Governor of Minnesota - Definition and Overview

The Governor of Minnesota is the chief executive of the U.S. state of Minnesota. Historically, there were also three governors of Minnesota Territory. Thirty-eight different people have been governors of the state. Another two distinct people were territorial governors, although three people took that role—Alexander Ramsey, the first territorial governor, also served as state governor several years later. State governors are elected to office by popular vote, but territorial governors were appointed to the office by the United States president.

At present, governors are elected to four-year terms, although the term has been just two years at some times in the past. The governor has a cabinet of consisting of the leaders of various state departments. The governor appoints these department heads. Cabinet-level departments include:

• Department of Administration
• Department of Agriculture
• Department of Commerce
• Department of Corrections
• Department of Education
• Department of Employee Relations
• Department of Employment and Economic Development
• Department of Finance
• Department of Health
• Department of Human Rights
• Department of Human Services
• Iron Range Resources
• Department of Labor & Industry
• Bureau of Mediation Services
• Metropolitan Council
• Department of Military Affairs
• Minnesota Higher Education Services Office
• Minnesota Housing Finance Agency
• Department of Natural Resources
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
• Department of Public Safety
• Department of Revenue
• Department of Transportation
• Department of Veterans Affairs

The governor's residence is located in St. Paul, at 1006 Summit Avenue.

See also

• Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota
• List of Governors of Minnesota
• List of Lieutenant Governors of Minnesota

External link

• Website of the governor and lieutenant governor (http://www.governor.state.mn.us/)