LEGISLATIVE BRANCH — MISSOURI GENERAL ASSEMBLY 125 Assembly
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122 OFFICIAL MANUAL CCHAPTERHAPTER 4X LegislativeXXXXXXXX Branch Crowd watching a bi-plane in flight, ca. 1926 Danzero Photograph Collection Special Collections, Missouri State University 124 OFFICIAL MANUAL LEGISLATIVE BRANCH — MISSOURI GENERAL ASSEMBLY 125 Assembly. If three-fourths of the members of the make for the enactment of legislation. This mes- A public hearing before the committee to Senate and three-fourths of the members of the sage is commonly referred to as the State of the which a bill is assigned is the next step in the House sign the petition calling for a special ses- State Address. legislative process. Except in the case of unusually sion, the president pro tem of the Senate and the Each house determines its own rules, and controversial, complex or lengthy bills, the bill is presented by its sponsor, and both proponents and speaker of the House shall, by joint proclama- procedures and rules may not be dispensed with The Missouri opponents are heard in a single hearing. When tion, convene the General Assembly in special except by unanimous consent or concurrence session. The petition and proclamation must hearings are concluded, the committee meets to by a constitutional majority. Both the Senate specifically state the subjects to be considered vote and makes its recommendations. The com- and House are required to keep a daily journal during the special session, and the signed peti- mittee may (1) report the bill with the recommen- General of their proceedings. At the end of the session, tion must be filed with the secretary of state. dation that it “do pass;” (2) recom mend passage the journals are bound by the House and Senate. with committee amendments, which are attached The General Assembly shall automatically The Secretary of State’s office maintains micro- to the bill; (3) return the bill without recommenda- stand adjourned sine die at 6 p.m. on the 30th form copies of the journals. tion; (4) substitute in lieu of the original bill a new Assembly calendar day after the convening of the special bill to be known as a committee substitute; (5) session unless it has adjourned sine die before Term Limits report the bill with a recommendation that it “do the 30th day. No appropriation bill shall be Legislative power in Missouri is vested by In November 1992 the voters approved an not pass;” or (6) make no report at all. considered in the special session if the General Section 1, Article III of the 1945 Constitution in Assembly has not passed the operating budget amendment to the Missouri Constitution to limit the General Assembly, composed of the Senate Perfection of a Bill in compliance with Ar ticle III, Section 25 of the for the first time the amount of total service in and the House of Representatives. Their website Missouri Con stitution. the House and Senate to eight years in each. If a bill is reported favorably out of commit- is www.moga.mo.gov. Total legislative service was limited to sixteen tee or a substitute is recommended, it is placed The governor may convene the General The Senate consists of 34 members, elect- years. In November of 2002 voters approved an on the “perfection calendar.” When it is brought ed for four-year terms. Senators from odd-num- As sembly in extraordinary session for a maxi- additional amendment to allow members elect- up for consideration, it is debated on the floor bered districts are elected in presidential election mum of 60 calendar days at any time. Only sub- ed through a special election, after the effective of the originating house. If a substitute is rec- years. Senators from even-numbered districts are jects recommended by the governor in his or her date, to serve the partial term and two full terms ommended by the committee or if committee chosen in the midterm elections. Each senator call or a special message may be considered. for the Senate and four full terms for the House, amendments are attached to the bill, they are must be at least 30 years of age, a qualified voter through a general election. first presented, debated and voted upon. At this of the state for three years and of the district he Organization of the General point, further amendments can be proposed by or she represents for one year. The lieutenant Assembly How Bills Become Laws other members. When all amendments and sub- governor is president and presiding officer of the stitutes have been considered, a motion is made Following the general election in November General Provisions Senate. In the absence of the lieutenant governor, of even numbered years, the majority and minor- to declare the bill perfected. Perfection is voted the president pro tem, elected by the Senate mem- ity members of each house caucus, separately Bills may originate in either house and are on by a voice vote or, on the request of five bers, presides. nominate candidates for the offices to be elected designated as Senate Bills or House Bills, depend- members, by roll call. If a majority of members The House of Representatives consists of 163 by each body and organize their parties for the ing on the house in which they originate. No bill vote to perfect, the bill is reprinted in its original members, elected at each general election for a coming session. Nominees of the majority party (except general appropriations bills) may contain or amended form. two-year term. A representative must be at least 24 and minority party are elected. Each party names more than one subject, which is to be expressed years of age, a qualified voter of the state for two its floor leader, assistant floor leader, caucus chair clearly in its title. No bill can be amended in its Final Passage of a Bill years and of the district he or she represents for one and secretary. passage through either house so as to change its After perfection and reprinting, the bill goes year. The House is presided over by the speaker, Both houses of the General Assembly con- original purpose. No bill can be introduced in on the calendar for third reading and final pas- chosen by the members, and in the absence of the vene at noon on the opening day of the session. either house after the 60th legislative day of a sage. When the bill is reached in the order of speaker by the speaker pro tem. The Senate is called to order by the lieutenant session unless consented to by a majority of the business, any member may speak for or against Reapportionment of both houses of the governor. Temporary officers are named and elected members of each house. No appropriation its passage but no further amendments can be Missouri General Assembly following each the roll of new and incumbent senators is read. bill shall be taken up for consideration after 6 p.m. offered. At the conclusion of debate, a recorded vote is taken. Approval of a constitutional major- decennial U.S. census is provided for by the Newly elected senators are then sworn in, usu- on the first Friday following the first Monday in ity of the elected members (18 in the Senate and Missouri Constitution. ally by a judge of the Supreme Court. The presi- May of each year. 82 in the House) is required for final passage. Senators and Representatives receive a sal- dent pro tem and other permanent officers are ary of $31,351 per year, a weekly allowance for then elected and take an oath of office adminis- Introduction of a Bill Passage of the bill is then reported to the miles traveled going to and returning from their tered by the president of the Senate. Missouri law provides for preintroduction other chamber where it is read a second time, referred to committee for hearing, reported by place of meeting and expenses for each day the The House of Representatives is called to of bills beginning December 1 preceding the com mittee, read a third time and offered for final General Assembly is in session. order by the secretary of state, and the oath is opening of the assembly session and continuing approval. If further amendments or substitutes administered to all members. After the swear- up to, but not including, the first day of session. are approved, these are reported to the origi- Time of Meeting ing-in ceremony, a roll call is taken and a tem- Bills filed during the preintroduction period are nating house with a request that the changes The General Assembly convenes annually porary speaker is named. He or she presides for automatically introduced and read the first time on the opening day of session. be approved. If the originating house does not on the first Wednesday after the first Monday of the nomination and election of permanent offi- approve, a conference may be requested and January. Adjournment is midnight on May 30, cers. Temporary rules, usually the rules in force Bills also may be introduced by any senator or members from each house are designated as a with no consideration of bills after 6 p.m. on for the preceding session, are adopted. representative during session. Bills may be written conference committee. Upon agreement by the the first Friday after the second Monday in May. After each house notifies the other that it is by the legislator or by the staff of the Committee on conference committee (usually a compromise of The General Assembly reconvenes on the first duly organized, a House Resolution is adopted Legislative Research at the re quest of a senator or differences), each reports to its own house on Wednesday following the second Monday in inviting the Senate to a joint meeting to receive representative.