Minnesota Senate

Minnesota Senate
Minnesota Senate
93rd Minnesota Legislature
Type
Type	Upper house of the Minnesota Legislature
Term limits	None
History
New session started	January 3, 2023
Leadership
President	Bobby Joe Champion (DFL) ; since January 3, 2023
President Pro Tempore	Ann Rest (DFL) ; since January 3, 2023
Majority Leader	Erin Murphy (DFL) ; since February 6, 2024
Minority Leader	Mark Johnson (R) ; since January 3, 2023
Structure
Seats	67
Political groups	DFL (33); Republican (33); Vacant (1);
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	$51,750/year + per diem
Elections
Voting system	First-past-the-post
Last election	November 8, 2022
Next election	November 3, 2026
Redistricting	Legislative control
Meeting place
	Senate chamber; Minnesota State Capitol; Saint Paul, Minnesota
Website
	senate.mn
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.