Legislative Branch

CHAPTER 4 LEGISLATIVE BRANCH “Both of my grandmothers were born before the right for women to vote was won, so it is not lost on me that our world can change drastically within one or two generations. As we reflect on the sacrifices that were made to achieve that moment in history, I am hopeful that we can also look ahead to ensuring every person in this country has the right and access to vote and participate in our democracy.” Representative Tracy McCreery (D-88) “My vote is my way of standing up for my grandmothers who gave me roots so that I can give wings to my granddaughters. May they soar ever higher.” Representative Ingrid Burnett (D-19) 108 OFFICIAL MANUAL A special session of the General Assembly may be called by petition of the General Assembly. If three-fourths of the members of the Senate and three-fourths of the members of the House sign the petition calling for a special session, the The Missouri president pro tem of the Senate and the speaker of the House shall, by joint proclamation, con- General vene the General Assembly in special session. The petition and proclamation must specifically state the subjects to be considered during the Assembly special session, and the signed petition must be filed with the secretary of state. Legislative power in Missouri is vested by The General Assembly shall automatically Article III, Section 1 of the 1945 Constitution in stand adjourned sine die at 6 p.m. on the 30th the General Assembly, composed of the Senate calendar day after the convening of the special session unless it has adjourned sine die before and the House of Representatives. the 30th day. No appropriation bill shall be The Senate consists of 34 members elected considered in the special session if the General for four-year terms. Senators from odd-numbered Assembly has not passed the operating budget districts are elected in presidential election years. in compliance with Article III, Section 25 of the Senators from even-numbered districts are cho- Missouri Constitution. sen in the midterm elections. Each senator must The governor may convene the General be at least 30 years of age, and a qualified voter Assembly in extraordinary session for a maxi- of the state for three years and of the district he mum of 60 calendar days at any time. Only or she represents for one year. The lieutenant subjects recommended by the governor in his or governor is president and presiding officer of the her call or a special message may be considered. Senate. In the absence of the lieutenant governor, the president pro tem, elected by the Senate members, presides. Organization of the General Assembly The House of Representatives consists of 163 Following the general election in November members, elected at each general election for a of even numbered years, the majority and minor- two-year term. A representative must be at least ity members of each house caucus separately 24 years of age, a qualified voter of the state for nominate candidates for the offices to be elected by each body and organize their parties for the two years and of the district he or she represents coming session. Nominees of the majority party for one year. The House is presided over by the and minority party are elected. Each party names speaker, chosen by the members, and in the its floor leader, assistant floor leader, caucus absence of the speaker by the speaker pro tem. chair and secretary. Reapportionment of both houses of the Both houses of the General Assembly con- Missouri General Assembly following each vene at noon on the opening day of the session. decennial U.S. census is provided for by the The Senate is called to order by the lieutenant Missouri Constitution. governor. Temporary officers are named and Senators and representatives receive a salary the roll of new and incumbent senators is read. of $35,915 per year, a weekly allowance for Newly elected senators are then sworn in, usual- miles traveled going to and returning from their ly by a judge of the Supreme Court. The president place of meeting and expenses for each day the pro tem and other permanent officers are then General Assembly is in session. elected and take an oath of office administered by the president of the Senate. The House of Representatives is called to Time of Meeting order by the secretary of state and the oath is The General Assembly convenes annually administered to all members. After the swear- on the first Wednesday after the first Monday of ing-in ceremony, a roll call is taken and a tempo- January. Adjournment is midnight on May 30, rary speaker is named. He or she presides for the with no consideration of bills after 6 p.m. on nomination and election of permanent officers. the first Friday after the second Monday in May. Temporary rules, usually the rules in force for the The General Assembly reconvenes on the first preceding session, are adopted. Wednesday following the second Monday in After each house notifies the other that it is September for a period not to exceed 10 calen- duly organized, a House Resolution is adopted, dar days to consider vetoed bills. inviting the Senate to a joint meeting to receive LEGISLATIVE BRANCH — MISSOURI GENERAL ASSEMBLY 109 the governor’s message. Under the Constitution, request of a senator or representative. When intro- the governor, at the beginning of each session, duced, a bill is assigned a number and read for the delivers a message concerning state government first time by its title. It then goes on the calendar for with any recommendations he or she wishes to second reading and assignment to committee by make for the enactment of legislation. This mes- the speaker of the House or the president pro tem sage is commonly referred to as the State of the of the Senate. State Address. A public hearing before the committee to Each house determines its own rules. which a bill is assigned is the next step in the leg- Procedures and rules may not be dispensed with, islative process. Except in the case of unusually except by unanimous consent or concurrence controversial, complex or lengthy bills, the bill by a constitutional majority. Both the Senate and is presented by its sponsor, and both proponents House are required to keep a daily journal of and opponents are heard in a single hearing. their proceedings. At the end of the session, the When hearings are concluded, the committee journals are bound by the House and Senate. The meets to vote and makes its recommendations. secretary of state’s office maintains microform The committee may (1) report the bill with the copies of the journals. recommendation that it “do pass;” (2) recom- mend passage with committee amendments, Term Limits which are attached to the bill; (3) return the bill In November 1992, the voters approved an without recommendation; (4) substitute in lieu amendment to the Missouri Constitution to limit of the original bill a new bill to be known as for the first time the amount of total service in a committee substitute; (5) report the bill with a recommendation that it “do not pass;” or (6) the House and Senate to eight years in each. make no report at all. Total legislative service was limited to 16 years. In November 2002 voters approved an additional amendment to allow members elected through a Perfection of a Bill special election, after the effective date, to serve If a bill is reported favorably out of commit- the partial term and two full terms for the Senate tee or a substitute is recommended, it may be and four full terms for the House, through a gen- placed on the “perfection calendar.” When it is eral election. brought up for consideration, it is debated on the floor of the originating house. If a substitute is recommended by the committee or if commit- How Bills Become Laws tee amendments are attached to the bill, they are first presented, debated and voted upon. At General Provisions this point, further amendments can be proposed Bills may originate in either house and are by other members. When all amendments and designated as Senate Bills or House Bills, depend- substitutes have been considered, a motion is ing on the house in which they originate. No bill made to declare the bill perfected. Perfection is (except general appropriation bills) may contain voted on by a voice vote or, on the request of five more than one subject, which is to be expressed members, by roll call. If a majority of members clearly in its title. No bill can be amended in its vote to perfect, the bill is reprinted in its original passage through either house so as to change its or amended form. original purpose. No bill can be introduced in either house after the 60th legislative day of a Final Passage of a Bill session unless consented to by a majority of the After perfection and reprinting, the bill goes elected members of each house. No appropriation on the calendar for third reading and final pas- bill shall be taken up for consideration after 6 p.m. sage. When the bill is reached in the order of on the first Friday following the first Monday in business, any member may speak for or against May of each year. its passage, but no further amendments can be offered. At the conclusion of debate, a recorded Introduction of a Bill vote is taken. Approval of a constitutional major- Missouri law provides for pre-introduction of ity of the elected members (18 in the Senate and bills beginning Dec.

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