Missouri Government American Government Matthew Easley Elsberry High School

History Missouri admitted to Union August 10, 1821 Missouri admitted to Union August 10, 1821 MO’s only President- Harry Truman MO’s only President- Harry Truman Capital City- Jefferson City Capital City- Jefferson City Constitution written-1945 Constitution written counties in Missouri 114 counties in Missouri

Executive Branch Offices Attorney General- Chief legal officer of state Attorney General- Chief legal officer of state Treasurer-Receives & pays out state $$$$ Treasurer-Receives & pays out state $$$$ Auditor-Audits state agencies Auditor-Audits state agencies Sec. of State- Publishes state laws/documents Sec. of State- Publishes state laws/documents Voters- Elect each of these offices Voters- Elect each of these offices

Governor Jay Nixon Jay Nixon Terms: Terms: -4 years/2 term limit Qualifications: Qualifications: -30 yrs. old -US citizen 15 yrs. -Live in MO 10 yrs.

Governor’s Basic Powers Grants pardons, reprieves, commutations Grants pardons, reprieves, commutations State Commander-in-Chief of state militia State Commander-in-Chief of state militia Appoint state officials Appoint state officials Chief Executive (represents state nationally) Chief Executive (represents state nationally) Approve or Veto bills (Line-item veto- strike out a portion of a bill) Approve or Veto bills (Line-item veto- strike out a portion of a bill) Approve state spending & prepare budget Approve state spending & prepare budget

Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder Peter Kinder Duties: Duties: -President of the Senate -Acting Gov. if needed -Breaks tie in Senate

Attorney General Chris Koster Chris Koster Duties: Duties: - Chief law enforcement officer officer -Provide legal advise to state officers state officers -Provide legal and criminal investigation services for state investigation services for state

Treasurer Clint Zweifel Clint Zweifel Duties: Duties: -Managing state funds -Investing state monies -Paying out state funds

Auditor Thomas Schweich Thomas Schweich Duties: Duties: - Examine accounts of all state agencies agencies -Submit annual report to General Assembly and General Assembly and governor governor

Secretary of State Jason Kander Jason Kander Duties: Duties: - Records, files and certifies the public certifies the public documents of the documents of the state state - keeper of the state seal

Order of Succession Governor Lt. Governor President Pro Tempore of Senate Speaker of House Sec. of State

Legislative Branch General Assembly General Assembly Legislative sessions last from Jan.-May Legislative sessions last from Jan.-May MO House/Senate districts based on population MO House/Senate districts based on population Boundaries/seats are reapportioned after census Boundaries/seats are reapportioned after census

House of Representatives Presiding Member: Speaker of House Presiding Member: Speaker of House 163 members; salary $35, per diem 163 members; salary $35, per diem 2-year terms/limit of 4 terms 2-year terms/limit of 4 terms Requirements: Requirements: -24 years of age -MO voter 2 years -District resident 1 year Sole power to start impeachment process Sole power to start impeachment process

MO Senate Presiding officer: Lt. Governor Presiding officer: Lt. Governor 34 Members; salary $35, per diem 34 Members; salary $35, per diem 4-year terms/limit of 2 terms 4-year terms/limit of 2 terms President Pro Tempore-assigns bills to committee President Pro Tempore-assigns bills to committee Vote on governor appointments Vote on governor appointments Requirements: Requirements: -30 yrs of age -MO voter 3 yrs -District resident for one year

Bill Becomes Law Process: Process: 1. Bill introduced-15,000 annually/10-15% pass 2. Committee 3. Hearings-changes made 4. Debate-Filibuster possible in Senate 5. Vote 6. To Governor -Sign or Veto (Leg. can override with 2/3 vote) -Line-Item Veto (pick & choose what is vetoed) -Not sign & 15 days becomes law NO POCKET VETO!!!!

The Judicial Branch MO Supreme Court MO Court of Appeals MO Circuit Court MO Municipal Courts

Missouri Supreme Court Highest court Highest court Original & appellate jurisdiction Original & appellate jurisdiction 7 judges 7 judges 12 year terms 12 year terms Decisions here are final Decisions here are final

MO Court of Appeals 2 nd highest court 2 nd highest court Appellate jurisdiction Appellate jurisdiction 12 year terms 12 year terms Divided into 3 districts Divided into 3 districts -Eastern District -Western District -Southern District

MO Circuit Courts Circuit-name for regional units into which MO courts are divided. (Lincoln Co. – 45 th Circuit) Circuit-name for regional units into which MO courts are divided. (Lincoln Co. – 45 th Circuit) Original jurisdiction-most cases begin here Original jurisdiction-most cases begin here 6 year terms-elected by voters 6 year terms-elected by voters Main trial courts and divisions include probate (wills and estates), juvenile (17) municipal (misdemeanor or civil matters) and associate courts. Main trial courts and divisions include probate (wills and estates), juvenile (17) municipal (misdemeanor or civil matters) and associate courts.

MO Municipal Courts Original jurisdiction for misdemeanors & civil matters Original jurisdiction for misdemeanors & civil matters Small Claims-min. of $3,000 w/o lawyer Small Claims-min. of $3,000 w/o lawyer +

How Judges Are Selected Missouri Non-Partisan Plan Missouri Non-Partisan Plan -SC & Appellate judges nominated by judicial commission -3 nominees given to Gov. to appoint 1 -After serving 1 year, judge must be voted in -If not voted in, process starts over

Types of Juries Grand Juries Grand Juries -Examine evidence to see if sufficient grounds for prosecution Petit Juries Petit Juries -Criminal cases-decide guilty or not guilty -Needs to be unanimous (100%) -Civil cases-only 2/3 needed

Voting and Election Info. General elections held in Nov. every 2 years (next is November 2008) General elections held in Nov. every 2 years (next is November 2008) -Fill offices Primary elections allow parties to select candidates to run in general elections Primary elections allow parties to select candidates to run in general elections Voting Requirements: Voting Requirements: -18 yr. old (can register at 17 ½) -Live in state/district -Register to vote (Motor Voter Law ’95-allows citizens to register at DMV) Absentee ballots may be granted in special cases Absentee ballots may be granted in special cases

MO Law & Amendment Initiative-law that begins as collection of signatures, moves to popular vote Initiative-law that begins as collection of signatures, moves to popular vote Referendum-law that originates in legislature but then must be put to popular vote Referendum-law that originates in legislature but then must be put to popular vote Voters approve all amendments to MO Constitution with 2/3 vote Voters approve all amendments to MO Constitution with 2/3 vote Hancock Amendment-last amendment added & put limits on taxing/spending Hancock Amendment-last amendment added & put limits on taxing/spending

Local Government Townships assess/collect taxes, conduct elections, fire protection & zoning regulations Special Purpose Districts perform a single job (schools, parks, water, fire, etc.) Home Rule allows local gov’t. to determine own affairs and type of gov’t.StateGovernment County Government Townships Municipal Government

Local Government (con’t.) Mayor/Council Mayor/Council  Most popular form with council as Legislative body & mayor as chief executive  Originated in England Council-Manager Council-Manager  City manager runs city Commission Commission  Elected group (5 members) who have Leg. & Exec. powers Trustee Village Trustee Village  5-9 members; handle village affairs

This PowerPoint was created by: Mr. Jamie Waeckerle Mr. Jamie Waeckerle Lafayette High School Additions made by Mr. Matthew Easley Additions made by Mr. Matthew Easley Elsberry High School