Missouri State Senate facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Missouri State Senate |
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|---|---|
| Missouri General Assembly | |
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| Type | |
| Type | |
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Term limits
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2 terms (8 years) |
| History | |
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New session started
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January 6, 2016 |
| Leadership | |
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Peter Kinder (R)
Since January 10, 2005 |
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Ron Richard (R)
Since January 7, 2013 |
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Majority Leader
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Mike Kehoe (R)
Since January 7, 2013 |
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Minority Leader
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Joe Keaveny (D)
Since January 5, 2015 |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 34 |
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Political groups
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Governing party
Opposition party
Vacant
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Length of term
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4 years |
| Authority | Article IV, Missouri Constitution |
| Salary | $35,915/year + per diem |
| Elections | |
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Last election
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November 4, 2014 (17 seats) |
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Next election
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November 1, 2016 (17 seats) |
| Redistricting | Legislative Control |
| Meeting place | |
| State Senate Chamber Missouri State Capitol Jefferson City, Missouri |
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| Website | |
| Missouri State Senate | |
The Missouri Senate is like one of the two main groups of lawmakers in Missouri. It's part of the Missouri General Assembly, which is the state's main law-making body.
There are 34 members, called senators, in the Missouri Senate. Each senator represents a different area, or 'district,' in Missouri. These districts have about 174,000 people each.
Senators serve for four years. Every two years, about half of the Senate seats are up for election, so new senators can be chosen by the people.
Contents
What is the Missouri Senate?
The Missouri Senate is the "upper house" of the state's government. This means it's one of two important groups that make laws for Missouri. The other group is the Missouri House of Representatives. Together, they form the Missouri General Assembly.
Senators meet in the State Senate Chamber inside the Missouri State Capitol building in Jefferson City, Missouri. They work to create, discuss, and vote on new laws that affect everyone in Missouri.
How Many Members Are There?
The Missouri Senate has 34 members. Each of these members is called a senator. They are chosen by people living in different parts of Missouri, called districts.
Each senator represents a district with about 174,000 people. This makes sure that different areas of the state have a voice in making laws.
How Long Do Senators Serve?
Senators serve for four years at a time. This is called a "term." To keep things fair and make sure new ideas come in, not all senators are elected at the same time.
About half of the Senate seats are up for election every two years. This means that every two years, people in Missouri get to vote for some of their senators.
Who is in Charge?
The Missouri Senate has important leaders who help guide its work. The Lieutenant Governor of Missouri is usually in charge of the Senate meetings.
There's also a "President Pro Tempore of the Senate." This person is a senator chosen by the other senators to lead when the Lieutenant Governor isn't there. Other leaders include the Majority Leader and Minority Leader, who represent the main political parties.
What Do Committees Do?
The Senate has groups called "committees." These committees are like smaller teams of senators. They look closely at different topics, like education, money, or transportation.
When a new idea for a law comes up, it often goes to a committee first. The committee studies the idea, listens to people's opinions, and decides if it should become a law. This helps the Senate work more efficiently on many different issues.
For example, the "Education Committee" would look at laws about schools, and the "Appropriations Committee" would deal with how the state's money is spent.
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