Terms Used In Missouri Laws 78.040

  • Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
  • Veto: The procedure established under the Constitution by which the President/Governor refuses to approve a bill or joint resolution and thus prevents its enactment into law. A regular veto occurs when the President/Governor returns the legislation to the house in which it originated. The President/Governor usually returns a vetoed bill with a message indicating his reasons for rejecting the measure. In Congress, the veto can be overridden only by a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the House.

Every city having a population of eight thousand and less than thirty thousand shall be governed by a council consisting of the mayor and four councilmen, and every city having a population of three thousand and less than eight thousand shall be governed by a council consisting of the mayor and two councilmen, chosen as provided in sections 78.010 to 78.420, each of whom shall have the right to vote on all questions coming before the council. In cities having four councilmen, three members of the council shall constitute a quorum, and in cities having two councilmen two members of the council shall constitute a quorum, and in cities having four councilmen the affirmative vote of three members, and in cities having two councilmen the affirmative vote of two members of the council shall be necessary to adopt any motion, resolution or ordinance, or pass any measure unless a greater number is provided for in said sections. Upon every vote the yeas and nays shall be called and recorded, and every motion, resolution or ordinance shall be reduced to writing and read before the vote is taken thereon. The mayor shall preside at all meetings of the council; he shall have no power to veto any measure, but every resolution or ordinance passed by the council must be signed by the mayor, or by two councilmen, and be recorded, before the same shall be in force.