Virtual File - Item

Text: MINNESOTA STATE GOVERNMENT
FACT SHEET
Compiled by the Chief Clerk's Office
1111 1111 1111
3 Branches of Government
Legislative
Executive
Judicial
June 2024
Minnesota has a Bicameral Legislature:
We have a House and Senate (established by the Minnesota Constitution).
All bills must pass both bodies in the same identical form, word for word.
49 States have a bicameral legislature.
Nebraska is the only state to have a unicameral legislature.
Redistricting:
Federal Government takes census every 10 years to account for population shifts, gains and losses.
The legislature, pursuant to the State Constitution, shall re-draw all district lines every ten years.
State Population:
Senate:
House:
2020 Census: 5.7 million people (a 7.6% increase since 2010).
Minnesota is the 22nd largest state based on population.
The legislature is divided into 67 Senate Districts which are then divided in half to create 134 House
Districts.
All districts in both the House and Senate are divided equally based on population.
The number of members in the House and Senate is set by law.
67 members
85,172 constituents
4-year terms ( except after redistricting)
Largest state Senate in the nation
134 members
42,586 constituents
2-year terms
12th largest state House in the nation
Legislature:
With 201 members in the House and Senate Minnesota has the fifth largest legislature in the nation.
(New Hampshire: 424; Pennsylvania: 253; Georgia: 236; New York: 213)
Qualifications of Members:
21 years old at time of oath of office
Qualified voter
Reside in state for one year
Reside in district 6 months preceding election
No educational requirement
In 17 states, 18-year-olds can serve in the Legislature
-1-
June 2024
Minnesota House of Representative - 68 votes needed to pass a bill
2023-24 Party Affiliation 2023-24 Gender
- 70 DFL - 79 Men
- 64 R - 54 Women
- 1 Nonbinary person
( 46 first termers)
2021-22 Party Affiliation 2021-22 Gender
- 69 DFL - 83 Men
- 59 R - 51 Women
- 4 New R Caucus
- 2 Independent
(21 first termers)
2019-20 Party Affiliation 2019-20 Gender
- 75 DFL - 86 Men
-55R -48Women
- 4 New R Caucus
(3 8 first termers)
2017-18 Party Affiliation 2017-18 Gender
- 77 R - 85 Men
- 57 DFL - 49 Women
(23 first termers)
2015-16 Party Affiliation 2013-14 Party Affiliation
- 73 R - 73 DFL
- 61 DFL - 62 R
(26 first termers) (36 first termers)
Legislative Compensation:
2023; $51,750
(effective July 1, 2023)
2020; $48,250* plus per diem
( effective July 1, 2021)
2019; $46,500* plus per diem
(effective July 1, 2019)
2017; $45,000* plus per diem
2015; $31,140* plus per diem
2007; $31,140* plus per diem
2005; $31,140* plus per diem
1999; $31,140* plus per diem
1997; $29 ,657* plus per diem
1995; $29,657* plus per diem
1994; $27,979 plus per diem
1985; $21,140
1979; $16,500
1973; $8,400
1967; $4,800
1957; $2,400
1945; $1,000
(Senate $86 per day)
(House $86 per day)
(Senate $86 per day)
(House $66 per day)
Senate $86 per day)
House $66 per day)
Senate $86 per day)
House $66 per day)
Senate $86 per day)
House $66 per day)
Senate $96 per day)
House $77 per day)
Senate $66 per day)
House $66 ~er day)
$56 per day
$56 per day
$48 per day
$48 per day
1909;$500
1905; $5 a day; $10 a day for the Speaker.
*Top five leaders in each chamber to be paid 40% more than the base salary
-2-
2023-24 Term:
- 46 First term- 3 Eighth term
- 17 Second term- 5 Tenth term
- 2 7 Third term - 3 Eleventh term
- 8 Fourth term- 1 Sixteenth term
- 9 Fifth te1m - 1 Nineteenth term
- 6 Sixth term - 1 Twenty-third term
- 7 Seventh term
Note: Rep. Lyndon Carlson was elected in 1972 and served
24 consecutive terms in the Minnesota House before retiring
in 2020. He has served in the Minnesota Legislature longer
than any other member.
2023-24 Occupations:
- 3 7 Business Professionals
- 14 Lawyers
- 11 Educators
- 10 Fanners
- 9 Retired
- 7 Consultants
- 3 Full-time legislators
- 3 Government
- 2 Homemakers
- 2 Law enforcement
- 1 Social Services
- 35 Other
2023 Constitutional
Officers Compensation:
Governor $127,629
Lieutenant Governor $82,959
Attorney General $121,248
State Auditor $108,485
Secretary of State $95,722
Treasurer Abolished effective Jan. 2003
June 2024
Minnesota Senate - 34 votes needed to pass a bill
2023-24 Party Affiliation 2021-22 Party Affiliation 2019-20 Party Affiliation 2017-18 Party Affiliation
- 33 DFL (one vacancy) - 34 R - 35 R - 34 R
- 33 R - 31 DFL - 32 DFL - 33 DFL
(24 first termers) - 2 I (23 first termers) (21 first termers)
(10 first termers)
2023-24 Gender 2021-22 Gender 2019-20 Gender 2017-18 Gender
- 45 Men - 46 Men - 51 Men - 51 Men
- 22 Women - 21 Women - 16 Women - 16 Women
Minnesota Legislature
Annual Sessions
1972 Constitutional amendment passed by the voters of this state allows the legislature to meet every year.
Meet every year.
Not for more than a total of 120 Legislative Days.
A legislative day is defined by Minnesota law as any day the House or Senate is called to order.
A legislative day begins at 7:00 a.m. and continues until 7:00 a.m. of the following calendar day.
Part-time Legislature.
10 States meet all year round.
46 States meet every year.
4 States meet every other year. (Montana, Nevada, North Dakota and Texas)
State Budget (all figures are estimates)
Total 2024-25 State Budget: About $76,171 billion.
Where the money comes from
- About 77% of the budget comes from these two funding sources:
- 52.8% Individual Income tax
- 25 .5% Sales tax
Where the money goes
- Almost 70% of the budget goes to these three areas:
- 34.7% K-12 Education
- 29.9% Health and Human Services
- 5.9% Higher Education
2023-2024 Session
Pursuant to law, the 2023 session convened at 12:00 noon, Tuesday, January 3, 2023 and pursuant to the
Mim1esota Constitution, adjourned at 10:05 p.m., Monday, May 22, 2023.
Second year of the biennium reconvened at 12:00 noon, Tuesday, February 12, 2024 and adjourned sine die at
12:36 p.m. on Monday, May 20, 2024. (120 legislative days used for the 2023-2024 session.)
2021-2022 Session
Pursuant to law, the 2021 session convened at 12:00 noon, Tuesday, January 5, 2021 and pursuant to the
Minnesota Constitution, adjourned on Monday, May 17, 2021.
2021 Special Session convened at 12:00 noon, Monday, June 14, 2021 to pass bills essential to balancing
the state budget set to expire on July 1, 2021. The 2021 Special Session lasted 16 legislative days and
adjourned sine die after 1 a.m. on Thursday, July 1, 2021.
Second year of the biennium reconvened at 12:00 noon, Monday, January 31, 2022 and adjourned sine die on
Sunday, May 15, 2022. (116 legislative days used for the 2021-2022 session.)
2019-2020 Session
Pursuant to law, the 2019 session convened at 12:00 noon, Tuesday, January 8, 2019 and pursuant to the
Minnesota Constitution, adjourned at midnight, Monday, May 20, 2019.
2019 Special Session convened at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 24, 2019 to pass bills essential to balancing
the state budget. The 2019 Special Session lasted almost 21 hours and adjourned sine die on Saturday,
May 25 at 6:51 a.m.
Second year of the biennium reconvened at 12:00 noon, Tuesday, February 11, 2020 and adjourned sine die
by midnight, Sunday, May 17, 2020. (97 legislative days used for the 2019-2020 session.)
-3-
June 2024
Open Sessions:
All sessions are open to the public.
Seating in gallery is on a first-come basis.
All floor sessions are recorded.
The back alcove is reserved for members of the press.
All official documents available from the House website (www.house.mn.gov).
House Public Television Coverage:
Voting:
House Television Services Department established in 1994.
House Television Services office and Senate Media Services provide live unedited television coverage of
all House floor sessions and selected committee hearings.
Legislative proceedings are produced and broadcast in the Twin Cities metro area on Public Television and
also cablecast on thirty-five cable television systems around greater Minnesota.
House Television programming is also broadcast live over the Internet.
All House legislative programming produced is also archived and indexed on the Internet for those unable
to watch live coverage (Internet streaming video).
The video archive index allows users to find the specific bill or topic they wish to view without having to
sort through hours of coverage.
In 2002, House Television Services merged with House Public Information to become House Public
Information Services.
First voting machine was installed in the House in 1939.
Prior to voting machine, all roll call votes were taken orally and tabulated by hand.
In 1905 there were 700 roll call votes that were taken orally.
In 1986 computerized voting system was installed.
Vote Register boards updated in 2016.
In the 2023-2024 Regular Session there were 1,023 roll calls taken.
In the 2021-2022 Regular and Special Session there were 675 roll calls taken.
In the 2019-2020 Regular and Special Session there were 755 roll calls taken.
In the 2017-2018 Regular and the 2017 Special Session there were 563 roll calls taken.
In the 2015-2016 Regular and the 2015 Special Session there were 696 roll calls taken.
In the 2013-2014 Regular and the 2013 Special Session there were 1200 roll calls taken.
In the 2011-2012 Regular and the 2011 and 2012 Special Sessions there were 1,055 roll calls taken.
In the 2009-2010 Regular and the 2010 First and Second Special Sessions there were 1,465 roll calls taken.
In the 2007-2008 Regular and the 2007 Special Sessions there were 1,527 roll calls taken.
In the 2005-2006 Regular and the 2005 Special Sessions there were 953 roll calls taken.
In the 2003-2004 Regular and the 2003 Special Sessions there were 1040 roll calls taken.
In the 2001-2002 Regular and Special sessions there were 1,215 roll call votes taken.
In the 1999-2000 Regular session there were 1,533 roll call votes taken.
Today's computerized voting system records votes in 15 seconds.
Members' names on the voting boards light up green when a member votes aye and red when a member
votes nay.
Public Address System:
First public address system was installed in the House in 1937.
Prior to 1937 members were recognized by the Speaker and came forward and addressed the body from a
small table in the front called the "Well Area."
Cass Gilbert, the architect, designed the House chamber like an opera house and the acoustics in this room
are perfect.
The first public address system had four or five portable microphones and when a member requested the
floor to speak, a page would bring the portable microphone to the member's desk and plug it in before the
member could speak.
Today we have microphones on every member's desk.
Special Sessions:
Called by Governor pursuant to the Minnesota Constitution for extraordinary occasions.
Called by Governor to meet state emergencies or when legislative work is unfinished at the end of
regular session.
62 special sessions from 1858 to 2022.
40 special sessions since 19 81.
Longest special session, 159 calendar days in 1971 (6 months).
In 2019-2020 we had eight special sessions.
In 1981-1982 we had six special sessions.
In January of 1982 the House was in special session and regular session at the same time (we published two
separate journals and printed different sets of bills for each session).
In 1989 the House met in the Senate chamber for a three-day special session due to the remodeling of the
House Chamber (members sat on folding chairs and two members sat at each Senate desk. All voting was
-4-
Bills:
June 2024
done orally and tabulated by hand).
In 2005, 2010 and 2017 the Governor called the Legislature back into Special Session one minute after the
Regular Session adjourned at 12:00 midnight.
In 2011 the Governor called the Legislature into Special Session at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 19, 2011 to
enact the state budget and end the 20 day shutdown of state government. The 2011 Special Session lasted
one legislative day.
In the 2015 Special Session the House and Senate met in committee rooms in the State Office Building due
to the major Capitol restoration project.
In 16 states special sessions are called only by the Governor.
In 34 states special sessions can be called by the Legislature or the Governor.
Ideas for laws
Most House bills introduced in a biennium 2023-2024: 5,488
Most bills introduced in one year 2023: 3,342
Most new laws passed in a session 1969: 1,159
Most bills vetoed in a year: 32 (Mark Dayton, 2012)
Most bills vetoed in a biennium 2011-2012: 55 (Mark Dayton)
1939 - 1998 = 4 vetoes overridden
1999 - 2002 = Governor Ventura had 8 vetoes overridden and 4 line-item vetoes overridden.
Vetoes overridden 2003 -2018: 1 (2008 Transportation Finance Bill)
Bills are provided to the public free of charge through the Chief Clerk's Office and Secretary of the Senate's
Office and are available from the Internet (www.leg.mn.gov/)
Bills 2023-24 Regular Session
- 5488 bills introduced in the House
- 5535 bills introduced in the Senate
- 11,023 bills introduced in the House and Senate
- 127 New Laws
- 1 Vetoed bill
- 0 Vetoes overridden
- 0 Bills contained line item
Bills 2021-22 Regular Session Bills 2021 Special Session
- 4,905 bills introduced in the House - 69 bills introduced in the House
- 4,610 bills introduced in the Senate - 71 bills introduced in the Senate
- 9,515 bills introduced in the House and Senate - 140 bills introduced in the House and Senate
- 99NewLaws - 14 New laws
- 0 Vetoed bills - 0 Vetoed bills
- 0 Vetoes overridden - 0 Vetoes overridden
- 0 Bills contained line item
Bills 2019-20 Regular Session: Bills 2019-20 Special Sessions (8 Total)
- 4,695 bills introduced in the House - 465 bills introduced in the House
- 4,633 bills introduced in the Senate - 341 bills introduced in the Senate
- 9,328 bills introduced in the House and Senate - 806 bills introduced in the House and Senate
- 118 New Laws - 21 New laws
- 0 Vetoed bills - 0 Vetoed bills
- 0 Vetoes overridden - 0 Vetoes overridden
- 0 Bills contained line item vetoes - 0 Bills contained a line item veto
- 0 Bills became law without Governor's signature
-5-
June 2024
Bills 2017-18 Regular Session: Bills 2017 Special Session
- 4,542 bills introduced in the House - 8 bills introduced in the House
- 4,116 bills introduced in the Senate - 4 bills introduced in the Senate
- 8,658 bills introduced in the House and Senate - 12 bills introduced in the House and Senate
- 182 New Laws - 7 New laws
- 3 2 Vetoed bills - 1 Vetoed bill
- 0 Vetoes overridden - 0 Vetoes overridden
- 1 Bill contained line item vetoes - 1 Bill contained a line item veto
- 3 Bills became law without Governor's signature
Journals:
Legal record of all House action
Constitutionally required to publish a daily journal and permanent journal - "Journal Entry State"
Contains member's voting records
Contains all votes, bill introductions, committee reports, messages from the Senate, floor amendments,
letters from the Governor, motions, conference committee reports, points of order and procedural
precedents
Journal is a record of what is done, not what is said
Biggest Journal 2023-24: 19,822 pages
Most roll calls in biennium 1973-74: 2,593
Provided to the public free of charge
Accessible on the Internet at w,vw.house.mn.gov
Journal is available on the Internet 1-2 hours after a daily session
Journal 2023-24 Regular Session
16 volumes excluding index
19,822 total pages (not including Index)
1023 roll call votes
Journal 2021-2022 Regular Session and Special Session
12 volumes including index
14,176 total pages (not including Index)
Over 1,300-page index arranged by topic, bill number and author. There are close to 200 topics in the
topical index.
675 roll call votes
Journals 2019-2020 Regular Session and 8 Special Sessions
6 volumes including index
9,415 total pages (not including Index)
1,442 page index arranged by topic, bill number and author. There are close to 200 topics in the topical
index.
7 5 5 roll call votes
Journals 2017-2018 Regular Session and 2017 Special Session
11 volumes including index
11,860 total pages (not including Index)
Over 1,000 page index arranged by topic, bill number and author. There are close to 200 topics in the
topical index.
563 roll call votes
Journals 2015-2016 Regular Session and 2015 Special Session
9 volumes including index
9,529 total pages (not including Index)
1,182 page index arranged by topic, bill number and author. There are close to 200 topics in the topical
index.
696 roll call votes
-6-
Statutes:
15 volumes contain all state laws in Minnesota
Compiled by the Revisor of Statutes
History of the Chamber:
June 2024
This Chamber is used not only for regular sessions, but also for Joint Sessions of the Legislature and to
hear the Governor give the State of the State address.
The four names on the ceiling; La Salle, Hennepin, Penot and Duluth, honor early French explorers.
"Vox Populornm est Vox Dei" is Latin for "The Voice of the People is the Voice of God."
Eating was allowed in the Chamber until 1989.
The use of cigars, cigarettes, and pipes was common in the chamber until the mid- l 970's.
Spittoons were found next to members' desks when chewing tobacco was popular among members.
Chamber used to be members' offices until 1973 when members moved into private offices in the State
Office Building.
When you speak from the center of the chamber your voice is amplified and carried throughout the
chamber; this is called the "well area effect."
To send House documents quickly to the third floor offices behind the statuary work in the chamber, a
pneumatic tube (like you find at drive-up banks) was installed in 1965. The documents are copied and
returned for distribution on the House floor.
To change light bulbs you have to climb to the top of the ceiling from a closet in the gallery and crawl
along a catwalk to reach the light bulbs.
Lincoln's portrait hangs above the Speaker's desk because he was the first President of the United States
that Minnesotans could vote for in 1860.
Since the House Chamber opened in 1905 it has seen four major renovations: 1938, 1969, 1989 and 2015.
In the 193 8 renovation the sculpture above Lincoln's portrait entitled "Minnesota Spirit of Government."
was built by out-of-work artists during the depression as part of the Works Progress Administration (WP A)
program of President Franklin Roosevelt.
Planners of the renovation in 1989 chose to complete the renovation according to Cass Gilbert's original
design. They changed the red carpet back to the original green, the members' chairs were reupholstered to
match the original brown, and they repaired the skylight to allow natural light to enter the Chamber.
Several changes that were not part of Gilbert's original vision were to make the chamber and gallery
handicap accessible and to include plans for an automated Chamber.
The Vote Register boards were updated in 2002.
The cost for the renovation of the House Chamber in 1989 was $2.2 million.
The roof was restored in 199 5 at a cost of $5. 5 million.
The four golden horses were restored in 1995 at a cost of $636,600.
The original cost of the entire Capitol in 1905 was $4.5 million.
In 2015, the State Capitol was closed for a major restoration project. The House met in the Capitol for the
2016 session and was the only occupant of the building. The only access to the chamber was via the tunnel
or through the north doors. The gallery of the House Chamber was closed, so members of the public were
seated in one of the alcoves at the back of the chamber. Temporary outdoor restrooms were provided
because there was no running water in the building.
Legislative Landmarks:
First state to adopt a non-partisan system of electing its legislators (1913).
Sales Tax established at 3% (1967). (Exempts food and clothing)
First state to establish a Human Rights Department (1967).
Metro Council established (1967). First state to establish a regional government approach to urban
problems.
First state in the nation to ratify the 26th amendment to the U.S. Constitution lowering the voting age to 18
years (1971).
"Minnesota Miracle" equalized state funding for education ( 1971 ).
Party designation (1973). Repealed 60-year-old law providing for the non-partisan election of legislators
and restoring party designation.
Open meeting law (1973).
First state to pass same-day Voter registration Law (1973).
Seven day waiting period to buy a handgun (1975).
Congress passed the Brady bill, five-day waiting period in 1994.
First state to pass Clean Indoor Air Act (1975).
Hube1i H. Humphrey Metrodome funding approved (1978).
-7-
June 2024
Tied House - Independent Republican Party won 32 seats in 1978 election to tie with the DFL in the
number of seats in the Minnesota House - 67-67.
Pari-mutuel betting authorized (1982).
Post-secondary enrollment options authorized (1986).
Parental leave (1987).
First state to pass a statewide "Open enrollment" option for high-school students (1988).
Blueberry Muffin designated State muffin (1988).
Lottery established (1988).
"Lemon Law" on new and used cars (1988).
New History Center funding approved (1988).
Living Will legislation enacted (1989).
First state to establish Charter Schools (1991).
MN Care established (1992).
Dry cask storage of nuclear waste authorized (1994).
Target Center funding (1994).
Gift Ban Law (1994).
Abortion infom1ed consent; 24 hour waiting period (2003).
Allowing bars to remain open until 2:00 a.m. (2003).
Pledge of Allegiance recitation required in public and charter schools (2003).
Handgun Pe1mit Law; changes in granting gun pem1it procedures; Personal Protection Act (2003).
University of Minnesota Gopher football stadium bill (2006).
Minnesota Twins baseball stadium bill (2006)
Establishing renewable energy standards by encouraging the use of wind farms, hydroelectric power and
solar energy with a goal that 25% of the state's electricity will come from next generation power sources by
the year 2025 (2007).
Next Generation Energy Act; calls for investments in renewable power, increased energy conservation and
establishing long-term goals to decrease Minnesota's contribution to global warming by cutting the state's
greenhouse gas emissions (2007).
Freedom to Breathe Act; prohibits smoking in bars, restaurants and other public places (2007).
Ban on Text Messaging while driving (2008).
Seat belt law made a primary offense (2009)
Ignition interlock device option for DWI offenders (2010).
Youth athletes - preventing concussion harm, education and policies established (2011 ).
Synthetic marijuana banned (2011 ).
Constitutional Amendment proposal - definition of marriage placed on the 2012 election ballot (2011).
Constitutional Amendment proposal - voters required to present photographic identification before voting
(2012).
Vikings football stadium bill (2012).
Establishing the Minnesota Insurance Marketplace health care exchange (2013).
Authorizing collective bargaining for family child care providers (2013).
Providing for civil marriage between two persons (2013).
Safe and Supportive Schools Act (anti-bullying bill) (2014).
Women's Economic Security Act (2014).
Medical Cannabis Therapeutic Research Act (2014).
Prohibiting use of cell phones while driving (2019).
Famous People Who Have Spoken In House Chamber:
Occasionally the House will take a short recess or the House and Senate will meet in Joint Convention to
hear an address by an invited guest. President Teddy Roosevelt addressed a Joint Convention in this room
in 1909, the occasion being the establishment of the Superior National Forest. U.S. Secretary of State
Frank B. Kellogg, a Minnesotan, spoke from the rostrum in 1939. He had just been awarded the Nobel
Prize for Peace. Other celebrities who have talked from the rostrum include:
¦ Will Rogers, political commentator and satirist
¦ Sister Kenny, Australian nurse and founder of the Sister Kenny Institute
¦ Sinclair Lewis, Nobel Prize in Literature winner from Minnesota
¦ John McCormack, famous opera tenor
¦ James J. Hill, Railroad Builder
¦ Marion Anderson, famous opera star
¦ Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey
-8-
June 2024
• Senator Eugene McCarthy
• Harmon Killebrew and Bob Allison of the Minnesota Twins
• Dr. Will Menninger, world famous psychiatrist
• Lowell Thomas, news correspondent
• Otto Preminger, Hollywood producer of "Exodus"
• Vice President Walter F. Mondale
• Walter F. Mondale announced his candidacy for the office of President of the United States (1984)
• Walter F. Mondale announced in the summer of 1984 his selection of running mate Geraldine
Ferraro, the first woman to run for Vice President
• Pat Buchanan, presidential candidate
• Julian Bond, civil rights leader
• Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader
• Will Steger, Arctic explorer
• All 11 of Minnesota's Native American Tribal leaders spoke in the House Chamber on "Sovereignty
Day" in 2019.
-9-