Jonah Patel
The Wisconsin Constitution has been amended 151 times since 1848, with the most recent amendment being approved on April 1, 2025. To amend the Constitution, legislators in two successive legislative sessions must vote by a majority in both houses to pass the amendment and present it to voters for ratification or rejection. A legislatively referred constitutional amendment may be proposed to the voters if approved by a simple majority of both chambers of the Wisconsin State Legislature in two legislative sessions. Governor Tony Evers called for a constitutional amendment to repeal Wisconsin's abortion ban, which would require the proposal to pass two consecutive sessions of the Legislature before going before voters in a statewide election.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of times the Wisconsin Constitution has been amended | 151 or 152 times |
| Number of times the Wisconsin Constitution has been amended to repeal a law | Not specified |
| How to repeal a constitutional amendment in Wisconsin | Legislators in two successive legislative sessions must pass the proposed amendment by majority vote and then present it to the state’s voters for ratification or rejection, also by majority vote |
| Number of signatures required to place a question on the ballot | 4% of the number of votes cast in the last election for governor (around 107,000) |
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What You'll Learn
Wisconsin Constitution amendment process
The Wisconsin Constitution, which was ratified in 1848, has been amended 152 times. The constitution can be amended through a legislative or convention-referred constitutional amendment, both of which require voter approval.
The process of amending the Wisconsin Constitution is outlined in Article XII, which describes the two ways the constitution can be changed. Firstly, a legislatively referred constitutional amendment may be proposed to the voters if approved by a simple majority of both chambers of the Wisconsin State Legislature in two legislative sessions. In other words, legislators in two successive legislative sessions must vote by a majority in both houses to pass the amendment and present it to voters. Wisconsin voters then have the opportunity to ratify or reject the proposed amendment.
Secondly, a constitutional convention may be called if a majority of the senate and assembly deem it necessary to revise or change the constitution. The electors would then vote for or against a convention at the next election for members of the legislature. If a majority of electors vote in favor of a convention, the legislature would provide for calling such a convention at its next session.
The Wisconsin Legislature has considerable discretion in the manner in which amendments are drafted and submitted to the people. The legislature may submit several distinct propositions to the electorate as one constitutional amendment if they relate to the same subject matter and are designed to accomplish one general purpose.
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Legislative majority vote
The Wisconsin Constitution has been amended nearly 150 times since its ratification in 1848. The constitution can be amended with a legislative or convention-referred constitutional amendment, both requiring voter approval.
To amend the Constitution, legislators in two successive legislative sessions must vote, by a majority in both houses, to pass the amendment and present the amendment to voters. Wisconsin voters then have the opportunity to ratify or reject the proposed amendment.
A legislatively referred constitutional amendment may be proposed to the voters if approved by a simple majority of both chambers of the Wisconsin State Legislature in two legislative sessions. This means that lawmakers would need to pass the proposal in two successive sessions of the Legislature.
For example, in 2020, localities across Wisconsin accepted private grants and consultation services to assist with election administration. This generated controversy, with some defending the assistance as necessary and permissible, and others decried it as unlawful and politically biased. In April 2024, Wisconsin voters were asked to vote on two proposed amendments to the Wisconsin Constitution to address this issue. The first proposed amendment would prohibit state and local governments from seeking, accepting, or using privately donated money or equipment to conduct elections. The second would prohibit any “individual other than an election official designated by law” from performing “any task in the conduct of any primary, election, or referendum."
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Voter approval
The Wisconsin Constitution has been amended nearly 150 times since 1848, with the most recent amendment being approved by voters on April 1, 2025. The Wisconsin Constitution can be amended through a legislative or convention-referred constitutional amendment, both of which require voter approval.
To amend the Constitution, legislators in two successive legislative sessions must pass the proposed amendment by majority vote and then present it to the state's voters for ratification or rejection, also by majority vote. This process is outlined in Article XII of the Wisconsin Constitution, which describes the two ways the document can be changed.
In the case of repealing a constitutional amendment, the process would be similar. A proposal to repeal an amendment would need to be passed by a majority in both houses of the Wisconsin State Legislature in two legislative sessions. The proposal would then be presented to the voters for approval.
The number of signatures required to place a proposed amendment on the ballot is 8% of voters, or approximately 214,000 people, according to Governor Tony Evers' plan. This plan, unveiled in September 2022, would give Wisconsin residents the power to propose citizen ballot initiatives, creating a "pathway" to repealing Wisconsin's 1849 ban on abortions.
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Governor's plan
In Wisconsin, the process to repeal a constitutional amendment is complex and involves multiple steps. Here is a governor's plan for navigating the process:
Step 1: Propose the Amendment Repeal
The first step is to propose the repeal of the constitutional amendment. This can be initiated in either house of the Wisconsin Legislature, with a majority of members in both houses agreeing to the proposal. The proposed amendment repeal is then entered into the house journals, along with the yeas and nays, and referred to the next general election.
Step 2: Public Awareness and Support
Once the proposal is entered into the house journals, it is crucial to raise public awareness and garner support for the amendment repeal. This can be achieved by engaging with the media, conducting public forums, and utilizing other communication channels to reach a wide audience. It is important that the governor's office educates the public about the amendment, its implications, and the reasons for the proposed repeal.
Step 3: Legislative Approval
After the proposal is introduced, the legislature must approve it during the next general election. This involves a majority of all members elected to each house agreeing to the proposed amendment repeal. The legislature then has the duty to submit the proposal to the people of Wisconsin.
Step 4: Submission to the People
The fourth step is submitting the proposed amendment repeal to the people of Wisconsin. This involves placing the proposal on the ballot during an election, allowing the voters to decide on the repeal. The legislature has the authority to determine the manner and timing of submitting the proposal to the people.
Step 5: Ratification by the People
For the constitutional amendment repeal to be successful, it must be approved and ratified by a majority of the electors voting on the proposal. This is a crucial step, as it empowers the people of Wisconsin to have the final say in the amendment repeal process.
Step 6: Governor's Action
Once the amendment repeal has been approved by the people, the governor's role is to ensure the smooth implementation of the repeal. This includes signing the amendment repeal into law and overseeing the process to ensure the will of the people and the legislature is respected and carried out effectively.
By following these steps, a governor can effectively navigate the process of repealing a constitutional amendment in Wisconsin, ensuring that the proposal is introduced, approved, and enacted with the support of the legislature and the people.
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Wisconsin Constitution history
The Constitution of the State of Wisconsin is the governing document of the U.S. State of Wisconsin. It outlines the state's framework for governance, including the powers, structure, and limitations of the state government, individual and civil rights, and other matters. Wisconsin became the 30th state on May 29, 1848, and its constitution was written at a constitutional convention held in Madison, Wisconsin, in December 1847. It was approved by the citizens of Wisconsin Territory in a referendum in March 1848.
The current Wisconsin Constitution has been amended 152 times, making it the oldest U.S. state constitution outside of New England. The state has held two constitutional conventions, in 1846 and 1847, with the 1846 convention having 124 delegates, the majority of whom were Democrats. The original 1848 document is missing, and there are various theories about its disappearance. One theory suggests that it was never returned by the printer, while another posits that it was taken as a souvenir by one of the delegates. The first mass printing of the constitution, by Beriah Brown, contained many errors and inaccuracies, yet it was the version read by state residents when they voted to endorse it in 1848.
The Wisconsin Constitution can be amended through a legislative or convention-referred constitutional amendment, both requiring voter approval. A legislatively referred constitutional amendment must be proposed to the voters if approved by a simple majority of both chambers of the Wisconsin State Legislature in two legislative sessions. Amendments that pass the legislature twice are then put to a third vote by the voters at an election, typically a general election.
Some notable amendments to the Wisconsin Constitution include the following:
- November 1870: All but eliminated the grand jury system in Wisconsin.
- November 1881: Converted the Wisconsin Legislature from annual to biennial and expanded the terms in office for state legislators.
- April 2015: Changed the position of Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court to a two-year term, chosen by a majority vote of the court's members.
- November 2024: Amended the suffrage article to specify that only a U.S. citizen is a qualified elector.
- April 2025: Added a new section requiring photo ID for voting.
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Frequently asked questions
The Wisconsin Constitution can be amended with a legislative or convention-referred constitutional amendment, both requiring voter approval. To amend the Constitution, legislators in two successive legislative sessions must vote, by a majority in both houses, to pass the amendment and present the amendment to voters.
The Wisconsin Constitution has been amended 151 times since 1848. The current Wisconsin Constitution has been amended 152 times.
A legislatively referred constitutional amendment may be proposed to the voters if approved by a simple majority of both chambers of the Wisconsin State Legislature in two legislative sessions.
Democratic Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers called for a constitutional amendment to repeal Wisconsin's abortion ban. Evers' plan would first have to pass two consecutive sessions of the Legislature. Then, the proposal would go before voters in a statewide election to decide.
