Jonah Patel
The Wisconsin Constitution is the governing document of the U.S. State of Wisconsin, outlining the state's framework for governance, including the powers, structure, and limitations of the state government, individual and civil rights, and other matters. The constitution was written at a constitutional convention held in Madison, Wisconsin, in December 1847 and ratified by the citizens of Wisconsin Territory in a referendum on March 13, 1848. Wisconsin was admitted to the United States on May 29, 1848, and this original constitution is still in use today, making it the oldest U.S. state constitution outside of New England. The Wisconsin Constitution has been amended numerous times, with the most recent amendment approved by voters on April 1, 2025. While the full text of the Wisconsin Constitution is available online, the process of researching and interpreting its provisions can be complex and may involve examining historical records, delegate remarks, and voter intentions.
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What You'll Learn
The Wisconsin Constitution was ratified in 1848
The first article of the Wisconsin Constitution, entitled "Declaration of Rights," outlines the legal rights of state citizens. In addition to reaffirming the rights guaranteed in the United States Bill of Rights, Article I offers additional guarantees, such as sections that prohibit slavery, prohibit imprisonment for debt, guarantee resident aliens the same property rights as citizens, affirm the subordination of the military to civil authorities, allow the use of state-owned school buildings by civil and religious organizations during non-school hours, and guarantee the right of citizens to hunt and fish.
The Wisconsin Constitution also sets forth the method of electing legislators and specifies their terms. It allows bills to originate in either house and gives each house the power to amend bills passed by the other. The constitution outlines limitations on the power of the legislative branch, prohibiting the state legislature from authorizing gambling, although amendments have introduced exceptions to this rule. The legislature is also prohibited from passing legislation affecting certain private businesses, such as changing a person's name.
Article V of the Wisconsin Constitution describes the executive office, providing for a governor and lieutenant governor who are elected jointly to four-year terms. The constitution has been amended over time, including granting the governor a powerful line-item veto on appropriation bills, with subsequent amendments clarifying that the governor cannot create new words by vetoing individual letters. Article V also establishes a line of succession for the governor and other administrative positions, including the secretary of state, treasurer, and attorney general.
While the original handwritten copy of the 1848 constitution is missing, the Wisconsin Constitution has been amended numerous times since its ratification, with voters approving additional amendments as recently as the early 2000s.
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It has been amended over 100 times
The Wisconsin Constitution has been amended over 100 times since its ratification in 1848. This makes it the oldest U.S. state constitution outside of New England. The original constitution, which was drafted in 1847, is still in use but has undergone numerous changes over the years.
The process of amending the Wisconsin Constitution is a rigorous one. It requires a majority vote by legislators in two successive legislative sessions to propose an amendment. This is followed by a vote by Wisconsin voters to ratify or reject the proposed changes. This three-vote process ensures that any amendments have strong support from both lawmakers and the citizens of Wisconsin.
One notable amendment occurred in 1930 when the governor was granted an unusually powerful line-item veto on appropriation bills. This power was later curtailed by another amendment in 1990, which specified that the governor could not create new words in a bill by vetoing individual letters. This amendment addressed a unique aspect of the legislative process in Wisconsin, where bills can originate in either house and each house has the power to amend bills passed by the other.
Other amendments have addressed a range of issues, reflecting the evolving needs and priorities of the state. For example, amendments have been made to the executive branch, the state court system, and the powers of the legislative branch. In the 1950s, an amendment was made to allow the state to set a mandatory retirement age for state judges, although this provision has never been utilised.
The Wisconsin Constitution also outlines certain limitations on the power of the legislative branch. For instance, the constitution prohibits the state legislature from authorising gambling, although there have been amendments to create exceptions for certain bingo games and a state lottery. These amendments demonstrate the dynamic nature of the constitution, which has been shaped by generations of Wisconsinites to reflect their changing values and requirements.
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The constitution outlines the rights of citizens
The Constitution of the State of Wisconsin is the governing document of the U.S. State of Wisconsin. It establishes the structure and function of the state government, describes the state boundaries, and outlines the rights of state citizens. The Wisconsin Constitution was written at a constitutional convention held in Madison, Wisconsin, in December 1847 and approved by the citizens of Wisconsin Territory in a referendum in March 1848. Wisconsin was admitted to the United States on May 29, 1848, and this original constitution is still in use, making it the oldest U.S. state constitution outside of New England.
The Wisconsin Constitution contains a preamble and fourteen articles detailing the state government, its powers, and its limitations. The first article of the Wisconsin Constitution, entitled "Declaration of Rights", outlines the legal rights of state citizens. In addition to reaffirming the rights guaranteed in the United States Bill of Rights, Article I offers further guarantees to its citizens. These include sections that prohibit slavery and imprisonment for debt, guarantee resident aliens the same property rights as citizens, affirm the military's subordinate position to civil authorities, allow the use of state-owned school buildings by civil and religious organizations outside of school hours, and guarantee citizens the right to hunt and fish.
Article II of the Wisconsin Constitution is entitled "Boundaries", while Article III, "Suffrage", consists of six sections, three of which have been repealed. Article IV, "Legislative", consists of 34 sections, one of which has been repealed, and outlines the structure of the Wisconsin Legislature, which is divided into two houses: the Wisconsin State Assembly and the Wisconsin State Senate. The constitution sets forth the method of electing legislators and gives their terms as two years for representatives to the assembly and four years for senators. It allows bills to originate in either house and gives each house the ability to amend bills passed by the other.
Article V, "Executive", consists of ten sections, two of which have been repealed, and describes executive office in the state, providing for a governor and lieutenant governor who are elected jointly to four-year terms. The constitution was amended in 1930 to grant the governor a powerful line-item veto on appropriation bills, which was later amended in 1990 to specify that the governor cannot create new words in a bill by vetoing individual letters. Article V also sets forth a line of succession for the governor, with executive power passing to the lieutenant governor and, in their absence, to the Wisconsin Secretary of State.
The Wisconsin Constitution has been amended over 100 times since its ratification, with voters most recently approving a new amendment on April 1, 2025. Amendments can be proposed by a legislative or convention-referred process, both requiring voter approval. The normal method of researching a constitutional provision in the original document involves seeking comments made by members of the constitutional convention. Fortunately, the journal of the second convention, which produced the current constitution, was published in 1848, providing valuable insights into the delegates' and public's thinking during its writing.
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It establishes the structure and function of the state government
The Wisconsin Constitution is the governing document of the U.S. State of Wisconsin. It establishes the structure and function of the state government, describes the state boundaries, and declares the rights of state citizens. The Wisconsin Constitution was written at a constitutional convention in Madison, Wisconsin, in December 1847, and was approved by the citizens of Wisconsin Territory in a referendum held in March 1848. Wisconsin was admitted to the United States on May 29, 1848.
The Wisconsin Constitution has a preamble and 14 articles detailing the state government, its powers, and its limitations. The first article of the Wisconsin Constitution, entitled "Declaration of Rights", outlines the legal rights of state citizens. In addition to reaffirming the rights guaranteed in the United States Bill of Rights, Article I offers additional guarantees, such as sections that prohibit slavery, prohibit imprisonment for debt, guarantee resident aliens the same property rights as citizens, affirm that the military is subordinate to civil authorities, and guarantee the right of citizens to hunt and fish.
Article II of the Wisconsin Constitution, entitled "Boundaries", consists of two sections. Article III, "Suffrage", consists of six sections, three of which have been repealed. Article IV, "Legislative", consists of 34 sections, one of which has been repealed. It establishes the Wisconsin Legislature, which is divided into two houses: the Wisconsin State Assembly and the Wisconsin State Senate. The constitution sets forth the method of electing legislators and gives their terms as two years for representatives to the assembly and four years for senators.
Article V of the Wisconsin Constitution, entitled "Executive", consists of ten sections, two of which have been repealed. It describes executive office in the state, providing for a governor and lieutenant governor who are elected jointly to four-year terms. The constitution grants the governor a powerful line-item veto on appropriation bills, with a subsequent amendment specifying that the governor cannot create a new word in a bill by vetoing certain letters. Article V also sets forth a line of succession for the governor. In the absence of a governor, executive power is transferred to the lieutenant governor.
The Wisconsin Constitution has been amended over a hundred times, making it the oldest U.S. state constitution outside of New England. The normal method of researching a constitutional provision is to seek any comments made by members of the constitutional convention. The history of Wisconsin's constitution is complex, as two constitutions were produced before the state's admission to the Union, with the first constitution rejected by voters.
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It is the fifth-oldest constitution still in use
The Wisconsin Constitution, written in 1847 and ratified in 1848, is the fifth-oldest constitution still in use in the United States. Wisconsin is only the 30th oldest state, but its constitution has endured with only amendments, never a replacement. This is despite the fact that the state produced two constitutions on its path to statehood, with the first constitution rejected by voters for its radical provisions.
The first constitution, drafted in December 1846, was deemed too progressive for its time. It gave married women the right to own property and allowed for a public referendum to settle the issue of African American suffrage. It also prohibited all commercial banking in Wisconsin. The second constitutional convention produced a more conservative document, omitting the controversial progressive clauses of its predecessor. This constitution was mute on the issue of women's property rights, only granting suffrage to white male citizens over the age of 21 and American Indians who had been made citizens of the United States.
The second constitution, written in December 1847, was approved by the citizens of Wisconsin Territory in a referendum held in March 1848. Wisconsin was admitted to the United States on May 29, 1848. The original constitution has been amended over a hundred times but remains in use.
The Wisconsin Constitution is a governing document that establishes the structure and function of the state government, describes state boundaries, and declares the rights of state citizens. It contains a brief preamble and fourteen articles detailing the state government, its powers, and its limitations. The first article outlines the legal rights of state citizens, including sections that prohibit slavery, prohibit imprisonment for debt, guarantee resident aliens the same property rights as citizens, affirm that the military is subordinate to civil authorities, and guarantee the right of citizens to hunt and fish.
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Frequently asked questions
The Wisconsin Constitution is the governing document of the U.S. State of Wisconsin. It establishes the structure and function of the state government, describes state boundaries, and declares the rights of state citizens.
The Wisconsin Constitution contains a preamble and 14 articles detailing the state government, its powers, and its limitations. The first article outlines the legal rights of state citizens, including the prohibition of slavery and imprisonment for debt, and the guarantee of resident aliens' property rights.
The Wisconsin Constitution can be amended through a legislative or convention-referred constitutional amendment, both requiring voter approval. A legislatively referred amendment must be approved by a simple majority of both chambers in two legislative sessions before being placed on a statewide ballot. A constitutional convention can also propose amendments.
