Minnesota House of Representatives, State legislative chamber in Saint Paul, United States
The Minnesota House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the state's legislature, composed of 134 elected members from districts across Minnesota. Members meet in the north wing of the Capitol building in Saint Paul, where laws are drafted, debated, and brought to a vote.
The chamber was established in 1858 when Minnesota became a state, replacing the territorial government with a new constitution. From 1913 through 1973, members ran in nonpartisan elections and identified as Liberals or Conservatives rather than by party labels.
The name comes from the English word for those who represent others, as members speak for their respective electoral districts throughout the state. Visitors can watch legislators debate and vote during sessions, with cross-party cooperation often visible on local issues.
The chambers sit in the north wing of the Capitol, while committee hearings happen in the adjacent office building connected by a covered walkway. Visitors should dress warmly during winter months, as the historic architecture sometimes causes drafts in public corridors.
Four women took office at the same time when Mabeth Hurd Paige, Hannah Kempfer, Sue Metzger Dickey Hough, and Myrtle Cain became the first female members in 1922. This milestone marked a notable shift during an era when many legislatures remained exclusively male.
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