Minnesota Civics: How Your State Government Works

by bam

A practical, non-partisan guide to how the state of Minnesota governs itself, and how you take part where you live. Minnesota has two civic signatures: it usually leads the nation in voter turnout, powered by being an early adopter of same-day (Election-Day) registration, and its major left-of-center party is the uniquely named Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) party. You'll also learn that Minnesota's Legislature was officially NONPARTISAN for 60 years (1913 to 1973); Minnesota's Constitution of 1858; its plural executive; its Legislature of 67 senators and 134 representatives; its judiciary; and its 87 counties. It notes Minnesota has no statewide initiative. Time-sensitive facts are flagged, pointing to sos.mn.gov. Cited to Minnesota's own official sources (leg.mn.gov, sos.mn.gov, mncourts.gov).