1. Minnesota State Government All Pictures & some info from: http://www.state.mn.us/, some info from Minnesota Legislative Manualhttp://www.state.mn.us/ K Hanson 2014

2. Governor of Minnesota Term: 4 years - most serve 2, a few 3 Qualifications: citizen, @ least 25, resident for 1 year Elected during federal midterm elections (2010)

3. Important Governor Roles Commander in Chief: state militia Oversee state government Shaping public policy Appointment & Removal Power: state officials - appointing heads of state departments (similar to the president’s cabinet)

5. Lt. Governor of Minnesota Same qualifications as the governor Until 1972, presiding officer of the Senate

6. Attorney General Salary: $114,288 (2015: $117,716) Duties: Chief legal advisor for the state of MN Represents & provide legal services for state agencies Chief policy maker & law enforcer in consumer protection

7. State Auditor Duties: Serve as a ‘watchdog’ for MN taxpayers Professional reviews of financial forms Responsible for oversight of all local governments

8. Secretary of State Duties: Administering the Elections, recording of business documents, filing and preserving official documents

9. MN State Senate 67 Districts(largest in US) Represent approx 73,425 citizens Elected to 4 year terms except in census years - then 2 year terms All Senators elected @ the same time

10. MN Senate Chamber

11. Your District Map 2012 MN Legislative Districts

12. MN House of Representatives 134 Representatives (senate districts a & b) Represent about 36,713 citizens Term of 2 years

13. House Chamber

14. Legislature Information Under the Constitution: can only meet 120 days in a biennium (2 years) Special sessions are sometimes needed when the business is not completed - the Governor must call these, legislature closes them Requirements: qualified voter, resident for 1 year, resident of district for 6 months, may not hold any federal office during term

15. Important Powers REDISTRICTING!!!!! Following census: must redistrict federal house districts as well as state house/senate districts Federal courts must approve newly drawn legislative districts The party in control of the state legislature has a major role/power in the process

16. MN Judicial Branch Layout

17. MN Supreme Court Original & Appellate jurisdiction - civil & criminal cases One Chief Justice & 6 Associate Justices Elected by the state (usually run unopposed) Governor appoints replacements (great influence on choices)

18. MN Supreme Court

19. MN Court of Appeals Created in 1983 - amendment to the MN Constitution Jurisdiction between the district & supreme court Panel of at least 3 judges 16 judges on the court, nonpartisan & serve a 6 year term - elected statewide - but, one must represent each judicial district!

20. MN District Courts 10 judicial districts in Minnesota In 2010, there were 275 district court judges Judges elected on a non-partisan basis Vacancies filled by the governor Judge must be resident of the district Trial courts for the states

21. MN District Court Map Dakota County Is in District 1

22. MN Revenue http://www.revenue.state.mn.us/about_us/Pages/miss ion.aspx

27. Local Government Types County City Township School Board Special District

28. Dakota County

29. County Government County: largest territorial & political subdivision of state Depending on where the counties are depends on how much power they have Type of Government: Commission (county commissioners are elected) County Board: Ordinances, impose taxes, inspectors http://www.co.dakota.mn.us/Government/Board/Pages/default.aspx Many have County Managers (appt.)

30. County Government Sheriff – county’s chief law enforcement officer (Dave Bellows) Enforces court orders & manages jail District Attorney – county’s prosecutor (James Backstrom) Investigates crime, brings charges & prosecutes cases County Judges sometimes elected They are elected in Dakota County

31. County Government County Auditor – County $ spent within state & local law County Clerk – keeps official records County Coroner – works with police depts to look at suspicious deaths

32. City Government

33. Constitution does not mention local governments Incorporated - locality with an officially organized government – provides services to residents City Charter – application to state legislature – grants power to local governments Similar to a city constitution

34. City Government Mayor Council Form - power is divided between Legislative & Executive Wards – large city voting districts Member at large – elected by whole city Strong Mayor System – large city Weak Mayor System – small city Ordinances – city laws

35. Townships

36. Town/Township Government Depending on area depends on how the government works Town form of govt - New England states In most states townships & states share authority Town Meeting – exercise in direct democracy

37. Town/Township Governments Township – elected officials which help provide local services Village – smallest unit of government Usually lie within boundaries of other local governments

38. Special Services

39. Special Districts Special Functions: Education, Water Supply, Transportation http://mn.gov/portal/government/local/special/ Most numerous type of local government Local School District most common Metropolitan Areas: Central City and surrounding suburbs

40. School Board

41. School board elected governing body of the district Must meet regularly Committees are formed to deal with issues Board requirements: 21 on election day Can NOT be a sexual offender Elected to 4 year terms (odd voting years)

42. District 196 School Board