Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
MO Constitution and Government (History (First Constitution (Major…
MO Constitution and Government
History
First Constitution
Written in St. Louis, June 1820
Guided by the Constitution of Kentucky, the US Constitution, and the Bill of Rights
Basic Principle: "...all political power is vested in, and derived from the people"
Major Provisions
Voters regulate the state government
Voters alter or abolish the state constitution either in part or in full
13 articles that covered powers of government, legislature, executive, and judicial interpretation
Guidelines on education, banking, the militia, and amending the constitution
First Governor: Alexander McNair
First admitted to the Union in 1812
Present constitution (4th) written in 1945
State Capital: Jefferson City
Executive Branch
Offices of the Executive Branch
Governor
Current: Eric Greitens
Elected in the presidential election year, every four years
Can serve two terms
Qualifications: at least 30 y/o, a US citizen for at least 15 years, an MO resident for at least 10 years
Executive Duties
Carry out the laws of the state
Appoint many law enforcement officials
Appoint judges of the state courts
Has the authority to fill all vacancies occurring in state and county offices
Legislative Powers
Can suggest budgets and legislative programs
Can approve or veto bills
Can call special sessions of the General Assembly
#
Lieutenant Governor
In charge if the Governor leaves office
Presides over the Missouri Senate
#
Secretary of State
Keeper of the Great Seal
Custodian of the state's records
The state's chief elections officer
Enforcer of business and investment laws
Overseer of campaign practices
Major publisher of books and documents
State Treasurer
Custodian of state funds
Determines the amount of money not needed in current operations and invests it
State Auditor
Establishes proper methods of accounting for all public state officials
Audits the accounts of all state agencies
Makes all other audits required by law
Attorney General
State's chief legal officer
Must prosecute or defend all appeals to which the state is a party
Required to represent various state officials, boards, and agencies in appeals taken from their decisions and orders
Gives official opinions to all state government officials on any questions relating to their duties
14 departments
Legislative Branch
General Assembly
House of Representatives
163 members
Two year terms
Qualifications: at least 24 years old, a qualified voter for at two years, resident in their district for one year
Roles
Speaker of the House
Appoints all committee members and chairpersons
Assigns new bills to committees
Signs all official papers of the House
Speaker Pro Tem
Presides over the House when the Speaker is absent
Party Whips
Direct the support of members of their party for the party's programs and objectives
Senate
34 members
Four year terms
Half of all senators are elected every two years to insure that there will always be 17 experienced senators
Qualifications: at least 30 years old, a qualified voter for three years, resident of their district for one year
Roles
President Pro Tem
Ranking member of the senate
Appoints all committees
Elected by the senate
Serves on all standing committees
Always from the majority party
Majority and Minority Floor Leaders
Manage all floor legislative action
Majority leader sets the schedule and order of business for the Senate
Secretary of the Senate
Responsible for recoding each days' proceedings
Maintains all records
Special Assemblies - Called by the Governor or 3/4 of both chambers at any time
Meets the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January every year
Judicial Branch