Missouri became a state in 1821. The original Missouri constitution was written in 1820 and has since been amended. It establishes a framework of government consisting of three branches - executive, legislative, and judicial. The legislative branch is a bicameral General Assembly made up of the House of Representatives and Senate. The governor leads the executive branch and serves a four-year term. The judicial branch is headed by the Supreme Court with 7 judges who each serve 12-year terms.