Missouri GovernmentMissouri Government

An OverviewAn Overview

By: Kelley Kasten

November 25, 2008

By: Kelley Kasten

November 25, 2008

State GovernmentsState Governments

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Missouri GovernmentMissouri Government

Executive Branch Legislative Branch Judicial Branch State Capital

Executive Branch Legislative Branch Judicial Branch State Capital

Executive BranchExecutive Branch

Governor Lieutenant Governor Secretary of State Auditor Treasurer Attorney General

Governor Lieutenant Governor Secretary of State Auditor Treasurer Attorney General

GovernorGovernor

Highest elected executive official

Chooses directors of state agencies

Vetoes bills Commander-In-Chief of

MO National Guard Appoints judges Pardons criminals Delivers the “State of

State” Address

Highest elected executive official

Chooses directors of state agencies

Vetoes bills Commander-In-Chief of

MO National Guard Appoints judges Pardons criminals Delivers the “State of

State” Address

Lieutenant GovernorLieutenant Governor

Serves as the president of the Missouri Senate and can vote to break a tie

Becomes the governor in case the governor cannot carry out his duties of office because of death, resignation, disability, or absence

Same qualifications as governor

Serves as the president of the Missouri Senate and can vote to break a tie

Becomes the governor in case the governor cannot carry out his duties of office because of death, resignation, disability, or absence

Same qualifications as governor

Secretary of StateSecretary of State

Responsible for providing and preserving information for the public

In charge of elections and taking care of historic records

Oversees the State Library Guardian of the Great Seal of

the State of Missouri and validates official documents of the governor

Must be a Missouri resident for at least one year.

Responsible for providing and preserving information for the public

In charge of elections and taking care of historic records

Oversees the State Library Guardian of the Great Seal of

the State of Missouri and validates official documents of the governor

Must be a Missouri resident for at least one year.

Legislative BranchLegislative Branch

General Assembly Senate House of Representatives

General Assembly Senate House of Representatives

General AssemblyGeneral Assembly

Missouri’s legislature Composed of two

"houses” Upper house - Senate Lower and larger -

House of Representatives

In session from January to May

Missouri’s legislature Composed of two

"houses” Upper house - Senate Lower and larger -

House of Representatives

In session from January to May

SenateSenate

34 members 1 representative = 155,000 people Four year terms 1/2 of the Senate up for election every two years At least 30 years old, a qualified Missouri voter for

three years, and a resident of their district for at least one year

Approves most of the appointments made by the governor to head state agencies and serve on state boards/commissions

34 members 1 representative = 155,000 people Four year terms 1/2 of the Senate up for election every two years At least 30 years old, a qualified Missouri voter for

three years, and a resident of their district for at least one year

Approves most of the appointments made by the governor to head state agencies and serve on state boards/commissions

House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives

163 members 1 representative = 31,000

people Two year terms Must be at least 24 years of

age, a qualified voter of the state for two years, and a resident of their district for at least one year

Speaker of the House presides over the House

163 members 1 representative = 31,000

people Two year terms Must be at least 24 years of

age, a qualified voter of the state for two years, and a resident of their district for at least one year

Speaker of the House presides over the House

Judicial BranchJudicial Branch

Courts Circuit Appeals Supreme

Courts Circuit Appeals Supreme

CircuitCircuit

Circuit and associate circuit courts 45 judicial circuits divided along county lines Handle civil and criminal trials At least one circuit judge and at least one associate

circuit judge for each county within the circuit Associate Circuit Judges - at least 25 years of age, a

qualified voter of Missouri, a resident of the county Circuit Judges - at least 30 years of age, a citizen of

the United States at least 10 years, a qualified voter of Missouri at least three years, a resident of the circuit at least one year

Circuit and associate circuit courts 45 judicial circuits divided along county lines Handle civil and criminal trials At least one circuit judge and at least one associate

circuit judge for each county within the circuit Associate Circuit Judges - at least 25 years of age, a

qualified voter of Missouri, a resident of the county Circuit Judges - at least 30 years of age, a citizen of

the United States at least 10 years, a qualified voter of Missouri at least three years, a resident of the circuit at least one year

AppealsAppeals

Three appeals court districts in Missouri (St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield)

Hear cases from lower courts whose decisions have been appealed and are not reserved exclusively for the Missouri Supreme Court

At least 30 years old, residents of their district, U.S. citizens for at least 15 years, and Missouri voters for nine years before their selection

Appointed initially, retained by a favorable vote of the people every 12 years

Three appeals court districts in Missouri (St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield)

Hear cases from lower courts whose decisions have been appealed and are not reserved exclusively for the Missouri Supreme Court

At least 30 years old, residents of their district, U.S. citizens for at least 15 years, and Missouri voters for nine years before their selection

Appointed initially, retained by a favorable vote of the people every 12 years

Supreme CourtSupreme Court

Missouri’s highest court Hears cases appealed from the courts of

appeals or those involving the death penalty, a U.S. treaty or statute, the Missouri Constitution, the state's revenue laws, and the title to any state office

Supervises all lower courts in the state Seven judges, which have the same

qualifications and terms as appeals court judges

Chief justice position rotated between members every two years

Missouri’s highest court Hears cases appealed from the courts of

appeals or those involving the death penalty, a U.S. treaty or statute, the Missouri Constitution, the state's revenue laws, and the title to any state office

Supervises all lower courts in the state Seven judges, which have the same

qualifications and terms as appeals court judges

Chief justice position rotated between members every two years

State CapitolState Capitol

Jefferson City Destroyed: 1911 Cost: $4.21 million Renaissance

architecture 437 feet long, 200 feet

wide in wings 262 feet high

Jefferson City Destroyed: 1911 Cost: $4.21 million Renaissance

architecture 437 feet long, 200 feet

wide in wings 262 feet high

State CapitolState Capitol

Made of Burlington limestone from Carthage

Stone from Green County Dome - Ceres: Roman

goddess of agriculture Bronze doors 13x18 feet 30 foot wide stairway Thomas Hart Benton murals

Made of Burlington limestone from Carthage

Stone from Green County Dome - Ceres: Roman

goddess of agriculture Bronze doors 13x18 feet 30 foot wide stairway Thomas Hart Benton murals