Oct 25, 2012

Rosenmeier forum

Wondering why we are voting on two Minnesota Constitutional Amendments this year?  Wondering what the process is to amend the state constitution?  Wondering what other states do?  The Gordon Rosenmeier Center for State & Local Government at Central Lakes College in Brainerd is sponsoring an educational forum on “Amending the Minnesota Constitution” from 7 – 9 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 1 in Chalberg Theatre on the Brainerd campus.

This forum explores the process of amending the Minnesota Constitution, and includes these topics:

·        Legislative process for amending the constitution

·        Legal requirements for amending the constitution

·        Prior history of amendments and attempted amendments, including those relating to voting and marriage

·        Involvement of interest groups

·        What other states are doing, particularly with similar ballot questions

·        Ramifications of amending the constitution instead of passing a law through the legislative process
Presenters include Mary Jane Morrison, a law professor at Hamline University Law School and an author of a book on the Minnesota Constitution; David Schultz, a senior fellow at the Institute of Law and Politics at the University of Minnesota Law School and a Hamline University professor in the School of Business and the School of Law; and Matt Gehring, an attorney and legislative analyst in the Research Department at the Minnesota House of Representatives.  Moderator will be Bruce Klopfleisch, Political Science Instructor at Central Lakes College.
This forum is free and open to the public.  Refreshments will be provided.