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Wisconsin Government

Wisconsin Government. Executive, Legislative, Judicial. 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

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Wisconsin Government

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  1. Wisconsin Government Executive, Legislative, Judicial

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. Exec. Branch – Constitutional Officers • State treasurer • Kurt Schuller - $65,079 – 2011 • Fiscal trustee • Oversees disbursement of unclaimed property • Administers states college savings program

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. Legislative Branch • Power to create or revise laws – Statutes in Wisconsin • Some constitutional limits • Governor’s veto • Two houses or chambers • Assembly • 99 members • 2 year terms • 2nd District- Andre Jacque • $49,943 plus $88 per diem • Elected in 2010

  12. Legislature • Senate • 33 members • 4 year terms – ½ elected every 2 years • 3 assembly districts in every senate district • 1st District • Frank Lasee-$49,943 plus $88 per diem • Elected to assembly in 1994 • Elected to Senate in 2010

  13. Legislature • Officers 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 • Speaker – Jeff Fitzgerald • Speaker pro tempore – Bill Kramer • Majority leader – Scott Suder • Minority leader – Peter Barca

  14. Legislature • 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

  15. 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 • Temporary Special Committees

  16. 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

  17. 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

  18. 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

  19. 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

  20. 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

  21. 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

  22. 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…

  23. 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

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