Compiled by the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library
Each session, the House and Senate adopt legislative rules governing their internal proceedings. This self-governance is recognized in the Minnesota Constitution: "Each house may determine the rules of its proceedings" (Minn. Const. Art. 4, Sec. 7). Making Laws, published by the House Research Department, further describes the purpose and function of these rules: "Legislative rules embody the decisions of the house on fundamental matters of internal governance—the allocation of authority within the organization and the rules of parliamentary practice. Legislative rules, for example, grant and limit the authority of legislative leaders, create standing committees, govern the referral of bills to committees, set out procedures for considering bills in committee and on the floor, and establish internal administrative practices and financial controls" (Making Laws: The Legislature, pg. 15).
This page gathers materials related to House and Senate rule adoptions from 1973 to the present. While efforts have been made to verify this information in more than one source, errors are possible. Please report any errors to Library staff.
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