Minnesota Government
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Legislative Branch
House of Representatives
134 Representatives (two from each Senate district).
Senate
67 Senators (one from each Senate district).
Responsibilities: Enact and revise laws at the state level.
Legislative
Commissions
Executive Branch
Governor
Executive Responsibilities:
Administer laws and affairs of the state, appoint heads for departments and agencies, and act as commander-in-chief of state military forces.
Legislative Responsibilities:
Inform legislature of condition of the state, propose a state budget, approve or veto bills passed by the legislature and call emergency legislative sessions.
Judicial Responsibilities:
Appoint judges to vacancies in district, appellate, and supreme courts.
Lieutenant Governor
Responsibilities: Represent governor, assume governor’s responsibilities in governor’s absence, death, or resignation.
State Auditor
Responsibilities: Perform financial and legal compliance audits of local governments and investigate allegations of theft or public misuse of funds.
Secretary of State
Responsibilities: Act as chief election official, certify records, file business registrations, administer Safe at Home and act as custodian of official records and the state seal.
Attorney General
Responsibilities: Provide legal services to state government, represent the state in court cases, enforce laws concerning charitable organizations and public rights.
Judicial Branch
Supreme Court
Responsibilities: Hear appeals on decisions from the appellate court and persons convicted of first-degree murder, hear constitutional questions, interpret the law and the constitution, regulate all courts in the state.
Court of Appeals
Responsibilities: Hear appeals on decisions from the lower courts.
District Court
Responsibilities: Hear criminal, public policy, civil, probate, and traffic cases.
State Departments and Agencies
Administration
Education
Higher Education
Iron Range Resources
Metropolitan Council
Public Safety
Agriculture
Employment & Economic Dev.
Housing Finance
Labor & Industry
Military Affairs
Revenue
Commerce
Information Technology
Human Rights
Management & Budget
Natural Resources
Transportation
Corrections
Health
Human Services
Mediation Services
Pollution Control
Veterans Affairs