Wisconsin State Legislature, 2010 session
| 2010 Wisconsin legislative session |
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| General information |
| Session start: January 5, 2009 Session end: May 26, 2010 |
| Leadership |
| Senate President Fred Risser (D) House Speaker |
| Other legislative sessions |
| 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 |
The Wisconsin State Legislature met in regular session from January 5, 2009, to May 26, 2010. Democrats held an 18-15 majority in the Wisconsin State Senate and a 52-46 majority (with one independent) in the Wisconsin State Assembly during the session. Gov. Jim Doyle (D) served as governor during the session, giving Democrats trifecta control of Wisconsin state government.
The 2009-2010 legislative session was the first session with Democrats in control of both chambers of the legislature since 1993.
Leadership in 2010
Pennsylvania State Senate
- Senate president: Fred Risser (D)
- Majority leader: Russ Decker (D)
- Minority leader: Scott Fitzgerald (R)
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- Speaker of the House: Michael Sheridan (D)
- Majority leader: Tom Nelson (D)
- Minority leader: Jeff Fitzgerald (R)
Partisan control in 2010
- See also: State government trifectas
Wisconsin was one of 17 Democratic trifectas at the start of 2010 legislative session. A state government trifecta occurs when one political party holds the governor's office, a majority in the state Senate, and a majority in the state House. For more information about state government trifectas, click here.
The following tables show the partisan breakdown of the Wisconsin State Legislature in the 2010 legislative session.
Wisconsin State Senate
| Party | As of January 2010 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 18 | |
| Republican Party | 15 | |
| Total | 33 | |
Wisconsin State Assembly
| Party | As of January 2010 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 52 | |
| Republican Party | 46 | |
| Independent | 1 | |
| Total | 99 | |
Legislatively referred constitutional amendments
In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.
The methods by which the Wisconsin Constitution can be amended:
Article XII of the Wisconsin Constitution provides two methods of 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.
- If an amendment is approved by a majority in both chambers of the Legislature in one session, that proposed amendment must then be considered by the state legislature chosen at the next general election in the state.
- Before that second legislative session, the proposed amendment that will be considered must be published for three months prior to the election.
- Should the amendment be approved by a simple majority of the second session that considers it, the proposed amendment is then placed on a statewide ballot at a special or general election.
- If it is approved by a simple majority of the state's electorate, it becomes part of the constitution.
- Constitutional conventions can also be used to propose amendments to the state's constitution.
- If a simple majority of both houses of the Wisconsin State Legislature votes in favor, a constitutional convention question is placed on a statewide ballot.
- If the electors of the state agree by a simple majority to call a constitutional convention, then the legislature needs to convene a convention during its next session.
Wisconsin citizens do not have the power of amending the constitution through initiated constitutional amendments.
Historical partisan control
The table below depicts the historical trifecta status of Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Party Control: 1992-2025
Two years of Democratic trifectas • Ten years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| Senate | D | R | R | R | D | D | R | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| House | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
Historical Senate control
Between 1992 and 2020, partisan control of the Wisconsin State Senate fluctuated, swinging back and forth between the Democratic and Republican parties. The table below shows the partisan history of the Wisconsin State Senate following every general election from 1992 to 2018. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.
Wisconsin State Senate election results: 1992-2018
| Year | '92 | '94 | '96 | '98 | '00 | '02 | '04 | '06 | '08 | '10 | '12 | '14 | '16 | '18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 18 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 14 |
| Republicans | 15 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 15 | 15 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 19 |
Control of the state Senate changed hands five times between 1992 and 2018. The chamber flipped in 1994, 1996, 2002, 2006, and 2010. The partisan balance of the chamber remained close throughout the period between 1992 and 2020.
Republicans gained four seats in 2010 and took control of the chamber. The GOP maintained majorities in the chamber between 2010 and 2020.
Historical House control
Between 1992 and 2020, partisan control of the Wisconsin State Assembly shifted in favor of the Republican Party. The table below shows the partisan history of the Wisconsin State Assembly following every general election from 1992 to 2018. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.
Wisconsin State Assembly election results: 1992-2018
| Year | '92 | '94 | '96 | '98 | '00 | '02 | '04 | '06 | '08 | '10 | '12 | '14 | '16 | '18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 52 | 48 | 47 | 44 | 43 | 41 | 39 | 47 | 52 | 38 | 39 | 36 | 35 | 36 |
| Republicans | 47 | 51 | 52 | 55 | 56 | 58 | 60 | 52 | 46 | 60 | 60 | 63 | 64 | 63 |
After the 1992 elections, Democrats held a 52-47 majority. Republicans gained four seats in 1994 and took control of the chamber. From 1994 to 2004, Republicans picked up another nine seats, resulting in a 60-39 majority following the 2004 elections. Democrats gained 13 seats between the 2006 and 2008 elections. The Democratic majority gained in 2008 lasted until after the 2010 elections. Republicans picked up 14 seats in that election, moving the chamber to a 60-38 majority. The GOP gained another three seats between 2010 and 2018.
See also
| Elections | Wisconsin State Government | State Legislatures | State Politics |
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External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Wisconsin State Legislature homepage
- Summary of the 2009–2010 Wisconsin Legislative Session from the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau
Footnotes
