Governor of Minnesota
Encyclopedia
The Governor of Minnesota is the chief executive of the U.S. state
of Minnesota
, leading the state's executive branch. Forty different people have been governors of the state, though historically there were also three governors of Minnesota Territory
. Alexander Ramsey
, the first territorial governor, also served as state governor several years later. State governors are elected to office by popular vote, but territorial governors were appointed to the office by the United States president
. The current governor of Minnesota is DFL'er Mark Dayton
.
, the governor has veto
power over bills passed by the Minnesota State Legislature. As in most states, but unlike the U.S. President, the governor can also make line-item veto
es, where specific provisions in bills can be stripped out while allowing the overall bill to be signed into law.
The minimum required age of a candidate for the Governor of Minnesota is 25 years (having been a Minnesota resident for one year before the election).
Since a 1958 amendment to the Minnesota Constitution
governors are elected to four-year terms. Previously, they served two-year terms. There is no term limit
for governor of the state.
consisting of the leaders of various state departments. The governor appoints these department heads, who are usually called commissioner
s. Cabinet-level departments include:
is located in Saint Paul
, at 1006 Summit Avenue.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, leading the state's executive branch. Forty different people have been governors of the state, though historically there were also three governors of Minnesota Territory
Minnesota Territory
The Territory of Minnesota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 3, 1849, until May 11, 1858, when the eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Minnesota.-History:...
. Alexander Ramsey
Alexander Ramsey
Alexander Ramsey was an American politician. He was born near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.Alexander Ramsey was elected from Pennsylvania as a Whig to the U.S. House of Representatives and served in the 28th and 29th congresses from March 4, 1843 to March 4, 1847...
, the first territorial governor, also served as state governor several years later. State governors are elected to office by popular vote, but territorial governors were appointed to the office by the United States president
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
. The current governor of Minnesota is DFL'er Mark Dayton
Mark Dayton
Mark Brandt Dayton is an American politician, the 40th and current Governor of the state of Minnesota. Dayton previously served as United States Senator from Minnesota from 2001 to 2007 in the 107th, 108th, and 109th Congresses...
.
Powers and qualifications
Like the U.S. PresidentPresident of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, the governor has veto
Veto
A veto, Latin for "I forbid", is the power of an officer of the state to unilaterally stop an official action, especially enactment of a piece of legislation...
power over bills passed by the Minnesota State Legislature. As in most states, but unlike the U.S. President, the governor can also make line-item veto
Line-item veto
In United States government, the line-item veto, or partial veto, is the power of an executive authority to nullify or cancel specific provisions of a bill, usually a budget appropriations bill, without vetoing the entire legislative package...
es, where specific provisions in bills can be stripped out while allowing the overall bill to be signed into law.
The minimum required age of a candidate for the Governor of Minnesota is 25 years (having been a Minnesota resident for one year before the election).
Since a 1958 amendment to the Minnesota Constitution
Minnesota Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Minnesota, USA was initially approved by the residents of Minnesota Territory in a special election held on October 13, 1857, and was ratified by the United States Senate on May 11, 1858, marking the admittance of Minnesota to the Union...
governors are elected to four-year terms. Previously, they served two-year terms. There is no term limit
Term limit
A term limit is a legal restriction that limits the number of terms a person may serve in a particular elected office. When term limits are found in presidential and semi-presidential systems they act as a method to curb the potential for monopoly, where a leader effectively becomes "president for...
for governor of the state.
Cabinet
The governor has a cabinetCabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
consisting of the leaders of various state departments. The governor appoints these department heads, who are usually called commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner is in principle the title given to a member of a commission or to an individual who has been given a commission ....
s. Cabinet-level departments include:
- Department of Administration
- Department of Agriculture
- Department of Commerce
- Department of Corrections
- Department of Education
- Department of Employment and Economic DevelopmentMinnesota Department of Employment and Economic DevelopmentThe mission of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development is to support the economic success of individuals, businesses, and communities by improving opportunities for growth...
- Department of Health
- Department of Human Rights
- Department of Human Services
- Iron Range Resources Board (Also known as the IRRB
[pronounced "eye-triple-r-b"] ) - Department of Labor and Industry
- Minnesota Management and Budget
- Bureau of Mediation Services
- Metropolitan CouncilMetropolitan CouncilThe Metropolitan Council or Met Council is the regional governmental agency and metropolitan planning organization in Minnesota serving the Twin Cities seven-county metropolitan area. The Met Council is granted regional authority powers in state statutes by the Minnesota Legislature. These powers...
- Metropolitan Sports Facilities CommissionMetropolitan Sports Facilities CommissionMetropolitan Sports Facilities Commission is the owner and operator of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis. The MSFC was established in 1977, by the Minnesota Legislature. The MSFC consists of seven members...
- Department of Military Affairs
- Minnesota Higher Education Services Office
- Minnesota Housing Finance AgencyMinnesota Housing Finance AgencyThe Minnesota Housing Finance Agency is an agency of the State of Minnesota tasked with reducing and/or eliminating homelessness, increasing home ownership for minorities, and increasing and preserving affordable housing....
- Department of Natural ResourcesMinnesota Department of Natural ResourcesThe Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is the agency of the U.S. state of Minnesota charged with conserving and managing the state's natural resources. The agency maintains areas such as state parks, state forests, recreational trails, and recreation areas as well as managing minerals,...
- Minnesota Pollution Control AgencyMinnesota Pollution Control AgencyThe Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is a Minnesota state agency that monitors environmental quality, offers technical and financial assistance, and enforces environmental regulations for the State of Minnesota. The MPCA finds and cleans up spills and leaks that can affect public health and the...
- Department of Public Safety
- Department of Revenue
- Department of TransportationMinnesota Department of TransportationThe Minnesota Department of Transportation oversees transportation by land, water, and air in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The cabinet-level agency is responsible for maintaining the state's trunk highway system The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT, pronounced "min-dot") oversees...
- Department of Veterans Affairs
Residence
The Minnesota Governor's ResidenceMinnesota Governor's Residence
The Minnesota Governor's Residence serves as the official home of the governor of Minnesota. The house, located at 1006 Summit Avenue in Saint Paul, is on of land. The building covers an area of slightly more than ....
is located in Saint Paul
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
, at 1006 Summit Avenue.
See also
- List of Governors of Minnesota
- List of Minnesota gubernatorial elections
- Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
- List of Lieutenant Governors of Minnesota
- Minnesota Secretary of StateMinnesota Secretary of StateThe Minnesota Secretary of State is the state secretary of state of the state of Minnesota.The Secretary of State is the keeper of the Great Seal of the State of Minnesota and files and certifies the authenticity of a wide variety of official documents...
- Minnesota Attorney General
- Minnesota State AuditorMinnesota State AuditorThe Minnesota State Auditor is a constitutional officer in the executive branch of the U.S. State of Minnesota. The State Auditor is charged with overseeing more than $20 billion spent annually by local governments in Minnesota...
- Minnesota State TreasurerMinnesota State TreasurerThe Minnesota State Treasurer was an elected officer under the Minnesota Constitution until 2003. Before statehood, the Minnesota Territory had the same office.In 1886, elections were moved from odd years to even years...
(office abolished January 6, 2003) - Politics of MinnesotaPolitics of MinnesotaMinnesota is known for a politically active citizenry, with populism being a longstanding force among the state's political parties. Minnesota has consistently high voter turnout; in the 2008 U.S. presidential election, 78.2% of eligible Minnesotans voted – the highest percentage of any U.S. state...