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Wisconsin State Assembly
General Information
Type:	Lower house
Term limits:	None
2012 session start:	January 10, 2012
Website:	Official House Page
Leadership
House Speaker:	Jeff Fitzgerald, (R)
Majority Leader:	Scott Suder, (R)
Minority leader:	Peter Barca, (D)
Structure
Members:	99
	Democratic Party (39) Republican Party (59) Independent (1)
Length of term:	2 years
Authority:	Art IV, Wisconsin Constitution
Salary:	$49,943/year + per diem
Elections
Last Election:	November 2, 2010 (99 seats)
Next election:	November 6, 2012 (99 seats)
Redistricting:	Wisconsin Legislature has control
Meeting place:

The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin State Legislature, the state legislature of Wisconsin. 99 members serve in the State House of Representatives and all members are up for election every two years. Each member represents an average of 57,444 residents, as of the 2010 Census.^[1] After the 2000 Census, each member represented approximately 57,444 residents.^[2] The Wisconsin State Assembly operates in a biennial session that lasts from early January of the odd numbered year to early January of the odd numbered year two years later. The session is referred to by the odd-numbered year, for example, acts from the 2001-2002 Legislative Session are called 2001 Wisconsin Acts. During the session, business is conducted during scheduled floorperiods. ^[3]

Sessions

Article IV of the Wisconsin Constitution contains provisions related to the meeting of the Wisconsin State Legislature, of which the Assembly is a part. Section 11 of Article IV states that the times for regular sessions are to be provided by law. Section 11 also states that the Governor of Wisconsin has the power to call the Legislature into special session.

2012

See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions

In 2012, the Assembly will be in session from January 10 through a date to be determined by the Legislature.

Major issues

With potential recalls of Governor Scott Walker (R), Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch (R) and four Republican state senators, debate on major legislation is expected to be limited.^[4] Republican leaders say they are focused on passing bills on only four main issues - clearing the way for on ore mine in northern Wisconsin, easing laws regarding development on wetlands, environmental regulation, and creating a venture capital fund to help start-up businesses.^[5]

2011

See also: Dates of 2011 state legislative sessions

In 2011, the Assembly adjourned a special session at the request of Governor Scott Walker on January 4, 2011. The special session was called to consider legislation regarding tax credits, tort law, medical savings accounts, other legislation relating to taxation, and the budget repair bill. The legislature's special session will be ongoing. ^[6] The regular session began on January 11. An extraordinary session was called by the Legislature from June 13-30, with another extraordinary session scheduled for July 19-29. The next scheduled floor period is September 13, 2011. Though the January special session is ongoing, special session bills may be taken up in the interim. ^[7]

2010

See also: Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions

In 2010, the Assembly convened its legislative session on January 19, and it ended its last scheduled floor-period on April 22. ^[8][9]

Elections

2012

See also: Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Wisconsin State Assembly will be held in Wisconsin on November 6, 2012. All 99 seats will be up for election.

The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections is July 10, 2012.

2010

See also: Wisconsin State Assembly elections, 2010

Elections for the office of Wisconsin's State Assembly were held in Wisconsin on November 2, 2010. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was July 13, 2010. The primary election day was September 14, 2010. Out of the 99 districts up for re-election, incumbents ran in 80 of them.

In 2010, the candidates for state assembly raised a total of $7,619,470 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were: ^[10]

Donor	Amount
Public Fund	$160,215
Marek, John	$150,200
Prestrud, Marv	$65,942
Kapenga, Chris	$54,028
Klenke, John	$50,317
Wisconsin Republican Party	$43,734
McDonald, Dari	$42,179
Simonson, John Christian	$41,196
Wisconsin Education Association Council	$36,250
Wisconsin Dental Association	$29,789

Qualifications

Section 6 of Article 4 of the Wisconsin Constitution states, "No person shall be eligible to the legislature who shall not have resided one year within the state, and be a qualified elector in the district which he may be chosen to represent."

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

How Vacancies are filled in State Legislatures

If there is a vacancy in the Assembly, the vacant seat must be filled by a special election^[11]. The Governor can call for an election when allowed under law. The election cannot be held after February 1st before a spring general election unless it's held on the same day of the election which is first Tuesday in April. The same requirement applies to any election after September 1st preceding the fall general election unless it's held on the same day of the election which is the first Tuesday in November^[12]. Also, all vacancies must be filled quickly as long the vacancy happened before the second Tuesday in May during an election year^[13].

Assemblymen

Partisan composition

See also: Partisan composition of state houses

Party		As of May 2012
	Democratic Party	39
	Republican Party	59
	Independent	1
Total		99

Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries

As of 2010, members of the Wisconsin Assembly are paid $49,943/year. Legislators receive a maximum of $88/day per diem, set by the compensation commission. Based on the maximum, the leadership of each house determines what amount to authorize for each session.^[14]

The $49,943/year that Wisconsin assemblymen are paid as of 2010 is an increase over the $47,413 were paid during legislative sessions in 2007. Per diem is the same.^[15]

When sworn in

See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

Wisconsin legislators assume office the first Monday in January following the election.

Leadership

The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the body and is elected by its membership. Duties of the speaker include appointing members to legislative committees, authenticating acts, orders, and proceedings of the Assembly, and supervising all other officers of the Assembly. In the absence of the Speaker, the Speaker Pro Tempore assumes all duties of the position.^[16][17]

Current leadership

Position	Representative	Party
State Speaker of the Assembly	Jeff Fitzgerald	Republican
State Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore	Bill Kramer	Republican
State Assembly Majority Leader	Scott Suder	Republican
State Assembly Assistant Majority Leader	Dan Knodl	Republican
State Assembly Majority Caucus Chair	Joan Ballweg	Republican
State Assembly Majority Caucus Vice Chair	John Murtha	Republican
State Assembly Majority Caucus Secretary	Mary Williams	Republican
State Assembly Minority Leader	Peter Barca	Democratic
State Assembly Assistant Minority Leader	Donna Seidel	Democratic
State Assembly Minority Caucus Chair	Kelda Roys	Democratic
State Assembly Minority Caucus Vice Chair	Fred Clark	Democratic

Current members

Assembly standing committees

External links

• Official website of the Wisconsin State Assembly
• Official list of the members of the Wisconsin State Assembly
• Project Vote Smart on the Wisconsin State Assembly

References

v • d • e Current members of the Wisconsin State Assembly House Speaker: Jeff Fitzgerald (R) • Assembly Majority Leader: Scott Suder (R) • Assembly Minority Leader: Peter Barca (D)     Garey Bies (R) Andre Jacque (R) Alvin Ott (R) Chad Weininger (R) Jim Steineke (R) Gary Tauchen (R) Margaret Krusick (D) Jocasta Zamarripa (D) Josh Zepnick (D) Elizabeth Coggs (D) Jason Fields (D) Frederick Kessler (D) David Cullen (D) Dale Kooyenga (R) Tony Staskunas (D) Leon Young (D) Barbara Toles (D) Tamara Grigsby (D) Jon Richards (D) Christine Sinicki (D) Mark Honadel (R) Sandy Pasch (D) Jim Ott (R) Daniel Knodl (R) Robert Ziegelbauer (I) Mike Endsley (D) Steven Kestell (R) Erik Severson (R) John Murtha (R) Dean Knudson (R) Stephen Nass (R) Tyler August (R) Chris Kapenga (R) Dan Meyer (R) Tom Tiffany (R) Jeffrey Mursau (R) Andy Jorgensen (D) Joel Kleefisch (R) Jeff Fitzgerald (R) Kevin Petersen (R) Joan Ballweg (R) Fred Clark (D) Evan Wynn (R) Joe Knilans (R) Amy Loudenbeck (R) Gary Hebl (D) Keith Ripp (R) Chris Taylor (D) Travis Tranel (R) Ed Brooks (R) Howard Marklein (R) Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R) Richard Spanbauer (R) Gordon Hintz (D) Dean Kaufert (R) Michelle Litjens (R) Penny Bernard Schaber (D) Pat Strachota (R) Daniel LeMahieu (R) Duey Stroebel (R) Robert Turner (D) Cory Mason (D) Robin Vos (R) Peter Barca (D) John Steinbrink (D) Samantha Kerkman (R) Tom Larson (R) Kathy Bernier (R) Scott Suder (R) Amy Vruwink (D) Louis Molepske, Jr. (D) Scott Krug (R) Nick Milroy (D) Janet Bewley (D) Roger Rivard (R) Terese Berceau (D) Brett Hulsey (D) Mark Pocan (D) Sondy Pope-Roberts (D) Janis Ringhand (D) Kelda Roys (D) Jeffrey Stone (R) Dave Craig (R) Mike Kuglitsch (R) Donna Seidel (D) Jerry Petrowski (R) Mary Williams (R) John Klenke (R) John Nygren (R) Karl Van Roy (R) Chris Danou (D) Mark Radcliffe (D) Warren Petryk (R) Steve Doyle (D) Jill Billings (D) Lee Nerison (R) Bill Kramer (R) Paul Farrow (R) Don Pridemore (R) Democratic (39) • Republican (59) • Independent (1) • Wisconsin State Assembly • Wisconsin State Senate

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	v • d • e State of Wisconsin Madison (capital)
Ballot Measures	Ballot measures | List of Wisconsin ballot measures | Local measures | School bond issues | Ballot measure laws | History of direct democracy | Campaign Finance Requirements | Recall process |
Government	Wisconsin State Constitution | State Assembly | Senate | Legislative Fiscal Bureau | Legislative Reference Bureau | Government Accountability Board |
State executive officers	Governor | Lieutenant Governor | Attorney General | Secretary of State | Treasurer | State Auditor | Superintendent of Public Instruction | Commissioner of Insurance | Secretary of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection| Secretary of Natural Resources | Secretary of Workforce Development | Public Service Commission |
Judiciary	Wisconsin Supreme Court | Courts of Appeal | Circuit Courts | Municipal Courts | Wisconsin Commission Appointed Judicial Method Proposal | Wisconsin Judicial Commission | Wisconsin Supreme Court elections | Judicial news | Judicial activist organizations |
Transparency Topics	Open Records Law | Transparency Checklist | Government corruption reports | Transparency Legislation | Open Records procedures | Transparency Advocates | Transparency blogs | State budget | Taxpayer-funded lobbying associations |
Divisions	State | List of Counties | List of Cities | List of Towns | List of School Districts | Evaluation of county websites | Evaluation of city websites | Evaluation of township websites | Evaluation of school district websites |