1. The Missouri Constitution
State Government
The Missouri Constitution

2. First Constitution1 of 2 Written in 1820 Statehood – August 10, 1821
Established basic structure
Three branches
Included Bill of Rights

3. First Constitution2 of 2 Legislative Branch: General Assembly
Elected by popular vote
Two houses (bicameral)
Judicial Branch
Supreme Court
Circuit Courts

4. 1865 Constitution Reflected Civil War hostility
Freed Slaves (before 13th)
“Iron-Clad” loyalty oath
Public education

5. 1875 Constitution Longer than first two
Set aside 25% of state money for schools
Strengthened governor’s power

6. 1945 Constitution
Decided to rewrite rather than change Constitution
Currently in use
All political power comes from the people

7. 1945 Constitution 13 Articles
Amendments are placed within the articles

8. Article I 1 of 2
BILL OF RIGHTS
Adapted to “modern conditions”

9. Article I 2 of 2 Rights beyond U.S. Constitution:
Removed discriminations against women
Extended freedom of speech to radio
Rights for crime victims
Separation of church & state; no state monies to churches

10. Article II DISTRIBUTION OF POWER
Set up 3 branches of state government: legislative, executive, judicial

11. Article III LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT General Assembly
House of Representatives
Senate

12. General Assembly1 of 2 Two houses – bicameral
Sessions begin in January
Make state laws
Equivalent of U.S. Congress

13. General Assembly2 of 2
Bills begin in either house (except appropriation bills begin in House)
Committees study bills
Simple majority to pass
2/3 vote to override governor’s veto (seldom occurs)
No pocket veto

14. House of Reps. 1 of 4 163 Representatives 163 Districts 2 year term
Term Limits – 8 years or 4 terms

15. House of Reps. 2 of 4 Qualifications for House: 24 years old
Qualified voter of Missouri for 2 years
Resident of district 1 year

16. House of Reps. 3 of 4 Leadership: Our Representative:
Speaker: Todd Richardson(R)
Our Representative:
Wanda Brown, 57th District

17. Rep. Wanda Brown & Speaker of the House Todd Richardson 4 of 4

18. Senate 1 of 6 34 Senators 34 Districts Staggered 4 year term
Odd # districts elected in presidential election years

19. Senate of 6

20. Senate 3 of 6 Term limits – 8 years or 2 terms
Approves governor’s appointments
Filibusters allowed

21. Senate 4 of 6 Qualifications for Senate: 30 years old
Qualified Missouri voter for 3 years
Resident of district 1 year

22. Senate 5 of 6 Leadership: President President Pro-tem
Lt. Governor Peter Kinder
President Pro-tem
Ron Richard

23. Senate of 6
Our Senator: Mike Parson

24. Article IV EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT Governor Succession Lt. Governor
Secretary of State
Attorney General
Treasurer
Auditor

25. Governor 1 of 4 4 year term Term limit – 2 terms
Chief executive officer
Appoints officials
Prepares budget

26. Governor 2 of 4 Grants pardons, reprieves, commutes sentences
Line-item veto on appropriations bills
State of State address
Can call extra sessions of the General Assembly

27. Governor 3 of 4 Qualifications for governor: 30 years old
U.S. Citizen 15 years
Live in state 10 years

28. Governor of 4
Jay Nixon

29. Succession Lieutenant Governor President Pro-tem of Senate
Speaker of the House
Secretary of State
State Auditor

30. Lt. Governor 1 of 2 4 year term, no limits
Qualifications same as governor
Peter Kinder

31. Lt. Governor 2 of 2 Responsibilities: President of Senate
Breaks ties in Senate
Acting governor when governor leaves the state

32. Secretary of State 1 of 2 4 year term, no limits Qualifications:
25 years old, U.S. Citizen, live in state one year
Jason Kander

33. Secretary of State 2 of 2 Responsibilities:
Keeps non-financial state records
Certifies elections
Keeps State Seal
Publishes “Missouri Blue Book”

34. Attorney General 1 of 2 4 year term, no limits Qualifications:
30 years old, U.S. citizen, live in state one year
Chris Koster

35. Attorney General 2 of 2 Chief legal officer Represents state in court
Issues legal opinions on laws & issues

36. Treasurer 1 of 2 4 year term Term limit – 2 terms
Qualifications: U.S. citizen, live in state one year
Clint Zweifel

37. Treasurer 2 of 2 Chief financial officer Collects taxes
Invests state funds
Issues state payroll

38. Auditor 1 of 3 4 year term, no limits
Only executive official NOT elected during presidential election year
Nicole Galloway

39. Auditor 2 of 3 Qualifications: 30 years old U.S. citizen 15 years
Live in state 10 years
(Same as governor)

40. Auditor 3 of 3 Responsibilities: Audits state agencies
Checks collection & spending of state money
Audits state treasury

41. Article V JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT Circuit Courts Court of Appeals
Supreme Court
Missouri Plan
Appeal Decisions

42. Circuit Courts of 3
Original jurisdiction in state civil & criminal cases
Judges – elected
6 year term
Over circuit judges

43. Circuit Courts 2 of 3 Qualifications: 30 years old
Qualified voter 3 years
U.S. Citizen 10 years
Member Missouri Bar
Live in district

44. Circuit Courts 3 of 3 Handling of Cases: Judge presides
Possibly a jury
Both sides present evidence

45. Court of Appeals 1 of 3 Hear cases on appeal
Something in original case not handled correctly
Located in
Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield

46. Court of Appeals 2 of 3 Each side argues questions of law
Panel of 3 judges
If appealed again, then full panel

47. Court of Appeals 3 of 3 Qualifications: 30 years old
Qualified MO Voter 9 years
U.S. citizen 15 years
Member Missouri Bar
Live in District

48. Supreme Court 1 of 2 7 Justices Located in Jefferson City
Final appeal cases
State Constitution cases
State revenue laws cases
Final authority on State Constitution

49. Supreme Court 2 of 2 Qualifications: 30 years old
Qualified MO Voter 9 years
U.S. citizen 15 years
Member Missouri Bar

50. Missouri Supreme Court Members
From Front row, left to right:
Chief Justice Richard B. (Rick) Teitelman
Judge William Ray Price, Jr.
Judge Mary R. Russell
Judge George W. Draper III (shown below)
Judge Laura Denvir Stith
Judge Patricia Breckenridge
Judge Zel M. Fischer
Appointed, Oct. 2011

51. Missouri Plan 1 of 2 Non-partisan plan Appeals Court judges
Supreme Courts justices
Commission provides governor with list of three names

52. Missouri Plan 2 of 2 Governor choose one Senate approves choice
Appointee serves at least 1 year, then retaining election is held in next general election
12 year term

53. Article VI LOCAL GOVERNMENT 114 counties St. Louis- city & county
County officials:
Assessor, Sheriff, Collector, Prosecuting Attorney, County Clerk

54. Article VII PUBLIC OFFICERS Impeachment rules House impeaches
State Supreme Court tries
Special commission tries governor or Supreme Court justice

55. Article VIII 1 of 2 SUFFRAGE & ELECTIONS
General Elections - first Tuesday after first Monday in November in even numbered years
Primary Elections - party candidates are chosen to run in general election; held in general election years

56. Article VIII 2 of 2 Who Votes? U.S. citizen Resident of MO
At least 18 years old
Properly registered
Cannot have had right taken away

57. Article IX
EDUCATION
Free public schools for all persons under 21 years of age
Established free public libraries

58. Article X TAXATION Tax money used for public purposes only
Taxes must be uniform
Sales tax most important

59. Article XI CORPORATIONS Rules for corporations, railroads, & banks
Forbids a state bank

60. Article XII 1 of 3 AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION
Constitutional Convention vote every 20 years on whether or not to revise or rewrite constitution

61. Article XII 2 of 3 Proposing Amendments: Voters approve amendments
Majority of each house
Initiative petition (8% of voters in 2/3 of districts)
Voters approve amendments

62. Article XII 3 of 3
Initiative – allows voters to propose laws or amendments
Referendum – allows voters to reject laws already passed

63. Article XIII
PUBLIC EMPLOYEES
Rules & benefits for public employees

64. State Symbols 1 of 9 State Bird - bluebird
State Floral Emblem - white hawthorn blossom

65. State Symbols 2 of 9 State Song – “Missouri Waltz”
State Tree – flowering dogwood
State Mineral - galena

66. State Symbols 3 of 9 State Rock – Mozarkite State Insect – honeybee
State Musical Instrument - fiddle

67. State Symbols 4 of 9 State Fossil – crinoid
State Tree Nut – Eastern Black Walnut
State Animal – Missouri mule

68. State Symbols 5 of 9 State American Folk Dance – square dance
State Aquatic Animal – paddlefish
State Fish – channel catfish

69. State Symbols 6 of 9 State Horse – Missouri fox trotting horse
State Dinosaur – hypsibema missouriense
State Grape – Norton/Cynthiana Grape

70. State Symbols 7 of 9 State Amphibian – American bullfrog
State Day – Missouri Day 3rd Wednesday in October
State Capitol

71. State Symbols of 9

72. State Symbols 9 of 9 Added in 2007 State invertebrate – crayfish
State grass – Big Bluestem
State game bird – Bobwhite Quail

73. Newest Symbol
2008 – State Dessert – Ice Cream Cone