AJR56: Joint Resolution Text

LRB-2771/2

PJD:kmg:kaf

1995 - 1996 LEGISLATURE

1995 Assembly JOINT RESOLUTION 56

September 20, 1995 - Introduced by Representatives Wasserman, Handrick, Ryba, F. Lasee and Wilder. Referred to Committee on Elections and Constitutional Law.

AJR56,1,8 To amend so as in effect to repeal sections 5 and 19 of article IV and section 6 of article XIII; to renumber and amend section 9 of article IV; to amend sections 1 to 4, 7, 8, 10, 14, 17 (1), 20, 22, 23, 25, 26 (2) (b) and (3) and 30 of article IV, sections 3, 4 and 10 (2) of article V, section 2 of article VI, sections 1 and 13 of article VII, sections 6, 7 (2) (e) and (g) and 8 of article VIII, sections 1 and 2 of article XII and section 10 (2) of article XIII; and to create section 9 (2) of article IV and section 17 of article XIV of the constitution; relating to: the establishment of a unicameral legislature (first consideration).

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This constitutional amendment, proposed to the 1995 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 2002.

The unicameral legislature will have 75 members elected from single-member districts on a nonpartisan basis for staggered 4-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.

As a constitutional amendment, the proposal requires adoption by 2 successive legislatures, and ratification by the people, before it can become effective.

AJR56,2,1 Resolved by the assembly, the Senate concurring, That:

AJR56, s. 1 Section 1. Section 1 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:

AJR56,2,4 [Article IV] Section 1. The legislative power shall be vested in a senate and assembly the legislature consisting of one chamber.

AJR56, s. 2 Section 2. Section 2 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:

AJR56,2,9 [Article IV] Section 2. The number of the members of the assembly legislature shall never be less than fifty-four nor more than one hundred. The senate shall consist of a number not more than one-third nor less than one-fourth of the number of the 75 members of the assembly.

AJR56, s. 3 Section 3. Section 3 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:

AJR56,2,14 [Article IV] Section 3. At its first session after each enumeration made by the authority of the United States, the legislature shall apportion and district anew the members of the senate and assembly legislative districts, according to the number of inhabitants.

AJR56, s. 4 Section 4. Section 4 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:

AJR56,3,2 [Article IV] Section 4. The members of the assembly legislature shall be chosen biennially, by single districts. The districts shall be numbered in the regular series, and the members shall be chosen, alternately from the odd-numbered and even-numbered districts, for the term of 4 years, on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday of November in even-numbered years, by the qualified electors of the several districts, such. The districts to shall be bounded by county, precinct, town or ward lines, to consist of contiguous territory and be in as compact form as practicable. Each member shall be nominated and elected in a nonpartisan manner and without any indication on the ballot of affiliation with or endorsement by any political party or organization.

AJR56, s. 5 Section 5. Section 5 of article IV of the constitution is amended so as in effect to repeal said section:

AJR56,3,10 [Article IV] Section 5. The senators shall be elected by single districts of convenient contiguous territory, at the same time and in the same manner as members of the assembly are required to be chosen; and no assembly district shall be divided in the formation of a senate district. The senate districts shall be numbered in the regular series, and the senators shall be chosen alternately from the odd and even-numbered districts for the term of 4 years.

AJR56, s. 6 Section 6. Section 7 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:

AJR56,3,16 [Article IV] Section 7. Each house The legislature shall be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members; and a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may compel the attendance of absent members in such manner and under such penalties as each house it may provide.

AJR56, s. 7 Section 7. Section 8 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:

AJR56,3,21 [Article IV] Section 8. Each house The legislature may determine the rules of its own proceedings, punish for contempt and disorderly behavior, and with the concurrence of two-thirds of all the members elected, expel a member; but no member shall be expelled a second time for the same cause.

AJR56, s. 8 Section 8. Section 9 of article IV of the constitution is renumbered section 9 (1) of article IV and amended to read:

AJR56,3,25 [Article IV] Section 9 (1) Each house The legislature shall choose elect its presiding officers from its own members.

AJR56, s. 9 Section 9. Section 9 (2) of article IV of the constitution is created to read:

AJR56,4,3 [Article IV] Section 9 (2) The legislature shall elect a chief clerk and a sergeant at arms, from outside its membership, for the biennial session of the legislature.

AJR56, s. 10 Section 10. Section 10 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:

AJR56,4,9 [Article IV] Section 10. Each house The legislature shall keep a journal of its proceedings and publish the same, except such parts as require secrecy. The doors of each house the legislature 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.

AJR56, s. 11 Section 11. Section 14 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:

AJR56,4,12 [Article IV] Section 14. The governor shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies as may occur in either house of the legislature.

AJR56, s. 12 Section 12. Section 17 (1) of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:

AJR56,4,16 [Article IV] Section 17 (1) The style of all laws of the state shall be "The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly the legislature, do enact as follows:".

AJR56, s. 13 Section 13. Section 19 of article IV of the constitution is amended so as in effect to repeal said section:

AJR56,4,20 [Article IV] Section 19. Any bill may originate in either house of the legislature, and a bill passed by one house may be amended by the other.

AJR56, s. 14 Section 14. Section 20 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:

AJR56,4,24 [Article IV] Section 20. The yeas and nays of the members of either house the legislature on any question shall, at the request of one-sixth of those present, be entered on the journal.

AJR56, s. 15 Section 15. Section 22 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:

AJR56,5,3 [Article IV] Section 22. The legislature may confer upon the boards of supervisors of the several counties of the state such powers of a local, legislative and administrative character as they the legislature shall from time to time prescribe.

AJR56, s. 16 Section 16. Section 23 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:

AJR56,5,10 [Article IV] Section 23. The legislature shall establish but one system of town government, which shall be as nearly uniform as practicable; but the legislature may provide for the election at large once in every 4 years of a chief executive officer in any county with such powers of an administrative character as they the legislature may from time to time prescribe in accordance with this section and shall establish one or more systems of county government.

AJR56, s. 17 Section 17. Section 25 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:

AJR56,5,17 [Article IV] Section 25. The legislature shall provide by law that all stationery required for the use of the state, and all printing authorized and required by them the legislature to be done for their the use of the legislature, or for the state, shall be let by contract to the lowest bidder, but the legislature may establish a maximum price; no member of the legislature or other state officer shall be interested, either directly or indirectly, in any such contract.

AJR56, s. 18 Section 18. Section 26 (2) (b) of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:

AJR56,5,23 [Article IV] Section 26 (2) (b) Any increase in the compensation of members of the legislature shall take effect, for all senators and representatives to the assembly members of the legislature, after the next general election beginning with the new assembly term biennial session of the legislature.

AJR56, s. 19 Section 19. Section 26 (3) of article IV of the constitution is amended to read: