Missouri Constitution Test Review Notes

Definitions

  • Absentee Ballot: A ballot used when a person is serving in the military, hospitalized, or traveling on business. Those convicted of felonies are not eligible to vote and thus cannot use an absentee ballot.

  • Initiative: A law that starts with collecting citizens' signatures and then proceeds to a popular vote.

  • Referendum: Allows citizens to put a recently passed law on the ballot, enabling voters to either approve or reject it.

  • Recall: Allows citizens to remove an elected official from office by calling for a special election. Example: The 2003 recall of California Governor Gray Davis, which led to Arnold Schwarzenegger becoming governor.

  • Line Item Veto: Allows the governor to reject parts of a spending bill instead of the entire bill.

  • Primary Election: An election to decide which candidate will represent a political party in a general election.

Missouri State History

  • Native Americans: Several tribes inhabited the area of present-day Missouri, including the Osage, Fox, and Sauk tribes.

    • Osage Indians: Hunter-gatherers from Missouri and Arkansas. They became skilled buffalo hunters after adopting the horse in the early 1700s and were also known as warriors.
    • Fox Indians
    • Sauk Indians: Family

  • The Louisiana Purchase:

    • Purchased in 1803 by President Thomas Jefferson from Napoleon Bonaparte of France.
    • Missouri was created out of a region of the Louisiana Purchase.

  • Lewis and Clark Expedition (Corps of Discovery Expedition):

    • First American expedition to cross the western portion of the United States.
    • Departed from St. Louis on the Mississippi River.
    • Took place shortly after the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.
    • Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson.
    • Led by Captain Meriwether Lewis and Second Lieutenant William Clark.
    • Lasted from May 1804 to September 1806.
    • Objective: Explore and map the new territory and find a connection between the Missouri River and the Columbia River.

  • Missouri Statehood:

    • Missouri entered the Union as the 24th state in 1821 due to the Missouri Compromise; it was admitted as a slave state.
    • Maine was admitted as a free state to maintain the balance between free and slave states.
    • The Missouri Compromise established the 36′30′36^{\prime}30^{\prime} line; territories north of this line would be free states, and those south would be slave states.
    • During the Civil War, Missouri officially sided with the Union, despite being a slave state.

  • Missouri Constitution: The current Missouri Constitution was adopted in 1945.

  • Capital: Jefferson City.

  • Westward Expansion:

    • The Santa Fe and Oregon Trails originated from Independence, Missouri.
    • Important for westward expansion as settlers traveled along these trails.
    • Served as trade routes.
    • The introduction of railroads changed the landscape of westward travel.

  • U.S. President from Missouri: Harry S. Truman (1945-1953).

Voting & Taxation

  • Voting in Missouri:

    • Suffrage: The right to vote.
    • Qualifications to vote:
      • Must be 18 years old.
      • Must be a U.S. citizen.
      • Must be registered in the election district.
      • Must have lived in the election district for at least 30 days.
      • Registration locations: public libraries, Department of Motor Vehicles, or post offices.
    • Loss of voting rights: Conviction of a felony and serving time.
    • Electoral votes: Determined by the number of representatives in Congress (Missouri has 10).

  • Taxes:

    • Almost all organizations and entities in Missouri pay state, local, and federal taxes.
    • Exempt from taxes: Nonprofit organizations, public schools, and churches.

  • Political Parties:

    • Two major parties in Missouri: Republicans & Democrats.
    • Purposes of political parties:
      • Nominate candidates for office.
      • Inform voters about issues.
      • Serve as a watchdog over other parties.

  • Non-Partisan:

    • Individuals with no affiliation to a political party.
    • Missouri judges are to be elected on a non-partisan basis.

The Legislative Branch

  • Job: To make laws, levy taxes, and approve the state budget.
  • Name: Missouri General Assembly.
  • Both houses (House of Representatives & Senate) may write, amend, or reject bills.
  • A majority vote is needed to pass a bill in either house.
  • After a bill passes both houses, it is sent to the Governor.
  • The Lieutenant Governor presides over the Missouri State Senate (current: David Wasinger (R)).
  • The Speaker of the House presides over the Missouri House of Representatives (current: Jonathan Patterson (R)).
  • Missouri State Senate:
    • 34 members.
    • Four (4) year terms with a maximum of two (2) terms.
    • Qualifications:
      • Must be 30 years old.
      • Must be a U.S. citizen for at least nine (9) years.
      • Must be a resident of the state of Missouri.
  • Missouri House of Representatives:
    • 163 members.
    • Two (2) year terms with a maximum of four (4) terms.
    • Qualifications:
      • Must be 25 years old.
      • Must be a U.S. citizen for at least seven (7) years.
      • Must be a resident of the state of Missouri.
  • Term Limits: Members of the General Assembly can only serve a maximum of eight (8) years.

The Executive Branch

  • Job: To enforce and administer laws.
  • Head: The Governor (current: Mike Kehoe (R)).
  • Qualifications to be Governor:
    • Must be at least 30 years old.
    • Must be a qualified voter of the state.
    • Must have been a U.S. citizen for at least fifteen (15) years.
    • Must have lived in Missouri for at least the last ten (10) years.
  • Term: Four (4) years, with a maximum of two (2) terms.
  • Powers of the Governor:
    • Submit a state budget.
    • Sign or veto bills.
    • Serve as the Commander in Chief of the state militia and call out the Missouri National Guard in times of crisis.
    • Issue grants, pardons, reprieves, & commutations of prison sentences.
    • Appoint or remove members of the state government.
  • Lieutenant Governor:
    • Replaces the Governor in the event of death, removal, or unavailability to serve.
    • Independently elected position; the Governor and Lieutenant Governor do not have to be from the same party (current: David Wasinger (R)).
    • Responsibilities:
      • Presiding over the Missouri Senate.
      • Serving on a variety of committees.
      • Replacing the Governor if necessary.
  • Secretary of State:
    • Current: Denny Hoskins (R).
    • Responsibilities:
      • Carrying out elections and enforcing election laws.
      • Keeping various records & files.
      • Certifying public documents for the state.
      • Keeper of the State Seal.
  • Attorney General:
    • The chief lawyer for the state (current: Andrew Bailey (R)).
  • State Treasurer:
    • Manages state funds, invests state money, and pays out state funds (pays the bills) (current: Vivek Malek (R)).
  • State Auditor:
    • Examines the accounts of all state agencies (current: Scott Fitzpatrick (R)).
  • U.S. Senators from Missouri:
    • Junior Senator: Eric Schmitt (R).
    • Senior Senator: Josh Hawley (R).
  • Local Representatives (using the address at FZW):
    • U.S. House District 03: Congressman Bob Onder (R).
    • MO House District 108: Representative Mike Kostlow (R).
    • MO Senate District 2: Senator Nick Schroer (R).

The Judicial Branch

  • Job: To interpret laws.
  • Qualifications for being a judge in Missouri:
    • Must be a resident of the district in which they were elected.
    • Must devote full time to judicial duties.
    • Must be a U.S. citizen.
    • Must be a licensed Missouri attorney.
  • Court System in Missouri:
    • Municipal Courts
    • Circuit Courts and Associate Circuit Courts
    • Court of Appeals
    • Supreme Court
  • Municipal Court: A lower court that usually tries criminal misdemeanors and civil lawsuits involving lesser amounts of money.
  • Types of Municipal Courts:
    • Probate Courts: Jurisdiction over wills, estates, juveniles, and those deemed incompetent.
    • Magistrate Courts: Hear cases involving minor criminal misdemeanors or civil matters.
  • Circuit Court & Associate Courts: Jurisdiction over major civil and criminal matters; 45 circuit courts in Missouri.
  • Divisions of Circuit Courts:
    • Circuit Division: Majority of cases are tried here.
    • Associate Division: Smaller cases with no jury.
    • Municipal Division: Traffic and code violations.
  • Court of Appeals: Hears appeals from lower courts.
    • Divided into three (3) districts.
    • Judges serve twelve (12) year terms.
    • Qualifications for Judges:
      • Must be 30 years of age.
      • Must have been a U.S. citizen for at least 15 years.
      • Must be a qualified voter in Missouri for at least nine years.
  • Missouri Supreme Court: The highest court in Missouri.
    • Seven (7) judges are appointed by the Governor and serve twelve (12) year terms.
    • Has final authority over the State Constitution and reviews cases from lower court.
    • Qualifications for Serving on the Missouri Supreme Court:
      • Must be 30 years of age.
      • Must have been a U.S. citizen for at least 15 years.
      • Must be a qualified voter in Missouri for at least nine years.