sr99(50m)
(50m)
Offer: The formal presentation of a joint resolution, resolution, substitute amendment, amendment, or motion before a house [see also sub.
(36)].
sr99(51)
(51)
Opinion of the attorney general: A formal reply by the attorney general to a specific question.
sr99(52)
(52)
Pair: A written agreement between 2 members on opposite sides of a question not to vote on that question while one or both are absent with leave, which permits the absent member to influence the outcome of a vote.
sr99(53)
(53)
Parliamentary inquiry: A request for an explanation of a legislative rule or proceeding.
sr99(53m)
(53m)
Partisan caucus: A conference convened by 2 or more members of a political party to discuss business related to the organization or agenda of that party within the legislature or to discuss any matter pending in or proposed for introduction in the legislature. To facilitate bipartisan cooperation, the members who convened the conference may permit members of another political party to attend.
sr99(54)
(54)
Passage: Final approval in the first house of a bill introduced in that house if referring to action of one house and final approval of both houses of a bill introduced in either house if referring to action of both houses [see also subs.
(3) and
(16)].
sr99(55)
(55)
Petition: A request that one of the houses take a particular course of action.
sr99(56)
(56)
Point of order: A request that the presiding officer rule on some matter of parliamentary procedure.
sr99(57)
(57)
Precedent: A previous ruling, decision, or action used to interpret legislative rules.
sr99(57d)
(57d)
President: A member of the senate, elected by the membership to preside over the senate and carry out the duties as described in the senate rules, the joint rules, and the statutes.
sr99(57m)
(57m)
President pro tempore: A member of the senate, elected by the membership to carry out the duties of the president in his or her absence until the return of the president or until a president is elected.
sr99(57p)
(57p)
Presiding officer: The person presiding over the senate or assembly in daily session [see also subs.
(11),
(57d), and
(57m)].
sr99(59)
(59)
Privileged motions and requests: A group of motions and requests relating to basic questions concerning the meetings, organization, rules, rights, and duties of the senate or assembly and its members and having the highest precedence for consideration. Privileged motions and requests take precedence over incidental, subsidiary, and main questions.
sr99(60)
(60)
Proposal: A resolution, joint resolution, or bill put before a house for consideration.
sr99(61)
(61)
Question: A statement before one of the houses for decision.
sr99(62)
(62)
Quorum: A majority of the current senate membership, unless otherwise required by the state constitution.
sr99(63)
(63)
Recess: A temporary suspension of business during a roll call day.
sr99(64)
(64)
Reconsideration: A motion to nullify a decision and again consider and vote on the question involved.
sr99(65)
(65)
Regular order of business: The regular sequence of deliberations on any legislative day.
sr99(66)
(66)
Regular session: The biennial session of the legislature established by the constitution and by section
13.02 of the statutes. The Wisconsin legislature convenes in the capitol on the first Monday of January in each odd-numbered year at 2 p.m. to take the oath of office, to select officers, and to organize itself for the conduct of its business, but if the first Monday falls on January 1 or 2, the legislature organizes on January 3. Daily meetings begin in January of each year and continue throughout the biennial session until the final adjournment of the biennial session.
sr99(67)
(67)
Rejection: An action for the adverse and final disposition of: a) a resolution or joint resolution for the biennial session of the legislature; b) an amendment or substitute amendment with regard to one specific document; c) the application of a motion to the current situation; and d) the report of a committee.
sr99(68)
(68)
Remain informal: A temporary suspension of proceedings in one of the houses.
sr99(69)
(69)
Request: A proposed action that does not require a vote because: a) unanimous consent has been asked for; or 1g) the presiding officer has the authority to take or order the requested action.
sr99(70)
(70)
Rescind: An action by which one of the houses nullifies an action on a proposal so as to enable the house to again consider a proposal from a given stage. When a motion to rescind prevails, the house resumes its consideration of a proposal at the stage indicated in the motion.
sr99(71)
(71)
Resolution: A proposal: expressing the opinion of one of the houses; changing the rules of one of the houses; or confirming a nomination for appointment.
sr99(73)
(73)
Roll call day: A legislative day on which a roll call is taken.
sr99(74)
(74)
Roll call vote: A vote on which each member voting is recorded by name.
sr99(75)
(75)
Rules of procedure: The legislative rules that govern the conduct of legislative business.
sr99(76)
(76)
Ruling: The presiding officer's decision on a point of order.
sr99(77)
(77)
Senate chamber: The entire area south of the northern-most doors of the senate, including the floor, staff lobby, parlor, press lobby, visitor's galleries, and hallways, but excluding the offices of the senate officers.
sr99(78)
(78)
Sergeant at arms: The officer elected by the members to perform and direct the police and custodial functions of one of the houses.
sr99(79)
(79)
Sine die adjournment: The final adjournment of a biennial or special session.
sr99(84)
(84)
Special session: The convening of the legislature by the governor to accomplish a special purpose for which convened.
sr99(85)
(85)
Stage: One of the formal steps in the legislative process.
sr99(86)
(86)
Standing committee: A permanent legislative committee.
sr99(87)
(87)
Subsidiary motions: A group of motions that change, or delay or accelerate the consideration of, a proposal before a house. Subsidiary motions have lower precedence than privileged and incidental questions, but higher precedence than main motions.
sr99(88)
(88)
Substitute amendment: An amendment that, if accepted, takes the place of the original proposal. The term more accurately describes a "substitute bill" or "substitute resolution."
sr99(90)
(90)
Suspension of the rules: A motion requiring the support of two-thirds of the members present and by which a special action on a specific proposal is accomplished despite the existence of a rule blocking the action. Any suspension of the rules is temporary.
sr99(92)
(92)
Unanimous consent: A request for a specific purpose; if an objection is not heard, it is assumed that the request has the consent of the entire body.
sr99(93)
(93)
Veto: The action by which a bill or a part thereof is rejected by the governor.
sr99(94)
(94)
Voice vote: A vote taken by asking the members in favor of a question to say "aye" simultaneously and then the members opposed to likewise say "no."
Quick Finder:QUORUM
ROLL CALL
MAJORITY
Quorum
A majority of the current membership of the senate constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business unless a higher number is required by the state constitution, law, or legislative rule. Senate Rules
15 and
39 and Joint Rule
11 (1). Less than a quorum may adjourn or order a call of the senate.
See Wis. Con. IV-7 and Senate Rule
15.
Three-fifths of the members elected (20 senators) is the quorum for final passage of "fiscal bills"; Wis. Con. VIII-8. Consequently, the minimum majority for approval of "fiscal bills" is 11 senators.
A "fiscal bill" is any bill which: 1) imposes, continues or renews a tax; 2) creates a state debt or charge; 3) makes, continues or renews an appropriation of public or trust money; or 4) releases, discharges or commutes a claim or demand of the state; Wis. Con. VIII-8.
Roll Call
The senate may decide any question by a voice vote unless a roll call is ordered by the presiding officer or at the request of one-sixth of the senators present (Senate Rule
72 (1) and Wis. Con. IV-20), or is required by the state constitution, law, or legislative rule. A roll call vote, with the ayes and noes entered in the journal, is required for any senate decision that needs a special
quorum or a special
majority for final determination. In addition, roll call votes are required for:
Adjournment or adjournment to a time certain under call; Senate Rule
85 (1).
Appeal from ruling of presiding officer; Senate Rule
56m (4).
Conference committee report, vote to approve; Joint Rule
3 (1)(c).
Election by the legislature; Senate Rules
1,
5,
6, Wis. Con. IV-30.
Governor's or state superintendent's nomination for appointment; Senate Rule
22 (2).
Raise a call of the senate; Senate Rule
85 (5)Ratify amendment to U.S. constitution; Joint Rule
58 (2).
Majority
The senate may decide any question by a majority of a quorum (Senate Rule
15 and Joint Rule
12 (1)) unless a higher vote total is required for final approval by the state constitution, law, or legislative rule (Senate Rule
39 and Joint Rule
12).
Three-fourths of all the members elected to both houses:
Increased retirement fund benefits, approval of bill to grant; Wis. Con. IV-26 (3).
Two-thirds of all the members elected (22 senators):
Expulsion of an elected senator; Wis. Con. IV-8.
Removal of justice or judge by address; Wis. Con. VII-13.
Two-thirds of members present:
Impeachment, trial of; Wis.Con. VII-1.
Message to assembly, rescind motion; Senate Rule
42 (2).
Rules, suspension of; Senate Rule
91.
Veto, passage notwithstanding governor's objections; Wis. Con. V-10.
Majority of all the members elected (17 senators):
Bonded indebtedness, authorizing; Wis. Con. VIII-7.
Constitutional amendment, approval on first or 2nd consideration;
Wis. Con XII-1 and Joint Rule
12 (2)(f).
Debt for extraordinary expenditures; Wis. Con. VIII-6.
Majority of three-fifth of all the members elected (see Quorum):
Any "fiscal bill", vote on passage; Wis. Con. VIII-8.
Less than a majority:
