Missouri Government Information
Missouri Government Information
Sometimes it can be difficult to understand the roles and functions of government. This guide is designed to help you find information on Missouri’s government. Springfield Greene County Library users have free access to the materials and databases listed below. Open sources are provided by the Missouri Government and other non-profit based databases.
General Missouri Government Information:
The Constitution of the State of Missouri is published by the Office of Secretary of State. It contains all the articles of both the Missouri and United States Constitutions.
- Constitution of Missouri and Constitution of the United States (available for checkout* and in-library use)
- The Missouri Constitution can also be found here through the Secretary of State’s website. The United States Constitution is available through the National Archives website.
The Missouri Government and Constitution provides an overview of the foundations of government in Missouri along with the history, politics, and progress of the state.
- Missouri government & constitution: a concise survey & study / by Richard R. Dohm; edited by Brett Dufur & David Knauer (available for checkout* and in-library use)
Published every two years, the Official State Manual, also known as the Missouri Blue Book, is the state almanac and official directory of Missouri. The Official Manual provides information on local, state, and federal governments throughout Missouri.
- Official manual: State of Missouri / Secretary of State (in-library use only)
- Alternatively, the current manual along with past publications can be viewed online through the Secretary of State website.
Missouri Branches of Government
Legislative Branch: Consists of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Legislative branch is responsible for creating laws, establishing a state budget, and passing bills on public policy.
- For the most recent information regarding Missouri legislation, hearings or how to find your legislators, visit either the Missouri Senate or the Missouri House of Representatives websites.
- To view state laws or statutes, the Springfield Greene County Library has copies of the Revised Statutes of the state of Missouri, 2016 available at the Library Center and the Midtown Carnegie branches. (in-library use only)
- All chapters are available to view through the Missouri Revisor of Statutes department website.
Executive Branch: Led by the Governor, the Executive Branch implements the laws of the state. Additionally, sixteen departments in the state fall under the executive branch.
Elected Offices:
Governor Lt. Governor Secretary of State
State Auditor State Treasurer Attorney General
Executive Branch Departments:
Office of Administration Insurance (DCI)
Agriculture Labor and Industrial Relations
Conservation Mental Health
Corrections Natural Resources
Economic Development Public Safety
Elementary and Secondary Education Revenue
Health and Senior Services Social Services
Higher Education Transportation
Judicial Branch: Responsible for interpreting and upholding the laws. In Missouri, the court system consists of the Missouri Supreme Court, federal courts, and appellate courts.
- Find information regarding the Missouri courts, including court forms, pending cases, and additional resources at the Missouri Courts website.
- If you are searching for an active or past court case, MissouriCase.net will allow you to inquire about case records including docket entries, parties, judgments and charges in public court.
- For questions about legal definitions, reference Black's law dictionary / Bryan A. Garner. (available for checkout* and in-library use)
Missouri Supreme Court: The Supreme Court of Missouri has been operating as the state's highest ruling court since the Missouri constitution was adopted in 1820. The court acts as the final stop in the state when deciding matters involving the state's constitution and laws.
The Missouri Supreme Court: from Dred Scott to Nancy Cruzan provides historical and background information on the people, conflicts, and controversies throughout Missouri’s legal history.
- The Missouri Supreme Court: from Dred Scott to Nancy Cruzan / Gerald T. Dunne. (in-library use only)
For information regarding past Missouri Supreme Court Decisions, Justia is one of the largest online law databases that specialize in the retrieval of legal information at no cost to the user.
Missouri Federal Courts System: Information regarding specific courts, cases, and forms for the two federal court districts are provided in the links below. There is an additional link to help you locate your federal court.
Contacting Your Local Government: If you live in the Springfield-Greene County area and are interested in contacting your local government the library has a guide available here.
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