1. Representation in Wisconsin

2. Qualifications of a Representative
Discuss the following two questions with your partner and record your answers.
What are the major roles and responsibilities of a representative?
What skills and experiences would be ideal for a representative?

3. Who do I want representing me?
Review the list of personal qualities below and sort them into the two categories. Then add to each list with additional positive or negative qualities. There are no “right” answers, but be prepared to explain your reasoning.
Negative Personal Qualities
Positive Personal Qualities
Intelligent
Reserved
Ambitious
Methodical
Forceful
Passionate
Friendly
Opinionated
Educated
Argumentative
Decisive
Stubborn
Idealistic
Polite
Realistic
Respectful

4. Your Task
Now that you’ve thought about what a representatives does, what qualifications they should have, and what personal qualities would make someone a good representative, it’s time to consider the candidates who are up for election to represent us in the State Legislature.

5. Wisconsin State Legislature
State Assembly
State Senate
99 members
2 year terms
No term limits
33 members
4 year terms (staggered)
No term limits

6. State Senate Chambers from the Capital Rotunda
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

7. Photo Credit: http://legis.wisconsin.gov/
Senate Chambers
Photo Credit:

8. Dalai Lama addresses the Wisconsin Assembly
Photo Credit: Wisconsin Citizens Media Cooperative

9. Photo Credit: http://legis.wisconsin.gov/
Assembly Parlor
Photo Credit:

10. Find My Legislators
Who currently represents us? Use “Who Are My Legislators” to find our current representatives and our Senate and Assembly district numbers:
Who is on the Ballot? Is one of the candidates an incumbent running for reelection?
State Senate
State Assembly
Look at the maps for Senate and Assembly districts on the next two slides.
What do you notice about the districts?
Explain that incumbents have a well documented advantage in elections. This is due to a combination of factors including name recognition, fundraising, and government resources that boost exposure.
Note that district maps are redrawn after every census by the majority party. In Spring Wisconsin residents sued the state in federal court alleging that the districts are drawn in a way that unfairly favors Republicans, who redrew the maps in This process of drawing the districts to favor one party over another is called Gerrymandering.

11. Assembly Districts

12. Senate Districts

13. Additional Election Information
Campaign interviews from Wisconsin Eye
Using the search bar, search for “interview {last name of candidate}” hint: use a keyword search rather than using the search fields for first and last names
Local Newspapers
League of Women Voters WI Branches
Example Ballot
Vote411