LRB-2243/1
PJD:jg:hmh
1999 - 2000 LEGISLATURE
November 5, 1999 - Introduced by Representatives Wasserman, Black and Ryba.
Referred to Committee on Assembly Organization.
AJR91,1,81 To amend so as in effect to repeal sections 5 and 19 of article IV and section 6 of
2article XIII; to renumber and amend section 9 of article IV; to amend
3sections 1 to 4, 7, 8, 10, 14, 17 (1), 20, 22, 23, 25, 26 (2) (b) and (3) and 30 of article
4IV, sections 3, 4 and 10 (2) of article V, section 2 of article VI, sections 1 and 13
5of article VII, sections 6, 7 (2) (e) and (g) and 8 of article VIII, sections 1 and 2
6of article XII and section 10 (2) of article XIII; and to create section 9 (2) of
7article IV and section 17 of article XIV of the constitution; relating to: the
8establishment of a unicameral legislature (first consideration).
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This proposed constitutional amendment, proposed to the 1999 legislature on
first consideration, transforms the Wisconsin legislature from a bicameral
legislature that consists of an assembly and a senate into a unicameral legislature
that consists of only one house, beginning with the legislature elected at the general
election in 2004.
The unicameral legislature will have 75 members elected from single-member
districts on a nonpartisan basis for staggered four-year terms.
Under the constitution presently, the assembly has the power of impeachment
and the senate is the court for the trial of impeachments. Under this proposal, the

legislature has the power of impeachment and is the court for the trial of
impeachments.
A proposed constitutional amendment requires adoption by 2 successive
legislatures, and ratification by the people, before it can become effective.
AJR91,2,1 1Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That:
AJR91, s. 1 2Section 1. Section 1 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR91,2,43 [Article IV] Section 1. The legislative power shall be vested in a senate and
4assembly
the legislature consisting of one chamber.
AJR91, s. 2 5Section 2. Section 2 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR91,2,96 [Article IV] Section 2. The number of the members of the assembly legislature
7shall never be less than fifty-four nor more than one hundred. The senate shall
8consist of a number not more than one-third nor less than one-fourth of the number
9of the
75 members of the assembly.
AJR91, s. 3 10Section 3. Section 3 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR91,2,1411 [Article IV] Section 3. At its first session after each enumeration made by the
12authority of the United States, the legislature shall apportion and district anew the
13members of the senate and assembly legislative districts, according to the number
14of inhabitants.
AJR91, s. 4 15Section 4. Section 4 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR91,3,316 [Article IV] Section 4. The members of the assembly legislature shall be chosen
17biennially, by single districts. The districts shall be numbered in the regular series,
18and the members shall be chosen, alternately from the odd-numbered and
19even-numbered districts, for the term of 4 years
, on the Tuesday succeeding the first
20Monday of November in even-numbered years, by the qualified electors of the
21several districts, such. The districts to shall be bounded by county, precinct, town or
22ward lines, to consist of contiguous territory and be in as compact form as practicable.

1Each member shall be nominated and elected in a nonpartisan manner and without
2any indication on the ballot of affiliation with or endorsement by any political party
3or organization.
AJR91, s. 5 4Section 5. Section 5 of article IV of the constitution is amended so as in effect
5to repeal said section:
AJR91,3,116 [Article IV] Section 5. The senators shall be elected by single districts of
7convenient contiguous territory, at the same time and in the same manner as
8members of the assembly are required to be chosen; and no assembly district shall
9be divided in the formation of a senate district. The senate districts shall be
10numbered in the regular series, and the senators shall be chosen alternately from the
11odd and even-numbered districts for the term of 4 years.
AJR91, s. 6 12Section 6. Section 7 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR91,3,1713 [Article IV] Section 7. Each house The legislature shall be the judge of the
14elections, returns and qualifications of its own members; and a majority of each shall
15constitute a quorum to do business, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to
16day, and may compel the attendance of absent members in such manner and under
17such penalties as each house it may provide.
AJR91, s. 7 18Section 7. Section 8 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR91,3,2219 [Article IV] Section 8. Each house The legislature may determine the rules of
20its own proceedings, punish for contempt and disorderly behavior, and with the
21concurrence of two-thirds of all the members elected, expel a member; but no
22member shall be expelled a second time for the same cause.
AJR91, s. 8 23Section 8. Section 9 of article IV of the constitution is renumbered section 9 (1)
24of article IV and amended to read:
AJR91,4,2
1[Article IV] Section 9 (1) Each house The legislature shall choose elect its
2presiding officers from its own members.
AJR91, s. 9 3Section 9. Section 9 (2) of article IV of the constitution is created to read:
AJR91,4,54 [Article IV] Section 9 (2) The legislature shall elect a chief clerk and a sergeant
5at arms, from outside its membership, for the biennial session of the legislature.
AJR91, s. 10 6Section 10. Section 10 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR91,4,117 [Article IV] Section 10. Each house The legislature shall keep a journal of its
8proceedings and publish the same, except such parts as require secrecy. The doors
9of each house the legislature shall be kept open except when the public welfare shall
10require secrecy. Neither house shall, without consent of the other, adjourn for more
11than three days.
AJR91, s. 11 12Section 11. Section 14 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR91,4,1413 [Article IV] Section 14. The governor shall issue writs of election to fill such
14vacancies as may occur in either house of the legislature.
AJR91, s. 12 15Section 12. Section 17 (1) of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR91,4,1816 [Article IV] Section 17 (1) The style of all laws of the state shall be "The people
17of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly the legislature, do
18enact as follows:".
AJR91, s. 13 19Section 13. Section 19 of article IV of the constitution is amended so as in effect
20to repeal said section:
AJR91,4,2221 [Article IV] Section 19. Any bill may originate in either house of the legislature,
22and a bill passed by one house may be amended by the other.
AJR91, s. 14 23Section 14. Section 20 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR91,5,3
1[Article IV] Section 20. The yeas and nays of the members of either house the
2legislature
on any question shall, at the request of one-sixth of those present, be
3entered on the journal.
AJR91, s. 15 4Section 15. Section 22 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR91,5,75 [Article IV] Section 22. The legislature may confer upon the boards of
6supervisors of the several counties of the state such powers of a local, legislative and
7administrative character as they the legislature shall from time to time prescribe.
AJR91, s. 16 8Section 16. Section 23 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR91,5,149 [Article IV] Section 23. The legislature shall establish but one system of town
10government, which shall be as nearly uniform as practicable; but the legislature may
11provide for the election at large once in every 4 years of a chief executive officer in
12any county with such powers of an administrative character as they the legislature
13may from time to time prescribe in accordance with this section and shall establish
14one or more systems of county government.
AJR91, s. 17 15Section 17. Section 25 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR91,5,2116 [Article IV] Section 25. The legislature shall provide by law that all stationery
17required for the use of the state, and all printing authorized and required by them
18the legislature to be done for their the use of the legislature, or for the state, shall
19be let by contract to the lowest bidder, but the legislature may establish a maximum
20price; no member of the legislature or other state officer shall be interested, either
21directly or indirectly, in any such contract.
AJR91, s. 18 22Section 18. Section 26 (2) (b) of article IV of the constitution is amended to
23read:
AJR91,6,224 [Article IV] Section 26 (2) (b) Any increase in the compensation of members of
25the legislature shall take effect, for all senators and representatives to the assembly

1members of the legislature, after the next general election beginning with the new
2assembly term biennial session of the legislature.
AJR91, s. 19 3Section 19. Section 26 (3) of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
Loading...
Loading...