TO GAIN UNDERSTANDING OF MISSOURI'S LEGISLATIVE PROCESS AND AID ADMINISTRATORS OF THE EXTENSION DIVISION, THE AUTHOR INVESTIGATED THE 71ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY. HE READ PUBLICATIONS, INTERVIEWED LOBBYISTS, AND CONDUCTED OPEN ENDED DEPTH INTERVIEWS WITH LEGISLATORS SELECTED TO COMPRISE THE LEADERSHIP OF THE ASSEMBLY. HIS DISSERTATION PRESENTS THE ORGANIZATION, PROCEDURES AND BACKGROUND OF THE MISSOURI GOVERNMENT AND STATISTICAL DATA ON THE COMPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY BY PARTY, GEOGRAPHIC CONSTITUENCY, LEVELS OF EDUCATION, LENGTH OF SERVICE, AND OCCUPATION OF MEMBERS. IT SHOWS THAT THE FEW CONTACTS MADE BY CONSTITUENTS WERE LARGELY SPECIAL INTEREST EFFORTS, THAT A LEGISLATOR MOST FREQUENTLY VOTED IN FAVOR OF A BILL IN THE ABSENCE OF ACTIVE OPPOSITION, THAT THE 24 PERCENT WHO FAVORED INCREASE IN ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS WERE MOSTLY THOSE WHO HAD SOME COLLEGE EDUCATION (53 PERCENT HAD NONE), AND THOUGH THE ASSEMBLY MADE THE FISCAL POLICY FOR TAX SUPPORTED INSTITUTIONS AND AGENCIES, 73 PERCENT FELT INADEQUATELY INFORMED FOR DOING SO AND THUS RARELY CHALLENGED THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS. THE AUTHOR CONCLUDED THAT FEELING OF MUTUAL RESPECT BUILT ON SUCCESSFUL PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEGISLATOR AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR WOULD BE MOST PRODUCTIVE. THIS DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE FROM UNIVERSITY MICROFILMS INC., ANN ARBOR, MICH. ORDER NO. 62-3893. MICROFILM $3.00. XEROX $10.60. 232 PAGES. (RT)