Malcolm Rivera
Missouri, like all states in the United States, has its own constitution, which outlines the rules for its government. Missouri's legislature, known as the General Assembly, is described in Article III, Section 20 of the Missouri Constitution. The General Assembly is a bicameral legislature, composed of the Missouri House of Representatives and the Missouri State Senate. The Missouri Constitution outlines the rules and procedures for the General Assembly, including when it must convene and adjourn, as well as the process for introducing and passing bills. The General Assembly is responsible for creating laws that govern the state of Missouri.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Legislature | Missouri General Assembly |
| Type of Legislature | Bicameral |
| Number of Members in the House of Representatives | 163 |
| Number of Members in the Senate | 34 |
| Term Limit for Members of the House of Representatives | 4 years |
| Term Limit for Senators | 2 terms (8 years) |
| Meeting Schedule | First Wednesday after the first Monday in January |
| Adjournment Date | May 30 |
| Budget Adoption Deadline | First Friday after the first Monday in May |
| Location | Jefferson City |
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What You'll Learn
Missouri's Constitution
The Missouri General Assembly is a bicameral legislature, composed of 34 senators and 163 representatives. Members of the General Assembly are subject to term limits, with senators limited to two four-year terms and representatives limited to four two-year terms. The General Assembly must convene on the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January following the state general election and adjourns on May 30th. The legislature is required to adopt a budget by the first Friday after the first Monday in May, with a simple majority needed to pass it.
The people of Missouri choose their representatives and senators through elections. Amendments to the Missouri Constitution can be suggested by the General Assembly or the people of Missouri. For the General Assembly to propose an amendment, more than half of the senators and representatives must support the change before putting it to a vote. For a private citizen to propose an amendment, they must first gather enough voter support. If more than half of Missouri voters agree to the proposed amendment, the constitution is changed.
The Missouri Judicial Branch is composed of judges who serve on various courts, including the Supreme Court of Missouri, the Missouri Courts of Appeals, and Circuit Courts. The judges' role is to interpret the constitution and laws. The Missouri Constitution also outlines rules for changing the document itself.
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The General Assembly
Missouri's legislature, also known as the General Assembly, is the state's legislative branch of government. The General Assembly is a bicameral legislature, meaning it is composed of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House has 163 members representing 163 districts, with members serving two-year terms, while the Senate has 34 members representing 34 districts, each serving four-year terms. Members of the General Assembly can serve for eight years in either house.
The Missouri Constitution allows for changes to be suggested by the General Assembly or the people of Missouri. For the General Assembly to suggest a change, more than half of the senators and half of the representatives need to support it before putting it to a vote. If more than half of the voters agree to the change, the Missouri Constitution is amended.
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The Missouri Senate
Missouri gained statehood in 1821 and has had four constitutions since. The most recent Missouri Constitution was created in 1945 and is still in effect today. The Missouri Constitution divides the state government into three branches: the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.
The Legislative Branch in Missouri is called the "General Assembly," and consists of the Missouri House of Representatives and the Missouri Senate. The Missouri Senate is the upper chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 34 members, each serving four-year terms, with half of the seats being up for election every two years. Senators can only serve two terms. The Missouri Senate represents 34 districts, and as of the 2020 Census, each senator represented an average of 181,185 residents.
The General Assembly is responsible for creating laws that govern the State of Missouri. It has the power to propose changes to the Missouri Constitution. For the General Assembly to suggest a constitutional amendment, more than half of the senators and half of the representatives need to support it before the people can vote on it. The Missouri Constitution can be amended if more than half of the voters approve the change.
The General Assembly must convene on the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January following the state general election. It adjourns on May 30, with no consideration of bills after 6:00 p.m. on the first Friday following the second Monday in May. The legislature must adopt a budget by the first Friday after the first Monday in May, and a simple majority is required to pass it. As a part-time legislature, most senators hold jobs outside their legislative duties.
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The Missouri House of Representatives
Missouri's legislature is described in its constitution, which was most recently created in 1945. The Missouri Constitution splits the government into three branches: the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial. The Legislative Branch in Missouri is called the "General Assembly," and consists of the Missouri House of Representatives and the Missouri Senate. The Missouri House of Representatives has 163 members, each serving a maximum of four two-year terms. The House has the power to write and pass bills, which become laws for governing the state of Missouri.
The Missouri General Assembly is a bicameral, part-time legislature, meaning that most representatives hold jobs outside their legislative duties. The General Assembly must convene on the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January following the state general election, and it adjourns on May 30th. The legislature is required to adopt a budget by the first Friday after the first Monday in May, and the fiscal year begins on July 1st.
The Missouri Constitution gives the power to the people of Missouri to suggest changes to the constitution. For the General Assembly to suggest a change, more than half of the senators and half of the representatives need to support it before the people can vote. The constitution can then be changed if more than half of the voters agree to the proposed change.
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Amendments and bills
Missouri has had four constitutions in its history. The most recent Missouri Constitution was created in 1945 and is still in effect today. This constitution divides Missouri's government into three branches: the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.
The Legislative Branch in Missouri is called the "General Assembly" and is composed of the Missouri House of Representatives and the Missouri Senate. The Missouri Constitution stipulates that the General Assembly must convene on the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January following the state general election. It adjourns on May 30th, with no consideration of bills after 6:00 p.m. on the first Friday following the second Monday in May. If the Governor returns a bill with objections after adjournment, the General Assembly reconvenes on the first Wednesday following the second Monday in September for up to ten days to consider vetoed bills.
The General Assembly is responsible for creating laws for the state of Missouri. Senators and representatives can propose bills, which are the first steps in creating laws. To suggest a change to the Missouri Constitution, more than half of the senators and half of the representatives need to support it before putting it to a vote. The constitution can then be amended if more than half of the voters approve the change.
The Missouri House of Representatives has 163 members serving two-year terms, while the Missouri Senate has 34 members serving four-year terms. Members of the General Assembly can serve for eight years in either house. Senators and representatives often hold jobs outside their legislative duties, making the General Assembly a part-time legislature.
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Frequently asked questions
The Missouri General Assembly is the state legislature of Missouri. It is composed of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The Missouri House of Representatives has 163 members, while the Missouri State Senate has 34 members.
According to Article III, Section 20 of the Missouri Constitution, the General Assembly must convene on the first Wednesday after the first Monday in January following the state general election. It adjourns on May 30.
