Text: From: Elizabeth Lincoln Sent: Saturday, May 18, 2019 1:56 PMTo: Cc: Reference Desk Subject: extra vs. specialThe name used in the House Journals, Senate Journals, and the Laws of Minnesota changed from "extra session" in 1971 to "special session" in 1979. (There were no special sessions between 1971 and 1979.)It doesn't appear that the use of extra was changed to special through a constitutional amendment or through the 1974 revision of the Constitution.There was a constitutional amendment on the ballot in 1962 that added the language, "A special session of the legislature may be called as otherwise provided by this constitution," in Article 4 section 1. Until the 1974 revision of the Constitution, there was a provision in Article V section 4 that mentions special sessions but not by a name: "He [the governor] may on extraordinary occasions convene both house of the legislature."Upon revision of the constitution in 1974 the language changed a little bit but continued using "special." Article 4 section 12 of the Constitution of the State of Minnesota stated, "A special session of the legislature may be called by the governor on extraordinary occasions."The Constitutional Study Commission's Legislative Branch Committee Report (1972) does not address this semantic difference and refers to special/extra sessions throughout the report as "special sessions."There are several statutory references to special/extra sessions and some of them have changed:"Extra session" was used in Minnesota Statute 4.03. when it was first introduced in 1858 and has not been changed."Special session" was used in Minnesota Statute 3.95 when it was first introduced in 1961."Special session" was used in Minnesota Statute 3.06 subdivision 2 when it was first introduced in 1987."Special session" was used in Minnesota Statute 3.073 when it was first introduced in 1978."Extra" was changed to "special" in Minnesota Statute 3.01 (renumbered Minnesota Statute 3.011) in 1988. (The word "extra" in this statute goes back to at least 1866. ) The 1988 change was part of a Revisor's bill, "revising the text of certain laws to remove redundant and obsolete language." I searched old newspapers online and in our paper newspaper files between 1971 and 1979 (when the switch seemed to happen) and I wasn't able to find any explanation. Also, throughout time, "extra" and "special" are used interchangeably, often in the same article.So, as far as I can tell, I think the switch from "extra session" to "special session" was based on custom and usage.Elizabeth LincolnMinnesota Legislative Reference Library645 State Office BuildingSt. Paul, Minnesota 55155651-296-0594elincoln@lrl.leg.mnhttps://www.leg.state.mn.us/lrl/lrl