Frequently Asked Questions About the Minnesota Legislature

In the House, members of each party caucus meet on an informal basis within a week or two after the general election to organize and elect leaders. Each caucus can nominate a speaker designate. The speaker is officially elected by members of the entire House on the opening day of the session. The majority caucus also elects a majority leader and assistant leaders. Likewise, the minority caucus elects a minority leader to express the caucus opinion on the House floor, and other assistant minority leaders. For a list of current leaders in the House, see the House of Representatives Leadership web page.

In the Senate, the leader of the majority caucus directs the business of the Senate and is considered the leader of the Senate. He or she is elected by the members of the caucus, which also elects the leader's chief assistant, called the assistant majority leader. The minority caucus also elects its own leaders, much like the House does. The President of the Senate, who presides over the activities of the Senate and assigns bills to committees, is elected on the opening day of each biennial session. Senate leadership positions are noted on the Senate member page.

Whichever party holds the most seats in either the House or the Senate is considered the Majority Caucus.

The green and red member directories are joint publications of the Minnesota House and Senate. The green book, or Members Directory, is published near the beginning of the first year (odd year) of a biennial legislative session - usually in February. It contains pictures, biographical information, committee assignments, and contact information for all 134 representatives and 67 senators. It also lists key House and Senate staff and certain joint offices. The red book, the Official Directory of the Minnesota Legislature, is published during the second year (even year) of the biennium. It contains additional information, such as the permanent rules of both the House and the Senate, joint rules, and statutory and constitutional provisions relating to the Legislature.

Green and red books are available at the House Public Information Services at 3300 Centennial Office Building (3rd floor), 658 Cedar Street, 651-296-2146, and Senate Information Office, Room 231, State Capitol, 651-296-0504. Limited copies are mailed.

The blue book or Minnesota Legislative Manual, is published by the Secretary of State's Office. It includes detailed information about the three branches of government, constitutional officers, and election statistics for certain offices over the state's history, as well as detailed information from the most recent election. The blue book also contains the state constitution and a history of proposed constitutional amendments.

Copies of the blue book are available to the public, free of charge from the Office of the Secretary of State or call 651-215-1440 to order one. The Secretary of State is at: Veterans Service Building, 20 W. 12th Street, Suite 210, Saint Paul, MN 55155. Most manuals, back to 1860, are also available electronically.

Senators are elected for a four-year term and representatives are elected for a two-year term. However, in election years ending in 0, such as 2010 or 2020, Senators serve for a two-year term in order to provide for the redistricting process done in conjunction with the United States census.

For more information on the members of the House and the Senate, see State Lawmakers: Minnesota State Government Series.

In many cases, the vacancy is filled by a special election, called by the governor. If the vacancy occurs close to the date of a general election and the Legislature is not in session, then the vacancy is filled at the next state general election. See Minnesota Statutes, section 240D.17-240D.27 for further details.

Minnesota Representatives and Senators must be qualified voters of the state, be 21 years of age, and must have resided one year in the state. In addition, state legislators must have lived the six months immediately preceding the election in the district from which they are elected.

Candidates for the Minnesota Senate or House of Representatives must file during the designated time period, usually in May and June of the election year, and pay a fee. Candidates cannot file for more than one office at the upcoming primary or general election.

The Office of the Secretary of State's candidate qualifications and the Minnesota Constitution article 4, section 6 are resources for these qualifications. Visit the Office of the Secretary of State's website for more about election laws, election calendars, and voter lists on the Elections and Voting page of their website.

English

The language services pilot program introduced in the 2024 legislative session has been extended through the 2025 legislative session.

LCC Language Services is in partnership with University Language Center to support members and staff in conducting official legislative business in Hmong, Somali, and Spanish.

Language services are available for the translation (written) and interpretation (spoken) of hearings, committee meetings, meetings with constituents, surveys, letters, flyers, pamphlets, voicemail messages and responses.

Language services cannot support translation (written) or interpretation (spoken) of laws, rules, bills, drafts of bills, statutes, social media posts, press conferences, town halls or campaign or election efforts.

Members of the public can request services through a legislator, the legislator’s assistant, or committee staff because staff must initiate the services.

You can locate contact information for legislative assistants by clicking on the legislator’s name from the House Member list or the Senator list. You can locate committee administrators on the House committee list or the Senate committee list. The legislator, the legislator’s staff, or committee staff can request interpretation or translation services for members of the public who need it.

Contact language.services@lcc.mn.gov if you have any questions.

If you are looking for American Sign Language interpretation information, please see the FAQ: Are there services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing?

Hmoob

Cov kev pab cuam txhais lus sim thawj zaug rau xyoo 2024 thaum cov nom tswv tsim cai lij choj sib ntsib tau muab ncua mus txog 2025 thaum cov nom tswv tsim cai lij choj rov sib ntsib dua.

LCC Language Services yog ua khub koomtes nrog rau University Language Center los mus txhawb cov tswv cuab thiab neeg ua haujlwm tuav cov rooj nom tswv tsim cai lij choj sib tham tseem ceeb ua lus Hmoob, Somali, thiab Spanish.

Muaj pab txhais ntau yam lus rau qhov txhais ntaub ntawv (sau) thiab txhais lus (hais lus) rau cov rooj plaub, pawg tswv cuab cov rooj sab laj, sib tham nrog cov neeg pov npav, cov ntaub ntawv ntsuam xyuas, ntaub ntawv, ntaub ntawv tshaj tawm, cov phau ntawv me, suab lus kaw cia thiab lus teb.

Cov kev pab txhais lus pab txhawb tsis tau txhais ntaub ntawv (sau) lossis txhais lus (hais lus) ntawm cov cai, cov kev cai, cov kev cai tshiab, sau ib txoj cai tshiab, cov cai siv, cov lus tso tawm saum huab cua, cov lus xam phaj hauv xovxwm, cov rooj sab laj hauv zos lossis sib tw lossis xaiv tsa cov ntaub ntawv.  

Cov tswv cuab pej xeem muaj feem thov kev pab cuam los ntawm ib tug nom tswv tsim cai lij choj, tus nom tswv tsim cai lij choj tus neeg pab nws, lossis ib tug neeg ua haujlwm rau pawg tswv cuab vim hais tias tus neeg ua haujlwm yuav tsum yog tus pib cov kev pab cuam.

Koj mus nrhiav tau cov neeg ua haujlwm pab tus nom tswv tsim cai lij choj cov xovtooj thiab email los ntawm nias tus nom tswv tsim cai lij choj lub npe los ntawm daim ntawv House Member list lossis daim Senator list. Koj mus nrhiav tau cov thawj tswj ntawm pawg tswv cuab nyob rau hauv daim ntawv House committee list lossis daim Senate committee list. Tus nom tswv tsim cai lij choj, tus nom tswv tsim cai li choj tus neeg ua haujlwm rau nws, lossis tus neeg ua haujlwm rau pawg tswv cuab muaj feem thov tau txhais lus lossis txhais ntaub ntawv rau cov tswv cuab pej xeem ua xav tau.

Tiv tauj  language.services@lcc.mn.gov yog koj muaj lus nug.

Yog koj xav tau ib tug neeg txhais piav tes “American Sign Language,” thov saib cov lus qauv nug no “FAQ”: Are there services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing (Puas muaj kev pab cuam rau cov neeg lag ntseg lossis tsis hnov lus zoo)?

Soomaali

Barnaamij tijaabo ah ee adeegga turjubaanada ee kulamada golaha sharci dajiyayaasha ayaa la bilaabay 2024 kaasoo soconaya ilaa kulmada 2025 ee sharci dajiyayaasha.

LCC Language Services oo kaashaneysa University Language Center waxa ay shaqaalaha iyo xubnaha golaha u fidineysaa adeegga luqadaha ee Hmong, Somali, iyo Spanish marka ay gudanayaan hawlahooda rasmiga ah.

Adeegga luqadaha ee tarjumada qoraalada ah (qoraal) iyo kan afka ah (hadal) ee kulamada golaha, kulamada gudiyada, kulmada dadka ay matalaan, sahanka, qoraalada, ogeysiisyada, warbixinada, fariimaha codka ah, iyo jawaabaha.  

Adeega sharciyada ma aha mid loogu talo galay tarjumada qoraalada (qoraal) iyo kan afka ah (hadal) ee sharciyada, go’aamada, sharciyada horudhaca ah, qoraalada baraha bulshada, wararka saxaafadda, kulamada xaafadaha, ama waxyaabaha la xiriira doorashada.    

Dadweynaha ayaa codsan kara adeegga turjubaanada iyada oo u soo gudbinaya sharci dajiyayaasha, kalkaaliyayaasha sharci dajiyayaasha, ama shaqaalaha gudiyada ayaa la doonayaa in ay soo gudbiyaan codisga.    

Halka lagala xiriirayo kalkaaliyayaasha sharci dajiyayaasha waxa aad ka heli kartaa adiga oo gujiya magaca sharci dajiyaha Liiska Xubnaha Aqalka ama Liiska Senitarada. Waxa aad cinwaanka maamulayaasha gudiyada ka heli kartaa Liiska Gudiyada Aqalka  ama Liiska Gudiyada Senadka . Waxa aad ka codsan kartaa shaqaalaha la shaaqeeya sharci dajiyayaasha, ama shaqaalaha codsan kara adeegga turjubaanada ee dadweynaha.

La xiriir language.services@lcc.mn.gov haddii aad wax su’aal ah ka qabto.

Haddii aad dooneyso turjubaanada Luqadda faraha lagu wada hadlo (American Sign Language), fadlan akhri su’aalaha iyo jawaabaha inta badan la is weydiiyo:   Ma jiraan adeeg loogu talo galay dadka dhagaha la’a ama maqalku ku adag yahay?

Español

El programa piloto de servicios de idiomas introducido en la sesión legislativa de 2024 se ha ampliado hasta la sesión legislativa de 2025.

LCC Language Services colabora con University Language Center para apoyar a los miembros y al personal en la realización de tareas legislativas oficiales en hmong, somalí y español.

Hay servicios disponibles de idiomas para la traducción (escrita) e interpretación (oral) de audiencias, reuniones de comités, reuniones con electores, encuestas, cartas, volantes, folletos, mensajes de correo de voz y respuestas.

Los servicios de idiomas no pueden apoyar la traducción (escrita) ni la interpretación (oral) de leyes, normas, proyectos de ley, borradores de proyectos de ley, estatutos, publicaciones en redes sociales, conferencias de prensa, reuniones públicas o campañas o esfuerzos electorales.

Los miembros del público pueden solicitar los servicios a través de un legislador, el asistente del legislador o el personal del comité porque el personal debe iniciar los servicios.

Puede encontrar información de contacto de los asistentes legislativos haciendo clic en el nombre del legislador en la Lista de miembros de la Cámara o la Lista de senadores. Puede localizar a los administradores de comités en la Lista de comités de la Cámara o la Lista de comités del Senado. El legislador, el personal del legislador o el personal del comité pueden solicitar los servicios de interpretación o traducción para los miembros del público que lo necesiten.

Póngase en contacto con language.services@lcc.mn.gov si tiene alguna pregunta.

Si está buscando información sobre interpretación del lenguaje de señas americano, consulte las preguntas frecuentes: ¿Existen servicios para personas sordas o con problemas de audición?

How long are terms?

The House serves two-year terms. In the House of Representatives, the term start date is the first Monday in January every odd-numbered year.  

The Senate generally serves four-year terms (with the exception of a two-year term before redistricting changes take effect). The term start date is the first Monday in January of the odd-numbered year after their election. This has been the case since 1883. Prior to that, there were staggered Senate start-of-terms. 

What laws set term dates?

Minnesota Constitution, article 7, section 7 sets the official year of the state and its political subdivisions, which says that “the official year for the state of Minnesota commences on the first Monday in January in each year and all terms of office terminate at that time.” This constitutional amendment was added in 1883 (General Laws 1883, chapter 2). 

Similar language is also found in Minnesota Statutes 204D.02, subd. 2: “The term of office of all elective state and county officers shall begin on the first Monday in January of the odd-numbered year following their election.” This specific language was added by Laws of Minnesota 1981, chapter 29, article 6, sec. 2. However, a version of this language dates back to at least 1893 (General Laws 1893, chapter 4, sec. 2). 

When does session start?

In 2025 and moving forward, the regular session starts the first Tuesday after the second Monday in January of each odd-numbered year. See Minnesota Statutes 3.011. 

Before 2025, the regular session started on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January each odd-numbered year. When the first Monday was New Year’s Day, session started on the first Wednesday after the first Monday of the year. You can see an archived version of the statute in the Statutes Archive (e.g. Minnesota Statutes 2022, 3.011).

See also the FAQs: How long are terms for Minnesota Representatives and Senators? and When does the Minnesota Legislature meet?