Minnesota Senate
| Minnesota Senate | |
|---|---|
| Minnesota State Legislature | |
| Type | |
| Type | Upper house |
| Term limits | None |
| New session started | January 4, 2011 |
| Leadership | |
| Majority Leader | David Senjem, (R) since December 27, 2011 |
| President | Michelle Fischbach, (R) since January 4, 2011 |
| Minority Leader | Tom Bakk, (DFL) since January 4, 2011 |
| Structure | |
| Members | 67 |
| Political groups | Republican Party (37) Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (29) |
| Length of term | 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 | $31,140.90/year + per diem |
| Elections | |
| Last election | November 2, 2010 (67 seats) |
| Next election | November 6, 2012 (67 seats) |
| Redistricting | Legislative Control |
| Meeting place | |
| State Senate Chamber Minnesota State Capitol St. Paul, Minnesota |
|
| Website | |
| Minnesota State Senate | |
| Minnesota |
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The Minnesota Senate is the upper house in the Minnesota Legislature. There are 67 members, half as many as are in the Minnesota House of Representatives. In terms of membership, it is the largest upper house of any state legislature. Each Senate district in the state includes an A and B House district (e.g. Senate district 41 contains House districts 41A and 41B). The Minnesota Constitution forbids a House district to be within more than one Senate district. Before the 1960s, Senators were apportioned by county, resulting in the underrepresentation of those in cities. From statehood through 1972 the Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota served as President of the Senate. In 1972 the voters approved a constitutional amendment that provided for the senate to elect its own president from among its members effective January 1973. Functionally, the leadership in the Senate is vested in the Majority Leader.[1]
Members are elected to four year terms in years ending in 2 and 6, and for two year terms in years ending in 0. Districts are redrawn after the census in time for the primary and general elections in years ending in 2. The state legislature is located in the Minnesota State Capitol building in Saint Paul, Minnesota.[2]
In the 2010 election the Republicans gained a majority for the first time since partisan identification returned to the legislature in 1974.
Contents |
[edit] Current session
- 87th Legislature (2011–2012)
| Affiliation | Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Democratic-Farmer-Labor | Vacant | ||
| End of previous legislature | 21 | 46 | 67 | 0 |
| Begin | 37 | 30 | 67 | 0 |
| March 20, 2011[3] | 29 | 66 | 1 | |
| April 12, 2011[4] | 30 | 67 | 0 | |
| June 15, 2011[5] | 29 | 66 | 1 | |
| August 15, 2011[6] | 28 | 65 | 2 | |
| October 18, 2011[7] | 30 | 67 | 0 | |
| November 7, 2011[8] | 29 | 66 | 1 | |
| January 10, 2012[9] | 30 | 67 | 0 | |
| March 3, 2012[10] | 29 | 66 | 1 | |
| Latest voting share | 56.1% | 43.9% | ||
- Majority Leader of the Senate
- David Senjem (R - Rochester)
- President of the Senate
- Michelle Fischbach (R - Paynesville)
- Minority Leader
- Tom Bakk (DFL – Cook)
[edit] Members: 2011–2012
[edit] Previous sessions
- Minnesota Senate 2009–2010 Session
- Minnesota Senate 2007-2008 Session
- Minnesota Senate 2005-2006 Session
- Minnesota Senate 2003-2004 Session
- Minnesota Senate 2001-2002 Session
[edit] See also
- Presidents of the Minnesota Senate
- Minnesota Senate Majority Leaders
- Minnesota Senate Minority Leaders
- Minnesota Senate Elections 2010
[edit] References
- ^ Minnesota Senate website
- ^ Minnesota Constitution
- ^ Democrat Ellen Anderson (District 66) resigned after an appointment by Gov. Dayton. [1]
- ^ Democrat Mary Jo McGuire elected to succeed Anderson.
- ^ Democrat Linda Scheid (District 46) died.
- ^ Democrat Linda Berglin (District 61) resigned.
- ^ Democrats Chris Eaton and Jeff Hayden elected to succeed Scheid and Berglin, respectively.
- ^ Democrat Lawrence Pogemiller (District 59) resigned after an appointment by Gov. Dayton. [2]
- ^ Democrat Kari Dziedzic elected to succeed Pogemiller.
- ^ Democrat Gary Kubly died after battling ALS.
[edit] External links
- Minnesota Senate official government website
- Minnesota Constitution
- State Senate of Minnesota at Project Vote Smart
- Minnesota Senate at Ballotpedia
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