HOW

GOVERNMENT WORKS
YOUR
Minnesotans vote for and are
represented by both a federal
and a state government. Both
levels of government are divided
into three branches: Executive,
Legislative, and Judicial. Below
outlines key government roles
and how elected officials are
brought into office.
Minnesota Catholic Conference guide for Minnesotans
To find your voting district based
on your residence and to see who
represents you in government, visit
the Minnesota Catholic Conference
websites Action Center. (Link)
Who represents you?
Legislative
Branch
Election: every 4 years
Who votes: citizens vote
for senators from their state
Senate district: (Link)
Term: 4 years when elected
on a year ending in 2 or 6;
2 years when elected on a
year ending in 0
Term limit: none
SENATE
(67 members)
Election: every 2 years
Who votes: citizens vote for
representatives from their
state House district. There are
two House districts per Senate
district: (Link)
Term: 2 years
Term limit: none
HOUSE OF
(134 members)
REPRESENTATIVES
Executive
Branch
Elections: every 4 years
Who votes: Minnesota citizens
Term limit: none
Responsibilities:
Signs or vetoes legislation
Chief executive for the
state
Appoints cabinet members
GOVERNOR
The State Government
Elections: every 4 years;
runs as ticket with state
gubernatorial candidate
Who votes: Minnesota
citizens
Term limit: none
Assumes offce in case
governor dies or is
incapacitated
LT. GOVERNOR
Appointed by governor upon
his or her election
Each commissioner heads
a state department (e.g.,
Department of Education)
CABINET
Elections: every 4 years
Who votes: Minnesota citizens
Term limit: none
Responsibilities:
Represents state in federal
and state courts
Legal advisor to the
government of the state
ATTORNEY
Judicial
Branch
Elections: every 6 years
Who votes: Minnesota citizens
Justices appointed by
governor if a vacancy opens in
the middle of a term
Term limit: none; justices
must retire at 70 years of age
SUPREME
COURT
GENERAL
OTHER
COURTS
District Courts 10 districts:
(Link)
Minnesota Court of Appeals
Minnesota Tax Court
Minnesota Workers
Compensation Court of
Appeals
Legislative
Branch
Elections: staggered; one
third of Senate is every 2
years; the rest is every 6
years
Who votes: citizens vote for
senators representing their
state
Term: 6 years
Term limit: none
Unique responsibilities:
Approves presidential
appointments
Ratifes treaties
Removes impeached
executive/judicial
offcers
SENATE
(100 members)
Elections: every 2 years
Who votes: citizens vote for
representatives from their
federal House district:
(Link)
Term: 2 years
Term limit: none
Unique responsibilities:
Impeach executive/
judicial offcers
(435 members)
Executive
Branch
Election: every 4 years
Who votes: citizens
indirectly through electoral
college
Term: 4 years
Term limit: 2 terms
Responsibilities:
Can veto bills passed by
Congress
Commands U.S. Armed
Forces
Appoints federal
executive offcers
Direct policy of federal
agencies
Nominate federal judges
Grant pardons to some
convicted persons
PRESIDENT
Federal Government
Election: every 4 years; runs
as a ticket with presidential
candidate
Who votes: citizens indirectly
through electoral college
Term: 4 years
Term limit: none
Responsibilities:
Preside over Senate
Vote as a member of Senate
in case of tie
Assumes presidency if
president dies or becomes
disabled
VICE PRESIDENT
Appointed by president
with the consent of the
majority of the Senate
Members head federal
executive agencies (e.g.,
FDA, IRA, EPA)
CABINET
Judicial
Branch
Appointed by president with
the consent of Senate
Term: life
Responsibilities:
Apply laws
Interpret laws
Determine
constitutionality of laws
SUPREME
COURT
OTHER
COURTS
Federal District Courts
Federal Circuit Courts
HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES
(2 per state)
(8 from Minnesota)
(Commander-in-Chief)
Member of cabinet
Responsibilities:
Chief law enforcement
offcer in U.S.
Chief lawyer to U.S.
government
ATTORNEY
GENERAL
Appointed by president
Responsibilities:
Advise the commander-
in-chief, the Homeland
Security Council, the
National Security
Council, and the
Secretary of Defense on
military affairs
Highest ranking military
offcer in the U.S. Armed
Forces
CHAIRMAN
OF JOINT CHIEFS
OF STAFF
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Writes laws
Overrides presidential vetoes
Sets budget
Levies taxes
Authorizes government borrowing
Declares wars
Organizes federal courts (except Supreme Court)
CONGRESSIONAL
RESPONSIBILITIES
A state legislature functions in essentially the same way as
the U.S. Congress except that they do so on a state level
working on issues that afect citizens of that particular state
rather than on national issues. (Link)