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Missouri Constitution!!!. What makes Missouri Run?. How is this going to work???. The notes are going to be broken up into 3 sections. 1 for each branch of government It might be beneficial to do these notes right on your study guide to help prepare for the final!!
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Missouri Constitution!!! What makes Missouri Run?
How is this going to work??? • The notes are going to be broken up into 3 sections. • 1 for each branch of government • It might be beneficial to do these notes right on your study guide to help prepare for the final!! • After each section we will be taking an online poll using text messages at www.polleverywhere.com • So pay attention and be ready to answer!!!
Executive Branch But we don’t have a President?!?!?!
Who is in charge??? • Just like the U.S. government is lead by the President, the Missouri Governor serves as the head of the Missouri Government • Missouri’s governor: Jay Nixon
Who can be the governor? • Qualifications: • 30 years of age • U.S. citizen for at least 15 years • Missouri resident for 10 years • Unofficially: • All Missouri governors have also been white males • Governor then serves a 4 year term
What does the Governor do? • Powers of the governor: • Administer laws • Appoints and removes officials • Ceremonial Head of State • Liaison with federal government
Also…. • Powers (cont.) • Recommends laws and budgets • Signs or vetoes bills • Line item veto • Calls special sessions of the legislature • Commands the Missouri National Guard • Grants pardons, reprieves, or commutations • What is a pardon or reprieve??? • definition
Is the Governor the only Executive officer?? • Along with the governor there are 5 other elected Executives in Missouri: (save space after each) • 1. Lieutenant Governor • 2. Secretary of State • 3. State Auditor • 4. State Treasurer • 5. Attorney General
Lieutenant Governor • Same qualifications as the governor! • Serves a 4 year term • Powers: • Ceremonial head of state (when needed) • President of the Senate • Next in line to succeed Governor • Acting governor when needed • Volunteer coordinator • Ombudsman????? • definition
Secretary of State • 4 year term • Qualifications: • Must be a Missouri resident for 1 year Meet Robin Carnahan!!!
Functions of the S.O.S.? • Serves as the chief elections official • Compiles, stores, and publishes, all state documents • Keeper of the Great Seal of Missouri!
Elections!!! • Two types of election (like before!) • 1. General Election: • The official voting process for elected officials • November 2nd, every 2 years • 2. Primary Election • Elections done within parties to determine candidates for general elections
What do I have to do to vote??? • In order to register to vote, an individual must be: • A citizen of the United States; • A resident of the State of Missouri; and • 17 years and 6 months of age (must be 18 by Election Day). • That means you can vote in the next election!!
State Auditor • 4 year term • With the same qualifications as the Governor • Role: • Determines if tax dollars are being spent “efficiently, economically, and legally”
State Treasurer • Must be a Missouri resident for 1 year • 4 year term • May only serve for 2 terms • Manages the state’s money! • Directs the state’s banking and investment services • Clint Zweifel • lost???
Attorney General • 4 year term • Must be an attorney in Jefferson City, MO during his term • Serves as the Attorney for the state of Missouri • Represents all legal interests of the state
Executive Departments • 1. Office of Administrations • 2. Department of Agriculture • 3. Department of Conservation • 4. Department of Corrections • 5. Department of Economic Development • 6. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education • 7. Department of Health • 8. Department of Higher Education • 9. Department of Insurance • 10. Department of Labor & Industrial Relations • 11. Department of Mental Health • 12. Department of Natural Resources • 13. Department of Public Services • 14. Department of Revenue • 15. Department of Social Services • 16. Department of Transportation • And over 350 boards and commissions
Legislative Branch We have a Congress too!!!
Missouri General Assembly • Just like Congress, Missouri General Assembly has two houses (who would have thought?) • 1. Missouri Senate • 2. House of Representatives
Purpose of General Assembly • Serve as the Legislative part of Missouri Government • Create laws • The Missouri version of the U.S. Congress
Missouri Senate • 34 members • Serving 4 year terms • Led by the President of the Senate • Lieutenant Governor • Qualifications of Members: • 30 years of age • Must be qualified voters in their district for 1 year • Must have lived in the state for 3 years
Missouri House of Representatives • 163 members • Serving 2 year terms (max of 4 terms) • Led by the Speaker of the House • Qualifications: • 24 years of age • Must be qualified voters in their district for 1 year • Resident of the state for 2 years
How are districts determined??? • Each Senate district has 1 vote • About 150,000 people per Senator • All representation is determined by population! • Census!!! (every 10 years) • After every census, district lines are reapportioned (redrawn) • Missouri is notoriously bad at this!!!
POWER OF THE PEOPLE!!! • Initiative: • A process used to create and pass laws using a number of signatures from the voters of Missouri • Must be 8 percent of the legal voters in no less than 2/3 of districts • Referendum: • A referendum may be proposed by either a petition of not less than 5 percent of legal voters or by General Assembly
How does a Bill become a Law? • Simply put…..
It’s the same process as the U.S. Congress!!!! Save for the Governor replacing the President….
Judicial Branch!! But this has gone SOOO LONG!!!
Missouri Supreme Court • 7 judges • 12 year terms • How are judges selected?? • Missouri Plan • Under the plan, the Appellate Judicial Commission submits the names of three applicants to the Governor. If the Governor fails to make a nomination, the Commission shall make the appointment. Once the judge has served for at least a year, he or she will be placed on the general election ballot for a retention vote of the people. If retained, judges serve a term of 12 years.
What topics can they decide on? • The validity of a United States statute or treaty. • The validity of a Missouri statute or constitutional provision. • The state's revenue laws. • Challenges to a statewide elected official's right to hold office. • Imposition of the death penalty.
Is there only a Supreme Court? • Great Question! • Why not at all!!! • There are 3 different levels of courts in Missouri • 1. Supreme Court • Hears appeals from lower courts or transfers from Appeals Court • 2. Court of Appeals • Only serves appeals from lower courts • 3. Circuit Courts • Serves criminal trials
Well what about courts like Judge Judy? • Municipal Court: • Traffic courts, housing courts, etc. • Small Claims Court: • Only can file a claim against someone who owes you money! • THIS IS JUDGE JUDY’S COURT!!!
Now what if someone is charged with a crime? • What kind of jury do they get? • Grand jury: • A grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether there is enough evidence for a trial • Trial jury: • A jury trial (or trial by jury) is a legal proceeding in which a jury either makes a decision or makes findings of fact which are then applied by a judge.
What if I get a call to be a juror? • Well you have to be 21 years old • Have to be a resident of the County you live in • But! • You do not have to be a registered voter!!!