Democrats' Minnesota House Boycott Echoes Earlier Walkouts In Other States

Democrats in the Minnesota House who have boycotted daily sessions are using tactics that lawmakers around the country have tried at least two dozen times before to thwart their opponents. It's not even a first for the state.

Minnesota Democrats are trying to prevent Republicans from taking advantage of a temporary one-seat majority caused by a vacancy in a Democratic-leaning seat and have even asked the state Supreme Court to intervene. After a special election, the House likely will be tied at 67. The Senate is temporarily tied at 33, also because of a vacancy in a Democratic district.

In 1857 , the issue was Republicans' desire to move the Minnesota Territory's capital from St. Paul to a new city, St. Peter, about 75 miles 121 kilometers away. A Democratic lawmaker took physical possession of the bill and hid in a local hotel until it was too late to act on the measure.

Here are other notable moments of chaos and impasses in state legislatures over the past 170 years:

1863, Indiana: No legislature? No problem!