+ Structure of MS Government Chapter 6. + Structure of MS Government Three Branches 1. Legislative – makes/passes the laws Bicameral – 2 houses House.

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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