Summary
The Wisconsin Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The Legislature is a bicameral body composed of the upper house Wisconsin State Senate and the lower Wisconsin State Assembly, both of which have had Republican majorities since January 2011. With both houses combined, the legislature has 132 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. The Legislature convenes at the state capitol in Madison.
The current sitting is the 105th Wisconsin Legislature.
Source: Wikipedia
OnAir Post: WI Legislature
News
Eight bills offered to deal with shortages of affordable housing in Wisconsin advanced from an Assembly committee Tuesday on votes that mostly split along party lines.
Two of the measures, however, received unanimous support in the 10-member Assembly Housing and Real Estate Committee: AB-607, creating a new housing rehabilitation loan program in the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA), and AB-609, which would authorize local housing investment fund programs.
One of the committee’s three Democrats, Rep. Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (D-Milwaukee), joined the Republican majority on a third bill, AB-610, which passed 8-2. That would change how local communities assess the property values of certain residential properties, especially rentals.
That legislation was proposed as a way to encourage the development of more affordable rental properties. But it was also widely criticized by municipal officials for throwing aside a variety of long-standing assessment principles.
On three other bills, Rep. Scott Allen (R-Waukesha), the committee’s vice-chair, split from fellow Republicans to vote with all the Democrats in opposition. They all passed the committee 6-4.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A three-judge panel of federal judges has granted the Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature’s request to intervene in a redistricting lawsuit brought by Democrats.
A request by the Legislature to intervene in a second similar redistricting case, brought by voting advocacy groups, is pending. The court said its preference would be to consolidate the two cases and asked those involved to show by Sept. 7 why that should not be done.
On Monday, Wisconsin’s five Republican congressmen also asked to intervene in the case brought by Democrats. The congressmen, just as the Legislature did, want the case to be dismissed. The motion was filed by U.S. Reps. Scott Fitzgerald, Mike Gallagher, Glenn Grothman, Bryan Steil and Tom Tiffany.
A third redistricting lawsuit, brought by conservatives, is pending before the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which has not yet said whether it will take it or require it to first go through lower state courts.
Wisconsin Examiner, – June 4, 2021
“This is our chance for transformation,” Rep. David Bowen (D-Milwaukee) said during a press conference at the Capitol announcing a new package of police reform bills. Dubbed “Enough Is Enough,” the package contains ambitious proposals that respond to the calls of Wisconsin residents who have marched in the streets over the past year.
Speaking in front of a crowd of about 30 activists, elected officials and community leaders at the State Capitol, Bowen introduced his bills — saying they were building on, not negating, recent proposals that came out of Assembly Speaker Robin Vos’ Task Force on Racial Disparities.
After the task force announced its recommendations, which were the product of deliberation between Republicans, Democrats, law enforcement officials and activists, a large group of advocates denounced them for not going far enough to protect people of color.
Angela Lang speaks at a press conference introducing Democratic bills on police reform (Henry Redman | Wisconsin Examiner)
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Wisconsin Examiner, – June 2, 2021
Instances of illegal voting in the 2020 presidential election, whether by convicted felons casting a ballot or other violations of election law, occurred a miniscule number of times, according to a report by the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC).
On Wednesday, the six-member body held its quarterly meeting to address the commission’s reports on voting irregularities and felons voting. The body also discussed upgrades to electronic voting systems and heard from staff on the commission’s plans for improving the system in the down time before the next major election cycle in 2022.
The reports on fraudulent voting came as false allegations that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from former President Donald Trump continue to run rampant through the Republican party in Wisconsin and across the country.
About
Source: Wikipedia
History
The land that would become Wisconsin became part of the United States in 1783 and was first organized under the Northwest Ordinance. It became the Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and the state of Wisconsin on May 29, 1848.[3] The 1850s saw an influx of European immigrants.
Women’s rights groups in support of temperance and suffrage formed in Wisconsin in the 1860s. The Wisconsin Women’s Suffrage Association was formed in 1869. Suffrage bills were introduced in 1855 and 1867 but both failed. However, the state legislature did pass a law allowing women to run for school boards and elective school offices in 1869. It was not until June 10, 1919, that Wisconsin became the first state to ratify the 19th amendment granting national suffrage to women.
Wisconsin was dominated alternately by the Republican and Progressive parties in the first century of its existence, but has been more competitive since then. The Republicans gained majority control in both houses in the 1995 Legislature, the first time since 1969. In 2009, the Democratic Party gained control of both houses for the first time since 1993.
The Republican Party took back control of both houses in 2011. Governor Scott Walker then signed a new redistricting plan. In 2012 elections, Democrats won a majority of the vote but Republicans retained control of the legislature, taking 60 of the 99 seats in the Assembly. In the 2016 Wisconsin elections, Republicans secured their largest majority in the Assembly since 1956.
On November 21, 2016, U.S. Circuit Judge Kenneth Francis Ripple, joined by District Judge Barbara Brandriff Crabb, held that the Republicans’ 2011 redistricting was unconstitutional partisan gerrymandering, over a dissent by District Judge William C. Griesbach. The court found that the 2011 redistricting plan created three times as many wasted votes as the national average, violating the United States Constitution’s guarantee of one man, one vote.
The Wisconsin State Assembly elections of 2018 were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. All 99 seats in the Wisconsin State Assembly were up for election. The Republican Party maintained a majority it has held since 2011,[9] winning 63 seats, a loss of one seat, and 44.75% of the voting share.
Membership
Qualifications and terms
To serve in the Wisconsin Legislature, individuals must be a resident of the state for at least one year preceding his or her election and be a qualified elector in the district they are elected to represent.
All 99 members of the Wisconsin Assembly are elected in a two year term cycle without term limits. Similarly, all 33 members of the Wisconsin Senate are elected in a four year cycle, also without term limits.[10] Half of the Senate is elected every two years. Prior to an amendment in the Wisconsin Constitution in 1881, Assembly members served a one year term, while Senators were elected every two years. The 100th Wisconsin Legislature began on January 3, 2011.
Officers
Members of both houses of the Legislature vote within their ranks to select presiding officers, such as the Speaker of the Assembly and the President of the Senate. These high level positions reflect the party majority in both chambers. An amendment to the state constitution in 1979 removed the Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin as the presiding officer of the Senate, allowing Senators to vote within their ranks for a chamber president. Similarly, majority and minority leaders are also selected by party strength in the legislative houses and within their own respective caucus.
Salary and benefits
Legislators receive an annual salary of $49,943 and a per diem of up to $88 to cover living expenses when they are in Dane County, Wisconsin on state business, unless their district is in Dane County. Members of the Madison delegation may receive a per diem up to $44 to cover expenses. Legislators also receive $75 per month in “out-of-session” pay when the Legislature is in session for three days or less. Over two years, each legislator is allotted $66,008 to cover general office expenses, printing, postage and district mailings.
Rules and procedures
In both chambers of the Wisconsin Legislature, a quorum is defined as a majority of current members. The majority of a quorum is needed to pass legislation on the floor of the chamber. Three-fifths of the members elected is the quorum necessary for passage or concurrence in either house of any fiscal bill. Proposals may not be introduced or offered unless they are put in proper form by the legislative reference staff if requested by members or members-elect of the legislature.
References
- “2019 Wisconsin State Senators”. docs.legis.wisconsin.gov.
- “2019 Wisconsin State Representatives”. docs.legis.wisconsin.gov.
- Highlights of History in Wisconsin, Wisconsin Blue Book 2011-2012 (accessed April 25, 2013)
- 19th Century Immigration, Wisconsin Historical Society (accessed April 25, 2013)
- The Women’s Suffrage Movement Wisconsin Historical Society (accessed April 25, 2013)
- Stein, Jason; Marley, Patrick (November 22, 2016). “Federal court strikes down GOP-drawn maps”. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
- Michael Wines (November 22, 2016). “Judges Find Wisconsin Redistricting Unfairly Favored Republicans”. The New York Times. p. A1. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
- Soffen, Kim (November 23, 2016). “Wisconsin’s gerrymander being struck down should scare Republicans nationwide”. The Washington Post. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
- https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/wisconsin-republicans-maintain-control-of-legislature/article_5ddad096-4d09-5250-90ea-6ee014a7488d.html
- Article IV, Wisconsin Constitution (accessed April 25, 2013)
- Procedures Derived from State Constitution Wisconsin Legislature (accessed April 25, 2013)
External links
Wikipedia
The Wisconsin Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The legislature is a bicameral body composed of the upper house, Wisconsin State Senate, and the lower Wisconsin State Assembly, both of which have had Republican majorities since January 2011. With both houses combined, the legislature has 132 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. The legislature convenes at the state capitol in Madison.
The current sitting is the 106th Wisconsin Legislature.
History
The United States first organized Wisconsin in 1787 under the Northwest Ordinance after Great Britain yielded the land to them in the Treaty of Paris. It became the Wisconsin Territory in 1836 and a U.S. state on May 29, 1848.[4] The 1850s saw an influx of European immigrants.[5] The legislature was dominated alternately by two political parties in its first century: the Republican and Progressive parties.
In 1995, the Republican Party took control of the legislature for the first time since 1969, and have maintained their control of both houses since, except for a brief period between 2009 and 2011. In the 2016 Wisconsin elections, Republicans secured their largest majority in the Assembly since 1956,[6] and in 2018,[7] the party maintained their overwhelming control of the legislature despite receiving fewer total votes.
Congressional districts have been disputed since at least 2016. After Republican Governor Scott Walker then signed a redistricting plan,[6] at least one U.S. court found the districts to be unconstitutional partisan gerrymandering.[8] Other controversies include "prison gerrymandering," where prisons are counted towards the population of a district despite its inmates coming from elsewhere.[9] On December 22, 2023, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled in Clarke v. Wisconsin Elections Commission that the state legislative maps violated the contiguity requirement of Article IV, Sections 4 and 5 of the Constitution of Wisconsin.[10] The Court ordered the legislature to draw new maps ahead of the 2024 Wisconsin elections.[10]
Membership
Qualifications and terms
To serve in the Wisconsin Legislature, individuals must be a resident of the state for at least one year preceding his or her election and be a qualified elector in the district they are elected to represent.[11]
All 99 members of the Wisconsin Assembly are elected in a two-year term cycle without term limits. Similarly, all 33 members of the Wisconsin Senate are elected in a four year cycle, also without term limits.[11] Half of the Senate is elected every two years.[11] Prior to an amendment in the Wisconsin Constitution in 1881, Assembly members served a one-year term, while Senators were elected every two years. The 106th Wisconsin Legislature began on January 3, 2023.
Officers
Members of both houses of the legislature vote within their ranks to select presiding officers, such as the Speaker of the Assembly and the President of the Senate. These high level positions reflect the party majority in both chambers. An amendment to the state constitution in 1979 removed the Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin as the presiding officer of the Senate, allowing Senators to vote within their ranks for a chamber president. Similarly, majority and minority leaders are also selected by party strength in the legislative houses and within their own respective caucus.
Salary and benefits
Legislators in both the Senate and the Assembly receive an annual salary of $55,141. Senators receive per diem of up to $115 to cover living expenses when they are in Dane County, Wisconsin on state business, unless their district is in Dane County, in which case they receive per diem of up to $57.50. Assembly members outside of Dane County receive overnight per diem up to $155. Otherwise, they receive $76.50 per diem, the same rate as assembly members in Dane County. Legislators also receive $75 per month in "out-of-session" pay when the legislature is in session for three days or less. Over two years, each legislator is allotted $66,008 to cover general office expenses, printing, postage and district mailings.[12]
Rules and procedures
In both chambers of the Wisconsin Legislature, a quorum is defined as a majority of current members. The majority of a quorum is needed to pass legislation on the floor of the chamber.[13] Three-fifths of the members elected is the quorum necessary for passage or concurrence in either house of any fiscal bill. Proposals may not be introduced or offered unless they are put in proper form by the legislative reference staff if requested by members or members-elect of the legislature.[13] Both houses of the legislature review a bill before it becomes law, and if each chamber approves the bill, the state's Governor will review it. If the Governor signs the bill, it passes into law, but if the Governor vetoes the bill, it will return to the legislature. It is possible for the legislature to override a veto and pass the bill into law itself, but this requires a two-thirds majority vote in both the Senate and the State Assembly.[14]
Law of Wisconsin
State law is contained in the Wisconsin Constitution and the various statutes enacted by the legislature.
The interpretation of state law and its application in specific cases are undertaken by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, based in Madison, Wisconsin. The law of the Menominee also applies within the Menominee Indian Reservation. The "Laws of Wisconsin" are published annually by the state's legislative reference bureau, "no later than the end of each session".[15]
See also
- Alcohol laws of Wisconsin
- Gun laws in Wisconsin
- Impeachment in Wisconsin
- List of Wisconsin state legislatures
References
- ^ "Salaries of Wisconsin State Elected Officials, 2023" (PDF). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
- ^ "2019 Wisconsin State Senators". docs.legis.wisconsin.gov.
- ^ "2019 Wisconsin State Representatives". docs.legis.wisconsin.gov.
- ^ Highlights of History in Wisconsin, Wisconsin Blue Book 2011-2012 (accessed April 25, 2013)
- ^ 19th Century Immigration, Wisconsin Historical Society (accessed April 25, 2013)
- ^ a b Stein, Jason; Marley, Patrick (November 22, 2016). "Federal court strikes down GOP-drawn maps". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
- ^ "Wisconsin Republicans maintain control of Legislature". November 7, 2018.
- ^ Michael Wines (November 22, 2016). "Judges Find Wisconsin Redistricting Unfairly Favored Republicans". The New York Times. p. A1. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
- ^ Haverty, Natasha (October 21, 2021). "By counting prisoners where they're incarcerated, Wisconsin shifts voter clout from cities to small towns". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
- ^ a b "Here's what to know about the Wisconsin Supreme Court's gerrymandering ruling". Journal Sentinel. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
- ^ a b c Article IV, Wisconsin Constitution (accessed April 25, 2013)
- ^ "2022 Legislator Compensation". ncsl.org.
- ^ a b Procedures Derived from State Constitution Wisconsin Legislature (accessed April 25, 2013)
- ^ Justia, Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations, accessed 4 September 2022
- ^ Wisconsin Statutes, 35.15 Laws of Wisconsin, accessed 3 September 2022
External links
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