Missouri State Government

Purpose of State Gov’t

• Sharing power with Federal government =

• FEDERALISM

Powers

• Concurrent • State

Concurrent Powers

• Shared by both federal and state governments

• examples:– Taxing– Court system– Regulate business

State powers

• State has power within its own borders

• Examples:– Education– Public safety

Organization of State Gov’t

• All states are required to have 3 branches of government– LEGISLATIVE– EXECUTIVE– JUDICIAL

All states have a Constitution

• Provides the state with its fundamental basis of law

• Government organization• Superior to all other

STATE laws• All states have a Governor

and other elected officials• All states provide services

for their people

Missouri Government

• Jefferson City – state capital

• 24th state admitted in 1821

• Constitution is revised every 20 years – no changes since 1945

• 114 counties – you live in JACKSON COUNTY

Executive Branch

• Governor is the head of the executive branch.

• Duties include enforcement of state laws and administering of laws

Governor

• Serves a 4 year term – 2 terms max!!

• Must be 30 years old to run for office.

• Similar to the job of President, but not exactly the same.

Missouri Executive Branch Officials• Governor – Jay Nixon (D)• Lt. Gov. – Peter Kinder (R)• Sec. of State – Robin

Carnahan (D)• Attorney General – Chris

Koster (D)• State Treasurer – Clint

Zweifel (D)• Auditor – Tom Schweich

(R)

Executive Departments

• 13 total• Agriculture• Conservation• Corrections and Human

Services• Economic Development• Elementary and

Secondary Education• Health

Departments cont’d

• Highway/Transportation• Labor & Industrial

relations• Mental Health• Natural Resources• Public Safety• Revenue• Social Services

Legislative Branch

• Duty is to pass laws that the public wants

• Examples include:• School funding, budget,

speed limits on state roads, state parks, last day of school, etc.

Legislative Branch cont’d

• How to pass laws?– Introduce bill– committees– Legislative powers– Non-legislative powers– Initiative – petition drives– Referendum – voters decide

on the petition

General Assembly

• Similar to Congress• Bicameral – House and

Senate

MO House of Reps

• 163 members• Speaker of House is Ron

Richards• Your Rep is Jeff Grisamore• 24 years old to run, 3 year

MO resident, district you represent for 1 year, and MO voter for 2 years.

• 2 year term

MO Senate

• 34 members• Lt. Governor presides• Must be 30 years old and

a MO voter for 3 years, all the rest is same as House.

• Your Senator is Matt Bartle

• 4 year term

MO General Assembly

• Meeting dates: Early January (1st Wednesday after the first Monday in January) until May 15th annually.

• Every other year starts a new session.

Judicial Branch

• Duties are to interpret laws, review decisions, meet the needs of justice for the state of Missouri

MO State courts

• Supreme Court 3-9 judgesno juryfinal state appealsdecides state constitution/government issuesTop court in Missouri

MO Courts cont’d

• Appeals Court– 1-7 judges– NO jury– Appeals ONLY

Reasons for Appeal

• Rights violated• New evidence• Illegality at trial

Decisions court can make

• Let the decision stand (Stare decisis)

• Reverse• Refer to next court

Missouri Circuit Court

• 1 judge and a jury• This is the only state court

with a jury!!• Hears felonies (serious

crimes)– Original jurisdiction– Trial court– State violations

Circuit Court

• Family cases– NO jury on these– Examples: divorce,

custody, family services

MO Associate Circuit Court

• 1 judge – NO JURY• Misdemeanors (less

serious)– Original jurisdiction– Trial court– Lessen work load of Circuit

court– Preliminary hearings– MO HWY and Water Patrol– Sheriff traffic tickets

Municipal Court

• 1 judge no jury• Hears city violations

– Noise, citizens complaints, property maintenance, etc.

– Traffic violations, zoning violation

MO Plan for selecting judges

• When there is a vacancy, the bar association prepares a list of 3 names

• Governor chooses 1 of those 3

• After the term is completed the voters decide on the next term or not

Terms for judges

• Supreme – 12 years• Appeals – 8 years• Circuit – 4 years• Associate Circuit – 4 years

State Budget

• Main source of income is tax money ( sales tax and income tax)

• Main expenses are education and roads

• MO cannot go into debt – it is a state law

Services

• Something the state does for its people that they cannot do for themselves

• Use tax money to pay for services

• Ex: roads, ambulance, fire protection, etc.