The County is referred to in this Charter as "the County" or "Jefferson County", but its official name is "Jefferson County, Missouri".
Jefferson County is a body corporate and politic.
The boundaries of Jefferson County upon adoption of this Charter are the same boundaries as immediately before such adoption. The boundaries of Jefferson County may thereafter change only as prescribed by Missouri law.
The seat of the County Government is to be in the City of Hillsboro, Missouri.
1.5.1. 
Except as explicitly limited in this Charter or prohibited by the Missouri Constitution, Jefferson County has all the powers of a county of the State of Missouri of whatever class and all the powers of all offices, agencies and departments of counties of the State of Missouri of whatever class. These powers include those provided by Missouri Law when this Charter was adopted and those provided by any Missouri Law adopted later.
1.5.2. 
Jefferson County has all powers necessary or incidental to the exercise of any other power.
1.5.3. 
The explicit stating of a power in this Charter or in any Missouri Law is not to be construed as limiting or denying any other power.
1.6.1. 
Except as explicitly stated in this Charter, Jefferson County does not have any powers respecting the governance or operations of Municipalities or Special Districts that first class counties of the State of Missouri not having a charter form of government do not possess under Missouri Law.
1.6.2. 
Jefferson County may not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, age, religion, national origin, gender, disability, or union membership or non-membership.
1.6.3. 
Jefferson County may not abridge any rights of the people that are protected by the Missouri Constitution or the Constitution of the United States of America.
1.6.4. 
Jefferson County may not impose any tax that is not explicitly authorized by Missouri Law to be imposed by first class counties of the State of Missouri.
1.6.5. 
Jefferson County may not impose or increase any tax except pursuant to a proposition submitted for approval of Citizens at a regular or special election that is approved by at least a majority of the votes cast on the proposition.
1.6.6. 
Jefferson County may not enter into any contract for the performance of work for Jefferson County unless the contract requires that all workers performing work under the contract are paid a wage that is at least the prevailing hourly rate of wages for work of a similar character in the locality in which the work is performed.
1.6.7. 
The power of eminent domain may not be exercised by Jefferson County to take property for any use except strictly in accordance with Missouri Law. Jefferson County may not declare blighted for the purpose of exercising eminent domain any real property primarily used for agricultural or horticultural purposes. The power of eminent domain may not be exercised by Jefferson County to take property solely for the purpose of enhancing tax revenues. The power of eminent domain may not be exercised by Jefferson County to take property for public use unless the taking is authorized by an Ordinance by the affirmative vote of 4/7ths of All Council Votes, subject to the power of the County Executive to veto the Ordinance as provided in this Charter, which veto may be overridden only by the affirmative vote of 2/3rds of All Council Votes. The power of eminent domain may not be exercised by Jefferson County to take property primarily for economic development purposes unless (1) the taking is authorized by an Ordinance by the affirmative vote of 5/7ths of All Council Votes, subject to the power of the County Executive to veto the Ordinance as provided in this Charter, which veto may be overridden only by the affirmative vote of 3/4ths of All Council Votes, (2) the owner of the property taken is paid compensation for the taking equal to the highest of (a) twice the fair market value of the property as determined in accordance with Missouri Law governing condemnation awards, or (b) the amount of compensation required to be paid under Missouri Law, or (c) if the property taken includes a regularly occupied single-family residence, the cost of reconstructing a new residence of like kind and quality on substantially similar land, and (3) if the property taken is regularly occupied by one or more Persons, whether owners or tenants, they are paid relocation expenses that are the higher of $1,200.00 per individual or twice the amount of the actual relocation expenses incurred by them. For purposes of this Section, the taking of property primarily for economic development purposes is not to be deemed a taking for public use.
In this Charter, these capitalized words have these meanings:
1.7.1. 
Administrator Supervised: supervised by the Director of Administration after the Transition Period as provided in this Charter pursuant to policies established by the County Executive.
1.7.2. 
All Council Votes: the number of votes that would be cast by Council Members on any matter if no Council Members' seats were vacant and all Council Members were present and voting.
1.7.3. 
Bill: a proposition to enact an Ordinance that is introduced by a Council Member or Council Members for consideration for adoption by the County Council as provided in this Charter.
1.7.4. 
Building Codes: codes, standards and regulations relating to architectural and engineering design, electrical installation, fire prevention, air and water pollution, and wastewater and sewage treatment plant construction and installation, mechanical codes and standards, codes and standards affecting plumbing and pressurized pipe installation, and other codes, standards and regulations relating to the construction of public or private facilities or structures.
1.7.5. 
Citizen: a person who is a citizen of the United States of America under the Law.
1.7.6. 
County Council: The Jefferson County, Missouri, Council that is the legislative body of Jefferson County as provided in this Charter.
1.7.7. 
Council District: each district of Jefferson County from which there is to be a member of the County Council elected as provided in this Charter.
1.7.8. 
Council Member: A Person serving as a member of the County Council as provided in this Charter.
1.7.9. 
County Executive: The Person who holds the office of County Executive as provided in this Charter.
1.7.10. 
County Government: The County Council, the County Executive, the Director of Administration, all County Officers, all Departments and their Divisions, and all boards and commissions established as provided in this Charter or pursuant to Missouri Law.
1.7.11. 
County Officer: the County Executive, a Council Member, or any other Person who holds an elected or appointed County Office provided for in this Charter or by Ordinance adopted as provided in this Charter.
1.7.12. 
Department: The governmental functions and the Persons performing those governmental functions for which an elected or appointed officer has responsibility as provided in this Charter or as provided by an Ordinance adopted as provided in this Charter.
1.7.13. 
Division: The governmental functions and the Persons performing those functions within a Department that are split from other governmental functions and Persons performing those other governmental functions within a Department as provided by an Ordinance adopted as provided in this Charter.
1.7.14. 
Electronic Form: The storage of a document on any media as a computer file in a commonly used format from which an accurate facsimile of the document can be readily displayed on a screen or printed on paper by use of a computer or other device running reasonably available software.
1.7.15. 
Entity: A corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, association or other form of organization that is not a natural person and that has the right under any Law to sue or be sued in its own name.
1.7.16. 
Merit System: The personnel administration system established as provided in this Charter.
1.7.17. 
Missouri Constitution: The Constitution of the State of Missouri.
1.7.18. 
Missouri Law: The Missouri Constitution, the statutes of the State of Missouri, and rules, orders and regulations issued by departments, divisions, bureaus and agencies of the State of Missouri.
1.7.19. 
Municipality: any city, town, or village established or existing under Missouri Law.
1.7.20. 
Law: Missouri Law and the Constitution of the United States of America, statutes of the United States of America, and rules, orders and regulations issued by departments, divisions, bureaus and agencies of the United States of America.
1.7.21. 
Ordinance: A Bill enacted by the County Council and signed by the County Executive as provided in this Charter, or a Bill enacted by the County Council over the veto of the County Executive as provided in this Charter, or an enactment by Registered Voters as provided in ARTICLE X of this Charter.
1.7.22. 
Person: A natural person, whether male or female.
1.7.23. 
Registered Voter: A Person who is a resident of Jefferson County and is registered to vote in Jefferson County.
1.7.24. 
Special District: any fire protection district, ambulance district, water district, sewer district or other district established or existing under Missouri Law which has the power under Missouri Law to impose or collect a tax on property or sales within that district or which provides utility services within that district, excluding school districts.
1.7.25. 
Transition Executive: a Person serving as Transition Executive as provided in this Charter.
1.7.26. 
Transition Period: the period from the adoption of this Charter until all Transition Executive offices are to be deemed eliminated as provided in this Charter.