April 9, 1997 - Introduced by Representatives Wasserman, Handrick, Black,
Dobyns
and Otte. Referred to Committee on Elections and Constitutional
Law.
AJR46,1,81 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 1997 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 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.
A proposed constitutional amendment requires adoption by 2 successive
legislatures, and ratification by the people, before it can become effective.
AJR46,2,1 1Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That:
AJR46, s. 1 2Section 1. Section 1 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR46,2,43 [Article IV] Section 1. The legislative power shall be vested in a senate and
4assembly
the legislature consisting of one chamber.
AJR46, s. 2 5Section 2. Section 2 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR46,2,96 [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.
AJR46, s. 3 10Section 3. Section 3 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR46,2,1411 [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.
AJR46, s. 4 15Section 4. Section 4 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR46,3,316 [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.
AJR46, s. 5 4Section 5. Section 5 of article IV of the constitution is amended so as in effect
5to repeal said section:
AJR46,3,116 [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.
AJR46, s. 6 12Section 6. Section 7 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR46,3,1713 [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.
AJR46, s. 7 18Section 7. Section 8 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR46,3,2219 [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.
AJR46, s. 8 23Section 8. Section 9 of article IV of the constitution is renumbered section 9 (1)
24of article IV and amended to read:
AJR46,4,2
1[Article IV] Section 9 (1) Each house The legislature shall choose elect its
2presiding officers from its own members.
AJR46, s. 9 3Section 9. Section 9 (2) of article IV of the constitution is created to read:
AJR46,4,54 [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.
AJR46, s. 10 6Section 10. Section 10 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR46,4,117 [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.
AJR46, s. 11 12Section 11. Section 14 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR46,4,1413 [Article IV] Section 14. The governor shall issue writs of election to fill such
14vacancies as may occur in either house of the legislature.
AJR46, s. 12 15Section 12. Section 17 (1) of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR46,4,1816 [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:".
AJR46, s. 13 19Section 13. Section 19 of article IV of the constitution is amended so as in effect
20to repeal said section:
AJR46,4,2221 [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.
AJR46, s. 14 23Section 14. Section 20 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR46,5,3
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.
AJR46, s. 15 4Section 15. Section 22 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR46,5,75 [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.
AJR46, s. 16 8Section 16. Section 23 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR46,5,149 [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.
AJR46, s. 17 15Section 17. Section 25 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR46,5,2116 [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.
AJR46, s. 18 22Section 18. Section 26 (2) (b) of article IV of the constitution is amended to
23read:
AJR46,6,224 [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.
AJR46, s. 19 3Section 19. Section 26 (3) of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR46,6,94 [Article IV] Section 26 (3) Subsection (1) shall not apply to increased benefits
5for persons who have been or shall be granted benefits of any kind under a retirement
6system when such increased benefits are provided by a legislative act passed on a call
7of ayes and noes by a three-fourths vote of all the members elected to both houses
8of
the legislature and such act provides for sufficient state funds to cover the costs
9of the increased benefits.
AJR46, s. 20 10Section 20. Section 30 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR46,6,1211 [Article IV] Section 30. All elections made by the legislature shall be by roll call
12vote entered in the journals journal.
AJR46, s. 21 13Section 21. Section 3 of article V of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR46,6,2414 [Article V] Section 3. The governor and lieutenant governor shall be elected by
15the qualified electors of the state at the times and places of choosing members of the
16legislature. They shall be chosen jointly, by the casting by each voter of a single vote
17applicable to both offices beginning with the general election in 1970. The persons
18respectively having the highest number of votes cast jointly for them for governor
19and lieutenant governor shall be elected; but in case two or more slates shall have
20an equal and the highest number of votes for governor and lieutenant governor, the
21two houses of the legislature, at its next annual session shall forthwith, by joint
22ballot, choose one of the slates so having an equal and the highest number of votes
23for governor and lieutenant governor. The returns of election for governor and
24lieutenant governor shall be made in such manner as shall be provided by law.
AJR46, s. 22 25Section 22. Section 4 of article V of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR46,7,2
1[Article V] Section 4 (1) The governor shall be commander in chief of the
2military and naval forces of the state. He shall have power to
AJR46,7,6 3(2) The governor may convene the legislature on extraordinary occasions, and
4in case of invasion, or danger from the prevalence of contagious disease at the seat
5of government, he the governor may convene them the legislature at any other
6suitable place within the state. He
AJR46,7,9 7(3) The governor shall communicate to the legislature, at every session, the
8condition of the state, and recommend such matters to them the legislature for their
9its consideration as he may deem the governor deems expedient. He
AJR46,7,11 10(4) The governor shall transact all necessary business with the officers of the
11government, civil and military. He
AJR46,7,13 12(5) The governor shall expedite all such measures as may be resolved upon by
13the legislature, and shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed.
AJR46, s. 23 14Section 23. Section 10 (2) of article V of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR46,7,2215 [Article V] Section 10 (2) (a) If the governor rejects the bill, the governor shall
16return the bill, together with the objections in writing, to the house in which the bill
17originated
legislature. The house of origin legislature shall enter the objections at
18large upon the journal and proceed to reconsider the bill. If, after such
19reconsideration, two-thirds of the members present agree to pass the bill
20notwithstanding the objections of the governor, it shall be sent, together with the
21objections, to the other house, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if
22approved by two-thirds of the members present it shall
become law.
AJR46,8,523 (b) The rejected part of an appropriation bill, together with the governor's
24objections in writing, shall be returned to the house in which the bill originated
25legislature. The house of origin legislature shall enter the objections at large upon

1the journal and proceed to reconsider the rejected part of the appropriation bill. If,
2after such reconsideration, two-thirds of the members present agree to approve the
3rejected part notwithstanding the objections of the governor, it shall be sent, together
4with the objections, to the other house, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and
5if approved by two-thirds of the members present the rejected part shall
become law.
AJR46,8,96 (c) In all such cases the votes of both houses the legislature shall be determined
7by ayes and noes, and the names of the members voting for or against passage of the
8bill or the rejected part of the bill notwithstanding the objections of the governor shall
9be entered on the journal of each house respectively.
AJR46, s. 24 10Section 24. Section 2 of article VI of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR46,8,1711 [Article VI] Section 2. The secretary of state shall keep a fair record of the
12official acts of the legislature and executive department of the state, and shall, when
13required, lay the same and all matters relative thereto before either branch of the
14legislature. He The secretary of state shall perform such other duties as shall be are
15assigned him to the secretary of state by law. He The secretary of state shall receive
16as a compensation for his services yearly such sum as shall be is provided by law, and
17shall keep his the office of the secretary of state at the seat of government.
AJR46, s. 25 18Section 25. Section 1 of article VII of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR46,9,219 [Article VII] Section 1 (1) The court for the trial of impeachments shall be
20composed of the senate legislature. The assembly legislature shall have the power
21of impeaching all civil officers of this state for corrupt conduct in office, or for crimes
22and misdemeanors; but a majority of all the members elected shall concur in an
23impeachment. On the trial of an impeachment against the governor, the lieutenant
24governor shall not act as a member of the court.
No judicial officer shall exercise his

1that office, after he shall have the judicial officer has been impeached, until his
2acquittal
acquitted.
AJR46,9,6 3(2) Before the trial of an impeachment the members of the court shall take an
4oath or affirmation truly and impartially to try the impeachment according to
5evidence; and no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of
6the members present of the court.
AJR46,9,10 7(3) Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal
8from office, or removal from office and disqualification to hold any office of honor,
9profit or trust under the state; but the party impeached shall be liable to indictment,
10trial and punishment according to law.
AJR46, s. 26 11Section 26. Section 13 of article VII of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR46,9,1712 [Article VII] Section 13. Any justice or judge may be removed from office by
13address of both houses of the legislature, if two-thirds of all the members elected to
14each house the legislature concur therein, but no removal shall be made by virtue of
15this section unless the justice or judge complained of is served with a copy of the
16charges, as the ground of address, and has had an opportunity of being heard. On
17the question of removal, the ayes and noes shall be entered on the journals journal.
AJR46, s. 27 18Section 27. Section 6 of article VIII of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR46,9,2519 [Article VIII] Section 6. For the purpose of defraying extraordinary
20expenditures the state may contract public debts ( , but such debts shall never in the
21aggregate exceed one hundred thousand dollars) $100,000. Every such debt shall be
22authorized by law, for some purpose or purposes to be distinctly specified therein; and
23the vote of a majority of all the members elected to each house the legislature, to be
24taken by yeas and nays, shall be necessary to the passage of such law; and every such
25law shall provide for levying an annual tax sufficient to pay the annual interest of

1such debt and the principal within five years from the passage of such law, and shall
2specially appropriate the proceeds of such taxes to the payment of such principal and
3interest; and such appropriation shall not be repealed, nor the taxes be postponed
4or diminished, until the principal and interest of such debt shall have been wholly
5paid.
AJR46, s. 28 6Section 28. Section 7 (2) (e) and (g) of article VIII of the constitution are
7amended to read:
AJR46,10,158 [Article VIII] Section 7 (2) (e) The legislature shall prescribe all matters
9relating to the contracting of public debt pursuant to paragraph (a), including: the
10public purposes for which public debt may be contracted; by vote of a majority of the
11members elected to each of the 2 houses of the legislature, the amount of public debt
12which may be contracted for any class of such purposes; the public debt or other
13indebtedness which may be funded or refunded; the kinds of notes, bonds or other
14evidence of public debt which may be issued by the state; and the manner in which
15the aggregate value of all taxable property in the state shall be determined.
AJR46,11,216 (g) At any time after January 1, 1972, by vote of a majority of the members
17elected to each of the 2 houses of the legislature, the legislature may declare that an
18emergency exists and submit to the people a proposal to authorize the state to
19contract a specific amount of public debt for a purpose specified in such proposal,
20without regard to the limit provided in paragraph (b). Any such authorization shall
21be effective if approved by a majority of the electors voting thereon. Public debt
22contracted pursuant to such authorization shall thereafter be deemed to have been
23contracted pursuant to paragraph (a), but neither such public debt nor any public
24debt contracted to fund or refund such public debt shall be considered in computing

1the debt limit provided in paragraph (b). Not more than one such authorization shall
2be thus made in any 2-year period.
AJR46, s. 29 3Section 29. Section 8 of article VIII of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR46,11,104 [Article VIII] Section 8. On the passage in either house of by the legislature of
5any law which imposes, continues or renews a tax, or creates a debt or charge, or
6makes, continues or renews an appropriation of public or trust money, or releases,
7discharges or commutes a claim or demand of the state, the question shall be taken
8by yeas and nays, which shall be duly entered on the journal; and three-fifths of all
9the members elected to such house the legislature shall in all such cases be required
10to constitute a quorum therein.
AJR46, s. 30 11Section 30. Section 1 of article XII of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR46,12,212 [Article XII] Section 1. Any amendment or amendments to this constitution
13may be proposed in either house of by the legislature, and if the same shall be agreed
14to by a majority of the members elected to each of the two houses legislature, such
15proposed amendment or amendments shall be entered on their journals its journal,
16with the yeas and nays taken thereon, and referred to the legislature to be chosen
17at the next general election, and shall be published for three months previous to the
18time of holding such election; and if, in the legislature so next chosen, such proposed
19amendment or amendments shall be agreed to by a majority of all the members
20elected to each house the legislature, then it shall be the duty of the legislature to
21submit such proposed amendment or amendments to the people in such manner and
22at such time as the legislature shall prescribe; and if the people shall approve and
23ratify such amendment or amendments by a majority of the electors voting thereon,
24such amendment or amendments shall become part of the constitution; provided,

1that if more than one amendment be submitted, they shall be submitted in such
2manner that the people may vote for or against such amendments separately.
AJR46, s. 31 3Section 31. Section 2 of article XII of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR46,12,104 [Article XII] Section 2. If at any time a majority of the senate and assembly
5legislature shall deem it necessary to call a convention to revise or change this
6constitution, they the legislature shall recommend to the electors to vote for or
7against a convention at the next election for members of the legislature. And if it
8shall appear that a majority of the electors voting thereon have voted for a
9convention, the legislature shall, at its next session, provide for calling such
10convention.
AJR46, s. 32 11Section 32. Section 6 of article XIII of the constitution is amended so as in effect
12to repeal said section:
AJR46,12,1513 [Article XIII] Section 6. The elective officers of the legislature, other than the
14presiding officers, shall be a chief clerk and a sergeant at arms, to be elected by each
15house.
AJR46, s. 33 16Section 33. Section 10 (2) of article XIII of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR46,12,2017 [Article XIII] Section 10 (2) Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of
18lieutenant governor, the governor shall nominate a successor to serve for the balance
19of the unexpired term, who shall take office after confirmation by the senate and by
20the assembly
legislature.
AJR46, s. 34 21Section 34. Section 17 of article XIV of the constitution is created to read:
AJR46,13,222 [Article XIV] Section 17 (1) The changes to the constitution made by this
231997/1999 amendment establishing a unicameral legislature first apply to the
24legislature chosen on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday of November, 2004;
25to the powers, duties and procedures concerning, and prohibitions against, that

1legislature; to the election to that legislature on that date; and to the apportioning
2and districting anew of the legislative districts for that election.
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