AJR5,2,2 1To renumber and amend section 9 of article IV; to amend section 1 of article IV,
2section 2 of article IV, section 3 of article IV, section 4 of article IV, section 5 of
3article IV, section 7 of article IV, section 8 of article IV, section 10 of article IV,
4section 14 of article IV, section 17 (1) of article IV, section 19 of article IV, section
520 of article IV, section 22 of article IV, section 23 of article IV, section 25 of
6article IV, section 26 (2) (b) of article IV, section 26 (3) of article IV, section 30
7of article IV, section 3 of article V, section 4 of article V, section 10 (2) of article
8V, section 2 of article VI, section 1 of article VII, section 13 of article VII, section
96 of article VIII, section 7 (2) (e) and (g) of article VIII, section 8 of article VIII,
10section 1 of article XII, section 2 of article XII, section 6 of article XIII and
11section 10 (2) of article XIII; and to create section 9 (2) of article IV and section

117 of article XIV of the constitution; relating to: the establishment of a
2unicameral legislature (first consideration).
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This proposed constitutional amendment, proposed to the 2003 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 2006.
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.
AJR5,2,3 3Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That:
AJR5, s. 1 4Section 1. Section 1 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR5,2,65 [Article IV] Section 1. The legislative power shall be vested in a senate and
6assembly
the legislature consisting of one chamber.
AJR5, s. 2 7Section 2. Section 2 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR5,2,118 [Article IV] Section 2. The number of the members of the assembly legislature
9shall never be less than fifty-four nor more than one hundred. The senate shall
10consist of a number not more than one-third nor less than one-fourth of the number
11of the
75 members of the assembly.
AJR5, s. 3 12Section 3. Section 3 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR5,3,213 [Article IV] Section 3. At its first session after each enumeration made by the
14authority of the United States, the legislature shall apportion and district anew the

1members of the senate and assembly legislative districts, according to the number
2of inhabitants.
AJR5, s. 4 3Section 4. Section 4 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR5,3,134 [Article IV] Section 4. The members of the assembly legislature shall be chosen
5biennially, by single districts. The districts shall be numbered in the regular series,
6and the members shall be chosen, alternately from the odd-numbered and
7even-numbered districts, for the term of 4 years
, on the Tuesday succeeding the first
8Monday of November in even-numbered years, by the qualified electors of the
9several districts, such. The districts to shall be bounded by county, precinct, town or
10ward lines, to consist of contiguous territory and be in as compact form as practicable.
11Each member shall be nominated and elected in a nonpartisan manner and without
12any indication on the ballot of affiliation with or endorsement by any political party
13or organization.
AJR5, s. 5 14Section 5. Section 5 of article IV of the constitution is amended so as in effect
15to repeal said section:
AJR5,3,2116 [Article IV] Section 5. The senators shall be elected by single districts of
17convenient contiguous territory, at the same time and in the same manner as
18members of the assembly are required to be chosen; and no assembly district shall
19be divided in the formation of a senate district. The senate districts shall be
20numbered in the regular series, and the senators shall be chosen alternately from the
21odd and even-numbered districts for the term of 4 years.
AJR5, s. 6 22Section 6. Section 7 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR5,4,223 [Article IV] Section 7. Each house The legislature shall be the judge of the
24elections, returns and qualifications of its own members; and a majority of each shall
25constitute a quorum to do business, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to

1day, and may compel the attendance of absent members in such manner and under
2such penalties as each house it may provide.
AJR5, s. 7 3Section 7. Section 8 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR5,4,74 [Article IV] Section 8. Each house The legislature may determine the rules of
5its own proceedings, punish for contempt and disorderly behavior, and with the
6concurrence of two-thirds of all the members elected, expel a member; but no
7member shall be expelled a second time for the same cause.
AJR5, s. 8 8Section 8. Section 9 of article IV of the constitution is renumbered section 9 (1)
9of article IV and amended to read:
AJR5,4,1110 [Article IV] Section 9 (1) Each house The legislature shall choose elect its
11presiding officers from its own members.
AJR5, s. 9 12Section 9. Section 9 (2) of article IV of the constitution is created to read:
AJR5,4,1413 [Article IV] Section 9 (2) The legislature shall elect a chief clerk and a sergeant
14at arms, from outside its membership, for the biennial session of the legislature.
AJR5, s. 10 15Section 10. Section 10 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR5,4,2016 [Article IV] Section 10. Each house The legislature shall keep a journal of its
17proceedings and publish the same, except such parts as require secrecy. The doors
18of each house the legislature shall be kept open except when the public welfare shall
19require secrecy. Neither house shall, without consent of the other, adjourn for more
20than three days.
AJR5, s. 11 21Section 11. Section 14 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR5,4,2322 [Article IV] Section 14. The governor shall issue writs of election to fill such
23vacancies as may occur in either house of the legislature.
AJR5, s. 12 24Section 12. Section 17 (1) of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR5,5,3
1[Article IV] Section 17 (1) The style of all laws of the state shall be "The people
2of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly the legislature, do
3enact as follows:".
AJR5, s. 13 4Section 13. Section 19 of article IV of the constitution is amended so as in effect
5to repeal said section:
AJR5,5,76 [Article IV] Section 19. Any bill may originate in either house of the legislature,
7and a bill passed by one house may be amended by the other.
AJR5, s. 14 8Section 14. Section 20 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR5,5,119 [Article IV] Section 20. The yeas and nays of the members of either house the
10legislature
on any question shall, at the request of one-sixth of those present, be
11entered on the journal.
AJR5, s. 15 12Section 15. Section 22 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR5,5,1513 [Article IV] Section 22. The legislature may confer upon the boards of
14supervisors of the several counties of the state such powers of a local, legislative and
15administrative character as they the legislature shall from time to time prescribe.
AJR5, s. 16 16Section 16. Section 23 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR5,5,2217 [Article IV] Section 23. The legislature shall establish but one system of town
18government, which shall be as nearly uniform as practicable; but the legislature may
19provide for the election at large once in every 4 years of a chief executive officer in
20any county with such powers of an administrative character as they the legislature
21may from time to time prescribe in accordance with this section and shall establish
22one or more systems of county government.
AJR5, s. 17 23Section 17. Section 25 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR5,6,424 [Article IV] Section 25. The legislature shall provide by law that all stationery
25required for the use of the state, and all printing authorized and required by them

1the legislature to be done for their the use of the legislature, or for the state, shall
2be let by contract to the lowest bidder, but the legislature may establish a maximum
3price; no member of the legislature or other state officer shall be interested, either
4directly or indirectly, in any such contract.
AJR5, s. 18 5Section 18. Section 26 (2) (b) of article IV of the constitution is amended to
6read:
AJR5,6,107 [Article IV] Section 26 (2) (b) Any increase in the compensation of members of
8the legislature shall take effect, for all senators and representatives to the assembly
9members of the legislature, after the next general election beginning with the new
10assembly term biennial session of the legislature.
AJR5, s. 19 11Section 19. Section 26 (3) of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR5,6,1712 [Article IV] Section 26 (3) Subsection (1) shall not apply to increased benefits
13for persons who have been or shall be granted benefits of any kind under a retirement
14system when such increased benefits are provided by a legislative act passed on a call
15of ayes and noes by a three-fourths vote of all the members elected to both houses
16of
the legislature and such act provides for sufficient state funds to cover the costs
17of the increased benefits.
AJR5, s. 20 18Section 20. Section 30 of article IV of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR5,6,2019 [Article IV] Section 30. All elections made by the legislature shall be by roll call
20vote entered in the journals journal.
AJR5, s. 21 21Section 21. Section 3 of article V of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR5,7,722 [Article V] Section 3. The governor and lieutenant governor shall be elected by
23the qualified electors of the state at the times and places of choosing members of the
24legislature. They shall be chosen jointly, by the casting by each voter of a single vote
25applicable to both offices beginning with the general election in 1970. The persons

1respectively having the highest number of votes cast jointly for them for governor
2and lieutenant governor shall be elected; but in case two or more slates shall have
3an equal and the highest number of votes for governor and lieutenant governor, the
4two houses of the legislature, at its next annual session shall forthwith, by joint
5ballot, choose one of the slates so having an equal and the highest number of votes
6for governor and lieutenant governor. The returns of election for governor and
7lieutenant governor shall be made in such manner as shall be provided by law.
AJR5, s. 22 8Section 22. Section 4 of article V of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR5,7,109 [Article V] Section 4 (1) The governor shall be commander in chief of the
10military and naval forces of the state. He shall have power to
AJR5,7,14 11(2) The governor may convene the legislature on extraordinary occasions, and
12in case of invasion, or danger from the prevalence of contagious disease at the seat
13of government, he the governor may convene them the legislature at any other
14suitable place within the state. He
AJR5,7,17 15(3) The governor shall communicate to the legislature, at every session, the
16condition of the state, and recommend such matters to them the legislature for their
17its consideration as he may deem the governor deems expedient. He
AJR5,7,19 18(4) The governor shall transact all necessary business with the officers of the
19government, civil and military. He
AJR5,7,21 20(5) The governor shall expedite all such measures as may be resolved upon by
21the legislature, and shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed.
AJR5, s. 23 22Section 23. Section 10 (2) of article V of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR5,8,523 [Article V] Section 10 (2) (a) If the governor rejects the bill, the governor shall
24return the bill, together with the objections in writing, to the house in which the bill
25originated
legislature. The house of origin legislature shall enter the objections at

1large upon the journal and proceed to reconsider the bill. If, after such
2reconsideration, two-thirds of the members present agree to pass the bill
3notwithstanding the objections of the governor, it shall be sent, together with the
4objections, to the other house, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if
5approved by two-thirds of the members present it shall
become law.
AJR5,8,136 (b) The rejected part of an appropriation bill, together with the governor's
7objections in writing, shall be returned to the house in which the bill originated
8legislature. The house of origin legislature shall enter the objections at large upon
9the journal and proceed to reconsider the rejected part of the appropriation bill. If,
10after such reconsideration, two-thirds of the members present agree to approve the
11rejected part notwithstanding the objections of the governor, it shall be sent, together
12with the objections, to the other house, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and
13if approved by two-thirds of the members present the rejected part shall
become law.
AJR5,8,1714 (c) In all such cases the votes of both houses the legislature shall be determined
15by ayes and noes, and the names of the members voting for or against passage of the
16bill or the rejected part of the bill notwithstanding the objections of the governor shall
17be entered on the journal of each house respectively.
AJR5, s. 24 18Section 24. Section 2 of article VI of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR5,8,2519 [Article VI] Section 2. The secretary of state shall keep a fair record of the
20official acts of the legislature and executive department of the state, and shall, when
21required, lay the same and all matters relative thereto before either branch of the
22legislature. He The secretary of state shall perform such other duties as shall be are
23assigned him to the secretary of state by law. He The secretary of state shall receive
24as a compensation for his services yearly such sum as shall be is provided by law, and
25shall keep his the office of the secretary of state at the seat of government.
AJR5, s. 25
1Section 25. Section 1 of article VII of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR5,9,92 [Article VII] Section 1 (1) The court for the trial of impeachments shall be
3composed of the senate legislature. The assembly legislature shall have the power
4of impeaching all civil officers of this state for corrupt conduct in office, or for crimes
5and misdemeanors; but a majority of all the members elected shall concur in an
6impeachment. On the trial of an impeachment against the governor, the lieutenant
7governor shall not act as a member of the court.
No judicial officer shall exercise his
8that office, after he shall have the judicial officer has been impeached, until his
9acquittal
acquitted.
AJR5,9,13 10(2) Before the trial of an impeachment the members of the court shall take an
11oath or affirmation truly and impartially to try the impeachment according to
12evidence; and no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of
13the members present of the court.
AJR5,9,17 14(3) Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal
15from office, or removal from office and disqualification to hold any office of honor,
16profit or trust under the state; but the party impeached shall be liable to indictment,
17trial and punishment according to law.
AJR5, s. 26 18Section 26. Section 13 of article VII of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR5,9,2419 [Article VII] Section 13. Any justice or judge may be removed from office by
20address of both houses of the legislature, if two-thirds of all the members elected to
21each house the legislature concur therein, but no removal shall be made by virtue of
22this section unless the justice or judge complained of is served with a copy of the
23charges, as the ground of address, and has had an opportunity of being heard. On
24the question of removal, the ayes and noes shall be entered on the journals journal.
AJR5, s. 27 25Section 27. Section 6 of article VIII of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR5,10,12
1[Article VIII] Section 6. For the purpose of defraying extraordinary
2expenditures the state may contract public debts (, but such debts shall never in the
3aggregate exceed one hundred thousand dollars) $100,000. Every such debt shall be
4authorized by law, for some purpose or purposes to be distinctly specified therein; and
5the vote of a majority of all the members elected to each house the legislature, to be
6taken by yeas and nays, shall be necessary to the passage of such law; and every such
7law shall provide for levying an annual tax sufficient to pay the annual interest of
8such debt and the principal within five years from the passage of such law, and shall
9specially appropriate the proceeds of such taxes to the payment of such principal and
10interest; and such appropriation shall not be repealed, nor the taxes be postponed
11or diminished, until the principal and interest of such debt shall have been wholly
12paid.
AJR5, s. 28 13Section 28. Section 7 (2) (e) and (g) of article VIII of the constitution are
14amended to read:
AJR5,10,2215 [Article VIII] Section 7 (2) (e) The legislature shall prescribe all matters
16relating to the contracting of public debt pursuant to paragraph (a), including: the
17public purposes for which public debt may be contracted; by vote of a majority of the
18members elected to each of the 2 houses of the legislature, the amount of public debt
19which may be contracted for any class of such purposes; the public debt or other
20indebtedness which may be funded or refunded; the kinds of notes, bonds or other
21evidence of public debt which may be issued by the state; and the manner in which
22the aggregate value of all taxable property in the state shall be determined.
AJR5,11,823 (g) At any time after January 1, 1972, by vote of a majority of the members
24elected to each of the 2 houses of the legislature, the legislature may declare that an
25emergency exists and submit to the people a proposal to authorize the state to

1contract a specific amount of public debt for a purpose specified in such proposal,
2without regard to the limit provided in paragraph (b). Any such authorization shall
3be effective if approved by a majority of the electors voting thereon. Public debt
4contracted pursuant to such authorization shall thereafter be deemed to have been
5contracted pursuant to paragraph (a), but neither such public debt nor any public
6debt contracted to fund or refund such public debt shall be considered in computing
7the debt limit provided in paragraph (b). Not more than one such authorization shall
8be thus made in any 2-year period.
AJR5, s. 29 9Section 29. Section 8 of article VIII of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR5,11,1610 [Article VIII] Section 8. On the passage in either house of by the legislature of
11any law which imposes, continues or renews a tax, or creates a debt or charge, or
12makes, continues or renews an appropriation of public or trust money, or releases,
13discharges or commutes a claim or demand of the state, the question shall be taken
14by yeas and nays, which shall be duly entered on the journal; and three-fifths of all
15the members elected to such house the legislature shall in all such cases be required
16to constitute a quorum therein.
AJR5, s. 30 17Section 30. Section 1 of article XII of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR5,12,718 [Article XII] Section 1. Any amendment or amendments to this constitution
19may be proposed in either house of by the legislature, and if the same shall be agreed
20to by a majority of the members elected to each of the two houses legislature, such
21proposed amendment or amendments shall be entered on their journals its journal,
22with the yeas and nays taken thereon, and referred to the legislature to be chosen
23at the next general election, and shall be published for three months previous to the
24time of holding such election; and if, in the legislature so next chosen, such proposed
25amendment or amendments shall be agreed to by a majority of all the members

1elected to each house the legislature, then it shall be the duty of the legislature to
2submit such proposed amendment or amendments to the people in such manner and
3at such time as the legislature shall prescribe; and if the people shall approve and
4ratify such amendment or amendments by a majority of the electors voting thereon,
5such amendment or amendments shall become part of the constitution; provided,
6that if more than one amendment be submitted, they shall be submitted in such
7manner that the people may vote for or against such amendments separately.
AJR5, s. 31 8Section 31. Section 2 of article XII of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR5,12,159 [Article XII] Section 2. If at any time a majority of the senate and assembly
10legislature shall deem it necessary to call a convention to revise or change this
11constitution, they the legislature shall recommend to the electors to vote for or
12against a convention at the next election for members of the legislature. And if it
13shall appear that a majority of the electors voting thereon have voted for a
14convention, the legislature shall, at its next session, provide for calling such
15convention.
AJR5, s. 32 16Section 32. Section 6 of article XIII of the constitution is amended so as in effect
17to repeal said section:
AJR5,12,2018 [Article XIII] Section 6. The elective officers of the legislature, other than the
19presiding officers, shall be a chief clerk and a sergeant at arms, to be elected by each
20house.
AJR5, s. 33 21Section 33. Section 10 (2) of article XIII of the constitution is amended to read:
AJR5,12,2522 [Article XIII] Section 10 (2) Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of
23lieutenant governor, the governor shall nominate a successor to serve for the balance
24of the unexpired term, who shall take office after confirmation by the senate and by
25the assembly
legislature.
AJR5, s. 34
1Section 34. Section 17 of article XIV of the constitution is created to read:
AJR5,13,72 [Article XIV] Section 17 (1) The changes to the constitution made by this
32005/2005 amendment establishing a unicameral legislature first apply to the
4legislature chosen on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday of November, 2006;
5to the powers, duties, and procedures concerning, and prohibitions against, that
6legislature; to the election to that legislature on that date; and to the apportioning
7and districting anew of the legislative districts for that election.
AJR5,13,108 (2) If a senator is elected before November 2006 to a term of office expiring after
9the first Monday of January, 2007, the term expires on the first Monday of January,
102007.
AJR5,13,1411 (3) Notwithstanding section 4 of article IV, the terms of members of the
12legislature elected in November 2006 to even-numbered districts shall be for 2 years
13and the terms of members of the legislature elected in November 2006 to
14odd-numbered districts shall be for 4 years.
AJR5, s. 35 15Section 35. Numbering of new provisions. (1) The new section 17 of article
16XIV of the constitution created in this joint resolution shall be designated by the next
17higher open whole section number in that article if, before the ratification by the
18people of the amendment proposed in this joint resolution, any other ratified
19amendment has created a section 17 of article XIV of the constitution of this state.
20If one or more joint resolutions create a section 17 of article XIV simultaneously with
21the ratification by the people of the amendment proposed in this joint resolution, the
22sections created shall be numbered and placed in a sequence so that the section
23created by the joint resolution having the lowest enrolled joint resolution number has
24the number designated in the joint resolution and the sections created by the other

1joint resolutions have the numbers in the sequence that are in the same ascending
2order as are the numbers of the enrolled joint resolutions creating the sections.
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