Post on 01-Apr-2015
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Structure of MS Government Chapter 6
+Structure of MS Government
Three Branches1. Legislative – makes/passes the laws
Bicameral – 2 houses House of Representatives Senate
2. Executive – enforces the laws By signing the bill or by veto (rejecting it) Governor and Lieutenant Governor
3. Judicial – determines if the law is constitutional and the laws meaning
Ex: Supreme Court
+Structure of MS Government
Checks and Balances – a system to ensure that one branch does not have more power than another
No one can serve in more than one branch at the same time
+Legislature
+Legislature
House of Representatives 122 members based on districts Requirements
21 years old Registered voter Live in MS for 4 yrs. and their district for 2 yrs.
Speaker of the House Is the leader The most powerful person in the house Duties
Appoint committee members Refer bills to a committee
+Legislature
Senate 52 members Requirements
25 years old Registered Voter Live in MS for 4 yrs. in their district for 2 yrs.
Lieutenant governor Leader of the Senate Duties are the same as the speaker of the House except
they only vote if there is a tie
+Legislative
Both Houses Elected to 4 year terms No term limits Serve January to May
+Executive
Members of this branch work full time
Governor Requirements
30 years old US citizen for 20 years Resident of MS for 5 years
Can serve up to 2, 4 year terms Can influence a bill in the following ways
Work with members of Congress Accept or reject it (by signing or by veto)
+Executive
Lieutenant Governor Same qualifications as
the Governor Has no term limits Main job it to be over the
Senate If the governor dies
he/she becomes governor
+Executive Secretary of State
Keeps the state’s records (ex: elections) Manages the 16th section land 16th section is set aside for public schools 4 year terms
State Treasurer Manages the states money 4 year term
State Auditor Checks the financial accounts of state agencies 4 year term
State Attorney General Lawyer for the state 4 year term
+Judicial Contains the court system
Jurisdiction – an area that a court serves
There are two types of cases Civil – suing, divorces, adoptions, and other family matters Criminal – murder, robbery, and other crimes
There are two types of courts in MS Circuit court – criminal cases with a judge and jury Chancery court – civil court with a single judge making the
decisions
To be a judge in the chancery and circuit courts: 26 Practicing lawyer
+Judicial
Court of Appeals Created to relieve the burden of the MS Supreme Court The Supreme Court of MS sends cases for them to hear Their decision is final They do not determine guilt or innocence
MS Supreme Court The highest court in MS Has nine justices that serve 8 year terms Does not determine innocence or guilt
+Judicial
Performance Commission – judges can be impeached and removed from office with 3/5 vote from Congress Impeached – charged with a crime
MS Judicial Performance Commission – disciplines judges for bad conduct not serious enough for impeachment
All state judges are elected
+Federal Courts in MS
Federal courts in MS only deal with US law
2 Federal Courts in MS Northern District Southern District
All Federal Judges are appointed for life
+US Senate
Every state elects 2 senators
Serve 6 year terms (no limits)
+US House of Representatives
Each state elects a specific number based on their population
MS has 4
Census – population count taken every 10 years
Serve 2 year terms with no limits