Wisconsin

2 definitions found

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  Wisconsin
       n 1: a tributary of the Mississippi River in Wisconsin [syn: {Wisconsin
            River}]
       2: a midwestern state in north central United States [syn: {Badger
          State}, {WI}]



From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  WISCONSIN. The name of one of the new states of the United States, of 
  America. 
       2. The constitution of Wisconsin was adopted by a convention, at 
  Madison, on the first day of February, 1848. 
       3. The right of suffrage is vested by the third article of the 
  constitution, as follows: Sect. 1. Every male person of the age of twenty-
  one years or upwards, belonging to either of the following classes, who 
  shall have resided in this state for one year next preceding any election, 
  shall be deemed a qualified elector at such election. 1st. White citizens of 
  the United States. 2d. White persons of foreign birth who shall have 
  declared their intention to become citizens, conformably to the laws of the 
  United States on the subject of naturalization. 3d. Persons of Indian blood 
  who have once been declared by law of congress to be citizens of the United 
  States, any subsequent act of congress to the contrary notwithstanding. 
       4th. Civilized persons of Indian descent, not members of any tribe; 
  Provided, that the legislature may at any time extend by law the right of 
  suffrage to persons not herein enumerated, but no such law shall be in force 
  until the same shall have been submitted to a vote of the people at a 
  general election, and approved by a majority of all the votes cast at such 
  election. 
       Sect. 2. No person under guardianship, non compos mentis, or insane 
  shall be qualified to vote at any election; nor shall any person, convicted 
  of treason or felony, be qualified to vote at any election, unless restored 
  to civil rights. 
       Sect. 3. All votes shall be given by ballot, except for such township 
  officers as may by law be directed or allowed to be otherwise chosen. 
       Sect. 4. No person shall be deemed to have lost his residence in this 
  state by reason of absence on business of the United States or of this 
  state. 
       Sect. 5. No soldier, seaman or marine, in the army or navy of the 
  United States, shall be deemed a resident in this state, in consequence of 
  being stationed within the same. 
       Sect. 6. Laws may be passed excluding from the right of suffrage all 
  persons who have been, or may be convicted of bribery, or larceny, or any 
  infamous crime, and depriving every person who shall make or become directly 
  or indirectly interested in any bet or wager depending upon the result of 
  any election, of the right to vote at such election. 4, The fourth article 
  vests the legislative power in a senate and assembly. These will be 
  separately considered, by taking a view, 1. Of the senate. 2. Of the 
  assembly. 
       5.-Sec. 1. The senate. It will be proper to examine, first, the 
  qualification of the senators; secondly, the time of their election; third, 
  the duration of their office fourth, the number of senators. 
       6.-1. The senators must have resided one year within the state, and be 
  qualified electors in the district which they may be chosen to represent. 
  Sect. 6. 
       7.-2. Senators are elected on the Tuesday following the first Monday of 
  November by the qualified electors of the several districts. One half every 
  year. 
       8.-3. They hold their office for two years. 
       9.-4. The senate shall consist of a number of members not more than 
  one-third, nor less than one-fourth of the number of the members of the 
  assembly. Sect. 2. 
       10.-Sec. 2. The assembly will be, considered in the same order. 
       11.-1. Members of the assembly must have resided one year in the state, 
  and be qualified electors for the district for which they may be chosen. 
       12.-2. Members of the assembly are elected at the same time senators 
  are elected. 
       13.-3. They are elected annually. 
       14.-4. The number of members of the assembly shall never be less than 
  fifty-four nor more than one hundred. 
       15. The two houses are invested severally with the following powers: 
       Sect. 7. Each house shall be the judge of the elections, returns and 
  qualifications of its own members; and a majority of each shall constitute a 
  quorum to do business, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and 
  may compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner and under such 
  penalties as each house may provide. 
        Sect. 8. Each house may determine the rules of its own proceedings, 
  punish for contempts and disorderly behaviour; and, with the concurrence of 
  two-thirds of all the members elected, expel a member; but no member shall 
  be expelled a second time for the same cause. 
       Sect. 9. Each house shall choose its own officers, and the senate shall 
  choose a temporary president when the lieutenant-governor shall not attend 
  as president, or shall act as governor. 
       Sect. 10. Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings and 
  publish the same, except such parts as require secrecy. The doors of each 
  house shall be kept open, except when the public welfare shall require 
  secrecy. Neither house shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for 
  more than three days. 
       16. By the fifth article, the executive power is vested in a governor. 
       17.-Sect. 1. The executive power shall be vested in a governor, who 
  shall hold his office for two years; a lieutenant governor shall be elected 
  at the same time, and for the same term. 
       18.-Sect. 2. No person, except a citizen of the United States, and a 
  qualified elector of the state, shall be eligible to the office of governor 
  or lieutenant governor. 
       19.-Sect. 3. The governor and lieutenant governor shall be elected by 
  the qualified electors of the state, at the times and places of choosing 
  members of the legislature. The persons respectively having the highest, 
  number of votes for governor and lieutenant-governor shall be elected, but 
  in case two or more shall have an equal and the highest number of votes for 
  governor or lieutenant-governor, the two houses of the legislature, at its 
  next annual session, shall forthwith, by joint ballot, choose one of the 
  persons so having an equal and the highest number of votes, for governor or 
  lieutenant governor. The returns of election for governor or lieutenant 
  governor shall be made in such manner as shall be provided by law. 
       20.-Sect. 4. The governor shall be commander-in-chief of the military. 
  and naval forces of the state. He shall have power to convene the 
  legislature on extraordinary occasions; and in case of invasion, or danger 
  from the prevalence of contagious disease at the seat of government, he may 
  convene them at any other suitable place within the state. He shall 
  communicate to the legislature at every session, the condition of the state; 
  and recommend such matters to them for their consideration as he may deem 
  expedient. He shall transact all necessary business with the officers of the 
  government, civil and military. He shall expedite all such measures as may 
  be resolved upon by the legislature, and shall take care that the laws be 
  faithfully executed. 
       21.-Sect. 5. The governor shall receive during his continuance in 
  office an annual compensation of one thousand two hundred and fifty dollars. 
       22.-Sect. 6. The governor shall have the power to grant reprieves, 
  commutations and pardons after conviction for all offences, except treason, 
  and cases of impeachment, upon such conditions and with such restrictions 
  and limitations as he may think proper, subject to such regulations as may 
  be provided by law relative to the manner of applying for pardons. Upon 
  conviction for treason he shall have the power to suspend the execution of 
  the sentence, until the case shall be reported to the legislature at its 
  next meeting, when the legislature shall either pardon, or commute the 
  sentence, direct the execution of the sentence, or grant a further reprieve. 
  He shall annually communicate to the legislature each case of reprieve, 
  commutation or pardon granted, stating the name of the convict, the crime of 
  which he was convicted, the sentence and its date, and the date of the 
  commutation, pardon or reprieve, with his reasons for granting the same. 
       23.-Sect. 7. In case of the impeachment of the governor, or his removal 
  from office, death, inability from mental or physical disease, resignation 
  or absence from the state, the powers and the duties of the office shall 
  devolve upon the lieutenant-governor for the residue of the term, until the 
  governor, absent or impeached, shall have returned, or the disability shall 
  cease. But when the governor shall, with the consent of the legislature, be 
  out of the state in time of war, at the head of the military force thereof, 
  he shall continue commander-in-chief of the military force of the state. 
       24.-Sect. 8. The lieutenant-governor shall be president of the senate, 
  but shall have only a casting vote therein. If during a vacancy in the 
  office of governor, the lieutenant governor shall be impeached, displaced, 
  resign, die, or from mental or physical disease, become incapable of 
  performing the duties of his office, or be absent from the state the 
  secretary of state shall act as governor until the vacancy shall be filled, 
  or the disability shall cease. 
       25.-Sect. 9. The lieutenant governor shall receive double the per them 
  allowance of members of the senate, for every day's attendance as president 
  of the senate, and the same mileage as shall be allowed to members of the 
  legislature. 
       26.-Sect. 10. Every bill which shall have passed the legislature, 
  shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the governor; if he approve, 
  he shall sign it, but if not, he shall return it with his objections to that 
  house in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the objections It 
  large upon the journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such 
  reconsideration, two-thirds. of the members present shall agree to pass the 
  bill, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the other house, by 
  which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two-thirds of 
  the members present, it shall become a law. But in all such cases, the votes 
  of both houses shall be determined by, yeas and nays, and the names of the 
  members, voting for or against the bill, shall be entered on the journal of 
  each house respectively. If any bill shall not be returned by the governor 
  within three days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to 
  him, the same shall be a law, unless the legislature shall by their 
  adjournment prevent its return, in which case it shall not be a law. 
       27. The seventh article establishes the judiciary as follows: 
       Sect. 1. The court for the trial of impeachments shall be composed of 
  the senate. The house of representatives shall have the power of impeaching 
  all civil officers of this state, for corrupt conduct in office, or for 
  crimes and misdemeanors; but a majority of all the members elected shall 
  concur in an impeachment. On the trial of an impeachment against the 
  governor, the lieutenant governor shall not act as a member of the court. No 
  judicial officer shall exercise his office after he shall have been 
  impeached until his acquittal. Before the trial of an impeachment, the 
  members, of the court shall take an oath or affirmation truly and 
  impartially to try the impeachment according to the evidence; and no person 
  shall be convicted without a concurrence of two-thirds of the members 
  present. Judgment in case of impeachment shall not extend further than to 
  removal from office, or removal from office and disqualification to hold any 
  office of honor, profit or trust under the state; but the party impeached 
  shall be liable to indictment, trial and punishment according to law. 
       28.-Sect. 2. The judicial power of this state, both as to matters of 
  law and equity, shall be vested in a supreme court, circuit courts, courts 
  of probate, and in justices of the peace. The legislature may also vest such 
  jurisdiction as shall be deemed necessary in municipal courts and shall have 
  power to establish inferior courts in the several counties with limited 
  civil and criminal jurisdiction: Provided, that the jurisdiction which may 
  be vested in municipal courts shall not exceed, in their respective 
  municipalities, that of circuit courts, in their respective circuits, as 
  prescribed in this constitution: And that the legislature shall provide as 
  well for the election of judges of the municipal courts, as of the judges of 
  inferior courts, by the qualified electors of the respective jurisdictions. 
  The term of office of the judges of the said municipal and inferior courts 
  shall not be longer than that of the judges of the circuit court. 
       29.-Sect, 3. The supreme court, except in cases otherwise provided in 
  this constitution, shall have appellate jurisdiction only, which shall be 
  coextensive with the state; but in no case removed to the supreme court 
  shall a trial by jury be allowed. The supreme court shall have a general 
  superintending control over all inferior courts; it shall have power to 
  issue writs of habeas corpus, mandamus, injunction, quo warranto certiorari, 
  and other original and remedial writs, and to hear and determine the same. 
       30.-Sect. 4. For the term of five years and thereafter until the 
  legislature shall otherwise provide, the judges of the several courts shall 
  be judges of the supreme court, four of whom shall constitute a quorum, and 
  the concurrence of a majority of the judges present shall be necessary to a 
  decision. The legislature shall have power, if they should think it 
  expedient and necessary to provide by law for the organization of a separate 
  supreme court, with the jurisdiction and powers prescribed in this 
  constitution, to consist of one chief justice and two associate justices, to 
  be elected by the qualified electors of the state, at such time and in such 
  manner as the legislature may provide. The separate supreme court, when so 
  organized, shall not be changed or discontinued by the legislature; the 
  judges thereof shall be so classified that but one of them shall go out of 
  office at the same time, and the term of office shall be the same as 
  provided for the judges of the circuit court. And whenever the legislature 
  may consider it necessary to establish a separate supreme court, they shall 
  have power to reduce the number of circuit court judges to four, and 
  subdivide the judicial circuits, but no such subdivision or reduction shall 
  take effect till after the expiration of the term of some one of the said 
  judges, or till a vacancy occur by some other means. 
       31. Circuits are established, and they may be changed by the 
  legislature. 
       Sec. 7. For each circuit there shall be a judge chosen by the qualified 
  electors therein, who shall hold his office as is provided in this 
  constitution until his successor shall be chosen and qualified, and after he 
  shall have been elected, he shall reside in the circuit for which he was 
  elected. One of said judges shall be designated as chief justice, in such 
  manner as the legislature shall provide. And the legislature shall, at its 
  first session, provide by law as well for the election of, as for 
  classifying, the judges of the circuit court to be elected under this 
  constitution, in such manner, that one of the said judges shall go out of 
  office in two years, one in three years, one in four years, one in five 
  years and one in six years, and thereafter the judge elected to fill the 
  office, shall bold the same for six years. 
       32.-8. The circuit courts shall have original jurisdiction in all 
  matters civil and criminal within this state, not excepted in this 
  constitution, and not hereafter prohibited by law, and appellate 
  jurisdiction from all inferior courts and tribunals, and a supervisory 
  control over the same. They shall also have the power to issue writs of 
  habeas corpus, mandamus, injunction, quo warranto, certiorari, and all other 
  writs necessary to carry into effect their orders, judgments and decrees, 
  and give them a general control over inferior courts and jurisdictions. 
       33.-Sect. 9. When a vacancy shall happen in the office of a judge of 
  the supreme or circuit court, such vacancy shall be filled by an appointment 
  of the governor, which shall continue until a successor is elected and 
  qualified; and when elected, such successor shall hold his office the 
  residue of the unexpired term. There shall be no election for a judge or 
  judges at any general election for state or county officers, nor within 
  thirty days either before or after such election. 
       34.-Sect. 10. Each of the judges of the supreme and circuit courts 
  shall receive a salary, payable quarterly, of not less than one thousand 
  five hundred dollars annually; they shall receive no fees of office or other 
  compensation than their salaries; they shall hold no office of public trust, 
  except a judicial office, during the term for which they are respectively 
  elected, and all votes for either of them for any office except a judicial 
  office, given by the legislature or the people, shall be void. No person 
  shall be eligible to the office of judge who shall not at the time of his 
  election be a citizen of the United States, and have attained the age of 
  twenty-five years, and be a qualified elector within the jurisdiction for 
  which he may be chosen. 
       35.-Sect. 11. The supreme court shall hold at least one term annually 
  at the seat of government of the state at such times as shall be provided by 
  law, and the legislature may provide for holding other terms, and at other 
  places when they may deem it necessary. A circuit court shall be held at 
  least twice a year, in each county of this state, organized for judicial 
  purposes. The judges of the circuit court may hold courts for each other, 
  and shall do so when required by law.