Forty-two years ago, two Minnesota political scientists concluded that “too little has been written and regularly published about the whys and ways of Minnesota’s political processes” (Gieske and Brandt 1977). The result of that conclusion was the preparation of Perspectives on Minnesota Government and Politics published in 1977. The original editors, Professors Gieske and Brandt, brought together political scientists across Minnesota and teaching at many college and university campuses to write about and explain the structure and institutions of Minnesota government, the input channels of Minnesota government and politics, and selected public policies in Minnesota. Over the years the editors changed, as did authors of the chapters. Two constants always existed: the texts informed college students in Minnesota about the workings of Minnesota government and politics and the text was on printed paper.

Today, Professors James Cottrill, Shawn Schooley, Steven Wagner, and Shoua Yang have produced and presented to you a new and much-changed version of the original text. The editors see this text as a fresh start and have named the text, Minnesota Government and Politics. Consistent with our modern times, the text is now electronic. Reaching back to the old days, the new text is committed to inform Minnesota college students about the whys and ways of the Minnesota government and politics. That said, the first section of the text focuses on the Minnesota Constitution, Legislature, Governor, Bureaucracy, and Local Governments. The second section offers readers insights into various “input channels” of Minnesota Politics, including chapters on public opinion, minority politics, campaign finance, rural politics, and women in politics. The third section focuses on public policies in Minnesota and includes discussion of public safety, emergency management, healthcare, the environment, and budgeting and taxation.