The United States Congress is the legislative branch of the federal government. Congress is composed of two chambers, the House of Representatives and the Senate, and is responsible for making laws.
The Senate is made up of two senators from each state, regardless of population. There are 100 senators (two from each of the 50 states), who each serve six-year terms. Approximately one third of the Senate stands for election every two years.
The House of Representatives consists of 435 voting members, each of whom represents a congressional district. Find your district and representative.
The number of representatives each state has in the House is based on each state’s population as determined in the most recent United States Census. All 435 representatives serve a two-year term.
The power of the Executive Branch is vested in the President of the United States, who also acts as head of state and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. The President is responsible for executing laws created by Congress, is elected to office every four years and cannot serve more than two terms.
Vice President
The executive functions of the Vice President include participation in Cabinet meetings and, by statute, membership on the National Security Council and the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.
President’s Cabinet
The Cabinet includes the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments.
Boards, Commissions, and Committees
These organizations were established by congressional or Presidential action, and their functions are not limited to supporting a parent agency. Examples include the Arctic Research Commission, the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship Foundation, and the Social Security Advisory Board.
The Judicial Branch explains and applies the laws. This branch does this by hearing and eventually making decisions on various legal cases. Where the Executive and Legislative branches are elected by the people, members of the Judicial Branch are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
U.S. Supreme Court
The Court is the highest tribunal in the Nation for all cases and controversies arising under the Constitution or the laws of the United States.
U.S. Court portal
Your portal to the judicial branch of the Federal Government. Includes educational resources, rules and policies, statistics, forms, and a court locator.
Judicial Branch information
General links to lower courts, special courts (including military courts), and support organizations. Visit the Federal Judicial Center to learn about how the courts work, how they are organized, and how they fit into the U.S. system of government.
The 94 U.S. judicial districts are organized into 12 regional circuits, each of which has a United States court of appeals. Missouri is in the Eighth Circuit.
Visit the Office of State Courts Administrator website at courts.mo.gov for information about Missouri courts, legal resources, news and publications, attorney information, and more.
The Missouri State Public Defender provides legal representation to all indigent citizens in Missouri at the levels of the State Trial Court, Appellate Court, Missouri Supreme Court, and U.S. Supreme Court.
The municipal division of the circuit court has original jurisdiction to hear and determine municipal ordinance violations. Search for court-specific information by municipality. Find a municipal court »
Much of the typical, day-to-day interactions Missourians have with government center around their local administrations and public servants. Whether it is a city, municipal or county government, local governments and local elected officials are Missourians’ primary resource for everything from protection and the administration of justice to the support of infrastructure and social services. Below are some resources to help you connect with your local government.
The Missouri Municipal League promotes the cooperation of Missouri cities, towns and villages as well as the interest and welfare among them in order to improve municipal government and administration in the state.
The Missouri Association of Counties (MAC) is a nonprofit corporation established to provide assistance to its member counties in matters pertaining to local, state, and federal government activities.
Find the contact information for your local police or county sheriff.
The municipal division of the circuit court has original jurisdiction to hear and determine municipal ordinance violations. Search for court-specific information by municipality.
A Missouri State Public Defender provides legal representation to all indigent citizens accused of or convicted of crimes in Missouri at the levels of the State Trial Court, Appellate Court, Missouri Supreme Court, and United States Supreme Court.
Use this directory to find your county’s prosecuting attorneys or find them on a list of all the prosecutors in the state.
Missouri’s state government is organized into three branches: the Legislative Branch, the Judicial Branch and the Executive Branch.
Within the Executive Branch are six statewide elected officials and sixteen executive departments. To learn more about Missouri’s elected officials and executive departments, please select one from the lists below.
Learn how to obtain or renew a Missouri driver license, non-driver license or permit.
More info about changes to the Missouri driver license…
Information and services related to titling and registering a motor vehicle, trailer, boat/vessel, or all-terrain vehicle.
Missouri law requires that all motor vehicle drivers and owners maintain some type of motor vehicle liability insurance coverage.
Learn how to pay a speeding ticket or other driving violations online.
You must report accidents that happen in Missouri to the Driver License Bureau if:
Use Form 4319 (Driver Condition Report) to report a driver who may be unable to operate a motor vehicle safely and responsibly. You must have personally observed or know the information about the driver you are reporting. Learn more about reporting an unsafe driver.
A marriage license is issued by the Recorder of Deeds in each Missouri county and is valid only in Missouri. Marriage license applicants are not required to be Missouri residents.
Both must appear in person before the recorder of deeds or a deputy recorder and present valid identification containing date of birth, along with a Social Security card, to apply for a marriage license.
Fees for a marriage license and copies may vary by county.
For more information on marriage licenses and to find what documentation is required, contact your county’s Recorder of Deeds at www.MoRecorders.com or view a list of county officials.
According to Section 451.100.1 of the Missouri Revised Statutes…
Marriages may be solemnized by any clergyman, either active or retired, who is in good standing with any church or synagogue in this state. Marriages may also be solemnized, without compensation, by any judge, including a municipal judge. Marriages may also be solemnized by a religious society, religious institution, or religious organization of this state, according to the regulations and customs of the society, institution or organization, when either party to the marriage to be solemnized is a member of such society, institution or organization.
Every party not represented by counsel who participates in a family law case shall use the forms approved by the Supreme Court. You are advised to check with your local court to determine if additional specific forms are necessary for representing yourself.
Marriage licenses can be obtained from the Recorder of Deeds Office in the county where the license was obtained. Divorce decrees can be obtained from the Circuit Clerk in the county where the divorce was granted. Only Certified Statements Relating to Marriage or Divorce can be obtained from the Bureau of Vital Records in Jefferson City. These statements list limited information such as names of individuals/parties, dates, and county of record. Certified statements can be helpful if an individual is not certain of the county of record or other similar circumstances.
Get real-time traffic and updates for Missouri locations.
Safety is the Missouri Department of Transportation’s (MoDOT) first priority. Further information on traffic volumes, bicycle and pedestrian information, motor carrier issues, accident statistics and even legislative topics can be found at MoDOT’s Safety Page.
Learn how to report an unsafe driver in Missouri.
Learn how to pay a speeding ticket or other driving violations online.
For information on boating and water safety, visit the Water Patrol website.
You must report accidents that happen in Missouri to the Driver License Bureau if:
You can report an accident by downloading the Motor Vehicle Accident Report form.
Dial 9-1-1 in an emergency
(800) 525-5555 for Highway Patrol
Dial *55 (cell) for Highway Patrol
Use the Missouri State Highway Patrol mobile app to receive amber alerts and major road closures on your phone.
The app also provides quick access to all nine troop headquarters so you can reach the one closest to you.
When dialing 911 from a landline, the call is routed to a dispatch center near you, and emergency responders know your location. When dialing 911 from a cell phone, however, the call is often routed to a regional dispatch center, and dispatchers might not be able to tell your location.Another option is *55, the Emergency Report Line for the Missouri State Highway Patrol. When dialed from a mobile phone, *55 will connect you with the nearest MSHP Troop Headquarters, and state troopers can then respond to an incident and connect with local emergency responders if necessary.
Crime in Missouri continues to fall, but there are things that you can do to increase the chances that you won’t become a crime victim.
The Department of Social Services partners with families and communities to protect children, rehabilitate youth and move families to self sufficiency so that Missourians can lead safe, healthy and productive lives. Administrative responsibility for agency activities rests with a department director appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the state Senate.
Agency programs are managed through its functional divisions as described below. The department maintains field offices in each Missouri county and in the City of St. Louis.
The Children’s Division (CD) works in partnership with families, communities, the courts and other governmental entities toward assuring the safety, permanency, and well-being of Missouri’s children. The Division’s guiding principles are Protection, Partnership, Permanency, Practice Excellence, Prevention and Professionalism. The division works with all parties to safely maintain children in their homes whenever possible and to secure safe, permanent living arrangements when out-of-home placement is necessary. The Children’s Division administers the Child Abuse/Neglect Hotline, School Violence Hotline, Intensive In-Home Services, Family Centered Services, Adoption Services, Independent Living, Foster Care, Residential Licensing and preventive services including Early Head Start, Stay-at-Home Parent Program, Child Care Start-Up and Expansion Program, Child Care Subsidy, and other early childhood and early intervention strategies. The division is responsible for the assessment and investigation of all reports to the Child Abuse/Neglect Hotline.
The Family Support Division (FSD) exists to provide a continuum of support for families. FSD’s goal is to assist families in maintaining or improving their quality of life. FSD accomplishes this goal for the children and families of Missouri by providing the best possible services to the public.
FSD services include: Income Maintenance programs, including the Food Stamp, Temporary Assistance and Medicaid programs; Rehabilitation Services for the Blind; and the Child Support program. Other programs include: Community Services Block Grant Programs; Low Income Home Energy Assistance; Refugee Resettlement; and Supplemental Nursing Care.
The Division of Youth Services’ (DYS) mission is to protect communities from juvenile offenders in the division’s care and custody and to provide appropriate services to youth and their families. This balanced approach to juvenile justice relies on community partnerships for the development and enhancement of services for the prevention of delinquency. DYS programs are established to provide the mandated services enumerated in Chapter 219.016 in the Revised Statutes of the state of Missouri. These services include assessment, care and treatment, and education of all youth committed to its care. DYS is charged with the care and treatment of youth committed to its custody by one of the 45 Missouri juvenile courts. Towards this end, DYS operates treatment programs ranging from non-residential day treatment centers through secure residential institutions. Additionally, DYS administers the Interstate Compact on Juveniles, operates an accredited school program, and maintains a statewide statistical database of juvenile court referrals. DYS is administratively organized into one central office and five regional offices.
The MO HealthNet Division (MHD) administers the MO HealthNet (Missouri Medicaid) program. MO HealthNet provides medical services to eligible participants within defined program benefits in somewhat the same way insurance companies provide coverage for their policyholders. The services provided include those required by the federal government such as hospital and physician services. Also included are optional services such as pharmaceutical and personal care services authorized by the Missouri General Assembly and identified in state statute. A mandatory Medicaid managed care program is in place for eligible participants in the eastern, central, and western areas of the state. Children, pregnant women, TANF families, and children in state custody receive their medical care through managed care organizations, allowing the state to ensure access to health care and control costs at the same time.
The MO HealthNet Pharmacy Program oversees outpatient prescription drug reimbursement. The pharmacy benefit includes reimbursement for all drug products of manufacturers who have entered into a rebate agree with the Federal Department of Health and Human Services and that are dispensed by qualified providers, with few therapeutic category exclusions. In addition, MHD is responsible for program development, benefit design and clinical policy decision-making with activities oriented towards wellness and continuum of care. The MO HealthNet program includes specialized services for specific populations within the state by receiving waiver authority from the federal government. Home and community-based waivers for the elderly, certain developmentally disabled participants, as well as patients with AIDS were obtained and allow the MO HealthNet program to pay for otherwise non-covered home care as an alternative to more expensive institutional care. These services are restricted to those participants who would otherwise require, and whose home care is no more expensive than, institutionalization.
The Missouri Department of Revenue was created in 1945 by the Missouri Constitution to serve as the central collection agency for all state revenue. The primary duties of the Department are to collect taxes, title and register motor vehicles, and license drivers.
In 2009, the Department began the process of offering for bid all license offices, eliminating the era of license office patronage in Missouri. The Department also improved the functionality of the online vehicle registration system.
The Department of Revenue consists of four divisions and the director’s office.
The Motor Vehicle and Driver Licensing Division administers Missouri’s laws that relate to titling and registration of motor vehicles, trailers, all-terrain vehicles, manufactured homes, and marine craft, and licensing drivers. This division consists of three bureaus.
The License Offices Bureau manages the operations of 178 license offices throughout the state. These local offices provide driver licensing and motor vehicle services to Missourians and are operated by individuals or businesses approved through the state of Missouri bid process.
The Driver License Bureau issues, renews, suspends, revokes, and reinstates driver and nondriver licenses and driving permits. The bureau processes and maintains records relating to license issuance, traffic violation point assessments, and failure to appear in court for traffic violations, and also administers administrative alcohol and abuse and lose laws for alcohol/drug offenders.
The Motor Vehicle Bureau issues titles and registers motor vehicles, trailers, all-terrain vehicles, manufactured homes, and marine craft. The bureau also issues registration certificates to motor vehicle and salvage dealers and leasing companies.
The Taxation Division administers Missouri’s tax laws. It processes and administers forms and reports for the collection of revenue due the state and local taxing jurisdictions. This division has four bureaus.
The Business Tax Bureau administers sales and use, financial institutions, insurance premiums, franchise, excise, cigarette and other tobacco products, motor fuel, corporate income, withholding, and county taxes and fees.
The Personal Tax Bureau administers individual income, partnership, fiduciary, and estate taxes.
The Collections and Tax Assistance Bureau provides tax assistance to individuals and businesses and performs appropriate procedures for unpaid tax liabilities.
The Field Compliance Bureau audits businesses both in-state and out-of-state to ensure compliance with Missouri’s tax laws.
The Administration Division provides administrative support to all other areas of the Department. This division includes two bureaus:
The Personnel Services Bureau is responsible for the Department’s personnel matters, forms, legislative contacts, process improvements, policies and procedures, training, and written communications.
The Financial and General Services Bureau is responsible for all accounting, procurement, banking, and general service matters. This bureau also coordinates space and location needs, telecommunications, safety issues, maintenance, and improvement of the work environment within the Department.
The Legal Services Division ensures the Department’s compliance with law and internal policies.
The General Counsel’s Office advises the director and divisions on legal matters relative to the Department, and represents the Department in courts and administrative tribunals.
The Criminal Tax Investigation Bureau investigates and develops information leading to local prosecution of individuals and businesses suspected of violating the laws that the Department administers.
The Compliance and Investigation Bureau (CIB) conducts investigations involving allegations of fraud relating to motor vehicle sales tax, titling and registration, odometer, and motor fuel sales tax as well as cigarette tax fraud, driver’s license fraud and license plate fraud. CIB also ensures the compliance of motor vehicle dealers, salvage businesses, and marine dealers with statutes and licensure regulations. In addition to external investigations, CIB conducts internal audits and investigations of the Department of Revenue and motor vehicle fee offices.
The Director’s Office includes the director, deputy director, and key administrative staff responsible for the overall guidance and direction of the Department.
The Legislative Office serves as the Department’s liaison to the General Assembly. The office provides technical assistance and develops fiscal and revenue estimates on proposed legislation and monitors progress of bills through the legislature.
The Public Information Office develops and maintains positive media and public relations for the Department.
