Missouri Constitution Test

the year Missouri became a state

1821

the capital of Missouri

jefferson city

the year the current MO constitution was adopted

1945

does the state or national government have more detailed constitutions

state

ways to propose an amendment to the MO constitution

1. by the general assembly (legislative initiative)

2. popular petition

3. constitutional commission

what it takes to ratify an amendment to the MO constitution

a majority of citizens need to approve it (through a vote)

the type of government in Clayton

Council Manager government

special district

a special purpose district that can be established to fund public improvements within a neighborhood

ordinance

a local law

federalism

the distribution of power between national and state governments

reserved powers

the states may exercise any power not given to the national government

reserved powers examples

trade within the state, establishing local governments, administering elections, policing citizens, overseeing education

name for Missouri legislative branch

the general assembly

how members of the MO general assembly are elected

single-member districts

how districts are determined

population

number of Missouri state representatives (house)

163

term length for representatives

2 years

term limit for representatives

4 terms

qualifications to be a representative

24 years old, MO voter for 2 years, resident of their district for 1 year

unique powers of the house of representatives

start all revenue bills and start impeachment hearings

leader of the house

the speaker of the house

number of Missouri state senators

34

term length for senators

4 years

term limit for senators

2 terms

qualifications to be a senator

30 years old, MO voter for 3 years, resident of their district for 1 year

power unique to the MO senate

approve governors appointments and serve as jury in impeachment hearings

leader of the senate

lieutenant governor

vote majority needed to overturn a governors veto

2/3

another name for the governor

chief executive

term length for governor

4 years

term limit for governor

2 terms

qualifications to be governor

30 years old, US citizen for 15 years, resident of MO for 10 years, qualified voter

power of the governor

grants pardons, call special sessions of the general assembly, veto bills - line item vetos, appoint state jobs (with senate approval)

current governor of MO’s name

Mike Parson

jobs under the executive branch

lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, auditor, state treasurer

lieutenant governor responsibilities

1st in line of succession, leader of the Senate, cast vote in case of tie, can debate

lieutenant governor term length

4 years

attorney general term length

4 years

attorney general responsibilities

chief law enforcement officer, gives legal advice to government officials, represents state in court (chief lawyer)

secretary of state term length

4 years

secretary of state responsibilities

keeper of the states “great seal”, takes care of historic records, in charge of elections (ex. voter ID, polling places, voter registration, etc.)

auditor term length

4 years

auditor responsibilities

holds public organizations accounting for spending practices, looks at spending and performance

state treasurer term length

4 years

state treasurer term limit

2 terms

state treasurer responsibilities

manages and invests state’s money

line item veto

approving some parts of the bill while rejecting others

lowest court in MO

circuit courts

what does the circuit court do

general trial courts (one judge per case)

number of circuit courts

45

length of circuit court terms

6 year temr

middle court in MO

court of appeals

what does the court of appeals do

3 districts (3 judges per case)

length of court of appeals term

12 years

highest MO court

MO supreme court

number of supreme courts

1 court

supreme court term length

12 years

number of judges on the supreme court

7 judges

qualifications of judges

30 years old, licensed to practice law, US citizen for 15 years, MO voter for 9 years

missouri court plan

process by which MO selects its judges

MO court plan step 1

a commission made up of judges, lawyers, and citizens screen applicants and forward names of three most qualified names to the governor

MO court plan step 2

from these 3 applicants, the governor will choose the one who will become the judge

MO court plan step 3

if the governor doesn’t choose one of the three applicants after 60 days, the panel of lawyers will then choose who becomes the judge

MO court plan step 4

after 1 year, the judge is up for reelection and MO citizens will vote whether to retain the judge of not. If judge is not retained, the process starts again

retention election

a vote for if a judge should be retained