1. State Government

2. History The 13 colonial governments became the state governments
The 13 colonial constitutions PRECEDED our U.S. Constitution
The state constitutions served as the building blocks of the Federal government

3. Wanted to limit government Most included a bill of rights
What were the authors of the state constitution thinking when creating their constitutions?
Wanted to limit government
Most included a bill of rights
Office of Governor was weak with the power of the __________ being the most powerful
State Constitutions are relatively easy to amend—17 states allow for amendments simply by getting the proposal on a statewide ballot without the Legislature or Governor

4. Governors
Are charged with identifying the most pressing problems facing their state and proposing solutions to those problems
They establish their agendas when campaigning for office
What do you know about Governor Dayton’s agenda?

5. Governor responsibilities continued…
Propose state budgets
Influence implementation of laws by appointing the heads of state administrative agencies
At the state level, budgets MUST be balanced.
Balanced: revenue (money in)=spending (money out)
Surplus: More revenue than spending. MN has a $2 Billion surplus right now.
Deficit: More spending than revenue.

6. Politics at the local and state level
Local news media play a key role in getting access to the public
Ad-hoc, issue-specific organizations form and are VERY apparent at the local and state level
Ad-hoc, issue-specific organizations join together for a purpose of stopping or starting a project, or raising awareness on an issue. They tend to disband once the issue is resolved/project is complete

7. State Governments
Primary responsibility for education, public health, transportation, economic development, and criminal justice
Think of an example of how Minnesota’s state government works in each of these areas…

8. State governments continued…
They also issue licenses and regulate various professions such as doctors, lawyers, barbers, architects, and teachers

9. Federalism
Federal and state governments share and divide powers

11. MN State Legislative Branch
Bicameral
Senate
Upper house
House
Lower house

12. MN Senate Qualifications 67 total senators 21 years old
Qualified to vote in MN
1 year MN resident
Resident in district 6 months before election
67 total senators

14. Greg Clausen

15. MN House Qualifications 134 reps (2 per Senate district) 21 years old
2 year term
Qualified to vote in MN
1 year MN resident
Resident in district 6 months before election
134 reps (2 per Senate district)

17. Tara Mack

18. Baker v. Carr (1962)
The Supreme Court ruled that “one-person, one-vote” allowed for equal protection under the 14th Amendment
This meant that state legislative districts needed to be equally divided (based on population)

19. MN State Executive Branch
Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Qualifications
25 years old
4 year term
No term limits
Qualified to vote in MN elections
1 year MN resident

20. MN State Executive Branch
Governor Roles
Chief Executive
Carry out laws
Appoint officials
Prepare budget
Commander in Chief
National Guard
Ceremonial Leader
Greet visitors, represent MN
Judicial Leader
Pardons
- Party Leader
Leads MN political party

21. Governor Mark Dayton MN governor US Senator MN State Auditor
Since 2011
US Senator
MN State Auditor

22. Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith
48th Lt. Governor
Originally from New Mexico
Worked at General Mills
Was Dayton’s chief of staff

23. MN State Judicial Branch
3 levels
Supreme, Appeals and Trial
Judges must be at least 21 years old
All judges must retire at age 70

24. MN Supreme Court 1 Chief Justice 6 Associate Justices
Must be licensed to practice law in MN
6 year terms
Yeah, these justices are voted in by the people!
About 1 in 8 cases make it to this level
Taxes and first degree murder are examples

26. MN Appeals Court
1 chief judge
18 associate
judges
6 year terms

27. MN District Court 10 courts 289 total judges 6 year terms
Criminal, civil, juvenile, family and traffic cases

29. Local Government

30. Who pays for it?

31. Grassroots Power and Politics
What does “grassroots power” mean?
Political participation in the state and especially local politics is both MORE personal and MORE issue-oriented than at the national level
Some elections tend to be non-partisan
Examples? Think Local (Mayor, School Board, Sheriff)

32. Local Government Executive Branch
Mayor
4 year terms
Voted by constituents

33. Local Government Legislative Branch
City Council
4 year terms
Voted by constituents
Mayor is a member
Apple Valley has 5 members including the mayor

34. Charters
A document that describes the institutions of government, the processes used to make legally binding decisions, and the scope of issues and services that fall within the jurisdiction of governmental bodies
It is a constitution for local governments that must be approved by state legislatures