Minnesota Legislature
State Supreme Court rules 68 members constitutes a House quorum
By Mike Cook
One day after hearing arguments on both sides of the issue, the Minnesota Supreme Court has ruled that 68 members constitute a quorum in the House.
Per Friday’s ruling: “The quorum clause in Article IV, Section 13, of the Minnesota Constitution, requires a majority of the total number of seats of which each house may consist to constitute a quorum. Because under current statute, the total number of seats in the Minnesota House of Representatives is 134, a quorum under Article IV, § 13, is 68 members. We assume that the parties will now conform to this order without the necessity of issuing a formal writ.”
A quorum refers to the minimum number of members who must be present to conduct business.
“I thank the court for its promptness and clarity in this case,” Secretary of State Steve Simon said in a statement. “This was a closely contested legal issue, and for the first time in state history we now have a final answer on what constitutes a legislative quorum.”
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