Missouri Government, A Brief Look
The Missouri Senate has 34 members. Each senator represents about 155,000 people. Senate terms are four years, with one-half of the Senate up for election every two years. Senate candidates must be at least 30 years of age, a qualified Missouri voter for three years, and a resident of their district for at least one year.
When the lieutenant governor is not presiding over the Senate, the president pro tempore, elected by the members of the Senate, presides over the Senate most of the time and is the Senate's main official.
The Senate also approves most of the appointments made by the governor to head state agencies and to serve on state boards and commissions.