laws??
NO!
POWER OF THE PEOPLE!!!
• Initiative:
– A process used to create and pass laws using a
number of signatures from the voters of Missouri
• Must be 8 percent of the legal voters in no less than 2/3
of districts
• Referendum:
– A referendum may be proposed by either a
petition of not less than 5 percent of legal voters
or by General Assembly
How does a Bill become a Law?
• Simply put…..
It’s the same
process as the
U.S. Congress!!!!
Save for the Governor replacing the President….
Poll time again!!!!!
Judicial Branch!!
But this has gone SOOO LONG!!!
Missouri Supreme Court
• 7 judges
• 12 year terms
• How are judges selected??
– Missouri Plan
• Under the plan, the Appellate Judicial Commission submits
the names of three applicants to the Governor. If the
Governor fails to make a nomination, the Commission shall
make the appointment. Once the judge has served for at
least a year, he or she will be placed on the general election
ballot for a retention vote of the people. If retained, judges
serve a term of 12 years.
What topics can they decide on?
• The validity of a United States statute or
treaty.
• The validity of a Missouri statute or
constitutional provision.
• The state's revenue laws.
• Challenges to a statewide elected official's
right to hold office.
• Imposition of the death penalty.
Is there only a Supreme Court?
• Great Question!
– Why not at all!!!
– There are 3 different levels of courts in Missouri
• 1. Supreme Court
– Hears appeals from lower courts or transfers from Appeals Court
• 2. Court of Appeals
– Only serves appeals from lower courts
• 3. Circuit Courts
– Serves criminal trials
Well what about courts like Judge Judy?
• Municipal Court:
– Traffic courts, housing courts, etc.
• Small Claims Court:
– Only can file a claim against someone who owes
you money!
• THIS IS JUDGE JUDY’S COURT!!!
Now what if someone is charged with
a crime?
• What kind of jury do they get?
– Grand jury:
• A grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether
there is enough evidence for a trial
– Trial jury:
• A jury trial (or trial by jury) is a legal proceeding in
which a jury either makes a decision or makes findings
of fact which are then applied by a judge.
What if I get a call to be a juror?
• Well you have to be 21 years old
• Have to be a resident of the County you live in
• But!
– You do not have to be a registered voter!!!
Last but not least….Poll Time!!!!