WISCONSIN GOVERNMENT Executive, Legislative, Judicial
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Executive Branch - Governor What does he do? Supervises
administrative agencies Appoints heads to run agencies Too many to
oversee entire agency Controls finances (Budget) Proposes biennial
state budget Must be approved by Legislature Appoints special
committees Calls special elections Recommends new laws or
improvements Formal address to legislature Discussions with
senators or representatives
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Executive Governor Cont. Sign bills into law Has veto power If
not signed after 6 days bill becomes law 2/3 in both houses to
override veto Partial veto when dealing with money (budget) Focal
point for complaints and suggestions Call special sessions of
Legislature when needed Approve federal aid expenditures Approve
state land purchases Construction projects Office of the Governor
37.25 employees $8 million dollar annual budget
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Exec. Branch Constitutional Officers All officers are elected
to 4 year terms Governor Scott Walker - $137,092 2011 Lieutenant
governor Rebecca Kleefisch - $72,394 - 2011 Takes over duties of
Governor when he is temporarily out of the state or disabled
Specific duties are outlined by the Governor Similar to US Vice
President
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Exec. Branch Constitutional Officers Secretary of State Douglas
J. La Follette - $65,079 - 2011 Maintain official acts of the
Governor and Legislature Affix seal to official government acts
Variety of services for the state and municipal governments If Lt.
Gov. office is vacant is next in line to be Governor
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Exec. Branch Constitutional Officers State treasurer Kurt
Schuller - $65,079 2011 Fiscal trustee Oversees disbursement of
unclaimed property Administers states college savings program
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Exec. Branch Constitutional Officers Attorney General J.B. Van
Hollen - $133,033 2011 Supervises the Department of Justice Provide
legal advice and representation Criminal Investigation Law
enforcement services Appoints positions in the Dep. of Justice
Represents state in law suits Advises state, county, and municipal
official on legal issues
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Exec. Branch Constitutional Officers State Superintendent of
Public Instruction Tony Evers - $122,516 2013 Elected in April 2009
Supervises public schools in the state Over 1 million students
annually 426 school districts
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Executive Branch State Departments (18) Department of
Administration (DOA) Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Department of Public Instruction (DPI) Department of Revenue (DOR)
Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP)
Department of Corrections (DOC) Department of Health and Family
Services (DHFS) Department of Transportation (DOT) Department of
Tourism Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Department of
Children and Families (DCF) Department of Commerce Employee Trust
Funds Financial Institutions Department of Justice (DOJ) Department
of Military Affairs Department of Regulation and Licensing
Department of Veterans Affairs
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Executive Branch Employment 74,491 Full and part-time employees
68,821 Full-time equivalent as of Jan. 2009 Largest government
branch by far Majority of government money spent
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Legislative Branch Power to create or revise laws Statutes in
Wisconsin Some constitutional limits Governors veto Two houses or
chambers Assembly 99 members 2 year terms 2 nd District- Andre
Jacque $49,943 plus $88 per diem Elected in 2010
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Legislature Senate 33 members 4 year terms elected every 2
years 3 assembly districts in every senate district 1 st District
Frank Lasee-$49,943 plus $88 per diem Elected to assembly in 1994
Elected to Senate in 2010
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Legislature Officers http://legis.wisconsin.gov/senhome.htm
http://legis.wisconsin.gov/senhome.htm Senate President Michael
Ellis President pro tempore Joe Liebham Majority leader Scott
Fitzgerald Minority leader Mark Miller Assembly
http://legis.wisconsin.gov/asmhome.htm
http://legis.wisconsin.gov/asmhome.htm Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald
Speaker pro tempore Bill Kramer Majority leader Scott Suder
Minority leader Peter Barca
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Legislature Legislative Session Legislative Session Start on
the First Monday in January on odd year but no early than January 3
2 year sessions Schedule allows for floor periods and committee
time Special Sessions can be called by Governor
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Legislature Committees Standing Committees Senate has 17 Each
senator must serve on at least1 committee Both parties in
proportion to membership Assembly has 31 Speaker determines the
number of committee members Speaker determines division of majority
and minority 10 Joint Committees members from both houses 10 Joint
Committees Temporary Special Committees
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How a bill becomes law Bill is introduced in assembly or senate
Bill is referred to appropriate committee Public hearing Committee
amendments and recommendations Bill may die in committee Floor
debate and vote If passed bill is sent to the other house Bill must
be passed in identical form to be presented to governor If there
are differences a conference committee is called Page 47 of Little
blue book
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Judicial Branch Supreme Court 7 members Chief Justice Shirley
S. Abrahamson Justice Annette K. Ziegler Justice David T. Prosser,
Jr. Justice Ann Walsh Bradley Justice N. Patrick Crooks Justice
Patience D. Roggensack Justice Michael J. Gableman. Elected to a 10
year term Court of last resort appellate court Interprets the laws
of Wisconsin
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Judicial Court of Appeals 4 districts Madison Milwaukee
Waukesha Wausau 16 Judges Elected to a 6 year term 3 judge panel
hears most cases Only hears cases that are appealed after decision
in circuit court
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Judicial Circuit Court 69 Circuit Courts (mainly 1 per county)
249 total circuits/circuit branches Same number of judges Elected
to a 6 year term In larger counties there are multiple branches
Washington County has 4 branches and judges Has jurisdiction over
all types of cases ranging from petty theft to murder. Decisions
can be appeals to the Court of Appeals
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Judicial Municipal Courts Courts for Cities, Villages and Towns
Deal with municipal ordinances Mostly traffic violations Most
Municipal courts are a combination of multiple cities, villages and
towns More than 200 Municipal Courts Most are part time courts with
part time judges
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Judicial Civil and Criminal Cases Civil Cases Person vs. Person
or Business/Company Seeking a remedy for a wrong that was done
Usually money but not always the case Usually a Jury of 6 Jury must
be requested and a fee typically paid 5/6ths of a jury must agree
If a jury is not requested a Judge will make the final decision
Small Claims $5,000 or less No jury unless specifically
requested
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Judicial Criminal Cases A criminal action has been committed
(aka you broke the law) Two Types of Crimes Felony More serious of
the two Minimum sentence of 1 year in state prison with a maximum
of life Murder, Sexual Assault Misdemeanor Less severe Maximum
sentence of 12 months in prison unless a repeat offender Theft,
some drug charges
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Judicial Criminal Cases Continued Trial by jury unless waived
by the defendant (this depends on the type of case) 12 member jury
Must be a unanimous decision all 12 jurors must agree Defendant can
plead 1 or 4 ways if they choose Guilty Not Guilty No Contest
subject to approval of the court Not Guilty by reason of mental
disease or defect
