1. Written in 1820 x BY THE PEOPLE x
Missouri Constitution all slides read left to right items with a box are on the test

2. 13 Articles x Article I- Bill of Rights x
Article II Distribution of Power
Article III Legislative
Article IV Executive x
Article V Judicial x
Article VI Local Government x
Article VII Public Offices
Article VIII Suffrage and Elections x

3. Articles Continued Article IX Education x Article X Tax
Article XI Corporations
Article XII Amending
Voters recertify the constitution every 20 years x
By the people
Article XIII Public Employees

4. Article I – Bill of Rights
Consists of (34) Rights
Why is it at the beginning?
Wanted to show liberties come first x
Wanted the rights of individuals first x
Still has to fall in line with the U.S. Constitution x
“Natural Rights”
God Given x
Inalienable x

5. Bill of Rights (Article I)
5- Freedom of Religion
10- Due Process
12- Writ of Habeas Corpus- right to a trial before punishment x
13- Ex-post Facto- Can not be punished for a law before it was a law x
15- Search and Seizure- warrants are required
16- Grand Jury- 12 citizens, inquire of an indictment x

6. Rights Continued
18- Rights of the Accused- council (have to in Missouri), accusations, public trial, meet witnesses against you etc…x
19- Self Incrimination, Double Jeopardy
21- Cruel and Unusual Punishment
23- Right to Bear Arms
25-Elections and Suffrage- free and no civil power will take that away
30-Treason- levying war, helping enemies, aiding or comforting x

7. Article II: Distribution of Power
Division of Powers (Federalism) x
Executive- Executes laws
Judicial- Judges Laws
Legislative- Law Makers

8. Article III Legislative Branch- main job is to make laws. x
General Assembly- Senate + House x
Meet once a year
Take office 1st Wednesday after the 1st Monday in January x
Meet for 5 months: January - May x
Election day- Tuesday after the first Monday in November of Even Years x
At the end of the session they return to their districts

9. Senate 34 Senatorial Districts- based on Population
Elected every 4 years, overlapping 2
30 years old, voter in state for 3 years, resident in district x
Main Duties
Hold a Trial for Impeachment x
Positions
President Pro Tem-appoints committee chairs and members
Majority and Minority Floor leaders
Manage all floor legislation, controls the schedule and order of business
Whips- direct support for party
David Pearce is our Senator - 31st district x

10. House of Representatives
163 Districts, one member from each district
2 year terms, elections on even years x
Requirements to serve in the House: x
24 yrs. Old, voter for 2 years, resident of the district for one year x
Main duty- draw up charges for impeachment
Make Legislation
Handle all bills dealing with money x
Current Members x
123rd Chris Molendorp
124th Rick Brattin

11. House Cont.
Positions-
Speaker- appoints chairs and members, assign bills to committee
Speaker Pro-Tem- replaces speaker
Majority and Minority Floor Leader- manage floor action
Party Whip- Directs the support of party members for party objectives

12. Article IV Executive Branch x
16 Departments
Divided into Commissions and Boards
Governor appoints departments with Senate approval
Executive Officials
Governor
Lt. Governor
Secretary of State
Auditor
Treasurer

13. Governor Qualifications x 4 year terms, no more than TWO terms x
30 years old
U.S. citizen 15 years
Missouri Resident for 10 years
4 year terms, no more than TWO terms x
Powers
Veto, Pocket Veto (do not sign, but allow to become law), Appoint and removal power, sign into law, Use the Line item veto to veto certain provisions of a new law x
Pardon (Except for Treason)
Call Special Sessions
Commander and Chief of the State Militia

14. Lieutenant Governor Qualifications
Same as Governor x
President of the Senate (Presides over) x
Sets the Agenda and Votes when there is a tie

15. Secretary of State Qualifications 3 Divisions Keeper of the state seal
Resident in Missouri x
3 Divisions
Elections and Commissions
Business activity
Administrative Services
Keeper of the state seal
Chief Recorder (handles all state
records and documents) x

16. Attorney General Qualifications x
Must be an attorney
Live in Jefferson City
Represent Missouri in Court
Chief Law Enforcement official for the state, state lawyer in court. x

17. Auditor Qualifications Keeps track of all agency spending
Same as Governor x
Keeps track of all agency spending
Audits the General Assembly
State accountant – checks how money is brought in and spent. x

18. Treasurer Qualifications Invests and handles all funds x
Same as Secretary of State x
Invests and handles all funds x
Accepts all state tax money
No more than 2 terms x
Pays state bills x
All state tax money goes to the state Treasury. x

19. Article V – Judicial x Judicial Branch 2 Types of Cases
Criminal- Violation of the law which causes injury to the state or society
Civil- disputes between individuals
2 Types of Crimes
Felony- serious crime that leads to 12month or more in prison and over $ 1,000 in damages (Murder, arson, treason, etc..) x
Misdemeanor- under 1,000 dollars and less then 12 months in jail (Speeding ticket, littering, stealing, etc…) x

20. Judges
Judges are elected through a non-partisan court plan also known nationally as “The Missouri Plan”
Most courts get chosen by a board based on accreditation
Qualifications
All judges must have a Missouri Law License x

21. 5 Levels of Judicial Branch
1. Supreme Court- Highest Court in the State x
Death Penalty, Life imprison, Construction of Constitution,
Supervise lower courts
7 Supreme Court Judges
12 year terms
Chief Justice Rotates every 2 years
Impeachment Cases
If a Governor or Justice is being impeached, the Senate chooses 7 judges to try case x
All Judges must retire by age 70 x

22. Courts 2 District Courts- Court of Appeals
2nd Highest court in Missouri x
3 Courts- St. Louis, KC, Springfield
3 judges per district
12 year terms
Selected through the non-partisan court plan

23. Courts 3. Circuit Courts- initial legal action 4. Magistrate Courts
46 Judicial Circuits
Elected by people in the Circuit Court District
6 year terms
Associate judge 4 year term
Handles the bulk of criminal and civil cases x
4. Magistrate Courts
Handles all civil cases less than $1500 x
5. Probate Court- settles disputes over property of the deceased x

24. Article VI Local Government x
States set up the Frameworks and local governments implement the rules
County Government- 114 counties + City of St. Louis x
County seat is in Harrisonville
County Commission and Commissioners- act as the Executive and Legislative body.
All are elected
Separate elected Officials: Prosecutor, Sheriff, Coroner, Assessor, Revenue Collectors

25. City Government
Mayor-Council Form- Council Make Decisions, Mayor carries out the Plan
Commission Form- Board Makes Decision, each member is the head of each commission
Council Manager Form- Board makes decision, city manager is hired to make carry out plan

26. Bill Becomes a Law
Bills may be introduced by any member of the General Assembly
Once a bill is introduced and read, it goes to the appropriate committee for discussion, revision and perfection. x
Once it passes out of committee it is put on the calendar for perfection
If the Senate changes a bill passed by the House, it goes to a JOINT Committee so the changes can be worked out. x

27. Interesting Facts
17 is the drop out age and 21 is the maximum age for a free public education x
Nickname- Show Me State
Owned previously by 3 nations- France, Spain, U.S.
1st Town- St. Genevieve
Bought in the Louisiana Purchase- 1803
First state to Free Slaves
Current Constitution approved- 1945
State Capital is the 6th Capital building- a lot of burning and lightening strikes

28. More Info for Test
Libel: spreading false information about others through the written word x
Slander: spreading false information about others through the spoken word x slander=spoken – both start with “s”
Quorum: is the minimum number of members of an assembly that must be present to make a meeting valid.
Corporation: a group of people who come together to own property or do business.
Impeachment: to accuse (a public official) of misconduct in office. 

29. Government Officials Governor Lt. Governor Secretary of State Auditor
Jay Nixon
Lt. Governor
Peter Kinder
Secretary of State
Robin Carnahan
Auditor
Thomas Schweich
Treasurer
Kurt Zweifel
Attorney General
Chris Koster

30. Other State and US Reps. State Senator District 31 – David Pearce
State Representatives
District 124: Rick Brattin (Harrisonville, south part of RP district)
District 123:
Chris Molendorp (Raymore, north part of RP district)
US Senators
Claire McCaskill and Roy Blunt
US Representative
Vicky Hartzler