Wisconsin State Legislature

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Wisconsin State Legislature

Seal of Wisconsin.svg.png
General information
Type:   State legislature
Term limits:   None
Session start:   January 16, 2024
Website:   Official Legislature Page
Leadership
Senate President:   Chris Kapenga (R)
House Speaker:  Robin Vos (R)
Majority Leader:   Senate: Devin LeMahieu (R)
House: Tyler August (R)
Minority Leader:   Senate: Melissa Agard (D)
House: Greta Neubauer (D)
Structure
Members:  33 (Senate), 99 (Assembly)
Length of term:   4 years (Senate), 2 years (Assembly)
Authority:   Art IV, Wisconsin Constitution
Salary:   $57,408/year + per diem
Elections
Last election:  November 8, 2022
Next election:  November 5, 2024
Redistricting:  Wisconsin Legislature has control

The Wisconsin State Legislature is the legislative branch of Wisconsin. It is a bicameral legislature composed of the lower Wisconsin State Assembly and the upper Wisconsin State Senate. It is based in Madison, Wisconsin.

Wisconsin has a divided government where neither party holds a trifecta. The Democratic Party controls the office of governor, while the Republican Party controls both chambers of the state legislature.

See also: Wisconsin State Assembly, Wisconsin State Senate, Wisconsin Governor

Elections

2024

See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2024 and Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2024

Elections for the Wisconsin State Senate will take place in 2024. The general election is on November 5, 2024. A primary is August 13, 2024. The filing deadline is June 3, 2024.

Elections for the Wisconsin State Assembly will take place in 2024. The general election is on November 5, 2024. A primary is August 13, 2024. The filing deadline is June 3, 2024.

2022

See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2022 and Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2022

Elections for the Wisconsin State Senate took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for August 9, 2022. The filing deadline was June 1, 2022.

Elections for the Wisconsin State Assembly took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for August 9, 2022. The filing deadline was June 1, 2022.

2020

See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2020 and Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2020

Elections for the office of Wisconsin State Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for August 11, 2020. The filing deadline was June 1, 2020.

Elections for the office of Wisconsin State Assembly took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for August 11, 2020. The filing deadline was June 1, 2020.

2018

See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2018 and Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2018

Elections for the Wisconsin State Senate took place in 2018. An open primary election took place on August 14, 2018. The general election was held on November 6, 2018.[1] The candidate filing deadline was June 1, 2018.

Elections for the Wisconsin State Assembly took place in 2018. An open primary election took place on August 14, 2018. The general election was held on November 6, 2018.[2] The candidate filing deadline was June 1, 2018.

2016

See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2016 and Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2016

Elections for the Wisconsin State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 9, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 1, 2016.

Elections for the Wisconsin State Assembly took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 9, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 1, 2016.

2014

See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2014 and Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2014

Elections for 17 seats in the Wisconsin State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on August 12, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 2, 2014.

Elections for all 99 seats in the Wisconsin State Assembly took place in 2014. A primary election took place on August 12, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 2, 2014.

2012

See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2012 and Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Wisconsin State Senate took place in 2012. The primary election was held on August 14, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was June 1, 2012.

Elections for the office of Wisconsin House of Representatives took place in 2012. The primary election was held on August 14, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was June 1, 2012.

2010

See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2010 and Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2010

Elections for the office of Wisconsin State Senate took place in 2010. The primary election was held on September 14, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was July 13, 2010.

Elections for the office of Wisconsin House of Representatives took place in 2010. The primary election was held on September 14, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was July 13, 2010.

Sessions

Article IV of the Wisconsin Constitution contains provisions related to the meeting of the Legislature. Section 11 of Article IV states that the times for regular sessions are to be provided by law. Session times and dates are established by calendar, which is voted on at the beginning of each two year session. Section 11 also states that the Governor of Wisconsin has the power to call the Legislature into special session.

2024

See also: 2024 Wisconsin legislative session and Dates of 2024 state legislative sessions

In 2024, the legislature is scheduled to convene on January 16, 2024, and adjourn on March 14, 2024.

2023

See also: 2023 Wisconsin legislative session and Dates of 2023 state legislative sessions

In 2023, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 3, 2023, and adjourn on December 31, 2023.


Does Wisconsin's Foxconn law change environmental standards?
October 26, 2017: Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker last month signed legislation authorizing a $2.85 billion incentive package to encourage Foxconn to locate facilities in the state. Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton, characterized the package as “a total environmental giveaway by the state of Wisconsin." In contrast, Sen. Sheila Harsdorf, R-River Falls, asserted that “no changes have been made to air, water and waste-related standards.”
Is Harsdorf correct? Read Ballotpedia's fact check »

Role in state budget

See also: Wisconsin state budget and finances
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Wisconsin operates on a biennial budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[21]

  1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in June.
  2. State agencies submit budget requests in September.
  3. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the Wisconsin State Legislature in January or February.
  4. The legislature adopts a budget in June or July. A simple majority is needed to pass a budget.
  5. The biennial budget cycle begins July 1.


Wisconsin is one of 43 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[21]

The governor is constitutionally and statutorily required to submit a balanced budget. In addition, the legislature is required to pass a balanced budget.[21]


Redistricting

See also: Redistricting in Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, both congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the Wisconsin State Legislature. These lines are subject to veto by the governor.[22]

The Wisconsin Constitution requires that state legislative districts be compact and "that they be bounded by county, precinct, town, or ward lines where possible." The state constitution further stipulates that state legislative districts should be contiguous.[22]

2020

See also: Redistricting in Wisconsin after the 2020 census

On December 22, 2023, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled in a 4-3 vote that the state's legislative maps were unconstitutional and ordered new maps to be drawn before the 2024 election.[23] If the court does not draw new maps that are signed into law by Gov. Tony Evers (D) prior to the election, the legislature stated it is prepared to adopt its own.[24]

On March 23, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed a decision by the Wisconsin Supreme Court to adopt Gov. Tony Evers' (D) state house and senate redistricting maps and remanded the case for further proceedings. On April 15, 2022, the Wisconsin Supreme Court adopted state legislative district maps passed by the state legislature.[25][26]

The Wisconsin Supreme Court had, on March 3, 2022, approved maps that Evers submitted after he vetoed legislative district proposals from Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R) and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R) on November 18, 2021.[27] The Senate had approved the maps 21-12 along party lines on October 20, 2021, with all Republicans in the chamber voting for the proposal and all Democrats voting against it. The House passed the maps on November 11, 2021, by a 60-38 party-line vote.[28][29]


2010

See also: Redistricting in Wisconsin after the 2010 census

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, Wisconsin's population increased from 5.36 million to 5.69 million between 2000 and 2010.[30] This population growth was large enough to allow the state to retain its eight Congressional seats.[31]

Republicans held the governorship and majorities in the state Senate and state Assembly after the 2010 elections. As a result, the redistricting process was completely under the control of one party.

The Republican leadership dismissed the Democratic-hired firm that was going to aid with redistricting and instead brought in an outside group to aid the process. This new firm's leader had donated to Republican candidates in the past. The redistricting process was accelerated by the summer 2011 recall elections, and Governor Scott Walker signed a bill that gave the legislature the power to redistrict state boundaries before the localities finished their redistricting processes.[32] The state Republicans unveiled their plan on July 8, 2011. Democrats criticized the plan as gerrymandering, but Republicans defended their map.[33] The maps passed the legislature on July 19, 2011, and signed into law by Governor Walker on August 9, 2011.[34]

Several lawsuits were filed as a result of the new maps.[35] The Wisconsin Government Accountability Board identified errors in the maps, likely due to the creation of the state boundaries before the localities finished drawing their boundaries. A court also determined that two Milwaukee-area districts needed to be redrawn to better represent minority-area populations.[36]

Senate

Interior shot of a dome inside the State Capitol building in Madison where the Wisconsin State Legislature meets.

The Wisconsin State Senate is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature. Together with the lower house, the State Assembly, they comprise the legislative branch of the state of Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin Constitution ties the size of the State Senate to that of the State Assembly by limiting its size to no less than 1/4, nor more than 1/3, of the size of the Assembly. Currently, Wisconsin is divided into 33 Senate Districts (1/3 of the current Assembly membership of 99) apportioned amongst the state based on population as determined by the decennial census, for a total of 33 senators.

As of the 2020 Census, Wisconsin state senators represented an average of 178,711 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 172,674 residents.

Similar to the U.S. Senate, the State Senate has the exclusive responsibility of confirming certain appointments by the governor, particularly cabinet secretaries (as part of the system of checks and balances) and members of boards and commissions.

Senators are elected for four-year terms, staggered so that half the Senate is up for election every two years. If a vacancy occurs in a Senate seat between elections, it may be filled only by a special election.

Partisan composition

Party As of January 2024
     Democratic Party 11
     Republican Party 22
     Other 0
     Vacancies 0
Total 33

Click here for a list of members of this chamber.

Republicans won control of the Wisconsin State Senate in 2010. In 2022, they won a 22-11 majority.

The table below shows the partisan history of the Wisconsin Senate following every general election from 1992 to 2022. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

Wisconsin State Senate election results: 1992-2022

Year '92 '94 '96 '98 '00 '02 '04 '06 '08 '10 '12 '14 '16 '18 '20 '22
Democrats 18 16 17 17 18 15 14 18 18 14 15 14 13 14 12 11
Republicans 15 17 16 16 15 18 19 15 15 19 18 19 20 19 21 22

State Assembly

The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin State Senate, the two comprise the legislative branch of Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin Constitution limits the size of the State Assembly to between 54 and 100 members inclusive. Currently, Wisconsin is divided into 99 Assembly Districts apportioned amongst the state based on population as determined by the decennial census, for a total of 99 Representatives.

As of the 2020 Census, Wisconsin state representatives represented an average of 59,570 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 57,558 residents.

Representatives are elected for two-year terms. If a vacancy occurs in an Assembly seat between elections, it may be filled only by a special election.

Partisan composition

Party As of January 2024
     Democratic Party 35
     Republican Party 64
     Other 0
     Vacancies 0
Total 99

Click here for a list of members of this chamber.

Republicans won control of the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2010. In 2022, they won a 64-35 majority.

The table below shows the partisan history of the Wisconsin State Assembly following every general election from 1992 to 2022. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

Wisconsin State Assembly election results: 1992-2022

Year '92 '94 '96 '98 '00 '02 '04 '06 '08 '10 '12 '14 '16 '18 '20 '22
Democrats 52 48 47 44 43 41 39 47 52 38 39 36 35 36 38 35
Republicans 47 51 52 55 56 58 60 52 46 60 60 63 64 63 61 64

District maps

State Senate


State Assembly


Veto overrides

Veto Override Graphic-No party.png

See also: Veto overrides in state legislatures

State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in Wisconsin are listed below.

How many legislators are required to vote for an override? Two-thirds of members present in both chambers.

Two-thirds of members present in both chambers must vote to override a veto. If all members are in attendance, this is 66 of the 99 members in the Wisconsin State Assembly and 22 of the 33 members in the Wisconsin State Senate. Wisconsin is one of 36 states that requires a two-thirds vote from both of its legislative chambers to override a veto.

Authority: Article V, Section 10 of the Wisconsin Constitution.

"(2) (a) If the governor rejects the bill, the governor shall return the bill, together with the objections in writing, to the house in which the bill originated. The house of origin shall enter the objections at large upon the journal and proceed to reconsider the bill. If, after such reconsideration, two−thirds of the members present agree to pass the bill notwithstanding the objections of the governor, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the other house, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two−thirds of the members present it shall become law."

Legislators

Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
State legislative salaries, 2023
SalaryPer diem
$57,408/year$140/day for senators. Dane County senators are allowed half that amount. $155.70/day (with overnight) or $77.85/day (no overnight) for representatives. Dane County representatives receive only $77.85/day.

When sworn in

See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

Wisconsin legislators assume office the first Monday in January following the election, unless the first Monday of January falls on January 1 or 2. In those cases, legislators assume office on January 3.[37]

Joint committees

See also: Public policy in Wisconsin

The Wisconsin State Legislature has the following standing joint committees:

History

Partisan balance 1992-2013

Who Runs the States Project
See also: Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States and Ballotpedia:Who Runs the States, Wisconsin
Partisan breakdown of the Wisconsin legislature from 1992-2013

Wisconsin State Senate: From 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the Wisconsin State Senate for 11 years while the Republicans were the majority for 11 years. The final three years of the study depicted a shift in the Wisconsin senate with all three years being Republican trifectas

Across the country, there were 541 Democratic and 517 Republican state senates from 1992 to 2013.

Wisconsin State House: From 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the Wisconsin State Assembly for 5 years while the Republicans were the majority for 17 years. The final three years of the study depicted a shift in the Wisconsin House with all three years being Republican trifectas.

Across the country, there were 577 Democratic and 483 Republican State Houses of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.

Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.

The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Office of the Governor of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin State Senate and the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1992 to 2013.

Partisan composition of Wisconsin state government(1992-2013).PNG

SQLI and partisanship

To read the full report on the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI) in PDF form, click here.

The chart below depicts the partisanship of the Wisconsin state government and the state's SQLI ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1-50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. During the course of the study, Wisconsin experienced both Democratic and Republican trifectas as well as divided governments. The state's SQLI rankings were higher earlier in the study, with its highest ranking, finishing 7th, occurring in 1992, 1995 and 1998 during both Republican trifectas and a divided government. Its lowest ranking, finishing 30th, occurred in 2007 during a divided government. The state's rankings began to improve during the most recent years of the study, finishing 13th in 2012 during a Republican trifecta.

  • SQLI average with Democratic trifecta: 21.00
  • SQLI average with Republican trifecta: 10.00
  • SQLI average with divided government: 17.27
Chart displaying the partisanship of the Wisconsin government from 1992-2013 and the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI).

Constitutional amendments

In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.

The methods in which the Wisconsin Constitution can be amended:

See also: Article XII of the Wisconsin Constitution and Laws governing ballot measures in Wisconsin

Article XII of the Wisconsin Constitution provides two methods of amendment:

  • If an amendment is approved by a majority in both chambers of the Legislature in one session, that proposed amendment must then be considered by the state legislature chosen at the next general election in the state.
  • Before that second legislative session, the proposed amendment that will be considered must be published for three months prior to the election.
  • Should the amendment be approved by a simple majority of the second session that considers it, the proposed amendment is then placed on a statewide ballot at a special or general election.
  • If it is approved by a simple majority of the state's electorate, it becomes part of the constitution.
  • If a simple majority of both houses of the Wisconsin State Legislature votes in favor, a constitutional convention question is placed on a statewide ballot.
  • If the electors of the state agree by a simple majority to call a constitutional convention, then the legislature needs to convene a convention during its next session.

Wisconsin citizens do not have the power of amending the constitution through initiated constitutional amendments.



2025 measures:

See also: 2025 ballot measures

Certified:

The following measures have been certified for the ballot.

No measures to list


Potential:

The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2025.

No measures to list

2024 measures:

Below is a list of measures that were referred to the 2024 ballot by the legislature or that have made it approximately halfway through the process in the legislature for referral to the ballot in 2024.

See also: Wisconsin 2024 ballot measures

Certified:

The following measures have been certified for the ballot.


Potential:

The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2024.

See also

Elections Wisconsin State Government State Legislatures State Politics
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Wisconsin State Flag-Close Up.jpg
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State Courts-Tile image.png

External links

Footnotes

  1. Wisconsin Elections Commission, "Elections," accessed June 9, 2017
  2. Wisconsin Elections Commission, "Elections," accessed June 9, 2017
  3. Twitter, "Tony Evers on March 3, 2020," accessed March 3, 2020
  4. 4.0 4.1 Wisconsin State Journal, "It's July and the state still doesn't have a budget. What happens?" July 2, 2017
  5. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Wisconsin lawmakers will miss budget deadline as talks slow," June 24, 2017
  6. WBAY, "The Latest: Committee approves $76 billion Wisconsin Budget," September 6, 2017
  7. Wisconsin Public Radio, "State Legislature Approves Delayed State Budget," September 15, 2017
  8. Reuters, "Wisconsin governor signs overdue budget into law," September 21, 2017
  9. Wisconsin Public Radio, "Wisconsin Misses Budget Deadline As Squabbling Continues At The Capitol," July 3, 2017
  10. Journal Sentinel, "Wisconsin Assembly sends $3 billion Foxconn incentive package to Scott Walker," September 14, 2017
  11. The Washington Post, "Scott Walker just approved $3 billion deal for a new Foxconn factory in Wisconsin," September 18, 2017
  12. Chicago Tribune, "Foxconn to locate Wisconsin plant in Mount Pleasant," October 4, 2017
  13. Journal Sentinel, "How would the Wisconsin Foxconn deal work? Here are some answers," August 16, 2017
  14. Legislative Fiscal Bureau, "August 2017 Special Session Assembly Bill 1: Foxconn/Fiserv Legislation," August 8, 2017(Archived)
  15. Wisconsin State Journal, "State would recoup Foxconn investment in 25 years, estimate shows," August 9, 2017
  16. Wisconsin Realtors Association, "2014 Election Themes Take Shape," accessed January 14, 2014
  17. Wisconsin State Journal, "With state bitterly divided, Walker promises more moderate agenda," January 7, 2013
  18. Appleton Post Crescent, "Wisconsin legislative agenda influenced by negative effects of recalls," January 16, 2012
  19. National Conference of State Legislatures, "2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar," December 19, 2011
  20. National Conference of State Legislatures, "2010 Legislative Sessions Calendar," December 8, 2010
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed February 9, 2023
  22. 22.0 22.1 All About Redistricting, "Wisconsin," accessed May 7, 2015
  23. The New York Times, "Justices in Wisconsin Order New Legislative Maps," December 22, 2023
  24. Politico, "Wisconsin Supreme Court orders new state legislative maps," December 22, 2023
  25. U.S. Supreme Court, Wisconsin Legislature v. Wisconsin Elections Commission, decided March 23, 2022
  26. WISN, "Wisconsin Supreme Court adopts GOP-drawn legislative maps," April 15, 2022
  27. WPR, "Evers vetoes Republican-drawn redistricting maps," November 18, 2021
  28. WIZM News, "GOP-led Wisconsin Senate OKs their own redistricting plan," November 8, 2021
  29. Wisconsin Public Radio, "Assembly passes Republican-drawn political maps," November 11, 2021
  30. U.S. Census Bureau, "2010 Census: Wisconsin Profile," accessed August 9, 2014
  31. Northland's News Center, "Minnesota and Wisconsin Both to Keep Eight Seats in House," December 21, 2010
  32. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Walker allows new legislative mapping, doesn't OK actual maps yet," July 25, 2011
  33. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Parties joust over Wisconsin redistricting plan," July 13, 2011
  34. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Walker signs legislation to redraw district boundaries," August 9, 2011
  35. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Wisconsin's redistricting trial goes to judges," February 24, 2012
  36. Wisconsin State Journal, "Court strikes down GOP redistricting, orders just 2 districts redrawn," March 22, 2012
  37. Wisconsin Statutes, "Chapter 13: Legislative Branch: 13.02 Regular sessions," accessed October 5, 2021