Omar Bennett
The Minnesota Constitution 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 as a state. The state's constitution has served for almost 160 years and has not undergone significant revision, although there have been periodic proposals for a constitutional convention. The most recent amendment to the Minnesota Constitution was approved by voters on November 5, 2024, with nearly 120 amendments having been approved since its inception.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of most recent revision | November 5, 2024 |
| Date of initial adoption | October 13, 1857 |
| Date of ratification | May 11, 1858 |
| Number of amendments | 121 |
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What You'll Learn
The Minnesota Constitution was initially approved in 1857
In 1846, Iowa became a state, leaving what would become Minnesota as an unorganized territory. In 1848, Wisconsin also became a state, and the remaining settlers in the area that would become Minnesota held a convention in Stillwater, passing resolutions calling for Congress to establish a new territory named Minnesota. This marked the beginning of Minnesota as a territory, and Congress responded by passing the Organic Act of Minnesota, which established the territory and provided for its government.
The Organic Act served as the constitution for the Minnesota Territory from June 1849 until May 1858, when Minnesota became a state. In 1857, tensions between Democratic and Republican delegates were high, and the two groups ended up writing separate versions of the constitution, with only minor differences in spelling, grammar, and style. The two versions were then submitted to the voters of the state as required by the Enabling Act, and both were approved, resulting in Minnesota having two original constitutions.
The Minnesota Constitution 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. The ballots used for this purpose were printed to provide only for affirmative votes, and the result was 30,055 for acceptance and 571 for rejection.
The constitution has been amended numerous times since its adoption in 1857, with nearly 120 amendments approved, often multiple items at once. One of the most significant amendments was in 1974, when the constitution was restructured to simplify the document, making it more accessible to modern readers. This amendment did not alter the meaning of the constitution but instead made it easier to comprehend and reduced the extensive verbiage.
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The state's constitution has served for almost 160 years
The State of Minnesota's constitution has served for almost 160 years. It 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 as the 32nd state.
The constitution-making process was not without its challenges. When an election was held on June 1, 1857, to select Republican and Democratic delegates to draft the constitution, tensions between the two parties were high. The delegates assembled in St. Paul on July 13, 1857, but the bitterness between the two groups was so intense that they refused to meet in the same convention. As a result, each party held separate sessions in different rooms of the first capitol building, and two almost identical versions of the constitution, with minor differences in spelling, grammar, and style, were produced.
Despite the challenges, both documents were submitted to the voters of the state, as required by the Enabling Act, and both were approved. This resulted in Minnesota having two original constitutions, one signed by Republicans on white paper, and the other signed by Democrats on blue-tinted paper. The voters were given ballots that only provided for affirmative votes, and the final vote count was 30,055 for acceptance and 571 for rejection.
The Minnesota Constitution has been amended numerous times since its adoption. Nearly 120 amendments have been approved, with the most significant being a reorganization in 1974 to simplify the document and make it more accessible to modern readers. This amendment did not alter the meaning of the constitution but maintained its utility by rewriting it in modern language. The constitution remains the fundamental document that outlines the state's framework for governance, including powers, structure, limitations, and individual rights.
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Amendments: 121 approved
The Minnesota Constitution has been amended 121 times. The most recent amendment was approved by voters on November 5, 2024. Amendments in Minnesota can be put on the ballot through referral by the legislature or by a constitutional convention.
A majority of the members elected to each house of the legislature may propose amendments to the constitution. Proposed amendments are then published with the laws passed at the same session and submitted to the people for their approval or rejection at a general election. If a majority of all the electors voting at the election vote to ratify an amendment, it becomes part of the constitution.
If two or more amendments are submitted at the same time, voters vote for or against each separately. Two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the legislature may submit to the electors at the next general election the question of calling a convention to revise the constitution. If a majority of all the electors voting at the election vote for a convention, the legislature at its next session shall provide by law for calling the convention.
The constitution of the State of Minnesota 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 as the 32nd state. The state's constitution has served for almost 160 years and has not undergone significant revision, although there have been periodic proposals for a constitutional convention.
In 1971, the Minnesota State Legislature established a constitutional study commission to review the constitution and make recommendations to maintain its utility. After two years of study, the commission recommended that an amendment restructuring the constitution for easy reference and rewriting it in modern language be prepared. The amendment was introduced and passed in both houses, signed by the governor, and approved by the voters on November 5, 1974.
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Voters approved Amendment 1 in 2024
The Minnesota Constitution, first adopted in 1857, has been amended over 120 times. The state's constitution has served for almost 160 years and has not undergone significant revision, although there have been periodic proposals for a constitutional convention. The most recent amendment to the Minnesota Constitution was approved by voters on November 5, 2024, when voters approved Amendment 1.
The process of amending the Minnesota Constitution involves proposing amendments by a majority of the members elected to each house of the legislature. These proposed amendments are then presented to the people for their approval or rejection during a general election. If a majority of voters ratify an amendment, it becomes part of the constitution. This process was followed in the approval of Amendment 1 in 2024.
The Minnesota Constitution has a rich history, with its initial adoption marked by intense political disputes between Democratic and Republican delegates, resulting in two separate versions of the constitution. Despite these differences, both documents were approved by voters, and Minnesota had two original constitutions. Over the years, the constitution has been periodically reviewed and amended to ensure its relevance and accessibility.
The amendment process in Minnesota is exclusive to the legislature and does not include a process for initiated constitutional amendments. This means that any amendments to the state's constitution must be proposed and approved by the legislature, and ultimately ratified by the voters. The state's constitution outlines the framework for governance, including the powers, structure, and limitations of the state government, individual rights, and other significant matters.
The voters' approval of Amendment 1 in 2024 demonstrates the people's ongoing engagement in shaping their state's constitution and adapting it to meet contemporary needs. While the specific details of Amendment 1 are not publicly available at this time, its approval indicates the dynamic nature of the Minnesota Constitution and the state's commitment to a democratic process.
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Two original constitutions
The Constitution of the State of Minnesota was initially drafted in 1857 and ratified in 1858, marking the admittance of Minnesota to the Union. However, due to intense political divisions at the time, Minnesota ended up with two original constitutions.
In 1846, when Iowa became a state, Minnesota became an unorganized territory. In 1848, the settlers in the area that would become Minnesota held a convention in Stillwater and passed resolutions calling for Congress to establish a new territory named Minnesota. An election was held to choose a new territorial delegate to Congress, and Henry Hastings Sibley was elected. This marked the beginning of Minnesota as a territory. Congress responded to this request by passing the Organic Act of Minnesota, which established the territory and provided for its government.
The Organic Act served as the constitution for the Minnesota Territory from June 1849 until May 1858, when Minnesota became a state. The boundaries of the Minnesota Territory included the eastern half of the Dakotas to the Missouri River. The capital of the Minnesota Territory was St. Paul, which became the permanent state capital after an unsuccessful attempt was made in 1857 to move the capital to St. Peter.
In 1857, an election was held to select Republican and Democratic delegates to a state constitutional convention. However, tensions between the two parties were so high that they refused to meet in the same convention. Each party held separate sessions in different rooms of the first capitol building, and the two bodies never met jointly during the entire constitutional convention. The Republicans and Democrats each produced their own version of the constitution, which were nearly identical in content but differed in spelling, grammar, and style.
On August 28, 1857, a conference committee composed of members from each convention drafted a constitution that was acceptable to both parties. However, when it came time to sign the document, the bitterness between the parties was still so intense that they refused to sign the same copy. As a result, two separate constitutions were produced: one written on white paper and signed by Republicans, and the other on blue-tinted paper signed by Democrats.
Both constitutions were submitted to the voters of Minnesota Territory as required by the Enabling Act, and both were approved in an election held on October 13, 1857, with a vote of 30,055 for acceptance and 571 for rejection. The constitution was then ratified by the United States Senate on May 11, 1858, marking the official admittance of Minnesota as a state.
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Frequently asked questions
The Minnesota Constitution was first adopted on October 13, 1857.
The Minnesota Constitution has been amended 121 times, with nearly 120 amendments approved.
The Minnesota Constitution was most recently revised on November 5, 2024, when voters approved Amendment 1.
The most significant amendment was in 1974 when the constitution was restructured to simplify the document and make it easier for modern readers to comprehend.
Amendments can be put on the ballot through referral by the legislature or by a constitutional convention. A majority of voters must then approve the amendment for it to become part of the constitution.
