MO Constitution

Gave voters the right to regulate state government, and the right to alter or abolish the state constitution either in part or in full. Consisted of 13 articles that covered, powers of government, powers of legislature, powers of executive, interpretive powers of the judicial branch, provided guidelines on education, banking, the state militia, and amending the constitution.

Briefly describe the major provisions of Missouri's first constitution.

The ranking member of the senate that appoints and stands on all committees. Always from the majority party in the senate.

Describe the President Pro Tem.

The plan operates in the following manner:1) When a vacancy occurs in a judgeship, a judicial commission recommends three names to the Governor.2) The Governor appoints one of the three to fill the vacancy. The new judge assumes his duties immediately, but his appointive term expires on December 31 following the next regular election.3) If the judge wishes to continue to hold his job, he must file his candidacy for election in November.4) If a majority of the voters choose to keep the judge, he will serve a full term.

Explain how the "nonpartisan court plan" works.

Criminal law is a case in which a person can be fined, imprisoned, or executed. Civil law is a dispute between two people that can end up in someone paying for damages.

Explain the differences between criminal law and civil law.

The attorney general is responsible for prosecuting and defending all appeals and presenting the assembly's opinion to the state executives,

Explain the duties of the Attorney General.

A measure that is put to the people for a vote by the General Assembly, or by the referendum petition, and is approved by the people. The item becomes law upon approval.

Explain what a referendum is.

A group of people write a proposal for a law and get enough signatures on a petition. When the measure proposed and approved by the people it becomes a law of the state.

Explain what an initiative is.

The governor has no basic control over the 5 other executives because he doesn't appoint them unlike the president's cabinet.

How is the Missouri executive branch different from the federal government?

They justices select one of them to be chief justice usually for a period of 2 years.

How is the chief justice of the Missouri Supreme Court chosen and how long is do they serve?

The government has three branches of the judicial, executive, and legislative that prevent one branch from overpowering the other.

How is the government of Missouri similar to the United States and the other 49 states?

12 Years

How long do judges of the Court of Appeals serve?

2 year terms.

How long is a term for a Missouri representative?

4 year terms

How long is a term for a Missouri senator?

12 years

How long is one term for a Missouri Supreme Court justice?

3 Court of Appeals Located in Springfield, KC, and St. Louis.

How many courts of appeals are there and where are they located?

14 departments.

How many departments are in the Executive Branch?

7

How many justices serve on the Missouri Supreme Court?

Maximum of 2 terms

How many terms may a governor serve?

Send messages to the legislature covering his suggested budget and legislative program, approve or veto bills, and call special sessions of the General Assembly.

What are some legislative powers of the governor?

His primary duty is to carry out the laws of the state. He appoints many of the officials whose jobs involve the enforcement of laws and the judges of those state courts which operate under the non-partisan court plan. The governor has the authority to fill all vacancies occurring in state and county offices too.

What are some of the executive duties of the governor?

The Speaker is the presiding officer of the House and he is responsible for appointing all committee members and chairpersons and assigning new bills to House committees and signs all official papers of the House.

What are the duties of the Speaker of the House?

Must be at least 30 years old, have lived in Missouri for three years, and lived in their district for one year.

What are the qualifications for being a Missouri senator?

Be at least 30 years of age, a citizen of the United States for at least 15 years, and a resident of Missouri for at least 10 years.

What are the qualifications for being governor of Missouri?

To run for State Representative, a person must be at least 24 years old, a qualified voter in the state for at least two years, and a resident in his district for at least one year.

What are the qualifications for serving in the House?

He presides over the Missouri Senate. If for any reason the Governor leaves office, the powers and duties of the Governor become the responsibility of the Lieutenant Governor until the end of his term.

What are the responsibilities of the Lieutenant Governor?

Largest Chamber- House of Representative with 163 members Smallest Chamber- Senate with 34 members

What are the two houses of the Missouri legislature and how many members are in each?

Direct the support of members of their party for their party's programs and objectives.

What do Party Whips do?

The floor leaders manages all floor legislative action that the party is interested in. The Majority Floor Leader sets the schedule and order of business for the Senate.

What do the Majority and Minority floor leaders do?

Constitution of Kentucky, United States Constitution, and the Bill Rights

What documents helped guide the delegates in writing the constitution?

Keeper of the Great Seal of the State of Missouri, custodian of the state's records, chief elections officer, enforcer of business and investment laws, overseer of campaign practices and a major publisher of books and documents.

What does the Missouri Secretary of State do?

This person is responsible for the recording of each days' proceedings and maintaining all records.

What does the Secretary of the Senate do?

He presides over the house when the Speaker of the House is absent. Nominated by the majority caucus and elected at the beginning of the legislative session.

What does the Speaker Pro Tem do?

"...all political power is vested in, and derived from the people." This quote means that the people are in charge of state government.

What is one of the Missouri constitution's basic principles and what does it mean?

A special session can be called upon by the governor at anytime and can be called upon by members of the assembly if ¾ of the members from both houses agree.

What is so special about a special session of the General Assembly?

The state auditor is responsible for creating methods of accounting for all public officials of the state, to audit the accounts of all state agencies and to make all other audits required by law such as of school districts. The state treasurer is responsible for figuring out the right amount of funds needed to operate certain agencies and where to invest that money to get the best return and safety for the money.

What is the difference between the Missouri State Auditor and the State Treasurer?

General Assembly

What is the name of the Missouri legislature?

Interpret civil and criminal the laws of the state as passed by the legislature, and it also attempts to settle controversial issues.

What is the responsibility of the judicial branch?

Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, State Treasurer and State Auditor

What six offices are in the Executive Branch?

They hear cases concerning the US Constitution and the Missouri Constitution.

What type of cases does the Supreme Court hear?

The Court of Appeals hears general appellate jurisdiction in all cases not within the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.

What type of cases does the court of appeals hear?

Elected during the presidential election year and serves a 4 year term.

When and how often is the governor elected?

It was written in March in 1820 and the constitutional convention convened in St. Louis.

When and where was Missouri's first constitution written?

They meet on the first Wednesday after the first Monday of the month in January. The session ends in the middle of May.

When does the Missouri legislature meet?

1821 as the 24th states of America.

When was Missouri admitted to the Union?

The fourth states constitution was written in 1945.

When was the present constitution written?

Legal activities begin in the circuit courts.

Where do legal activities begin?

Jefferson City

Where is Missouri's state capital?

Eric Greitens

Who is the governor of Missouri?

Alexander McNair

Who was Missouri's first governor?

This system ensures that there are at least 17 experience senators in office at a time.

Why are half of all senators elected every two years?