Minnesota Constitution Article IV. Legislative department
Here is an overview of the Minnesota Constitution – Article IV: Legislative Department:
🏛 Minnesota Constitution – Article IV: Legislative Department
This article establishes the structure, powers, and procedures of the Minnesota Legislature, which consists of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
🔹 Key Sections and Provisions:
Section 1 – Legislative Power
The legislative power of the state is vested in a Senate and a House of Representatives.
Section 2 – Apportionment
The legislature must prescribe the number of legislators and apportion them among districts based on population.
Redistricting must be done after each federal census.
Section 3 – Senate and House Membership
Senators serve four-year terms, Representatives serve two-year terms.
The number of legislators may be changed by law but must remain within limits (at least one senator for each district).
Section 4 – Qualifications of Legislators
Must be:
Qualified voters
21 years old
Residents of Minnesota for at least one year, and of the district for six months prior to election.
Section 5 – Time of Elections
General elections are held in even-numbered years on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
Section 6 – Compensation
Legislator compensation is determined by a citizen council, which sets salaries. It may not be changed during a term for which the legislator was elected.
Section 7 – Rules of Proceedings
Each house determines its own rules, elects its officers, and judges the eligibility of its members.
Section 8 – Quorum
A majority of each house constitutes a quorum to do business.
Section 9 – Legislative Sessions
Legislature meets annually.
Total number of legislative days in a biennium is limited to 120 days.
Section 10 – Journals and Voting
Each house must keep a journal of its proceedings.
Votes on final passage of a bill must be recorded by yeas and nays, and require a majority vote of all members elected to pass.
Section 11 – Passage of Laws
Bills must be:
Limited to one subject
Clearly titled
Passed by both houses and signed by the Governor
Section 12 – Impeachment
The House of Representatives has the sole power of impeachment.
The Senate conducts trials and can remove officials from office with a two-thirds vote.
Section 13 – Special Legislation Prohibited
Laws must be general in nature; local or special laws are restricted unless uniformity is not possible.
Section 14 – Lotteries
The legislature may authorize a state-operated lottery, which it has done (Minnesota State Lottery).
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