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Governor of Missouri

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Missouri

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Contents

The Governor of the State of Missouri is an elected Constitutional officer, the head of the Executive branch, and the highest state office in Missouri. The Governor is popularly elected every four years by a plurality and is limited to two terms.

Current officer

The 55th and current governor is Jay Nixon, a Democrat elected in 2008.

Authority

The state Constitution addresses the office of the governor in Article IV, the Executive Department.

Under Article IV, Section I:

The supreme executive power shall be vested in a governor.

Qualifications

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A candidate for governor must be:

  • at least thirty years old
  • a citizen of the United States for at least fifteen years
  • a resident of Missouri for at least ten years

Elections

Missouri elects governors in the Presidential elections, that is, in leap years. For Missouri, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 are all gubernatorial election years. Legally, the gubernatorial inauguration is always set for the second Monday in the January following an election. Thus, January 14, 2013 and January 9, 2017 are inaugural days.

Term limits

The term of office of the governor of Missouri is four years and is limited to two terms of office.

Vacancies

See also: How gubernatorial vacancies are filled

Details of vacancies are addressed under Article IV, Sections 11(a), (b), and (c).

Should a Governor-elect die before taking office, the Lieutenant Governor-elect shall be sworn in as the Governor. At any time that the sitting governor dies, resign, or is convicted or impeached, the [Lieutenant Governor of Missouri|Lieutenant Governor]] shall take over the office. Similarly in the case of a temporary or permanent disability, the Lieutenant Governor is first in the line of succession.

Regardless of the reason for the vacancy, the line of succession after the Lieutenant Governor is the same:

  • the President Pro Tem of the Senate

Whoever serves as Acting Governor shall have the full powers and emoluments of the office.

The Governor may state his temporary disability in writing to the Senate President Pro Tem and the Speaker of the House, at which point the governorship shall be vacant until the Governor indicates in writing to the same two officers that he is ready to resume the office.

A disability board made up of the same individuals in the line of succession as well as the Majority Floor Leaders in each chamber may convene to challenge a governor's declaration that is fit to resume office or initiate a hearing into the governor's fitness for office. If that board chooses to recommend the governor not discharge his office, they will deliver that decision to the President Pro Tem and the Speaker, who will in turn inform the Missouri Supreme Court.

The Court then convenes and has 21 days to reach a decision.

Any state officer who serves as Acting Governor is not considered to have vacated his office; that officer's chief administrative staffer shall discharge the office until the elected officer returns.

Duties

Missouri

Missouri's governor is commander-in-chief of the state military forces in the state of Missouri. (§ 6) The governor appoints department heads and members of boards and commissions, including issuing, signing, and sealing the commission. (§ 5)

Additionally, the governor has power the to grant reprieves, commutations and pardons, after conviction, for all offenses except treason and cases of impeachment. (§ 7) Specifically, the governor's pardon power does not include a power to parole.

Excepting bills to convene or adjourn and proposed Constitutional Amendments, all bills requiring the concurrence of both chambers must be presented to the Governor. (§ 8) In extraordinary circumstances, he may convene special sessions of the legislature. (§ 9)

At the start of each regular legislative session, at the end of the governor's term, and at other time she deems prudent, the governor shall address the legislature on the state of the state and make recommendations. (§ 9)

Other duties and privileges of the office include:

  • Making all appointments not otherwise provided for by law (§ 4)
  • Submitting a budget to the legislature within 30 days of the start of each session (§ 24)
  • Exercising a line item veto on appropriations bills (§ 26) and reducing state expenditures in line with revenue (§ 27)

Compensation

Under Section 21, the governor's salary is fixed by law and, if changed, does not take effect during the current term. All fees must be paid in advance by the Treasurer. Former office holders are Constitutionally barred from making claims.

As of 2010, the Governor of Missouri is paid $133,821 a year, the 26th highest gubernatorial salary in America.

Former officeholders

Since 1820, Missouri has had 55 governors. There have been 38 Democrats, 9 Republicans, 3 Jeffersonian Republicans, 2 Union, 2 Radical Republicans and 1 Liberal Republican.[1]

Contact information

Office of the Governor, Missouri
P.O. Box 720
Jefferson City, MO 65102
(573) 751-3222   

See also

External links

 		Suggest a link

References

  1. ↑ Missouri Secretary of State, "State Archives: Governors," accessed December 3, 2011
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