1. Missouri Constitution Test Prep
Missouri Government
Missouri Constitution Test Prep

2. Foundational Principles of American Democracy
Limited Government
Basic principle of American government which states that government is restricted in what it may do, and each individual has rights the government cannot take away
Idea first established in the Magna Carta

3. Foundational Principles of American Democracy
Separation of Powers
Basic principle of American system of government, that the executive, legislative, and judicial powers are divided among three independent and co-equal branches of government

4. Foundational Principles of American Democracy
Checks and Balances
System of overlapping the powers of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches to permit each branch to check the actions of the others

5. Federalism
System of government in which a written a constitution divides power between a central government and several local governments
Divides power between national and state governments

6. 14th Amendment and Due Process of Law
Prohibits state and local governments from depriving person of life, liberty or property within following the correct procedures
Includes Equal Protection Clause— requires each state to provide equal protection under the law to all people
Applied the Bill of Rights to the States

7. Relationship Between National, State and Local Government
Expressed/Delegated Powers—in the US Constitution specifically for the national government
Reserved Powers—powers granted only to the states
Concurrent Powers—powers shared by both the state and federal government

8. Reserved Powers Examples Marriage laws Divorce laws Traffic laws
Establish public schools
High school graduation requirements
Regulate trade within the state
Establish local government

9. Concurrent Powers Examples Power to tax Building roads Elections
Administer criminal justice
Borrow money

10. Hancock Amendment
Prevents Missouri Government from increasing the percentage of a resident’s income tax taken as state revenue without voters approval
Intended to put a limit on taxing and spending

11. State of Missouri Voter Requirements
Voting Requirements
18 years old (can register at 17 ½)
Live in the state/district
Register to vote 21 days in advance
Motor Voter Law of 1995—allows citizens to register to vote at DMV

12. Initiative vs. Referendums
Initiative—law that begins as a collection of signatures, moves to a popular vote
Referendum—law that originates in legislature but then must be put to a popular vote

13. Source of Revenue for State Revenue
Largest source of State Revenue comes from taxes
Income taxes
Sales taxes

14. State Capital of Missouri
Jefferson City

15. Missouri Compromise
Compromise that allowed for statehood from Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state
Kept the equal balance of number of slave and free states

16. Missouri Executive Branch
Governor—Chief Executive of Missouri
Qualifications
30 years old
US citizen for 15 years
MO resident for 10 years
Terms
4 years
2 term limit
Current Governor—Mike Parson

17. Line of Succession to Governor
Lt. Governor
President Pro Tempore of the Senate
Speaker of the House
Secretary of State

18. Legislative Powers of Governor
Line Item Veto—allows governor to veto parts of spending bills, while passing the rest of the bill
Calling Special Sessions of the General Assembly
Sign Bills into Laws
Veto Bill and send back to the General Assembly

19. Executive Powers of the Governor
Commander in Chief of State Militia and State Highway Patrol
Appoints Department Heads

20. Judicial Powers of Governor
Pardons—legal forgiveness for STATE crimes
Reprieves—delay of a sentence for STATE crimes
Usually for death row inmates
Commutations—shortens a sentence for a STATE crime

21. Lieutenant Governor Duties
President of the Senate
Votes only to break a tie
Acting Governor if governor is incapacitated or absent
Lieutenant Governor—Mike Kehoe

22. Secretary of State
Executive Branch office which publishes state laws and documents
Keeper of the Seal of Missouri
Current Secretary of State— Jay R Ashcroft

23. Attorney General
Executive Branch office which serves as chief legal officer (Prosecuting Attorney) in the state
Current Attorney General— Eric Schmitt

24. Treasurer
Executive Branch office which receives and pays out state money
Current Treasurer- Scott Fitzpatrick

25. Auditor Executive Branch agency that audits state agencies
Current Auditor—Nicole Galloway

26. Legislative Branch—Missouri General Assembly
Missouri Legislature is called the General Assembly
Apportionment—how representative districts are distributed
Basis for representation
Both House and Senate are apportioned based on population
House of Represenatives—163 Representatives
Senate—34 Senators

27. Impeachment Process
State House of Representatives has the responsibility for impeachment (charge with a crime) of government officials
MO Supreme Court serves as the jury in cases of impeachment

28. MO House of Representatives
Qualifications
24 years old
MO voter for 2 years
District resident for 1 year
Terms
2 year terms
4 year term limit

29. Leadership in the House
Speaker of the House
Presides over House of Representatives
House Majority Leader
Leader of Majority Party
House Minority Leader
Leader of Minority Party

30. MO Senate Qualifications Term 30 years old MO resident for 3 years
District resident for 1 year
Term
4 year term
2 term limit

31. Senate Leadership Positions
President of the Senate
Lt. Governor presides over Senate
President Pro Tempore
Presides in President of the Senate’s absence
Senate Majority Leader
Leader of Majority party
Senate Minority Leader
Leader of Minority party

32. Bill Becomes a Law Bill introduced Committee Hearings—changes made
Debate
Filibuster—delay tactic (only in the Senate)
Vote
Send to Governor
Sign Bill
Veto—both houses can vote to override with 2/3 vote
Not sign a bill and after 15 days becomes law

33. Powers of the General Assembly
Create laws
Levy taxes
Appropriate funds

34. Judicial Branch Jurisdiction—authority of a court to hear a case
Original Jurisdiction
First court to hear a case
MO Municipal, MO Circuit and MO Supreme Court
Appellate Jurisdiction
Court which hears case on an appeal
MO Court of Appeals and MO Supreme Court

35. MO Supreme Court Highest Court in Missouri
Has both original and appellate jurisdiction
7 MO Supreme Court Justices
12 year terms
MO Supreme Court Judges must retire at 70

36. Missouri Court of Appeals
2nd highest court in Missouri
Holds appellate jurisdiction
Judges serve 12 year term

37. Missouri Circuit Courts
Circuit—regional units of Missouri courts
Holds original jurisdiction
Most cases begin here
Serve 6 year term
Felonies, Misdemeanors, Civil Cases and Juvenile Cases

38. Municipal Courts
Original jurisdiction
Traffic and Code violations

39. Small Claims Court
Handles small civil cases in which people are usually not represented by a lawyer
Civil claims no more than $3,000

40. Grand Jury v. Petit Jury Grand Jury Petit Juries (Trial juries)
Examines evidence to see if there is sufficient ground for prosecution
Will issue an indictment if enough evidence to send to trial
Petit Juries (Trial juries)
Criminal cases—determines guilt or innocence
Needs a unanimous decision
Civil Cases
Only requires a 2/3 vote of the jury

41. Qualifications to be on a Jury
Must be a MO resident
21 years old
Speak English

42. Missouri Nonpartisan Court Plan
MO Supreme Court and MO Court of Appeals Judges are nominated by a non-partisan judicial commission
Commission sends 3 nominees to the Governor
Governor will appoint 1 of 3 nominees
Judges will serve 1 year, and then must be voted in by the voters of MO to retain their job
If the voters deny the judge, the process starts over