AJR137: Joint Resolution Text

The right to vote The amendment prohibits the state from taking any action that abridges the right to vote and prohibits the legislature from erecting any obstacles to the right to vote.

Eligible elector after ten days' residence The amendment creates a right to vote for any US citizen age 18 or older who has resided in an election district or ward for ten consecutive days immediately preceding an election.

Voting rights for certain felons The amendment allows felons who have been placed on probation or parole to vote.

uniformity of voting standards and procedures The amendment requires that voting standards and procedures be uniform throughout the state.

mandatory recounts in close elections The amendment requires a state-funded manual recount of the ballots in any election for public office in which the results are within one-half of one percent.

Government accountability board established The amendment establishes a government accountability board to administer elections and the state ethics law.

legislative and congressional redistricting The amendment changes the process by which legislative and congressional districts are redrawn.

The Wisconsin Constitution requires the legislature to redistrict legislative districts according to the number of inhabitants at its next session following each decennial federal census. The legislature also reapportions congressional districts pursuant to federal law.

The amendment requires the government accountability board established by the amendment to develop standards for legislative and congressional districts based on population requirements under the Wisconsin Constitution and the U.S. Constitution and requirements of federal law governing voting rights (the Voting Rights Act at present). The amendment then directs the board to draw redistricting plans in accordance with the standards. Under the amendment, no later than January 1 of the second year following the decennial federal census, the board must create a plan of legislative and congressional districting.

public access to the capitol The amendment guarantees public access to the capitol except in a public emergency.

open meetings laws applicable to legislature The amendment requires the legislature to enact laws requiring reasonable notice of and public access to meetings of governmental bodies, including the legislature, and making members of the legislature subject to citations and civil penalties for violations of such laws.

Initiative and referendum The amendment creates a referendum process by which the people can reject an act of the legislature or particular sections of or items in such an act. The amendment provides that no act can become effective until 90 days after the governor files it in the office of the secretary of state. During the first 60 days after that filing, the people may file a petition for a referendum.

The petition for referendum must be filed with the government accountability board established by the amendment. Certain acts, such as those providing tax levies, acts expanding the rights of the people, and emergency acts, are exempt from referendum. Emergency acts must be so designated by the legislature and pass both houses on a two-thirds vote of all members.

Petitions must be signed by electors equaling 25 percent of the vote cast for the office of governor in the most recent election and filed with the government accountability board.

After validating signatures on the petition, the government accountability board shall order a referendum at the next general election occurring at least 125 days after the filing of the petition with the board. No act, section, or item shall go into effect until a majority of those voting approve it. If the petition is against a portion of an act, the remainder of the act shall not be prevented from going into effect. No act, section, or item rejected in a referendum may be reenacted during the legislative session in which it was rejected.

Open deliberations of the supreme court The amendment requires that all deliberations of the supreme court shall be open to the public.

public funding for supreme court elections The amendment requires that justices of the supreme court shall use public funding to finance campaigns.

state income taxation to be graduated and progressive The amendment requires that state income taxation shall be graduated and progressive by deleting the legislature's authority to create reasonable exemptions.

right to a clean, healthy environment, safe drinking water, and clean air The amendment creates a right to a clean, healthy environment, safe drinking water, and clean air.

Creation of a Department of NatuRal resources, board, and secretary The amendment creates a department of natural resources and a board to oversee it. The board will appoint a secretary to administer the department.

superintendent of public instruction to be independent The amendment makes the superintendent of public instruction independent of the other offices in the executive branch.

minimum staffing and funding levels for public schools The amendment authorizes the state superintendent of public instruction to set minimum staffing and funding levels for public schools.

prohibit public funding of sectarian schools The amendment prohibits appropriation of public funds for support of sectarian schools.

Treatment of corporations as persons prohibited Under current state and federal law, corporations are treated as natural persons for some purposes. The amendment restricts the state from recognizing any constitutional rights asserted by corporations, except as required by federal law.

workers' Rights to organize and collectively bargain The amendment grants all employees the right to collectively bargain on the subjects of wages, hours, and working conditions.

Procedure for passage A proposed constitutional amendment requires adoption by two successive legislatures, and ratification by the people, before it can become effective.

AJR137,6,1 Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That:

AJR137, s. 1 Section 1. Section 3 of article I of the constitution is amended to read:

AJR137,6,11 [Article I] Section 3. Every person may freely speak, write and publish his sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that right, and no laws shall be passed to restrain or abridge the liberty of speech or of the press. In all criminal prosecutions or indictments for libel, the truth may be given in evidence, and if it shall appear to the jury that the matter charged as libelous be true, and was published with good motives and for justifiable ends, the party shall be acquitted; and the jury shall have the right to determine the law and the fact. The state shall take all necessary measures to ensure that the people may exercise their rights to participate in the legislative and electoral process without barriers.

AJR137, s. 2 Section 2. Section 4 of article I of the constitution is amended to read:

AJR137,6,15 [Article I] Section 4. The right of the people peaceably to assemble, to consult for the common good, to vote, and to petition the government, or any department thereof, shall never be abridged. The people have a right to an impartial judiciary.

AJR137, s. 3 Section 3. Section 27 of article I of the constitution is created to read:

AJR137,6,18 [Article I] Section 27. All persons have a right to privacy that shall include the right to marry and the right to reproductive freedom.

AJR137, s. 4 Section 4. Section 28 of article I of the constitution is created to read:

AJR137,6,21 [Article I] Section 28. Every child between the ages of 4 and 20 shall have the right to a quality education.

AJR137, s. 5 Section 5. Section 29 of article I of the constitution is created to read:

AJR137,7,1 [Article I] Section 29. Every person shall have the right to health care services.

AJR137, s. 6 Section 6. Section 1 of article III of the constitution is amended to read:

AJR137,7,6 [Article III] Section 1. Every United States citizen age 18 or older who is a resident of has resided in an election district or ward in this state for 10 consecutive days immediately preceding an election is a qualified elector of that district or ward. The state shall take no action that abridges the right to vote.

AJR137, s. 7 Section 7. Section 2 (intro.) of article III of the constitution is amended to read:

AJR137,7,9 [Article III] Section 2 (intro.) Laws that do not create any obstruction to voting may be enacted:

AJR137, s. 8 Section 8. Section 2 (4) (a) of article III of the constitution is amended to read:

AJR137,7,12 [Article III] Section 2 (4) (a) Convicted of a felony, unless restored to civil rights or placed on probation or parole.

AJR137, s. 9 Section 9. Section 7 of article III of the constitution is created to read:

AJR137,7,16 [Article III] Section 7. Voting standards and procedures shall be uniform throughout the state. In any election for public office, if the results are within one-half of one percent, the state shall provide a manual recount of the ballots.

AJR137, s. 10 Section 10. Section 3 of article IV of the constitution is renumbered section 3 (1) of article IV and amended to read:

AJR137,7,22 [Article IV] Section 3 (1) At its During the first legislative session after each enumeration made by the authority of the United States, the legislature government accountability board shall apportion and district anew the members of the senate and assembly, according to the number of inhabitants.

AJR137, s. 11 Section 11. Section 3 (2) of article IV of the constitution is created to read:

AJR137,8,3 [Article IV] Section 3 (2) Within 120 days after receipt of the final census report of the population count by census block, the government accountability board shall adopt standards for legislative and congressional redistricting that comply with the Wisconsin Constitution and the U.S. Constitution and federal law governing voting rights.

AJR137, s. 12 Section 12. Section 3 (3) of article IV of the constitution is created to read:

AJR137,8,8 [Article IV] Section 3 (3) Not later than January 1 of the 2nd year following the decennial federal census, the government accountability board shall create plans of legislative and congressional redistricting, prepared in accordance with standards developed by the government accountability board under sub. (2).

AJR137, s. 13 Section 13. Section 9 of article IV of the constitution is renumbered section 9 (1) of article IV.

AJR137, s. 14 Section 14. Section 9 (2) of article IV of the constitution is created to read:

AJR137,8,13 [Article IV] Section 9 (2) (a) There is created a government accountability board consisting of 6 persons. Members shall serve for 6-year terms.

AJR137,8,19 (b) Members shall be appointed. The chief justice of the supreme court, in the presence of the other justices of the supreme court, shall choose by lot one court of appeals judge from each of the court of appeals districts to serve on a nominating committee for 2-year terms expiring on March 1. The nominating committee shall forward nominations to the governor who shall make appointments to the board from those nominations.

AJR137,8,21 (c) Each member of the board shall have served as a judge of a court of record in this state and shall have been elected to that office.

AJR137,8,23 (d) No member may hold another office or position that is a state public office or a local public office except as a reserve judge.

AJR137,8,25 (e) No member, for one year immediately prior to the date of nomination may have been, or while serving on the board may become, a member of a political party.

AJR137,9,2 (f) No member, while serving on the board, may become a candidate for state office or local office.

AJR137,9,4 (g) No member, while serving on the board, and for 12 months prior to beginning that service, may make a contribution to a political campaign.

AJR137,9,5 (h) No member may be a lobbyist or be engaged in lobbying.

AJR137, s. 15 Section 15. Section 9 (3) of article IV of the constitution is created to read:

AJR137,9,9 [Article IV] Section 9 (3) The government accountability board shall have exclusive jurisdiction to administer the state election laws, the state ethics laws, the state lobbying laws, and to redistrict the legislative and congressional districts.

AJR137, s. 16 Section 16. Section 10 of article IV of the constitution is renumbered section 10 (1) of article IV and amended to read:

AJR137,9,17 [Article IV] Section 10 (1) Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings and publish the same, except such parts as require secrecy. The doors of each house shall be kept open except when the public welfare shall require secrecy. Neither house shall, without consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days. All public spaces of the capitol shall be open to the public when the building is open except in a public emergency.

AJR137, s. 17 Section 17. Section 10 (2) of article IV of the constitution is created to read:

AJR137,9,24 [Article IV] Section 10 (2) The legislature shall enact laws requiring governmental bodies to conduct business in meetings that are held with reasonable prior notice and accessible to the public and make these laws applicable to the legislature. Notwithstanding section 8 of this article, courts of law may apply these laws to the senate, the assembly, and other legislative bodies. Notwithstanding section 15 of this article, members of the legislature are subject to citation and civil penalties during a legislative session while a house is in recess for violations of such laws.