Minnesota Senate Explained

Minnesota Senate
Legislature:93rd Minnesota Legislature
Coa Pic:Seal of Minnesota.svg
House Type:Upper house
Body:Minnesota Legislature
Term Limits:None
Leader1 Type:President
Leader1:Bobby Joe Champion (DFL)
Election1:January 3, 2023
Leader2 Type:President Pro Tempore
Leader2:Ann Rest (DFL)
Election2:January 3, 2023
Leader3 Type:Majority Leader
Leader3:Erin Murphy (DFL)
Election3:February 6, 2024
Leader4:Mark Johnson (R)
Election4:January 3, 2023
Members:67
Structure1:93rd Minnesota Legislature Senate composition.svg
Structure1 Res:250px
Term Length:4 years when elected in years ending in 2 and 6.
2 years when elected in years ending in 0.
Authority:Article IV, Minnesota Constitution
Salary:$51,750/year + per diem [1]
Voting System1:First-past-the-post
Last Election1:November 8, 2022
Next Election1:November 3, 2026
Redistricting:Legislative control
Session Room:Minnesota_Senate_chamber.jpg
Meeting Place:Senate chamber
Minnesota State Capitol
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Rules:Temporary Rules of the Senate

The Minnesota Senate is the upper house of the Legislature of the U.S. state of Minnesota. At 67 members, half as many as the Minnesota House of Representatives, it is the largest upper house of any U.S. state legislature.[2] Floor sessions are held in the west wing of the State Capitol in Saint Paul. Committee hearings, as well as offices for senators and staff, are located north of the State Capitol in the Minnesota Senate Building. Each member of the Minnesota Senate represents approximately 80,000 constituents.[3]

History

The Minnesota Senate held its first regular session on December 2, 1857.[4]

Powers

In addition to its legislative powers, certain appointments by the governor are subject to the Senate's advice and consent. As state law provides for hundreds of executive appointments, the vast majority of appointees serve without being confirmed by the Senate; only in rare instances does the Senate reject appointees.[5] It has rejected only nine executive appointments since 2000.[6]

Elections

Each Senate district is split between an A and B House district (e.g., Senate District 41 contains House districts 41A and 41B). The Minnesota Constitution forbids House districts that are within more than one Senate district.[7]

To account for decennial redistricting, members run for one two-year term and two four-year terms each decade. Senators are elected to four-year terms in years ending in 2 and 6, and to two-year terms in years ending in 0.[8] Districts are redrawn after the decennial United States Census in time for the primary and general elections in years ending in 2. The most recent election was held on November 8, 2022.

Leadership

From statehood through 1972, the lieutenant governor served as president of the Senate. In 1972, voters approved a constitutional amendment that provided for the Senate to elect its own president beginning January 1973.[9] The president, who presides over official Senate proceedings, also acts as the parliamentarian and oversees the secretary of the senate.[10] The majority leader is responsible for managing and scheduling the business of the Senate and oversees partisan and nonpartisan staff. The current majority leader is Erin Murphy, a Democrat from Saint Paul.[11] The current minority leader is Mark Johnson, a Republican from East Grand Forks.[12] Each caucus also selects its own leaders and deputy leaders.

Minnesota Senate Building

Committee hearings mostly take place in the Minnesota Senate Building, a 293000square feet office building that opened in January 2016.[13] The $90 million office building, which is north of the State Capitol across University Avenue, includes three committee hearing rooms, offices for all senators and staff, a raised terrace overlooking the State Capitol, and a 264-space underground parking facility.[14]

The 2016 session was held in the newly constructed Minnesota Senate Building due to an extensive restoration at the State Capitol. It was the first time the Senate held a regular session outside the Capitol since it opened in 1905.[15]

Composition

Historical composition

YearsParty[16]

(Shading indicates majority caucus)

Total
Democratic–
Farmer–Labor
RepublicanIndependentVacant
2001–200341250067
2003–200735310067
2007–201144230067
2011–201330370067
2013–201739280067
2017-202133340067
2021–202331342067
2023–202734330067

Current composition

93rd Minnesota Legislature (2023–2025)

Party

(Shading indicates majority caucus)

TotalVacant
RepublicanIndependentDemocratic–
Farmer–Labor
nowrap style="font-size:80%" End of the previous Legislature34131661
nowrap style="font-size:80%" Begin 202333034670
Latest voting share

Members, 2023-2027

DistrictNamePartyResidenceFirst elected
1data-sort-value="Johnson, Mark" Mark JohnsonRepublicanEast Grand Forks2016
2data-sort-value="Green, Steve" Steve GreenRepublicanFosston2022
3data-sort-value="Hauschild, Grant" Grant HauschildDFLHermantown2022
4data-sort-value="Kupec, Rob" Rob KupecDFLMoorhead2022
5data-sort-value="Utke, Paul" Paul UtkeRepublicanPark Rapids2016
6data-sort-value="Eichorn, Justin" Justin EichornRepublicanGrand Rapids2016
7data-sort-value="Farnsworth, Rob" Robert FarnsworthRepublicanHibbing2022
8data-sort-value="McEwen, Jen" Jen McEwenDFLDuluth2020
9data-sort-value="Rasmusson, Jordan" Jordan RasmussonRepublicanFergus Falls2022
10data-sort-value="Wesenberg, Nathan" Nathan WesenbergRepublicanLittle Falls2022
11data-sort-value="Rarick, Jason" Jason RarickRepublicanPine City2019
12data-sort-value="Westrom, Torrey" Torrey WestromRepublicanAlexandria2012
13data-sort-value="Howe, Jeff" Jeff HoweRepublicanRockville2018
14data-sort-value="Putnam, Aric" Aric PutnamDFLSt. Cloud2020
15data-sort-value="Dahms, Gary" Gary DahmsRepublicanRedwood Falls2010
16data-sort-value="Lang, Andrew" Andrew LangRepublicanOlivia2016
17data-sort-value="Gruenhagen, Glenn" Glenn GruenhagenRepublicanGlencoe2022
18data-sort-value="Frentz, Nick" Nick FrentzDFLNorth Mankato2016
19data-sort-value="Jasinski, John" John JasinskiRepublicanFaribault2016
20data-sort-value="Drazkowski, Steve" Steve DrazkowskiRepublicanMazeppa2022
21data-sort-value="Weber, Bill" Bill WeberRepublicanLuverne2012
22data-sort-value="Draheim, Rich" Rich DraheimRepublicanMadison Lake2016
23data-sort-value="Dornik, Gene" Gene DorninkRepublicanHayfield2020
24data-sort-value="Nelson, Carla" Carla NelsonRepublicanRochester2010
25data-sort-value="Boldon, Liz" Liz BoldonDFLRochester2022
26data-sort-value="Miller, Jeremy" Jeremy MillerRepublicanWinona2010
27data-sort-value="Mathews, Andrew" Andrew MathewsRepublicanMilaca2016
28data-sort-value="Koran, Mark" Mark KoranRepublicanNorth Branch2016
29data-sort-value="Anderson, Bruce" Bruce AndersonRepublicanBuffalo Township2012
30data-sort-value="Lucero, Eric" Eric LuceroRepublicanSaint Michael2022
31data-sort-value="Bahr, Cal" Cal BahrRepublicanEast Bethel2022
32data-sort-value="Kreun, Michael" Michael KreunRepublicanBlaine2022
33data-sort-value="Housley, Karin" Karin HousleyRepublicanStillwater2012
34data-sort-value="Hoffman, John" John HoffmanDFLChamplin2012
35data-sort-value="Abeler, Jim" Jim AbelerRepublicanAnoka2016
36data-sort-value="Gustafson, Heather" Heather GustafsonDFLVadnais Heights2022
37data-sort-value="Limmer, Warren" Warren LimmerRepublicanMaple Grove1995
38data-sort-value="Pha, Susan" Susan PhaDFLBrooklyn Park2022
39data-sort-value="Kunesh-Podein, Mary" Mary Kunesh-PodeinDFLNew Brighton2020
40data-sort-value="Marty, John" John MartyDFLRoseville1986
41data-sort-value="Seeberger, Judy" Judy SeebergerDFLAfton2022
42data-sort-value="Westlin, Bonnie" Bonnie WestlinDFLPlymouth2022
43data-sort-value="Rest, Ann" Ann RestDFLNew Hope2000
44data-sort-value="Xiong, Tou" Tou XiongDFLMaplewood2022
45Vacant[17]
46data-sort-value="Latz, Ron" Ron LatzDFLSt. Louis Park2006
47data-sort-value="Mitchell, Nicole" Nicole MitchellDFLWoodbury2022
48data-sort-value="Coleman, Julia" Julia ColemanRepublicanChanhassen2020
49data-sort-value="Cwodzinski, Steve" Steve CwodzinskiDFLEden Prairie2016
50data-sort-value="Mann, Alice" Alice MannDFLEdina2022
51data-sort-value="Wiklund, Melissa Halvorson" Melissa Halvorson WiklundDFLBloomington2012
52data-sort-value="Carlson, Jim" Jim CarlsonDFLEagandata-sort-value="2006" 2006
53data-sort-value="Klein, Matt" Matt KleinDFLMendota Heights2016
54data-sort-value="Pratt, Eric" Eric PrattRepublicanPrior Lake2012
55data-sort-value="Port, Lindsey" Lindsey PortDFLBurnsville2020
56data-sort-value="Maye Quade, Erin" Erin Maye QuadeDFLApple Valley2022
57data-sort-value="Duckworth, Zach" Zach DuckworthRepublicanLakeville2020
58data-sort-value="Lieske, Bill" Bill LieskeRepublicanLonsdale2022
59data-sort-value="Champion, Bobby Joe" Bobby Joe ChampionDFLMinneapolis2012
60data-sort-value="Dziedzic, Kari" Kari DziedzicDFLMinneapolis2012
61data-sort-value="Dibble, Scott" Scott DibbleDFLMinneapolis2002
62data-sort-value="Fateh, Omar" Omar FatehDFLMinneapolis2020
63data-sort-value="Mohamed, Zaynab" Zaynab MohamedDFLMinneapolis2022
64data-sort-value="Murphy, Erin" Erin MurphyDFLSaint Paul2020
65data-sort-value="Pappas, Sandy" Sandy PappasDFLSaint Paul1990
66data-sort-value="Oumou Verbeten, Clare" Clare Oumou VerbetenDFLSaint Paul2022
67data-sort-value="Hawj, Foung" Foung HawjDFLSaint Paul2012

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Frequently Asked Questions - Representatives and Senators - Minnesota Legislature .
  2. Web site: Number of Legislators and Length of Terms in Years. Legislatures. National Conference of State. www.ncsl.org. en-US. 2017-11-21.
  3. Web site: Frequently Asked Questions - - Minnesota Legislature. www.leg.state.mn.us. 2019-09-28.
  4. Web site: Sessions of the Minnesota State Legislature and the Minnesota Territorial Legislature, 1849-present. Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. 2019-10-19.
  5. Web site: Creation and Organization of Executive Branch Agencies . Minnesota House of Representatives Research Department . February 27, 2014.
  6. Web site: Senate Confirmations: Problematic Governor Appointments - Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. www.leg.state.mn.us. 2019-10-19.
  7. Web site: Minn. Const. art. IV, § 3 . Constitution of the State of Minnesota . January 24, 2013.
  8. Web site: Minn. Const. art. IV, § 4 . Constitution of the State of Minnesota . January 24, 2013.
  9. Web site: President and President Pro Tempore of the Minnesota Senate, 1849-present . Minnesota Legislative Reference Library . January 24, 2013.
  10. Web site: Minnesota Senate President and President Pro Tempore, 1849-present - Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. www.leg.state.mn.us. 2019-10-19.
  11. Web site: Majority and Minority Leaders of the Minnesota Senate, 1933-present. Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. en. 2021-09-10.
  12. Web site: Senate Member Information 2021 - 2022. Minnesota Legislature. en. 2021-09-16.
  13. News: Minnesota Senate Building quietly opens in spite of disagree.... Davis. Don. January 11, 2016. Forum News Service. 2017-11-21. en.
  14. News: After controversy, new Minnesota Senate Office Building finally opens. 2016-01-11. Twin Cities. 2017-11-23. en-US.
  15. Web site: How the newly restored Minnesota Capitol came to be. Stassen-Berger. Rachel E.. 2017-08-06. St. Paul Pioneer Press. en-US. 2019-10-19.
  16. Web site: Party Control of the Minnesota Senate . 2022-12-30 . Minnesota Legislative Reference Library.
  17. News: Faircloth . Ryan . DFL senator resigns to focus on congressional run, putting control of Minnesota Senate on ballot . June 6, 2024 . . June 6, 2024.