Missouri Constitution

The Constitution of the United States gave certain express and implied powers to the federal government. Under the _ Amendment, other powers were reserved to the state governments, or to the people. When it joined the union in _ , Missouri retained these same powers and enunciated them in the State Constitution.

10th; 1821

Missouri is divided, on the basis of population, into _ representative districts. Each district elects one representative. The districts must be as _ in population as possible, compact and contiguous. After each ten-year census a special 18 member bipartisan commission, appointed by the Governor, redraws the boundary lines to reflect the shifts in population. If the commission fails to agree on new districts within six months of its appointment, six appellate judges, appointed by the Supreme Court, redraw the representative districts. The presiding officer of the House is the _ , who is elected by the House at the opening of each regular session. The Speaker makes committee appointments and assigns bills to committees.

163; nearly equal; Speaker

The first constitution of Missouri was adopted in _ , followed by those of 1865 and of 1875. In _ , Missouri adopted its fourth and present constitution.

1820; 1945

HOW A BII.L BECOMES A LAW Generally, a bill (a proposal) becomes a law (a binding rule) by going through the following steps or stages: 1. Introduction in the first house 2. Sent to committee 3. Committee holds hearings 4. Committee reports bill 5. Debate and amendment by house 6. First house takes action 7. Bill goes to second house 8. Second house repeats procedure of first house 9. If difference exists, bill goes to Conference Committee 10. Conference Committee works out compromise 11. Bill passes both houses 12. Bill goes to Governor 13. Governor signs or vetoes bill 14. Veto maybe overridden by _ of both houses of General Assembly (seldom occurs).

2/3 vote

Missouri is divided, on the basis of population, into _ senatorial districts and each district elects one state senator. The districts should be as nearly equal in population as possible without splitting any of the counties. However, counties with sufficient population may contain more than one senatorial district. After each ten-year census a special bipartisan commission of ten members, appointed by the Governor, redraws the boundary lines to reflect the shifts in population. This is called "_." If the commission fails to agree on new districts within six months of its appointment, six appellate judges, appointed by the Supreme Court, redraw the senatorial districts.

34; redistricting

TERM LIMITS In 1992, the voters of the state approved a constitutional amendment placing limitations on the member of terms members of the House of Representatives and Senate may serve. No one shall be elected to serve more than _ years total in any one house, nor more than _ years total in both houses of the General Assembly.

8 years; 16 years

_ (4 year term) U.S. citizen, Missouri resident 1 year Official Duties: Chief legal officer of state (assisted by about 64 part-time assistant attorneys general)

Attorney General

_ (4 year term, elected in non-presidential years) Age 30 or more, U.S. citizen 15 years, Missouri resident l0 years Audits all state accounts, certifies encumbrances, makes yearly report to Governor and legislature

Auditor

_ (4 year term) Age 30 or more, U.S. citizen 15 years, Missouri resident 10 years. Official Duties: Ex officio President of the Senate, in absence of Governor performs his duties and first in line of succession

Lieutenant Governor

The elected _ is the president and presiding officer of the Senate. In his absence the President Pro Tem, who is elected by the Senate at the opening of each regular session presides over the Senate. Over the years Missouri has weakened the legislative powers of the Lieutenant Governor. It is the President Pro Tem who makes committee appointments and assigns bills to committees.

Lieutenant Governor;

The _ (the state legislature) is made up of _ and _. The two bodies pass laws for the general welfare, appropriate funds to carry on the functions of state government, and levy taxes to meet the costs of governing the state.

Missouri General Assembly; a Senate with 34 members and a House of Representatives with 163 members.

_ (4 year term) U.S. citizen, Missouri resident 1 year Official Duties: Compiles and publishes laws, is chief elections officer. Custodian of State Seal

Secretary of State

_ (4 year term but no more than 2 successive terms) U.S. citizen, Missouri resident 1 year Official Duties: Receives and is responsible for state funds; holding, investing and paying out on order of comptroller

Treasurer

COMMITTEES As in the U.S. Congress, much of the important work of the legislature is done through the _. Committees in both houses are assigned bills for study and eventual recommendation to the legislature for approval or disapproval. The recommendation "do pass" carries great weight with the lawmakers.

committee system

Three branches of government were created: l) _ -makes state laws 2) _ -executes and administers the law 3) _ -interprets and applies the law.

legislative; executive; judicial

THE GOVERNOR The executive power of the state is vested in the Governor. He (or she) must be 30 years old, a U.S. citizen for l5 years, and a resident of Missouri for the past 10 years. An individual may be elected to no more than _, which may be consecutive.

two four-year terms