1. Executive, Legislative, Judicial
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,
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,
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
Matt Adamczk- $65,079 – 2011
Fiscal trustee
Oversees disbursement of unclaimed property
Administers states college savings program

7. Exec. Branch – Constitutional Officers
Attorney General
Brad Schimel, Republican elected November 4, 2014
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 – Mary Lazich
President pro tempore – Richard Gudex
Majority leader – Scott Fitzgerald
Minority leader – Jennifer Shilling
Assembly
Speaker – Robin Vos
Speaker pro tempore – Tyler August
Majority leader – Jim Steineke
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 Elected to a 10 year term
Chief Justice Patience D. Roggensack
Justice Annette K. Ziegler
Justice David T. Prosser, Jr.
Justice Ann Walsh Bradley
Justice N. Patrick Crooks
Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson 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 16 Judges
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