missouri constitution and government. state motto “salus populi suprema lex esto.” “the...

MISSOURI CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT


State Motto

“Salus populi suprema lex esto.”

“The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law.”


Missouri Facts • Missouri’s capital is Jefferson City • Missouri became the 24th state in 1821 • Missouri’s nickname is the “Show Me State” • The state animal is the mule • The state bird is the blue bird • The state tree is the dogwood

Missouri Voters


Legislative Branch

General Assembly Senate

House of Representatives

Executive Branch

Governor

Lt. Gov.

Cabinet Depts.

JudicialBranch

Supreme Court

Courts of Appeals

Circuit Court


163 Missouri House Districts


34 Missouri SenateDistricts


LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

• The Missouri legislature is known as the General Assembly

• General Assembly is divided into two houses:

1. Senate—upper house 2. House of Representatives—lower house

• Legislature is in session from January to May each year


SENATE • 34 members • Serve 4 year terms (1/2 elected every two years)—8 years max.

• Presided over by Lt. Gov. (President pro Tempore takes over in his absence)

• Approves gubernatorial appointments


SENATE Qualifications:

• 30 years old

• A qualified Missouri voter for 3 years

• A resident of their district for 1 year


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

• 163 members

• Serve 2 year terms


HOUSE OF REPRESENTAVIES

Qualifications:

• 24 years old

• A qualified Missouri voter for 2 years

• Resident of their county or district for 1 year


EXECUTIVE BRANCH ELECTED BY VOTERS 1. Governor2. Lieutenant Governor3. Secretary of State4. Auditor5. Treasurer6. Attorney General


EXECUTIVE BRANCH Missouri Governor

• Term: 4 years

• Term limit: 2 consecutive terms


EXECUTIVE BRANCH

Qualifications Missouri Governor • at least 30 years old

• U.S. citizen for at least 15 years

• live in MO for at least 10 years


EXECUTIVE BRANCH

BASIC POWERS OF MISSOURI’S GOVERNOR

• Administers state laws

• Appoints and removes officials

• Liaison with federal government

• Recommends Laws and Budget


EXECUTIVE BRANCH ContinuedBASIC POWERS OF MISSOURI’S GOVERNOR

• Signs or Veto's Laws

• Calls Special Sessions

• Commands National Guard

• Grants Pardons, Reprieves,


JUDICIAL BRANCH

The Supreme Court

• Chief Justice Presides over Court

• 7 Justices

• 12 year Term

• Hears cases on appeal from lower courts


JUDICIAL BRANCH

Requirments

• 30 years of Age

• Citizen for at least 15 years

• Qualified Mo. Voter at least 9 years


Missouri Nonpartisan Court Plan

• Lower Court Judges apply• Candidates selected by lawyer-dominated

committee• Three names are forwarded to the

governor • Has sixty days to select one • If does not select one the committee

will then make the selection.


Missouri Nonpartisan Court Plan

• General Election Held after one year service

• “Retention Election.” Held

• Can be removed and process starts over

• Or Retained to serve full term


Circuit Courts

• 4 year term• 44 districts

• Handle Beginning Trials • Requires witnesses and evidence


Court of Appeals• 12 Year Term• Must be 30 years of age• 15 year Citizen• Qualified Voter for 9 years

• Make up• Eastern- 14 Judges• Western- 11 Judges• Southern- 7 Judges

• Hear appeals from Lower Courts


Municipalities

• Incorporated Local Government

• Organized under Missouri Law

• Corporate and Governmental characteristics


Three main types of city government in Missouri today1) Mayor-council - Appears most frequently in Missouri

a. City Council – Elected to in order to create local laws (ordinances) b. Mayor- chief executive responsible for carrying out the local laws

2) Commission - Board of commissioners, (City Council) - Performs both the legislative and the executive functions. - Elected by the people of the city - Creates local laws (ordinances) also act as a department head to carry out local laws in particular group

3) Council-manager - Comprised of a council, a mayor, and a city manager - Council – Elected to in order to create local laws (ordinances) - Mayor – Presides at council meetings, little admin. power- City Manager - City’s chief executive administrator

- Nonpartisan official hired by the city


Township

• Sub-administrated unit of a county

• Very little power

• Ex) unity for road maintenance


Counties

• Unit of State

• Carrie out key function

• Taxation, Law enforcement

• 114 Counties / 1 independent city

MissouriCounties


Missouri Government Officials- Find and list Missouri’s

• Governor• Lt. Governor• Willard’s Missouri State Senator• Willard’s Missouri State Representative• Secretary of State• Attorney General


What is unique about Missouri Government?

The Initiative: Where Missourians can start the legislative processThe Referendum: Where Missourians get to review and vote on bills passed by the General Assembly

Now we have learned a little about State Government….try this

List things that pertain to the state, to the national, and finally to both levels of Government

STATE NATIONAL BOTH

THE END

missouri constitution and government. state motto “salus populi suprema lex esto.” “the...

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