Government
Minnesota's State Capitol is in St. Paul, the capital since Minnesota became a territory in 1849.Minnesota is still governed under its original 1858 Constitution. Minnesota's governor and lieutenant governor are elected as a team, and serve four-year terms. There is no limit on how many times they can be reelected. The secretary of state, attorney general, and auditor are elected positions with four-year terms. The governor appoints the heads of most state departments, boards, and commissions to terms that range from two to six years. Minnesota's Legislature consists of a 67-member Senate and a 134-member House of Representatives. Most senators serve four-year terms, the rest serve two-year terms to allow for reapportionment (redrawing of districts). All representatives serve two-year terms.
Minnesota's highest court is the state Supreme Court. The state judiciary also consists of a Court of Appeals, a district court, and 10 judicial districts.
| Interesting facts about Minnesota | |||
| General James Shields was the only person ever elected United States senator by three different states. A Democrat, he served during the middle and late 1800's as senator of Illinois, Minnesota, and Missouri. | |||
| The first national farm organization was founded by Oliver H. Kelley of Minnesota. It was called the National Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. | |||
| The home thermostat was invented and first manufactured in Minneapolis in 1885, by Alfred M. Butz. | |||
| Cellophane transparent tape was invented and patented by Richard Gurley Drew of St. Paul. The Minnesota Manufacturing and Mining Company (now 3M) began making the tape in 1930. | |||
| The farthest inland ocean port in the United States is the port of Duluth, Minnesota-Superior, Wisconsin. The port is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by way of the St. Lawrence Seaway. | |||
