Overview of State and Federal Government

Introduction:
Our democratic system of government is separated into different levels and branches. There are three levels of government: 1) federal, 2) state, and 3) local. Each level functions to meet separate responsibilities. In addition, each level of government is made up of three separate branches: 1) the executive, 2) the legislative, and 3) the judicial. Each branch exercises individual authority in order to serve the people of the community, state, and nation.

Our system of “checks and balances” assures that no one part of government has specific power over another. Therefore, the responsibilities of each branch of government differ.

The Legislative Branch:
The legislative branch is responsible for the enactment and revision of laws. The United States Congress forms the laws at the national level, and the Minnesota Legislature is the lawmaking body for the State of Minnesota. Both Congress and the Minnesota Legislature consist of two bodies: a Senate and a House of Representatives. This two body system is referred to as a bicameral system.

The Executive Branch:
The executive branch administers and executes the laws passed by the legislative branch. The President of the United States is the chief executive at the federal level, and the Governor serves as the state's chief executive. They are aided by the officials appointed to head the various agencies and departments and by the other officials elected to the executive branch. For example the governor is assisted by the lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, state auditor, and attorney general.

The Judicial Branch:
The judicial branch enforces the laws and assures that the interpretation of the law is in accordance with the U.S. and state constitutions. The federal and state court systems compose the judicial branch for those two levels of government.

US Congress (US House of Representatives and US Senate -- Federal Law Making):
Many citizens confuse the elected officials who represent them in the state legislature with those who work for them in the U.S. Congress (Washington, DC). At the national (federal) level, every citizen is represented by three persons: two senators and one member of congress. While every state has two senators, the total number of members of congress representing each state varies in proportion to the state's population. In Minnesota, eight members are elected to the U.S. Congress. In all, the U.S. Senate has 100 senators and the U.S. House of Representatives has 435 members. Their responsibility is to concentrate on issues of national interest, such as Medicaid, federal tax policies, immigration laws and national defense. They are your voice in Washington, D.C.

State Legislature (MN House of Representatives and MN Senate -- State Law Making):
Citizens in every state also elect officials to represent them at the state level. Those elected to the state's lawmaking body, referred to as Legislators, work on state specific issues. The Minnesota Legislature has two governing bodies: 1) the Minnesota House of Representatives, and 2) Minnesota State Senate. The State of Minnesota is divided into 67 legislative districts each with a section A and B. There are about 73,000 people in each district. Voters elect one senator from each of those districts and one House member, or representative, from each section, making a total of 134 representatives. Examples of state law making includes funding the elementary and secondary education system, environment issues specific to Minnesota, setting state tax policy, and funding Minnesota health and human service programs.