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Wisconsin Senate
Wisconsin State Legislature
Type
Type	Upper house
Term limits	None
History
New session started	January 7, 2019
Leadership
President of the Senate	Roger Roth (R) since January 3, 2017
President pro tempore	Howard Marklein (R) since January 3, 2017
Majority Leader	Scott L. Fitzgerald (R) since January 8, 2013
Minority Leader	Jennifer Shilling (D) since January 5, 2015
Structure
Seats	33
Political groups	Majority   Republican (19) Minority   Democratic (14)
Length of term	4 years
Authority	Article IV, Wisconsin Constitution
Salary	$50,950/year + $153 per diem
Elections
Last election	November 6, 2018 (17 seats)
Next election	November 3, 2020 (16 seats)
Meeting place
State Senate Chamber Wisconsin State Capitol Madison, Wisconsin
Website
Wisconsin State Senate

The Wisconsin Senate, the powers of which are modeled after those of the U.S. Senate, is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature, smaller than the Wisconsin State Assembly. Together, they constitute the legislative branch of the state of Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin Constitution ties the size of the State Senate to that of the Assembly, by limiting its size to no less than 1/4, nor more than 1/3, of the size of the Assembly. Currently, Wisconsin is divided into 33 Senate Districts (1/3 of the current Assembly membership of 99) apportioned throughout the state based on population as determined by the decennial census, for a total of 33 senators. A Senate district is formed by combining three Assembly districts. Similar to the U.S. Senate, in addition to its duty of reviewing and voting on all legislation passed through the legislature, the State Senate has the exclusive responsibility of confirming certain gubernatorial appointments, particularly cabinet secretaries (as part of the system of checks and balances) and members of boards and commissions. Senators are elected for four-year terms, staggered so that approximately half of the Senate is up for election every two years. If a vacancy occurs in a Senate seat between elections, it may be filled only by a special election. The Senate chamber is in the south wing of the Wisconsin State Capitol, in Madison.

Salary and benefits

The salary for legislators serving in the 2017 Wisconsin Legislature - $50,950 - is unchanged from the previous session. The salary for legislators serving in the 2015 session was increased by 2 percent from the $49,943 rate that had been in effect for the previous three bienniums. Before that increase, the most recent increase was an increase of 5 per-cent from the 2007 session to the 2009 session. The Speaker of the Assembly receives an additional stipend, which is currently $25 per month.^[1]

In addition to their salaries, senators outside Dane County may receive a per diem up to $88 to cover living expenses while they are in Dane County on state business. Members of the Madison delegation may receive a per diem up to $44 to cover expenses. Each senator also receives $75 per month in "out-of-session" pay when the Legislature is in session for three days or less. Over two years, each senator is allotted $66,008 to cover general office expenses, printing, postage and district mailings.^{[citation needed]}

2016 general election

Podium in the Senate

Following the 2016 elections, the Wisconsin State Senate maintained a Republican majority in January 2017 for several reasons. Democrat Julie Lassa lost her re-election to Patrick Testin. Following the retirement and death of Republican Senator Rick Gudex, Republican Dan Feyen defeated Democrat Mark Harris. The Senate currently has 19 Republicans and 14 Democrats.

Current session

Composition

19	14
Republican	Democratic

Senate officers

Members

Past notable members

• 
  Angus Cameron (1863–1864; 1871–1872), former U.S. Senator from Wisconsin (1875–1885)


• 
  Gaylord Nelson (1949–1958), former Governor of Wisconsin (1959–1963) and U.S. Senator from Wisconsin (1963–1981)


• 
  Henry Maier (1951–1960), former Mayor of Milwaukee (1960–1988)


• 
  James B. Brennan (1959–1962), former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin (1962–1969) and Milwaukee City Attorney (1972–1984)


• 
  William Bablitch (1972–1983), former Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court (1983–2003)


• 
  Tom Petri (1973–1979), former U.S. House Representative (1979–2015)


• 
  Jim Sensenbrenner (1975–1979), current U.S. House Representative (1979–present)


• 
  Russ Feingold (1983–1993), former U.S. Senator from Wisconsin (1993–2011)


• 
  John Norquist (1983–1988), former Mayor of Milwaukee (1988–2004)


• 
  Tom Barrett (1989–1993), former U.S. House Representative (1993–2003) and current Mayor of Milwaukee (2004–present)


• 
  Gwen Moore (1993–2005), current U.S. House Representative (2005–present)


• 
  Glenn Grothman (2005–2015), current U.S. House Representative (2015–present)

Past composition of the Senate

See also

• Wisconsin Legislature


• Wisconsin State Assembly


• American Legislative Exchange Council members

References

External links

• 
  Wisconsin State Senate official government website
  


• 
  State Senate of Wisconsin at Project Vote Smart
  


• 
  Wisconsin State Senate at Ballotpedia
  


• Legislature Salary