AA SERVICE SERVICEA service OF OF of THE theTHE Wisconsin WISCONSIN WISCONSIN Taxpayers TAXPAYERS TAXPAYERS Alliance ALLIANCE ALLIANCE The Framework19th Edition of Your Wisconsin Government 2014-2015 EDITION The Framework of Your Wisconsin Government 19th Edition wis tax wis tax Cover photograph: The Wisconsin State Capitol interior dome in Madison, Wisconsin. Photo courtesy of Jay Salvo, Wisconsin State Legislature. The Framework of Your Wisconsin Government © 1955, 1957, 1960, 1962, 1966, 1968, 1972, 1974, 1978, 1981, 1984, 1987, 1991, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2007, 2013, 2017 Reproduction with permission only. ISBN: 978-1-931-240-14-7 wis tax Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance 401 North Lawn Ave. • Madison, WI 53704 608.241.9789 • www.wistax.org Tony Evers, PhD, State Superintendent An updated, revised 19th edition of the textbook, The Framework of Your Wisconsin Government by the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, is a useful addition to the toolbox of resources that teachers can use to teach state and local government. The Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance is an independent, nonpartisan/ nonprofit government research group that formed in 1932. The Alliance works to provide objective research-based, accurate, and unbiased information about Wisconsin state and local government. Their emphasis on objective and unbiased information sets the Alliance in a strong position to offer multiple perspectives on the topic of state government. The analysis of bias and multiple perspectives is a valuable social studies skill. The textbook has always focused on content integration, pedagogical strategies, and related activities tied to Wisconsin’s Model Academic Standards for Social Studies. The 19th edition includes online resources and presentations for each chapter. Wis. Stat. sec. 118.01(2)(c) requires the teaching of state and local government and basic citizenship skills. The Framework of Your Wisconsin Government can assist with teaching these skills to support meeting state standards in social studies. The Framework offers the resources of basic instruction, as well as opportunities for enrichment, extended readings, and activities that support district requirements for Response to Intervention and application of knowledge, attitudes, and skills in such areas as state geography and history, economics, the branches of state government, and getting involved in local issues. The textbook and supporting materials also offer information about counties, towns, cities, villages, and school districts. A comprehensive civics and/or government program includes information on state and local government. Educators can use the information in the Framework to align instruction and create curriculum while designing activities that will support student engagement in state and local politics. The Department of Public Instruction’s Planning Curriculum in Social Studies remains available to districts to provide assistance with curriculum planning related to state and local government in Wisconsin. More information can be found online at http://dpi.wi.gov/social-studies. Sincerely, Kristen McDaniel, Consultant Social Studies PO Box 7841, Madison, WI 53707-7841 125 South Webster Street, Madison, WI 53703 (608) 266-3390 (800) 441-4563 toll free (608) 267-1052 fax dpi.wi.gov Table of Contents PREFACE ....................................................................................................2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .........................................................................3 CHAPTER ONE Wisconsin's People, Economy, & Government ............................................4 1.1 A Changing Population ...............................................................5 Patterns of State Settlement ........................................................5 Today’s Population ......................................................................5 1.2 A Changing Economy .................................................................8 1.3 Development of Wisconsin Government ..................................11 Before Statehood .......................................................................11 Developing a Constitution ........................................................12 1.4 Political Thought in Wisconsin .................................................14 The Era of “Progressive” Reform .............................................15 Wisconsin's Identity ..................................................................16 1.5 Units of Government in Wisconsin ...........................................17 How the Units Fit Together .......................................................18 CHAPTER TWO Political Parties & Elections .......................................................................20 2.1 The Role of Political Parties .....................................................21 2.2 Interest Groups and the Media ..................................................24 The News Media .......................................................................26 2.3 Casting Your Vote ......................................................................26 CHAPTER THREE State Constitution & Legislative Branch ....................................................30 3.1 State Governments ....................................................................31 3.2 The State Constitution ...............................................................31 Wisconsin’s Declaration of Rights ............................................32 3.3 The Legislative Branch .............................................................33 The Legislature .........................................................................34 Legislative Leaders ...................................................................35 Making New Laws ....................................................................38 CHAPTER FOUR Executive & Judicial Branches ...................................................................44 4.1 The Executive Branch ...............................................................45 The Governor ............................................................................45 Other Executive Officers ...........................................................47 State Government Agencies ......................................................48 Major State Departments ..........................................................49 State Authorities ........................................................................51 4.2 The Judicial Branch ..................................................................52 History of the Wisconsin Court System ....................................52 Wisconsin Supreme Court .........................................................53 Wisconsin Court of Appeals ......................................................54 Wisconsin Circuit Courts ..........................................................56 Municipal Courts.......................................................................57 CHAPTER FIVE State Budget ................................................................................................60 5.1 Overview ...................................................................................61 Magnitude .................................................................................61 One Budget or Two? .................................................................61 5.2 The Budget Process ...................................................................61 Budget Development.................................................................62 The Legislature’s Role ..............................................................62 5.3 Financing State Government .....................................................63 Taxes .........................................................................................64 Fees and Charges ......................................................................65 Federal Aid ................................................................................66 Borrowing .................................................................................66 5.4 State Expenditures.....................................................................66 By Agency .................................................................................67 By Purpose ................................................................................67 Budget in Action .......................................................................68 5.5 More Than Just Dollars .............................................................70 5.6 The Budget and You ..................................................................71 CHAPTER SIX Counties ...................................................................................................74 6.1 County’s Role and Organization ...............................................75 Differences Among Counties ....................................................77 The County’s Dual Role ............................................................77 Organization of County Government ........................................78 County Board of Supervisors ....................................................78 County Administration ..............................................................79 Other County Officials ..............................................................80 6.2 County Activities and Financing ...............................................81 Health and Human Services ......................................................81 Highways