WISCONSIN

CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN

PREAMBLE

ARTICLE I.

DECLARATION OF RIGHTS.

Section

1. Equality; inherent rights.

2. Slavery prohibited.

3. Free speech; libel.

4. Right to assemble and petition.

5. Trial by jury; verdict in civil cases.

6. Excessive bail; cruel punishments.

7. Rights of accused.

8. Prosecutions; double jeopardy; self–incrimination;

bail; habeas corpus.

9. Remedy for wrongs.

9m. Victims of crime.

10. Treason.

11. Searches and seizures.

12. Attainder; ex post facto; contracts.

13. Private property for public use.

14. Feudal tenures; leases; alienation.

15. Equal property rights for aliens and citizens.

16. Imprisonment for debt.

17. Exemption of property of debtors.

18. Freedom of worship; liberty of conscience; state

religion; public funds.

19. Religious tests prohibited.

20. Military subordinate to civil power.

21. Rights of suitors.

22. Maintenance of free government.

23. Transportation of school children.

24. Use of school buildings.

25. Right to keep and bear arms.

26. Right to fish, hunt, trap, and take game.

ARTICLE II.

BOUNDARIES.

Section

1. State boundary.

2. Enabling act accepted.

ARTICLE III.

SUFFRAGE.

Section

1. Electors.

2. Implementation.

3. Secret ballot.

4. Repealed.

5. Repealed.

6. Repealed.

ARTICLE IV.

LEGISLATIVE.

Section

1. Legislative power.

2. Legislature, how constituted.

3. Apportionment.

4. Representatives to the assembly, how chosen.

5. Senators, how chosen.

6. Qualifications of legislators.

7. Organization of legislature; quorum; compulsory

attendance.

8. Rules; contempts; expulsion.

9. Officers.

10. Journals; open doors; adjournments.

11. Meeting of legislature.

12. Ineligibility of legislators to office.

13. Ineligibility of federal officers.

14. Filling vacancies.

15. Exemption from arrest and civil process.

16. Privilege in debate.

17. Enactment of laws.

18. Title of private bills.

19. Origin of bills.

20. Yeas and nays.

21. Repealed.

22. Powers of county boards.

23. Town and county government.

23a. Chief executive officer to approve or veto resolutions

or ordinances; proceedings on veto.

24. Gambling.

25. Stationery and printing.

26. Extra compensation; salary change.

27. Suits against state.

28. Oath of office.

29. Militia.

30. Elections by legislature.

31. Special and private laws prohibited.

32. General laws on enumerated subjects.

33. Auditing of state accounts.

34. Continuity of civil government.

ARTICLE V.

EXECUTIVE.

Section

1. Governor; lieutenant governor; term.

1m. Repealed.

1n. Repealed.

2. Eligibility.

3. Election.

4. Powers and duties.

5. Repealed.

6. Pardoning power.

7. Lieutenant governor, when governor.

8. Secretary of state, when governor.

9. Repealed.

10. Governor to approve or veto bills; proceedings on

veto.

ARTICLE VI.

ADMINISTRATIVE.

Section

1. Election of secretary of state, treasurer and attorney

general; term.

1m. Repealed.

1n. Repealed.

1p. Repealed.

2. Secretary of state; duties, compensation.

3. Treasurer and attorney general; duties, compensation.

4. County officers; election, terms, removal; vacancies.

ARTICLE VII.

JUDICIARY.

Section

1. Impeachment; trial.

2. Court system.

3. Supreme court: jurisdiction.

4. Supreme court: election, chief justice, court system

administration.

5. Court of appeals.

6. Circuit court: boundaries.

7. Circuit court: election.

8. Circuit court: jurisdiction.

9. Judicial elections, vacancies.

10. Judges: eligibility to office.

11. Disciplinary proceedings.

12. Clerks of circuit and supreme courts.

13. Justices and judges: removal by address.

14. Municipal court.

15. Repealed.

16. Repealed.

17. Repealed.

18. Repealed.

19. Repealed.

20. Repealed.

21. Repealed.

22. Repealed.

23. Repealed.

24. Justices and judges: eligibility for office; retirement.

ARTICLE VIII.

FINANCE.

Section

1. Rule of taxation uniform; income, privilege and

occupation taxes.

2. Appropriation; limitation.

3. Credit of state.

4. Contracting state debts.

5. Annual tax levy to equal expenses.

6. Public debt for extraordinary expense; taxation.

7. Public debt for public defense; bonding for public

purposes.

8. Vote on fiscal bills; quorum.

9. Evidences of public debt.

10. Internal improvements.

ARTICLE IX.

EMINENT DOMAIN AND PROPERTY OF THE STATE.

Section

1. Jurisdiction on rivers and lakes; navigable waters.

2. Territorial property.

3. Ultimate property in lands; escheats.

ARTICLE X.

EDUCATION.

Section

1. Superintendent of public instruction.

2. School fund created; income applied.

3. District schools; tuition; sectarian instruction;

released time.

4. Annual school tax

5. Income of school fund.

6. State university; support.

7. Commissioners of public lands.

8. Sale of public lands.

ARTICLE XI.

CORPORATIONS.

Section

1. Corporations; how formed.

2. Property taken by municipality.

3. Municipal home rule; debt limit; tax to pay debt.

3a. Acquisition of lands by state and subdivisions; sale

of excess.

4. General banking law.

5. Repealed.

ARTICLE XII.

AMENDMENTS.

Section

1. Constitutional amendments.

2. Constitutional conventions.

ARTICLE XIII.

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

Section

1. Political year; elections.

2. Repealed.

3. Eligibility to office.

4. Great seal.

5. Repealed.

6. Legislative officers.

7. Division of counties.

8. Removal of county seats.

9. Election or appointment of statutory officers.

10. Vacancies in office.

11. Passes, franks and privileges.

12. Recall of elective officers.

ARTICLE XIV.

SCHEDULE.

Section

1. Effect of change from territory to state.

2. Territorial laws continued.

3. Repealed.

4. Repealed.

5. Repealed.

6. Repealed.

7. Repealed.

8. Repealed.

9. Repealed.

10. Repealed.

11. Repealed.

12. Repealed.

13. Common law continued in force.

14. Repealed.

15. Repealed.

16. Implementing revised structure of judicial branch.

PREAMBLE

We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty God for

our freedom, in order to secure its blessings, form a more perfect

government, insure domestic tranquility and promote the general

welfare, do establish this constitution.

ARTICLE I.

DECLARATION OF RIGHTS

Equality; inherent rights. SECTION 1. [As amended Nov.

1982 and April 1986] All people are born equally free and independent,

and have certain inherent rights; among these are life,

liberty and the pursuit of happiness; to secure these rights, governments

are instituted, deriving their just powers from the con-sent

of the governed. [1979 J.R. 36, 1981 J.R. 29, vote Nov.

1982; 1983 J.R. 40, 1985 J.R. 21, vote April 1986]

Slavery prohibited. SECTION 2. There shall be neither

slavery, nor involuntary servitude in this state, otherwise than

for the punishment of crime, whereof the party shall have been

duly convicted.

Free speech; libel. SECTION 3. Every person may freely

speak, write and publish his sentiments on all subjects, being

responsible for the abuse of that right, and no laws shall be

passed to restrain or abridge the liberty of speech or of the press.

In all criminal prosecutions or indictments for libel, the truth

may be given in evidence, and if it shall appear to the jury that

the matter charged as libelous be true, and was published with

good motives and for justifiable ends, the party shall be

acquitted; and the jury shall have the right to determine the law

and the fact.

Right to assemble and petition. SECTION 4. The right of

the people peaceably to assemble, to consult for the common

good, and to petition the government, or any department thereof,

shall never be abridged.

Trial by jury; verdict in civil cases. SECTION 5. [As

amended Nov. 1922] The right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate,

and shall extend to all cases at law without regard to the

amount in controversy; but a jury trial may be waived by the par-ties

in all cases in the manner prescribed by law. Provided, how-ever,

that the legislature may, from time to time, by statute pro-vide

that a valid verdict, in civil cases, may be based on the votes

of a specified number of the jury, not less than five–sixths

thereof. [1919 J.R. 58; 1921 J.R. 17 A; 1921 c. 504; vote Nov.

1922]

Excessive bail; cruel punishments. SECTION 6. Excessive

bail shall not be required, nor shall excessive fines be

imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Rights of accused. SECTION 7. In all criminal prosecutions

the accused shall enjoy the right to be heard by himself and counsel;

to demand the nature and cause of the accusation against

him; to meet the witnesses face to face; to have compulsory process

to compel the attendance of witnesses in his behalf; and in

prosecutions by indictment, or information, to a speedy public

trial by an impartial jury of the county or district wherein the

offense shall have been committed; which county or district

shall have been previously ascertained by law.

Prosecutions; double jeopardy; self–incrimination;

bail; habeas corpus. SECTION 8. [As amended Nov. 1870 and

April 1981] (1) No person may be held to answer for a criminal

offense without due process of law, and no person for the same

offense may be put twice in jeopardy of punishment, nor may be

compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself

or herself.

(2) All persons, before conviction, shall be eligible for

release under reasonable conditions designed to assure their

appearance in court, protect members of the community from

serious bodily harm or prevent the intimidation of witnesses.

Monetary conditions of release may be imposed at or after the

initial appearance only upon a finding that there is a reasonable

basis to believe that the conditions are necessary to assure

appearance in court. The legislature may authorize, by law,

courts to revoke a person’s release for a violation of a condition

of release.

(3) The legislature may by law authorize, but may not

require, circuit courts to deny release for a period not to exceed

10 days prior to the hearing required under this subsection to a

person who is accused of committing a murder punishable by

life imprisonment or a sexual assault punishable by a maximum

imprisonment of 20 years, or who is accused of committing or

attempting to commit a felony involving serious bodily harm to

another or the threat of serious bodily harm to another and who

has a previous conviction for committing or attempting to commit

a felony involving serious bodily harm to another or the

threat of serious bodily harm to another. The legislature may

authorize by law, but may not require, circuit courts to continue

to deny release to those accused persons for an additional period

not to exceed 60 days following the hearing required under this

subsection, if there is a requirement that there be a finding by the

court based on clear and convincing evidence presented at a

hearing that the accused committed the felony and a requirement

that there be a finding by the court that available conditions of

release will not adequately protect members of the community

from serious bodily harm or prevent intimidation of witnesses.

Any law enacted under this subsection shall be specific, limited

and reasonable. In determining the 10–day and 60–day periods,

the court shall omit any period of time found by the court to

result from a delay caused by the defendant or a continuance

granted which was initiated by the defendant.

(4) The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be

suspended unless, in cases of rebellion or invasion, the public

safety requires it. [1869 J.R. 7; 1870 J.R. 3; 1870 c. 118; vote

Nov. 1870; 1979 J.R. 76, 1981 J.R. 8, vote April 1981]

Remedy for wrongs. SECTION 9. Every person is entitled

to a certain remedy in the laws for all injuries, or wrongs which

he may receive in his person, property, or character; he ought to

obtain justice freely, and without being obliged to purchase it,

completely and without denial, promptly and without delay,

conformably to the laws.

Victims of crime. SECTION 9m. [As created April 1993]

This state shall treat crime victims, as defined by law, with fair-ness,

dignity and respect for their privacy. This state shall ensure

that crime victims have all of the following privileges and

protections as provided by law: timely disposition of the case;

the opportunity to attend court proceedings unless the trial court

finds sequestration is necessary to a fair trial for the defendant;

reasonable protection from the accused throughout the criminal

justice process; notification of court proceedings; the opportunity

to confer with the prosecution; the opportunity to make a

statement to the court at disposition; restitution; compensation;

and information about the outcome of the case and the release

of the accused. The legislature shall provide remedies for the

violation of this section. Nothing in this section, or in any statute

enacted pursuant to this section, shall limit any right of the

accused which may be provided by law. [1993 J.R. 2, vote April

1993]

Treason. SECTION 10. Treason against the state shall consist

only in levying war against the same, or in adhering to its

enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted

of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the

same overt act, or on confession in open court.

Searches and seizures. SECTION 11. The right of the

people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects

against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated;

and no warrant shall issue but upon probable cause, supported

by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to

be searched and the persons or things to be seized.

Attainder; ex post facto; contracts. SECTION 12. No bill

of attainder, ex post facto law, nor any law impairing the obligation

of contracts, shall ever be passed, and no conviction shall

work corruption of blood or forfeiture of estate.

Private property for public use. SECTION 13. The property

of no person shall be taken for public use without just compensation

therefor.

Feudal tenures; leases; alienation. SECTION 14. All

lands within the state are declared to be allodial, and feudal tenures

are prohibited. Leases and grants of agricultural land for a

longer term than fifteen years in which rent or service of any

kind shall be reserved, and all fines and like restraints upon

alienation reserved in any grant of land, hereafter made, are

declared to be void.

Equal property rights for aliens and citizens. SECTION

15. No distinction shall ever be made by law between resident

aliens and citizens, in reference to the possession, enjoyment or

descent of property.

Imprisonment for debt. SECTION 16. No person shall be

imprisoned for debt arising out of or founded on a contract,

expressed or implied.

Exemption of property of debtors. SECTION 17. The

privilege of the debtor to enjoy the necessary comforts of life

shall be recognized by wholesome laws, exempting a reasonable

amount of property from seizure or sale for the payment of any

debt or liability hereafter contracted.

Freedom of worship; liberty of conscience; state

religion; public funds. SECTION 18. [As amended Nov. 1982]

The right of every person to worship Almighty God according

to the dictates of conscience shall never be infringed; nor shall

any person be compelled to attend, erect or support any place of

worship, or to maintain any ministry, without consent; nor shall

any control of, or interference with, the rights of conscience be

permitted, or any preference be given by law to any religious

establishments or modes of worship; nor shall any money be

drawn from the treasury for the benefit of religious societies, or

religious or theological seminaries. [1979 J.R. 36, 1981 J.R. 29,

vote Nov. 1982]

Religious tests prohibited. SECTION 19. No religious

tests shall ever be required as a qualification for any office of

public trust under the state, and no person shall be rendered

incompetent to give evidence in any court of law or equity in

consequence of his opinions on the subject of religion.

Military subordinate to civil power. SECTION 20. The

military shall be in strict subordination to the civil power.

Rights of suitors. SECTION 21. [As amended April 1977]

(1) Writs of error shall never be prohibited, and shall be issued

by such courts as the legislature designates by law.

(2) In any court of this state, any suitor may prosecute or

defend his suit either in his own proper person or by an attorney

of the suitor’s choice. [1975 J.R. 13, 1977 J.R. 7, vote April

1977]

Maintenance of free government. SECTION 22. The

blessings of a free government can only be maintained by a firm

adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality and virtue,

and by frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.

Transportation of school children. SECTION 23. [As

created April 1967] Nothing in this constitution shall prohibit

the legislature from providing for the safety and welfare of children

by providing for the transportation of children to and from

any parochial or private school or institution of learning. [1965

J.R. 46, 1967 J.R. 13, vote April 1967]

Use of school buildings. SECTION 24. [As created April

1972] Nothing in this constitution shall prohibit the legislature

from authorizing, by law, the use of public school buildings by

civic, religious or charitable organizations during nonschool

hours upon payment by the organization to the school district of

reasonable compensation for such use. [1969 J.R. 38, 1971 J.R.

27, vote April 1972]

Right to keep and bear arms. SECTION 25. [As created

Nov. 1998] The people have the right to keep and bear arms for

security, defense, hunting, recreation or any other lawful purpose.

[1995 J.R. 27, 1997 J.R. 21, vote November 1998]

Right to fish, hunt, trap, and take game. SECTION 26.

[As created April 2003] The people have the right to fish, hunt,

trap, and take game subject only to reasonable restrictions as

prescribed by law. [2001 J.R. 16, 2003 J.R. 8, vote April 2003]

ARTICLE II.

BOUNDARIES

State boundary. SECTION 1. It is hereby ordained and

declared that the state of Wisconsin doth consent and accept of

the boundaries prescribed in the act of congress entitled “An act

to enable the people of Wisconsin territory to form a constitution

and state government, and for the admission of such state into

the Union,” approved August sixth, one thousand eight hundred

and forty–six, to wit: Beginning at the northeast corner of the

state of Illinois—that is to say, at a point in the center of Lake

Michigan where the line of forty–two degrees and thirty minutes

of north latitude crosses the same; thence running with the

boundary line of the state of Michigan, through Lake Michigan,

Green Bay, to the mouth of the Menominee river; thence up the

channel of the said river to the Brule river; thence up said last–

mentioned river to Lake Brule; thence along the southern shore

of Lake Brule in a direct line to the center of the channel between

Middle and South Islands, in the Lake of the Desert; thence in

a direct line to the head waters of the Montreal river, as marked

upon the survey made by Captain Cramm; thence down the main

channel of the Montreal river to the middle of Lake Superior;

thence through the center of Lake Superior to the mouth of the

St. Louis river; thence up the main channel of said river to the

first rapids in the same, above the Indian village, according to

Nicollet’s map; thence due south to the main branch of the river

St. Croix; thence down the main channel of said river to the Mississippi;

thence down the center of the main channel of that river

to the northwest corner of the state of Illinois; thence due east

with the northern boundary of the state of Illinois to the place of

beginning, as established by “An act to enable the people of the

Illinois territory to form a constitution and state government, and

for the admission of such state into the Union on an equal footing

with the original states,” approved April 18th, 1818.

Enabling act accepted. SECTION 2. [As amended April

1951] The propositions contained in the act of congress are

hereby accepted, ratified and confirmed, and shall remain irrevocable

without the consent of the United States; and it is hereby

ordained that this state shall never interfere with the primary disposal

of the soil within the same by the United States, nor with

any regulations congress may find necessary for securing the

title in such soil to bona fide purchasers thereof; and in no case

shall nonresident proprietors be taxed higher than residents.

Provided, that nothing in this constitution, or in the act of congress

aforesaid, shall in any manner prejudice or affect the right

of the state of Wisconsin to 500,000 acres of land granted to said

state, and to be hereafter selected and located by and under the

act of congress entitled “An act to appropriate the proceeds of

the sales of the public lands, and grant pre–emption rights,”

approved September fourth, one thousand eight hundred and

forty–one. [1949 J.R. 11; 1951 J.R. 7; vote April 1951]

ARTICLE III.

SUFFRAGE

Electors. SECTION 1. [As amended Nov. 1882, Nov. 1908,

Nov. 1934; repealed April 1986; created April 1986] Every

United States citizen age 18 or older who is a resident of an election

district in this state is a qualified elector of that district.

[1881 J.R. 26 A, 1882 J.R. 5, 1882 c. 272, vote Nov. 1882; 1905

J.R. 15, 1907 J.R. 25, 1907 c. 661, vote Nov. 1908; 1931 J.R. 91,

1933 J.R. 76, vote Nov. 1934; 1983 J.R. 30, 1985 J.R. 14, vote

April 1986]

Implementation. SECTION 2. [As repealed April 1986;

created April 1986] Laws may be enacted:

(1) Defining residency.

(2) Providing for registration of electors.

(3) Providing for absentee voting.

(4) Excluding from the right of suffrage persons:

(a) Convicted of a felony, unless restored to civil rights.

(b) Adjudged by a court to be incompetent or partially

incompetent, unless the judgment specifies that the person is

capable of understanding the objective of the elective process or

the judgment is set aside.

(5) Subject to ratification by the people at a general election,

extending the right of suffrage to additional classes. [1983 J.R.

30, 1985 J.R. 14, vote April 1986]

Secret ballot. SECTION 3. [As repealed April 1986; created

April 1986] All votes shall be by secret ballot. [1983 J.R. 30,

1985 J.R. 14, vote April 1986]

Residence saved. SECTION 4. [Repealed April 1986; see

1983 J.R. 30, 1985 J.R. 14, vote April 1986.]

Military stationing does not confer residence. SEC-TION

5. [Repealed April 1986; see 1983 J.R. 30, 1985 J.R. 14,

vote April 1986.]

Exclusion from suffrage. SECTION 6. [Repealed April

1986; see 1983 J.R. 30, 1985 J.R. 14, vote April 1986.]

ARTICLE IV.

LEGISLATIVE

Legislative power. SECTION 1. The legislative power shall

be vested in a senate and assembly.

Legislature, how constituted. SECTION 2. The number

of the members of the assembly 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 members of the assembly.

Apportionment. SECTION 3. [As amended Nov. 1910, Nov.

1962 and Nov. 1982] 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, according to the number of inhabitants. [1907 J.R. 30,

1909 J.R. 55, 1909 c. 478, vote Nov. 1910; 1959 J.R. 30, 1961

J.R. 32, vote Nov. 6, 1962; 1979 J.R. 36, 1981 J.R. 29, vote Nov.

1982]

Representatives to the assembly, how chosen. SEC-TION

4. [As amended Nov. 1881 and Nov. 1982] The members of

the assembly shall be chosen biennially, by single districts, on

the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday of November in even–

numbered years, by the qualified electors of the several districts,

such districts to be bounded by county, precinct, town or ward

lines, to consist of contiguous territory and be in as compact

form as practicable. [1880 J.R. 9S, 1881 J.R. 7A, 1881 c. 262,

vote Nov. 1881; 1979 J.R. 36, 1981 J.R. 29, vote Nov. 1982]

Senators, how chosen. SECTION 5. [As amended Nov.

1881 and Nov. 1982] 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. [1880 J.R. 9S, 1881 J.R. 7A, 1881 c. 262, vote Nov. 1881;

1979 J.R. 36, 1981 J.R. 29, vote Nov. 1982]

Qualifications of legislators. SECTION 6. No person shall

be eligible to the legislature who shall not have resided one year

within the state, and be a qualified elector in the district which

he may be chosen to represent.

Organization of legislature; quorum; compulsory

attendance. SECTION 7. Each house 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 may provide.

Rules; contempts; expulsion. SECTION 8. Each house

may determine the rules of its own proceedings, punish for con-tempt

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.

Officers. SECTION 9. [As amended April 1979] Each house

shall choose its presiding officers from its own members. [1977

J.R. 32, 1979 J.R. 3, vote April 1979]

Journals; open doors; adjournments. SECTION 10.

Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings and publish

the same, except such parts as require secrecy. The doors of each

house 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.

Meeting of legislature. SECTION 11. [As amended Nov.

1881 and April 1968] The legislature shall meet at the seat of

government at such time as shall be provided by law, unless convened

by the governor in special session, and when so convened

no business shall be transacted except as shall be necessary to

accomplish the special purposes for which it was convened.

[1880 J.R. 9S, 1881 J.R. 7A, 1881 c. 262, vote Nov. 1881; 1965

J.R. 57, 1967 J.R. 48, vote April 1968]

Ineligibility of legislators to office. SECTION 12. No

member of the legislature shall, during the term for which he was

elected, be appointed or elected to any civil office in the state,

which shall have been created, or the emoluments of which shall

have been increased, during the term for which he was elected.

Ineligibility of federal officers. SECTION 13. [As amended

April 1966] No person being a member of congress, or holding

any military or civil office under the United States, shall be eligible

to a seat in the legislature; and if any person shall, after his

election as a member of the legislature, be elected to congress,

or be appointed to any office, civil or military, under the

government of the United States, his acceptance thereof shall vacate his

seat. This restriction shall not prohibit a legislator from accepting

short periods of active duty as a member of the reserve or

from serving in the armed forces during any emergency declared

by the executive. [1963 J.R. 34, 1965 J.R. 14, vote April 1966.]

Filling vacancies. SECTION 14. The governor shall issue

writs of election to fill such vacancies as may occur in either

house of the legislature.

Exemption from arrest and civil process. SECTION 15.

Members of the legislature shall in all cases, except treason, felony

and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest; nor shall

they be subject to any civil process, during the session of the legislature,

nor for fifteen days next before the commencement and

after the termination of each session.

Privilege in debate. SECTION 16. No member of the legislature

shall be liable in any civil action, or criminal prosecution

whatever, for words spoken in debate.

Enactment of laws. SECTION 17. [As amended April 1977]

(1) The style of all laws of the state shall be “The people of the

state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact

as follows:”.

(2) No law shall be enacted except by bill. No law shall be

in force until published.

(3) The legislature shall provide by law for the speedy publication

of all laws. [1975 J.R. 13, 1977 J.R. 7, vote April 1977]

Title of private bills. SECTION 18. No private or local bill

which may be passed by the legislature shall embrace more than

one subject, and that shall be expressed in the title.

Origin of bills. 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.

Yeas and nays. SECTION 20. The yeas and nays of the members

of either house on any question shall, at the request of one–

sixth of those present, be entered on the journal.

Compensation of members. SECTION 21. [Amended Nov.

1867 and Nov. 1881; repealed April 1929; see 1865 J.R. 9; 1866

J.R. 3; 1867 c. 25, vote Nov. 1867; 1880 J.R. 9S, 1881 J.R. 7A,

1881 c. 262, vote Nov. 1881; 1927 J.R. 57, 1929 J.R. 6, vote April

1929.]

Powers of county boards. 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 shall from time to time prescribe.

Town and county government. SECTION 23. [As

amended Nov. 1962, April 1969 and April 1972] The legislature

shall establish but one system of town government, which shall

be as nearly uniform as practicable; but the legislature may pro-vide

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 may from time to time prescribe in

accordance with this section and shall establish one or more systems

of county government. [1959 J.R. 68, 1961 J.R. 64, vote

Nov. 6, 1962; 1967 J.R. 49, 1969 J.R. 2, vote April 1969; 1969

J.R. 32, 1971 J.R. 13, vote April 1972]

Chief executive officer to approve or veto resolutions

or ordinances; proceedings on veto. SECTION 23a.

[As created Nov. 1962 and amended April 1969] Every resolution

or ordinance passed by the county board in any county shall,

before it becomes effective, be presented to the chief executive

officer. If he approves, he shall sign it; if not, he shall return it

with his objections, which objections shall be entered at large

upon the journal and the board shall proceed to reconsider the

matter. Appropriations may be approved in whole or in part by

the chief executive officer and the part approved shall become

law, and the part objected to shall be returned in the same manner

as provided for in other resolutions or ordinances. If, after such

reconsideration, two–thirds of the members–elect of the county

board agree to pass the resolution or ordinance or the part of the

resolution or ordinance objected to, it shall become effective on

the date prescribed but not earlier than the date of passage following

reconsideration. In all such cases, the votes of the members

of the county board shall be determined by ayes and noes

and the names of the members voting for or against the resolution

or ordinance or the part thereof objected to shall be entered

on the journal. If any resolution or ordinance is not returned by

the chief executive officer to the county board at its first meeting

occurring not less than 6 days, Sundays excepted, after it has

been presented to him, it shall become effective unless the

county board has recessed or adjourned for a period in excess of

60 days, in which case it shall not be effective without his