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Legislative Process 101

Legislative Process 101. Presented by Jessica M. Kramer General Counsel, The Employer Group, Inc. Back to Basics: the Legislature. Federal 100 Senators – 2 from each state 435 Representatives (House of Representatives) also commonly referred to as Congressman or Congresswoman

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Legislative Process 101

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  1. Legislative Process 101 Presented by Jessica M. Kramer General Counsel, The Employer Group, Inc.

  2. Back to Basics: the Legislature Federal • 100 Senators – 2 from each state • 435 Representatives (House of Representatives) also commonly referred to as Congressman or Congresswoman • Number of representatives varies by state based on population • The House and Senate together are Congress • Wisconsin has 8 Representatives The Employer Group, Inc. 11/09

  3. Back to Basics: the Legislature Wisconsin • 33 Senators • 99 Representatives aka Assemblypersons • Each Senate district has 3 Assembly districts inside it • Districts are made up based on population, so the urban areas have more legislators in a smaller area and in the rural areas a legislator’s district may be quite large The Employer Group, Inc. 11/09

  4. Wisconsin’s Senate Districts The Employer Group, Inc. 11/09

  5. Wisconsin’s Assembly Districts The Employer Group, Inc. 11/09

  6. Elections and Terms Federal • Senate: 6 year terms, no limit, elections are staggered (Kohl and Feingold are not on the same reelection schedule) • House: 2 year terms, no limit Wisconsin • Senate: 4 year terms, no limit • Assembly: 2 year terms, no limit • 15 states have term limits The Employer Group, Inc. 11/09

  7. Our Legislators: Madison Area 3 Senate Districts cover most of Madison area: • Senate District 16: Mark Miller (D) • Includes Assembly Districts: • 46: Gary Hebl (D) • 47: Keith Ripp (R) • 48: Joe Parisi (D) • Encompasses: Cottage Grove, Dane, DeForest, Madison (east), Marshall, Mazomanie, Oregon, Stoughton, and Windsor The Employer Group, Inc. 11/09

  8. Our Legislators, cont’d. • Senate District 26: Fred Risser (D) • Includes Assembly Districts: • 76: Terese Berceau (D) • 77: Spencer Black (D) • 78: Mark Pocan (D) • Encompasses: Fitchburg, Town of Madison, City of Madison (west and downtown), Maple Bluff, Middleton The Employer Group, Inc. 11/09

  9. Our Legislators, cont’d. • Senate District 27: Jon Erpenbach (D) • Includes Assembly Districts: • 79: Sondy Pope-Roberts (D) • 80: Brett Davis (R) • 81: Kelda Helen Roys (D) • Encompasses: Belleville, Black Earth, Blue Mounds, Brooklyn, Cross Plains, Madison (north), Middleton, Mount Horeb, New Glarus, Waunakee, Towns of Mazomanie, Middleton, Montrose, Oregon, Perry, Verona, Westport The Employer Group, Inc. 11/09

  10. How a Bill Becomes a Law: Schoolhouse Rock The Employer Group, Inc. 11/09

  11. How a Bill Becomes a Law: The State’s Flow Chart The Employer Group, Inc. 11/09

  12. How a Bill Becomes a Law (in Wisconsin): Basic Definitions • Bill: The first written form of an idea that is about to be proposed as law. It is considered a Bill up until it is enacted into law. • Act: The term for the bill once it is enacted into law. An Act is the type of law created by the Legislature. There are other types of law that are not Acts and were never Bills, such as local ordinances and case law (made by courts). One Act may amend or create multiple sections of law (statutes, administrative code). • Standing Committee: A committee that always exists (standing) – as opposed to a special committee that is created for one specific project for a limited period of time. Members of the Legislature are on various standing committees, which are topic-based (heath, labor, education, etc.) The Employer Group, Inc. 11/09

  13. How a Bill Becomes a Law: 10 Easier (hopefully) Steps Step 1: Idea is drafted into a Bill Step 2: Legislative Reference Bureau (not part of the Legislature, but an agency of the State) does a fiscal & practical analysis The Employer Group, Inc. 11/09

  14. How a Bill Becomes a Law, cont’d. Step 3: Bill is introduced in either the Assembly or the Senate and is debated Step 4: Standing Committee holds debate and hearings and votes on Bill The Employer Group, Inc. 11/09

  15. How a Bill Becomes a Law, cont’d. Step 5: Bill goes to Rules Committee (in Assembly) or Committee on Organization (in Senate) to be scheduled for debate back in the chamber (Assembly or Senate) in which it was originally introduced for debate, possible amendment, and vote The Employer Group, Inc. 11/09

  16. How a Bill Becomes a Law, cont’d. Step 6: Passes in that chamber or dies Step 7: If it passes, repeats Steps 3 through 5 in other chamber The Employer Group, Inc. 11/09

  17. How a Bill Becomes a Law, cont’d. Step 8: Second chamber may amend Bill before voting on it, which sends it back to the first Chamber for another debate and vote. If second chamber does not amend, can pass Bill or let it die. *Note: If there are several amendments, the entire Legislature can hold a reconciliation conference, where both chambers can get together and debate the Bill and its amendments, rather than bouncing the Bill back and forth many times. The Employer Group, Inc. 11/09

  18. How a Bill Becomes a Law, cont’d. Step 9: If both Senate and Assembly pass, send to Governor Step 10: Governor signs Bill into law (becomes an Act) or vetoes. If vetoes, Legislature can vote to override veto (2/3 vote needed) and make it law The Employer Group, Inc. 11/09

  19. What Does This All Mean? • Lawmaking can be a long drawn-out process that may yield no law at all • How quickly things move through the legislature is determined by many factors: • Legislature’s session schedule • Priorities of legislative leaders • The need to harmonize with federal law • The number of bills being introduced at the same time The Employer Group, Inc. 11/09

  20. Advocacy: How Can You Be Involved? • Every voter has the right to be a part of the legislative process • Legislators have to get their ideas from somewhere – you, their constituents, are the best source of ideas • Look up your legislators at: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/ Click on: WHO REPRESENTS ME? Find your state and federal representatives. The Employer Group, Inc. 11/09

  21. Advocacy • Call, e-mail, send a letter by U.S. Mail • Ask for an in-person appointment • You will often meet with staff but that is not a bad thing – they are there to be in tune to the needs of the constituents and to relay the information to the legislator The Employer Group, Inc. 11/09

  22. Advocacy • You are the expert on whatever it is you are there to talk about • Tell your story – the background of why the particular issue is important to you • Whether you want to ask for a new law or change in the law or advocate for or against a bill that has already been proposed, your voice is an important part of the process The Employer Group, Inc. 11/09

  23. Thank You Jessica M. Kramer, General Counsel The Employer Group, Inc. 351 Prairie Heights Drive, Verona, WI 53593 608-845-3377 jmk@theemployergroup.com www.theemployergroup.com The Employer Group, Inc. 11/09

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