Since the state’s founding in 1858, Minnesotans have voted on 213 amendments to the state constitution, approving 120 of them. Some of the amendments have altered fundamentally the structure of the state government; others have been a bit more frivolous, including a failed 1914 effort to tax dog owners and use the revenue to compensate owners of other animals injured in dog attacks (one of 11 proposed amendments that year).
With this promiscuous history of emendation, Minnesotans eventually voted to make the process more stringent. In 1898, a key revision was made to the requirements for amending the constitution: Rather than requiring a “Yes” majority of the total votes cast on the amendment, amendments now require a majority of all the votes cast in the election — people who don’t vote on an amendment are effectively voting “No.”
The table below summarizes all the amendments considered by Minnesotans over the years. They are separated into eight thematic categories, displayed below, with the exception of the pending marriage amendment. For amendments prior to 1898, the approval percentage reflects the “Yes” votes compared to the total votes on the amendment. After 1898, it is the “Yes” percentage of all the votes cast in the election.
The source for the table is the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Click on the categories below to filter the table.
Structure of Government
Judicial Branch
Environment & Land Use
Gambling & Vice
Highways & Transit
Elections
Revenue & Spending
Economy
Show All| Year | Category | Purpose | Adopted | Approval | Ballot Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Civil Rights | To provide that only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota | (no data) | (no data) | 2011 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 88 |
| 2008 | Revenue & Spending | To protect our natural resources and preserve Minnesota’s arts and cultural heritage by increasing the sales and use tax rate beginning July 1, 2009, by three-eights of one percent on taxable sales until the year 2034 | Y | 55.99% | 2008 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 151 |
| 2006 | Highways & Transit | To dedicate the motor vehicle sales tax to highways and public transportation. | Y | 57.27% | 2005 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 88 |
| 1998 | Environment & Land Use | To extend use of lottery for environmental trust fund. | Y | 73.95% | 1998 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 342 |
| 1998 | Structure of Government | To abolish the office of state treasurer. | Y | 51.67% | 1998 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 387 (Art. 1 Sec. 3) |
| 1998 | Environment & Land Use | To preserve hunting and fishing heritage. | Y | 74.61% | 1998 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 392 |
| 1996 | Structure of Government | To provide for recall of elected state officials. | Y | 82.92% | 1996 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 469 |
| 1996 | Revenue & Spending | To authorize a bonus for Persian Gulf War veterans. | Y | 60.35% | 1996 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 429 |
| 1994 | Gambling & Vice | To permit off-track wagering on horse racing in a manner prescribed by law. | N | 46.88% | 1994 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 626 |
| 1990 | Revenue & Spending | To dedicate 40 percent of the state lottery proceeds to the environment and natural resources trust fund until the year 2001. | Y | 75.31% | 1990 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 610 |
| 1988 | Judicial Branch | To allow the use of juries of fewer 12 members in civil and nonfelony cases. | Y | 56.74% | 1988 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 716 |
| 1988 | Environment & Land Use | To establish a Minnesota Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund for environmental, natural resources, and wildlife purposes. | Y | 77.41% | 1988 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 690 |
| 1988 | Revenue & Spending | To permit the legislature to authorize a lottery operated by the state. | Y | 57.13% | 1988 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 690 |
| 1984 | Environment & Land Use | To allow the exchange of state-owned lands for other lands owned by state or local governments. | Y | 55.65% | 1984 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 643 |
| 1984 | Revenue & Spending | To remove restrictions on the investment of the permanent school fund and to allow the limits on the investment of the fund and the apportionment of the returns on the investment to school districts to be set by law. | Y | 53.88% | 1984 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 482 |
| 1982 | Structure of Government | To allow the creation of a court of appeals. | Y | 71.08% | 1982 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 501 |
| 1982 | Highways & Transit | To remove restrictions on the interest rate for and the amount of trunk highway bonds. | Y | 60.13% | 1982 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 510 |
| 1982 | Gambling & Vice | To permit the legislature to authorize on-track pari-mutuel betting on horse racing. | Y | 60.40% | 1982 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 518 |
| 1982 | Revenue & Spending | To provide state bonding authority for the improvement and rehabilitation of railroad facilities. | Y | 65.48% | 1982 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 600 |
| 1980 | Elections | To require campaign spending limits for executive and legislative offices and public disclosure of campaign spending for all state candidates. | Y | 70.09% | 1980 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 587 |
| 1980 | Revenue & Spending | To remove restrictions on the interest rate for and the amount of highway bonds. | N | 46.37% | 1980 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 549 |
| 1980 | Structure of Government | To remove requirement of senate approval for notaries public. | N | 45.44% | 1980 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 592 |
| 1980 | Elections | To establish a bipartisan reapportionment commission. | N | 49.85% | 1980 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 588 |
| 1980 | Elections | To establish initiative and referendum. | N | 46.67% | 1980 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 587 |
| 1976 | Highways & Transit | To permit proceeds from increases in motor fuel taxes to be placed in the general fund; to remove restrictions on interest rate for and amount of highway bonds. | N | 27.93% | 1975 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 203 |
| 1974 | Structure of Government | To revise organization and language of constitution. | Y | 62.88% | 1974 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 409 |
| 1974 | Elections | To ease vote requirement for amending constitution. | N | 49.28% | 1974 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 457 |
| 1974 | Revenue & Spending | To allow legislature to determine railroad taxes. | Y | 57.19% | 1974 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 467 |
| 1972 | Structure of Government | To allow flexible legislative sessions. | Y | 54.58% | 1971 1st Sp. Sess Laws of Minnesota Chapter 26 |
| 1972 | Judicial Branch | To reorganize the state judicial system; to provide for appointment of clerks of district court; to authorize discipline and removal of | Y | 57.10% | 1971 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 957 |
| 1972 | Elections | To provide for the joint election of the governor and lieutenant governor; to remove the lieutenant governor as the presiding officer of the senate. | Y | 60.02% | 1971 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 958 |
| 1972 | Revenue & Spending | To authorize bonus payment for Vietnam veterans. | Y | 63.81% | 1971 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 959 |
| 1970 | Elections | To reduce voting age requirement from 21 to 19 years; to provide an age requirement of 21 years to hold public office. | Y | 50.45% | 1969 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 996 |
| 1970 | Revenue & Spending | To authorize the legislature to define or limit categories of tax-exempt property. | Y | 69.84% | 1969 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 925 |
| 1968 | Structure of Government | To allow legislators to assume another elective or appointive office upon resignation from the legislature. | Y | 63.20% | 1967 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 869 |
| 1968 | Structure of Government | To allow legislature to present bills to governor within three days after legislature adjourns; allowing governor 14 days to sign or veto such bills. | Y | 65.21% | 1967 1st Sp. Sess Laws of Minnesota Chapter 51 |
| 1966 | Elections | To allow legislators to seek election to other offices and to provide resignation procedure for legislators. | N | 43.89% | 1965 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 689 |
| 1964 | Revenue & Spending | To prevent amendment or repeal of taconite tax policies for 25 years; to authorize legislature to impose limitations for not more than 25 years on taxation of copper and nickel mining. | Y | 80.23% | 1963 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 99 |
| 1964 | Structure of Government | To remove obsolete language from constitution. | Y | 68.71% | 1963 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 870 |
| 1962 | Revenue & Spending | To consolidate the swamp land fund and the permanent school fund; to set distribution requirements and investment restrictions. | Y | 65.39% | 1961 1st Sp. Sess Laws of Minnesota Chapter 14 |
| 1962 | Revenue & Spending | To allow state to contract long- and short-term debts for public improvements upon approval of 3/5 of both houses of the legislature. | Y | 57.46% | 1961 1st Sp. Sess Laws of Minnesota Chapter 99 |
| 1962 | Structure of Government | To remove restrictions on length of legislative sessions. | Y | 55.76% | 1961 1st Sp. Sess Laws of Minnesota Chapter 100 |
| 1960 | Structure of Government | To extend the legislative session; to restrict the time during which bills can be introduced; to set qualifications for legislators running for other elective offices. | N | 48.39% | 1959 1st Sp. Sess Laws of Minnesota Chapter 89 |
| 1960 | Structure of Government | To allow an extra legislative session for reapportionment if reapportionment is not completed during the regular session. | N | 38.09% | 1959 1st Sp. Sess Laws of Minnesota Chapter 47 |
| 1960 | Structure of Government | To provide for succession to the office of governor: to provide for continuity of government in emergencies caused by enemy attack. | Y | 61.77% | 1959 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 680 |
| 1960 | Elections | To prescribe the place where a person moving to a new precinct within 30 days before an election may vote; eliminating obsolete provisions on the voting rights of persons of Indian blood. | Y | 62.96% | 1959 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 696 |
| 1958 | Structure of Government | To authorize the legislature to revise and consolidate provisions relating to local government, home rule and special laws. | Y | 60.48% | 1957 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 809 |
| 1958 | Structure of Government | To provide for four-year terms for state constitutional officers to take effect for terms beginning in 1963. | Y | 54.48% | 1957 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 813 |
| 1958 | Structure of Government | To permit members of the legislature to hold certain elective and nonelective state offices. | N | 48.89% | 1957 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 922 |
| 1956 | Highways & Transit | To authorize the consolidation of present trunk highway articles and sections, to increase state aid and supervision of public highways; to permit tax of motor vehicles and fuel; to apportion funds for highway purposes 62-29-9 to state and local highways. | Y | 73.42% | 1955 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 882 |
| 1956 | Revenue & Spending | To authorize the legislature to divert 50% of the occupation mining tax proceeds earmarked for education from permanent trust funds to current educational needs. | Y | 75.12% | 1955 1st Sp. Sess Laws of Minnesota Chapter 6 |
| 1956 | Judicial Branch | To permit the legislature to reorganize the judicial power of the state. | Y | 65.10% | 1955 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 881 |
| 1954 | Judicial Branch | To permit legislature to extend probate jurisdiction by a 2/3 vote. | Y | 52.23% | 1953 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 759 |
| 1954 | Judicial Branch | To authorize the legislature to limit the liability of stockholders of state banks. | Y | 53.47% | 1953 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 760 |
| 1954 | Structure of Government | To provide for a 60% popular vote before a new state constitution can be ratified and to remove constitutional bar precluding members of the legislature from serving in a constitutional convention. | Y | 54.69% | 1953 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 761 |
| 1954 | Elections | To permit gubernatorial appointments in case of vacancy in certain offices to run until end of term or January 1 to eliminate need for election to short terms. | Y | 54.47% | 1953 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 762 |
| 1952 | Revenue & Spending | To authorize a change in the investment and loan requirements governing permanent school and university funds. | N | 41.39% | 1951 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 721 |
| 1952 | Structure of Government | To provide for a 60% popular majority of voters voting on the question before a new state constitution can be considered legally ratified by the electorate. | N | 44.96% | 1951 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 722 |
| 1952 | Elections | To clarify meaning of who shall be entitled to vote. | N | 49.08% | 1951 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 723 |
| 1952 | Judicial Branch | To permit legislature to extend probate jurisdiction by a 2/3 vote. | N | 44.28% | 1951 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 724 |
| 1952 | Highways & Transit | To provide for a 65-10-25 apportionment of excise tax on motor vehicles. | N | 39.74% | 1951 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 725 |
| 1950 | Revenue & Spending | To authorize forestry management funds by diverting certain proceeds (25%) from the public land trust fund. | N | 34.37% | 1949 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 746 |
| 1950 | Revenue & Spending | To authorize diversion of 1% of the proceeds of the occupation mining tax to the veterans’ compensation fund. | Y | 55.63% | 1949 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 643 |
| 1950 | Highways & Transit | To provide for a 50-44-6 apportionment of the excise tax on petroleum products. | N | 39.38% | 1949 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 747 |
| 1948 | Highways & Transit | To provide for 50-50 apportionment of excise tax on petroleum products. | N | 42.50% | 1947 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 639 |
| 1948 | Elections | To authorize submission of two or more amendments without requiring voters to vote | N | 25.41% | 1947 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 640 |
| 1948 | Structure of Government | To authorize 2/3 of the legislature to call for a constitutional convention without submitting the question to the voters. | N | 23.44% | 1947 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 641 |
| 1948 | Revenue & Spending | To authorize the state to pay a veterans’ bonus. | Y | 52.85% | 1947 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 642 |
| 1944 | Highways & Transit | To authorize state construction and operation of airports; to authorize taxes on aircraft fuel and aircraft sales. | Y | 61.66% | 1943 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 666 |
| 1942 | Revenue & Spending | To change requirements for investment or loan of permanent school and permanent university funds. | Y | 50.72% | 1941 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 171 |
| 1942 | Structure of Government | To simplify and reduce the expense of publishing amendments to city and village charters. | Y | 56.21% | 1941 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 135 |
| 1940 | Structure of Government | To change requirements for publication of proposed amendments to city and village charters. | N | 48.85% | 1939 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 447 |
| 1938 | Environment & Land Use | To authorize the legislature to exchange state public lands for federal lands. | Y | 53.20% | 1937 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 492 |
| 1938 | Structure of Government | To change requirements for publication of proposed amendments to city and village charters. | N | 42.66% | 1937 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 493 |
| 1936 | Environment & Land Use | To authorize the legislature to exchange state public lands for federal lands. | N | 38.56% | 1935 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 393 |
| 1936 | Revenue & Spending | To exempt personal property from state tax. | N | 30.54% | 1935 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 394 |
| 1934 | Revenue & Spending | To define “academies, colleges, universities and seminaries of learning” to mean, for tax purposes, property actually used in instruction and housing of students. | N | 44.38% | 1933 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 444 |
| 1934 | Highways & Transit | To authorize legislature to add new routes to trunk highway system. | N | 47.83% | 1933 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 439 |
| 1934 | Revenue & Spending | To authorize taxation of lands acquired through rural credit system. | N | 46.60% | 1933 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 441 |
| 1934 | Revenue & Spending | To exempt all household goods and farm machinery and equipment from taxation. | Y | 59.20% | 1933 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 442 |
| 1934 | Environment & Land Use | To authorize the legislature to exchange state public lands for federal lands. | N | 44.03% | 1933 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 443 |
| 1932 | Revenue & Spending | To authorize taxation of income, franchises and privileges of railroad companies; to authorize legislation to make taxation of national banking associations conform to federal law. | N | 39.85% | 1931 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 420 |
| 1932 | Highways & Transit | To authorize taxation of motor vehicles of companies paying taxes under the gross earnings taxation system. | Y | 50.97% | 1931 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 418 |
| 1932 | Environment & Land Use | To authorize the legislature to exchange state public lands for federal lands. | N | 41.16% | 1931 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 417 |
| 1932 | Revenue & Spending | To authorize the taxation of lands acquired through rural credit system. | N | 44.40% | 1931 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 419 |
| 1930 | Judicial Branch | To provide two elective associate supreme court justices to replace appointed court commissioners. | Y | 51.67% | 1929 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 430 |
| 1930 | Environment & Land Use | To authorize the legislature to exchange state public lands for federal lands. | N | 45.72% | 1929 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 431 |
| 1930 | Judicial Branch | To authorize the legislature to limit the liability of stockholders in corporations. | Y | 58.77% | 1929 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 429 |
| 1928 | Highways & Transit | To place revenue generated by motor fuel tax 2/3 in trunk highway fund and 1/3 in bridge fund. | Y | 50.72% | 1927 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 445 |
| 1928 | Judicial Branch | To authorize the legislature to limit the liability of stockholders in corporations. | N | 47.28% | 1927 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 444 |
| 1926 | Judicial Branch | To fix the number of justices on the state supreme court. | N | 45.93% | 1925 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 428 |
| 1926 | Environment & Land Use | To authorize enactment of laws promoting forestation and reforestation of public and private lands. | Y | 52.99% | 1925 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 427 |
| 1926 | Judicial Branch | To authorize the legislature to limit the liability of stockholders in corporations. | N | 44.73% | 1925 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 429 |
| 1924 | Highways & Transit | To place revenue generated by excise taxes on motor fuels in trunk highway fund. | Y | 59.92% | 1923 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 447 |
| 1924 | Structure of Government | To change requirements for publication of proposed amendments to city and village charters. | N | 28.35% | 1923 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 448 |
| 1924 | Environment & Land Use | To establish state-owned and operated public terminal grain elevators. | N | 29.19% | 1923 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 449 |
| 1924 | Environment & Land Use | To authorize enactment of laws promoting forestation and reforestation of public and private lands, including irrepealable provisions for forest land tax and a yield tax on timber products. | N | 49.29% | 1923 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 450 |
| 1924 | Environment & Land Use | To authorize state expenditure to prevent forest fires, including compulsory taxation, clearing and improvement of public and private wild lands. | Y | 53.04% | 1923 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 451 |
| 1922 | Revenue & Spending | To establish a state rural credit system to aid agricultural development. | Y | 74.77% | 1921 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 528 |
| 1922 | Revenue & Spending | To tax mining of iron and other ores. | Y | 66.43% | 1921 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 529 |
| 1920 | Highways & Transit | To provide a state trunk highway system. | Y | 66.04% | 1919 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 530 |
| 1920 | Judicial Branch | To extend terms of probate judges to four years. | Y | 56.01% | 1919 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 531 |
| 1920 | Revenue & Spending | To authorize state income tax and to change provisions on tax-exempt property. | N | 41.49% | 1919 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 532 |
| 1918 | Gambling & Vice | To prohibit the manufacture and the sale of liquor. | N | 49.82% | 1917 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 515 |
| 1916 | Revenue & Spending | To authorized a revolving fund for improving state school and swamp lands. | Y | 57.90% | 1915 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 379 |
| 1916 | Revenue & Spending | To authorize investment of school and university funds in first mortgages on improved farms. | Y | 50.82% | 1915 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 380 |
| 1916 | Environment & Land Use | To authorize the state to mine ore under public waters. | N | 44.11% | 1915 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 381 |
| 1916 | Judicial Branch | To increase number of justices of supreme court, and to authorize the court to appoint its own clerk. | N | 31.32% | 1915 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 382 |
| 1916 | Structure of Government | To authorize the governor to cut down items in appropriation bills. | N | 32.84% | 1915 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 383 |
| 1916 | Environment & Land Use | To authorize condemnation of private lands for construction of private drainage ditches. | N | 31.89% | 1915 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 384 |
| 1916 | Elections | To establish initiative and referendum. | N | 45.10% | 1915 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 385 |
| 1916 | Judicial Branch | To extend terms of probate judges to four years. | N | 44.89% | 1915 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 386 |
| 1914 | Elections | To establish initiative and referendum. | N | 47.07% | 1913 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 584 |
| 1914 | Judicial Branch | To increase number of justices of supreme court, and to authorize the court to appoint its clerk. | N | 35.68% | 1913 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 585 |
| 1914 | Revenue & Spending | To authorize a revolving fund for improving state school and swamp lands. | N | 45.66% | 1913 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 586 |
| 1914 | Structure of Government | To repeal the requirement as to publication of treasurer’s report annually in a St. Paul newspaper and also in the biennial session laws. | N | 36.76% | 1913 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 587 |
| 1914 | Revenue & Spending | To authorize investment of school and university funds in first mortgages on improved farms. | N | 44.70% | 1913 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 588 |
| 1914 | Judicial Branch | To extend terms of probate judges to four years. | N | 36.03% | 1913 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 589 |
| 1914 | Structure of Government | To limit size of state senate and number of senators from any county. | N | 27.50% | 1913 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 590 |
| 1914 | Elections | To authorize the recall by the voters of “every public official in Minnesota, elective or appointive.” | N | 39.17% | 1913 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 593 |
| 1914 | Revenue & Spending | To authorize special dog taxes and use of proceeds to compensate owners of animals injured by dogs. | N | 38.29% | 1913 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 594 |
| 1914 | Environment & Land Use | To authorize state bounties for reforestation | N | 30.36% | 1913 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 591 |
| 1914 | Environment & Land Use | To authorize certain public lands to be set aside as state forests | Y | 50.14% | 1913 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 592 |
| 1912 | Revenue & Spending | To authorize a one mill state tax for roads and bridges and to permit state to assume entire cost of any project. | Y | 55.97% | 1911 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 390 |
| 1912 | Revenue & Spending | To authorize state hail insurance. | N | 41.52% | 1911 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 391 |
| 1912 | Revenue & Spending | To authorize investment of school and university funds in first mortgages on improved farms. | N | 48.17% | 1911 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 392 |
| 1912 | Structure of Government | To amend the municipal home rule clause to authorize commission government and for other purposes. | N | 44.92% | 1911 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 393 |
| 1912 | Structure of Government | To authorize legislature to establish educational qualifications for county superintendents of schools. | N | 48.04% | 1911 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 394 |
| 1912 | Structure of Government | To limit size of state senate and number of senators from any county. | N | 35.02% | 1911 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 395 |
| 1910 | Revenue & Spending | To permit state to assume half the cost of any road or bridge project. | Y | 51.50% | 1909 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 506 |
| 1910 | Structure of Government | To repeal the requirement as to publication of treasurer’s report annually in a St. Paul newspaper and also in the biennial session laws. | N | 39.91% | 1909 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 507 |
| 1910 | Revenue & Spending | To authorize state hail insurance. | N | 35.12% | 1909 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 508 |
| 1910 | Structure of Government | To authorize reapportionment of legislative representation at any time. | N | 30.69% | 1909 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 509 |
| 1910 | Environment & Land Use | To authorize and require an annual state tax for reforestation work. | N | 32.30% | 1909 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 510 |
| 1910 | Environment & Land Use | To authorize tax exemptions to encourage reforestation. | N | 28.35% | 1909 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 511 |
| 1908 | Revenue & Spending | To limit the exemption of church property from taxation to that “used for religious purposes.” | N | 37.76% | 1907 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 477 |
| 1908 | Revenue & Spending | To permit unlimited state taxation for road and bridge purposes. | N | 43.41% | 1907 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 478 |
| 1908 | Revenue & Spending | To authorize state hail insurance. | N | 38.76% | 1907 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 479 |
| 1908 | Structure of Government | To authorize legislature to establish educational qualifications for county superintendents of schools. | N | 47.79% | 1907 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 480 |
| 1906 | Revenue & Spending | To simplify the taxing provisions by a “wide open” section. | Y | 54.88% | 1905 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 168 |
| 1906 | Revenue & Spending | To increase state road and bridge tax, and to | Y | 49.89% | 1905 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 212 |
| 1906 | Structure of Government | To permit farmers to sell their produce without licenses. | Y | 67.13% | 1905 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 283 |
| 1904 | Revenue & Spending | To increase debt limit of municipalities borrowing school and university funds. | Y | 59.10% | 1903 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 25 |
| 1904 | Judicial Branch | To abolish the requirement of a grand jury. | Y | 50.84% | 1903 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 269 |
| 1902 | Revenue & Spending | To increase state road and bridge tax, and to eliminate restrictions on expenditure of fund. | N | 41.64% | 1902 1st Sp. Sess Laws of Minnesota Chapter 1 |
| 1902 | Revenue & Spending | To increase debt limit of municipalities borrowing permanent school funds. | N | 42.30% | 1902 1st Sp. Sess Laws of Minnesota Chapter 1 |
| 1902 | Revenue & Spending | To simplify the taxing provisions of the constitution. | N | 45.13% | 1902 1st Sp. Sess Laws of Minnesota Chapter 1 |
| 1900 | Revenue & Spending | To increase debt limit of municipalities borrowing permanent school funds. | N | 34.59% | 1899 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 92 |
| 1898 | Elections | To permit women to vote for and serve on library boards. | Y | 62.15% | 1897 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 175 |
| 1898 | Structure of Government | To make it more difficult to amend constitution. | Y | 67.97% | 1897 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 185 |
| 1898 | Structure of Government | To amend the municipal home rule section. | Y | 68.19% | 1897 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 280 |
| 1898 | Highways & Transit | To provide state road and bridge fund. | Y | 64.82% | 1897 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 333 |
| 1896 | Judicial Branch | To take pardoning power from governor and to confer it on a pardon board. | Y | 74.30% | 1895 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 2 |
| 1896 | Elections | To prohibit aliens from voting. | Y | 65.13% | 1895 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 3 |
| 1896 | Structure of Government | To authorize home rule for cities. | Y | 64.74% | 1895 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 4 |
| 1896 | Revenue & Spending | To require compensation for property destroyed or damaged for public use. | Y | 64.03% | 1895 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 5 |
| 1896 | Revenue & Spending | To permit cities, towns and villages, as well as counties and school districts, to borrow school and university funds. | Y | 77.87% | 1895 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 6 |
| 1896 | Revenue & Spending | To provide flexible system for taxing large corporations. | Y | 79.23% | 1895 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 7 |
| 1894 | Revenue & Spending | To authorize inheritance taxes. | Y | 72.43% | 1893 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 1 |
| 1892 | Structure of Government | To extend and strengthen the prohibition against special legislation. | Y | 79.85% | 1891 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 1 |
| 1892 | Revenue & Spending | To authorize various gross earnings taxes and a tonnage tax on iron ore. | N | 39.16% | 1891 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 2 |
| 1890 | Judicial Branch | To provide for verdicts by 5/6 of jury in civil cases. | Y | 61.82% | 1889 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 1 |
| 1888 | Economy | To prohibit the monopolization of the markets of food products. | Y | 93.72% | 1887 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 1 |
| 1888 | Economy | To guarantee the payment of liens of workmen and material-men out of exempted property. | Y | 75.98% | 1887 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 2 |
| 1888 | Structure of Government | To extend biennial sessions of legislature to 90 days each. | Y | 73.91% | 1887 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 3 |
| 1886 | Revenue & Spending | To provide for loans of state school funds to counties and school districts. | Y | 88.01% | 1885 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 1 |
| 1883 | Structure of Government | To make auditor’s term four years, to conform to system of biennial elections. | Y | 75.33% | 1883 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 1 |
| 1883 | Structure of Government | To establish the official year and to provide for a system of biennial elections. | Y | 75.89% | 1883 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 2 |
| 1883 | Judicial Branch | To make term of clerk of supreme court four instead of three years. | Y | 75.39% | 1883 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 3 |
| 1883 | Judicial Branch | To make terms of justices of supreme court six instead of seven years. | Y | 75.39% | 1883 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 3 |
| 1883 | Judicial Branch | To make terms of district judges six instead of seven years. | Y | 75.39% | 1883 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 3 |
| 1881 | Revenue & Spending | To authorize levy of water-mains assessments on a frontage basis. | Y | 65.65% | 1881 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 1 |
| 1881 | Structure of Government | To remove time limitations from sessions of legislature. | N | (no data) | 1881 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 2 |
| 1881 | Revenue & Spending | To regulate compensation of legislators. | N | (no data) | 1881 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 2 |
| 1881 | Structure of Government | To prohibit special legislation on certain subjects. | Y | 87.10% | 1881 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 3 |
| 1881 | Revenue & Spending | To provide for sale of swamp lands and appropriation of proceeds of swamp land funds. | Y | 86.01% | 1881 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 4 |
| 1879 | Revenue & Spending | To restrict issuance of county, town, and municipal bonds to aid railroads. | Y | 96.99% | 1879 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 1 |
| 1877 | Structure of Government | To establish biennial sessions of legislature. | Y | 64.59% | 1877 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 1 |
| 1877 | Structure of Government | To extend terms of representatives and senators to two and four years, respectively. | Y | 56.85% | 1877 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 1 |
| 1877 | Structure of Government | To provide for state canvassing board. | Y | 62.32% | 1877 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 1 |
| 1877 | Elections | To authorize women to vote in local option elections. | N | 44.54% | 1877 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 2 |
| 1877 | Judicial Branch | To establish single liability for stockholders in all corporations except banks. | N | 48.41% | 1877 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 4 |
| 1877 | Revenue & Spending | To authorize sale of internal improvement lands and use of proceeds to pay railroad bonds. | N | 22.65% | 1877 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 5 |
| 1877 | Revenue & Spending | To prohibit use of state school funds to support sectarian schools. | Y | 68.82% | 1877 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 3 |
| 1876 | Structure of Government | To authorize governor to veto items of appropriation bills. | Y | 91.44% | 1876 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 1 |
| 1876 | Judicial Branch | To establish single liability for stockholders in all corporations except banks. | N | 48.76% | 1876 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 2 |
| 1876 | Judicial Branch | To authorize district judges to sit on supreme bench when supreme court justices disqualified. | Y | 87.14% | 1876 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 3 |
| 1875 | Judicial Branch | To provide for an indefinite number of judges in each judicial district. | Y | 54.90% | 1875 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 1 |
| 1875 | Elections | To authorize the legislature to grant women suffrage in school affairs. | Y | 55.56% | 1875 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 2 |
| 1875 | Revenue & Spending | To prescribe manner in which school funds could be invested. | Y | 73.22% | 1875 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 3 |
| 1875 | Judicial Branch | To establish single liability for stockholders in ordinary business corporations. | N | 38.74% | 1875 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 4 |
| 1873 | Structure of Government | To provide for biennial sessions of the legislature. | N | 30.63% | 1873 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 3 |
| 1873 | Structure of Government | To extend terms of representatives and senators to two and four years, respectively. | N | 32.43% | 1873 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 3 |
| 1873 | Structure of Government | To provide for state canvassing board. | N | 32.04% | 1873 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 3 |
| 1873 | Revenue & Spending | To provide more effectively for the safekeeping of public funds. | Y | 83.31% | 1873 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 4 |
| 1872 | Revenue & Spending | To authorize state loan for asylum buildings. | Y | 52.03% | 1872 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 11 |
| 1872 | Judicial Branch | To exempt stockholders in manufacturing or mechanical businesses from double liability. | Y | 51.44% | 1872 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 12 |
| 1872 | Revenue & Spending | To restrict issuance of county, town, and municipal bonds to aid railroads. | Y | 78.17% | 1872 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 13 |
| 1872 | Revenue & Spending | To provide for sale of internal improvement lands. | Y | 92.75% | 1872 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 14 |
| 1871 | Revenue & Spending | To require popular approval of changes in railroad gross earnings tax law. | Y | 81.94% | 1871 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 18 |
| 1871 | Revenue & Spending | To authorize state loan for asylum buildings. | N | 14.15% | 1871 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 19 |
| 1870 | Judicial Branch | To exempt holders of railroad stock from double liability. | N | 39.91% | 1870 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 21 |
| 1869 | Structure of Government | To abolish Manomin county. | Y | 88.91% | 1869 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 50 |
| 1869 | Structure of Government | To authorize special assessments for local improvements. | Y | 91.23% | 1869 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 51 |
| 1868 | Elections | To authorize Negroes to vote. | Y | 56.73% | 1868 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 106 |
| 1868 | Judicial Branch | To abolish requirement of grand jury. | N | 32.58% | 1868 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 107 |
| 1868 | Revenue & Spending | To authorize sale of 500,000 acres of internal improvement lands and investment of proceeds in state or national securities. | N | 40.31% | 1868 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 108 |
| 1867 | Elections | To authorize Negroes to vote. | N | 48.83% | 1867 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 25 |
| 1867 | Revenue & Spending | To subject shares in state and national banks to state taxation. | N | 20.29% | 1867 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 118 |
| 1865 | Elections | To authorize Negroes to vote. | N | 45.30% | 1865 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 57 |
| 1860 | Structure of Government | To limit legislative sessions to 60 days. | Y | 97.81% | 1860 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 22 |
| 1860 | Revenue & Spending | To require popular approval of tax to pay railroad bonds: to repeal the $5 million amendment. | Y | 96.17% | 1860 Concurrent Resolution 1 |
| 1858 | Revenue & Spending | To authorize $5 million railroad loan. | Y | 78.80% | 1858 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 1 |
| 1858 | Structure of Government | To establish state government May 1, 1858. | Y | 78.80% | 1858 Laws of Minnesota Chapter 2 |
'Scale' symbol by The Noun Project, 'Leaf' symbol by Fellipe Silva, 'Capitol' symbol by John Keating, 'Dice' symbol by The Noun Project, from The Noun Project collection.
