1. The Missouri Constitution
State Government
The Missouri Constitution

2. First Constitution1 of 5 Written in 1820 Statehood – August 10, 1821
Established basic structure
Three branches
Included Bill of Rights

3. First Constitution2 of 5 Executive Branch under first constitution:
Governor – elected
Lt. Governor – elected
All others appointed

4. First Constitution3 of 5 Legislative Branch: General Assembly
Elected by popular vote
Two houses (bicameral)
Each county had 1 House Representative (60)

5. First Constitution4 of 5 Judicial Branch
Supreme Court
Circuit Courts
All judges appointed by governor for life

6. First Constitution5 of 5 Opposition to first constitution
Salary of Governor ($2K)
Life term of judges
Appointed executives
Under representation in the House

7. 1865 Constitution Reflected Civil War hostility
Freed Slaves (before 13th)
“Iron-Clad” loyalty oath
Public education

8. 1875 Constitution Longer than first two
Set aside 25% of state money for schools
Strengthened governor’s power

9. 1945 Constitution
Decided to rewrite rather than change Constitution
Currently in use
All political power comes from the people

10. 1945 Constitution 13 Articles
Amendments are placed within the articles

11. Article I 1 of 2
BILL OF RIGHTS
Adapted to “modern conditions”

12. Article I 2 of 2 Rights beyond U.S. Constitution: Rights for unions
Removed discriminations against women
Extended freedom of speech to radio
Rights for crime victims
Separation of church & state; no state monies to churches

13. Article II DISTRIBUTION OF POWER
Set up 3 branches of state government: legislative, executive, judicial

14. Article III LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT General Assembly
House of Representatives
Senate

15. General Assembly1 of 2 Two houses – bicameral
House of Representatives
Senate
Sessions begin in January
Make state laws
Equivalent of U.S. Congress

16. General Assembly2 of 2
Bills begin in either house (except appropriation bills begin in House)
Committees study bills
Simple majority to pass
2/3 vote to override governor’s veto (seldom occurs)
No pocket veto

17. House of Reps. 1 of 4 163 Representatives 163 Districts 2 year term
Term Limits – 8 years or 4 terms

18. House of Reps. 2 of 4 Qualifications for House: 24 years old
Qualified voter of Missouri for 2 years
Resident of district 1 year

19. House of Reps. 3 of 4 Leadership: Wanda Brown Speaker: Todd Richardson

20. Senate 1 of 6 34 Senators 34 Districts Staggered 4 year term
Odd # districts elected in presidential election years

21. Senate of 6
2010

22. Today

23. Senate 3 of 6 Term limits – 8 years or 2 terms
Approves governor’s appointments
Filibusters allowed

24. Senate 4 of 6 Qualifications for Senate: 30 years old
Qualified Missouri voter for 3 years
Resident of district 1 year

25. Senate 5 of 6 Leadership: President President Pro-tem
Lt. Governor Mike Parson
President Pro-tem
Ron Richard (R-32)

27. Senate of 6
Our state senator
28th District ?

28. Article IV EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT Governor Succession Lt. Governor
Secretary of State
Attorney General
Treasurer
Auditor

29. Governor 1 of 4 4 year term Term limit – 2 terms
Chief executive officer
Appoints officials
Prepares budget

30. Governor 2 of 4 Grants pardons, reprieves, commutes sentences
Line-item veto on appropriations bills
State of State address
Can call extra sessions of the General Assembly

31. Governor 3 of 4 Qualifications for governor: 30 years old
U.S. Citizen 15 years
Live in state 10 years

32. Eric Greitens

33. Succession Lieutenant Governor President Pro-tem of Senate
Speaker of the House
Secretary of State
State Auditor

34. Lt. Governor 1 of 2 4 year term, no limits
Qualifications same as governor
Mike Parson

35. Lt. Governor 2 of 2 Responsibilities: President of Senate
Breaks ties in Senate
Acting governor when governor leaves the state

36. Secretary of State 1 of 2 4 year term, no limits Qualifications:
25 years old, U.S. Citizen, live in state one year
John (Jay) Ashcroft

37. Secretary of State 2 of 2 Responsibilities:
Keeps non-financial state records
Certifies elections
Keeps State Seal
Publishes “Missouri Blue Book”

38. Attorney General 1 of 2 4 year term, no limits Qualifications:
30 years old, U.S. citizen, live in state one year
Josh Hawley

39. Attorney General 2 of 2 Chief legal officer Represents state in court
Issues legal opinions on laws & issues

40. Treasurer 1 of 2 4 year term Term limit – 2 terms
Qualifications: U.S. citizen, live in state one year
Eric Schmitt

41. Treasurer 2 of 2 Chief financial officer Collects taxes
Invests state funds
Issues state payroll

42. Auditor 1 of 3 4 year term, no limits
Only executive official NOT elected during presidential election year
Nicole Galloway

43. Auditor 2 of 3 Qualifications: 30 years old U.S. citizen 15 years
Live in state 10 years
(Same as governor)

44. Auditor 3 of 3 Responsibilities: Audits state agencies
Checks collection & spending of state money
Audits state treasury

45. Article V JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT Circuit Courts Court of Appeals
Supreme Court
Missouri Plan
Appeal Decisions

46. Circuit Courts of 3
Original jurisdiction in state civil & criminal cases
Judges – elected
6 year term
Over circuit judges

47. Circuit Courts 2 of 3 Qualifications: 30 years old
Qualified voter 3 years
U.S. Citizen 10 years
Member Missouri Bar
Live in district

48. Circuit Courts 3 of 3 Handling of Cases:
Judge presides
Possibly a jury
Both sides present evidence
Benton Co.- Michael Hendrickson
(30th Circuit Court)

49. Court of Appeals 1 of 3 Hear cases on appeal
Something in original case not handled correctly
Located in
Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield

50. Court of Appeals 2 of 3 Each side argues questions of law
Panel of 3 judges
If appealed again, then full panel

51. Court of Appeals 3 of 3 Qualifications: 30 years old
Qualified MO Voter 9 years
U.S. citizen 15 years
Member Missouri Bar
Live in District

52. Supreme Court 1 of 2 7 Justices Located in Jefferson City
Final appeal cases
State Constitution cases
State revenue laws cases
Final authority on State Constitution

53. Supreme Court 2 of 2 Qualifications: 30 years old
Qualified MO Voter 9 years
U.S. citizen 15 years
Member Missouri Bar

54. Missouri Supreme Court Members
Left to right:
Judge Richard B. (Rick) Teitelman (died Nov. 2016)
Judge George W. Draper III
Judge Zel M. Fischer
Chief Justice Patricia Breckenridge
Judge Laura Denvir Stith
Judge Paul C. Wilson
Judge Mary R. Russell
W. Brent Powell (shown at left)

55. Missouri Plan 1 of 2 Non-partisan plan Appeals Court judges
Supreme Courts justices
Commission provides governor with list of three names

56. Missouri Plan 2 of 2 Governor choose one Senate approves choice
Appointee serves at least 1 year, then retaining election is held in next general election
12 year term

58. Appeal Decisions Opinion of the Court Dissenting Opinion
Concurring Opinion

59. Article VI LOCAL GOVERNMENT 114 counties St. Louis- city & county
County officials:
Assessor, Sheriff, Collector, Prosecuting Attorney, County Clerk

60. Article VII PUBLIC OFFICERS Impeachment rules House impeaches
State Supreme Court tries
Special commission tries governor or Supreme Court justice
All states except Oregon allow for impeachment of governor
Nationally, 19 governors have been impeached, only 8 have been removed from office, most resign

61. Article VIII 1 of 2 SUFFRAGE & ELECTIONS
General Elections - first Tuesday after first Monday in November in even numbered years
Primary Elections - when party candidates are chosen to run in general election; held in spring of general election years

62. Article VIII 2 of 2 Who Votes? U.S. citizen Resident of MO
At least 18 years old
Properly registered
Cannot have had right taken away

63. Article IX
EDUCATION
Free public schools for all persons under 21 years of age
Established free public libraries

64. Article X TAXATION Tax money used for public purposes only
Taxes must be uniform
Sales tax most important

65. Article XI CORPORATIONS Rules for corporations, railroads, & banks
Forbids a state bank

66. Article XII 1 of 3 AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION
Constitutional Convention vote every 20 years on whether or not to revise or rewrite constitution

67. Article XII 2 of 3 Proposing Amendments: Voters approve amendments
Majority of each house
Initiative petition (8% of voters in 2/3 of districts)
Voters approve amendments

68. Article XII 3 of 3
Initiative – allows voters to propose laws & amendments
Referendum – allows voters to reject laws already passed

69. Article XIII PUBLIC EMPLOYEES Rules & benefits for public employees
Outlaws nepotism

70. State Symbols 1 of 9 State Seal State Bird - bluebird
State Floral Emblem - white hawthorn blossom

72. State Symbols 2 of 9 State Song – “Missouri Waltz”
State Tree – flowering dogwood
State Mineral - galena

73. State Symbols 3 of 9 State Rock – Mozarkite State Insect – honeybee
State Musical Instrument - fiddle

74. State Symbols 4 of 9 State Fossil – crinoid
State Tree Nut – Eastern Black Walnut
State Animal – Missouri mule

75. State Symbols 5 of 9 State American Folk Dance – square dance
State Aquatic Animal – paddlefish
State Fish – channel catfish

76. State Symbols 6 of 9 State Horse – Missouri fox trotting horse
State Dinosaur – hypsibema missouriense
State Grape – Norton/Cynthiana Grape

77. State Symbols 7 of 9 State Amphibian – American bullfrog
State Day – Missouri Day 3rd Wednesday in October
State Capitol

78. State Symbols of 9

80. State Symbols 9 of 9 Added in 2007 State invertebrate – crayfish
State grass – Big Bluestem
State game bird – Bobwhite Quail
State Reptile – Three-toed Box Turtle

81. State Symbol Added 2008 Added 2012 Added 2014
State Dessert – Ice Cream Cone
Added 2012
State Symbol for Child Abuse Prevention
Added 2014
State Exercise