Governor of Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Governor of Wisconsin |
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Privy Seal of the State of Wisconsin
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| Government of Wisconsin | |
| Style | His Excellency. The Honorable |
| Residence | Wisconsin Governor's Mansion |
| Seat | Madison, WI |
| Term length | Four years, no term limits |
| Inaugural holder | Nelson Dewey |
| Formation | June 7, 1848 |
| Deputy | Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin |
| Salary | $152,756 (2022) |
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The governor of Wisconsin is like the top boss or leader for the state of Wisconsin. They are the head of government, meaning they run the state's daily business. The governor is also the commander-in-chief of Wisconsin's own military forces, like the Army and Air National Guard.
The governor has important jobs. They make sure state laws are followed. They can also approve or reject (called a veto) new laws passed by the Wisconsin Legislature. The governor can call special meetings of the legislature. They can also grant pardons, which means forgiving someone for a crime, except in very serious cases like treason.
The first governor was Nelson Dewey. He started on June 7, 1848, the year Wisconsin became a state. Before Wisconsin was a state, it was a territory, and it had four different governors. The person who is governor right now is Tony Evers. He is a Democrat and became governor on January 7, 2019.
Contents
What Powers Does the Governor Have?
The governor of Wisconsin has special powers that come from two places. Some powers are given by the Wisconsin Constitution. Other powers are given by laws passed by the Wisconsin State Legislature.
Constitutional Powers of the Governor
The main powers of the governor are written in the Wisconsin Constitution. This is like the rulebook for the state. In general, the governor makes sure that all of Wisconsin's laws are followed.
The Governor's Veto Power
The governor of Wisconsin has one of the strongest veto powers of any governor in the United States. When the state legislature passes a new bill (a proposed law), it must go to the governor. The governor can either sign it to make it a law, or they can veto it.
If the governor vetoes a bill, it goes back to the legislature. The legislature can then vote again to try and pass the bill, even if the governor doesn't want it. This is called overriding a veto.
In 1930, a special change was made to the Wisconsin Constitution. This change gave the governor a "line-item veto" power. This means the governor can strike out parts of spending bills without rejecting the whole bill. They can even remove words, numbers, or whole sentences from these bills. The legislature can still try to override these partial vetoes.
Because the governor's veto power is so strong, people sometimes call it a "Frankenstein veto." This term means the governor can change a bill so much that it becomes something new. For example, in 2023, Governor Tony Evers used this power on a school funding bill. He changed the funding period from "2024-2025" school year to "2425." This made it seem like the funding would last for over 400 years!
Other Important Powers
The governor is the commander-in-chief of Wisconsin's state militia. This means they are in charge of the state's own defense forces. If there's an emergency, the governor can call special meetings of the state legislature. They can even hold these meetings anywhere in the state, not just in Madison, if the capital city is unsafe due to an invasion or a serious illness.
The governor can also pardon people, which means forgiving them for a crime. They can also commute (reduce) or delay sentences. However, they cannot do this for cases of treason or if someone has been removed from office through impeachment. The governor must tell the state legislature about these actions every year and explain why they did them.
Each year, the governor must also give a speech to the legislature. This speech is called the "state of the state." In it, the governor talks about how Wisconsin is doing and suggests new ideas for the legislature to think about.
Administrative and Budget Powers
The governor is also in charge of the executive branch of government. This means they have powers to manage the different state agencies. These agencies are like departments that help run the state. Since 1965, governors have used "executive orders" more often. These are like special rules the governor makes to help state agencies work better.
The governor also chooses the people who will lead these state agencies. This is called the power of appointment. For example, between 2017 and 2018, the governor made 307 such appointments.
State law also requires the governor to create a budget bill. This bill shows how the state plans to spend its money. This helps the governor guide what new laws and programs they want to achieve.
How the Governor is Elected and Serves
The governor of Wisconsin is chosen by a direct election. This means the person who gets the most votes from the people becomes governor. If two candidates get the exact same number of votes, the state legislature votes to decide between them.
When Wisconsin first became a state, governors served for two years. But in 1967, the state constitution was changed. Now, governors serve for four years. This change started with the governor elected in 1970. There is no limit to how many terms a person can be governor.
The longest-serving governor was Tommy Thompson. He was governor for over 14 years, from 1987 to 2001. The shortest-serving governor was Arthur MacArthur Sr., who was governor for only 5 days in 1856! To be governor, a person must be a citizen of the United States and be able to vote in Wisconsin.
How a Governor Can Leave Office
Most governors leave office when their term ends and they are not re-elected. But there are other ways a governor can leave office:
- Resignation: Four governors have resigned. For example, Robert La Follette Sr. resigned to become a U.S. Senator. Tommy Thompson resigned to become a U.S. Secretary.
- Death: Two governors, Louis Harvey and Walter Samuel Goodland, died while they were in office. One elected governor, Orland Loomis, died before he could even start his term.
- Impeachment: The governor can be removed from office through an impeachment trial. This happens if a majority of the Wisconsin State Assembly votes to impeach them. No governor in Wisconsin has ever been removed this way.
- Recall Election: A governor can also be removed through a recall election. This is a special election where voters decide if they want to remove the governor before their term ends. In 2012, Scott Walker was the only governor in Wisconsin history to face a recall election. He won the election and kept his job. He was the first governor in American history to survive a recall attempt.
History of Elections
In the 2022 election for governor, over 2.6 million people voted. This was the most votes ever cast in a Wisconsin governor's election. Wisconsin has had 44 different governors, but 45 times someone has served as governor. This is because one governor, Philip La Follette, served two terms that were not back-to-back.
Four main political parties have had their candidates elected as governor in Wisconsin:
- The Democratic Party
- The Whig Party
- The Republican Party
- The Progressive Party
The Governor and Lieutenant Governor
The state constitution used to say that the governor and lieutenant governor of Wisconsin were voted for separately. But in 1967, this changed. Now, people vote for the governor and lieutenant governor together as a team. Before this change, there were nine times when the elected governor and lieutenant governor were from different political parties.
The constitution also explains what happens if the governor cannot do their job. If the governor is impeached, removed, dies, resigns, or is sick, the lieutenant governor takes over. In 1979, the constitution was updated to be more specific. If the governor dies, resigns, or is removed, the lieutenant governor becomes the new governor for the rest of the term. But if the governor is just sick or away, the lieutenant governor only becomes "acting governor" until the governor can return.
Succession to the Governor's Office
If the governor cannot serve, there is a clear order of who takes over. This is called the line of succession.
