Wisconsin State Senate facts for kids

The Wisconsin State Senate is an important part of the government in Wisconsin. It's like the "upper house" of the state's law-making body, called the Wisconsin Legislature. Think of it as one of two main groups that work together to create laws for Wisconsin.

There are 33 members, or "senators," in the Wisconsin State Senate. These senators are elected by people from different parts of the state. Currently, the Republicans have more members, with 19 seats. The Democrats have 14 seats. Each senator earns $50,950 every year for their work.

What the Senate Does

The Wisconsin State Senate plays a big role in how Wisconsin is run. Its main job is to create, debate, and vote on new laws. These laws affect everyone living in the state. Senators also approve the state's budget, which decides how money is spent.

They also help oversee the state government. This means they make sure that state agencies and officials are doing their jobs correctly. When a new person is chosen for a high-level state job, the Senate often has to approve that choice.

How Laws Are Made

Making a law is a careful process. It usually starts when a senator introduces an idea for a new law, called a "bill." This bill is then discussed in special groups called committees. People can share their opinions about the bill in these committees.

If a bill passes in a committee, it then goes to the full Senate for a vote. If the Senate votes yes, the bill then moves to the other part of the Legislature, the Assembly. For a bill to become a law, it must be approved by both the Senate and the Assembly. Finally, the Governor of Wisconsin must sign it.

Who Leads the Senate?

The Wisconsin State Senate has several important leaders. These leaders help guide the work of the Senate and make sure everything runs smoothly.

• The President of the Senate is Roger Roth, who is a Republican. This person leads the Senate meetings.
• The Majority Leader is Scott L. Fitzgerald, also a Republican. They are the main leader for the party that has the most members.
• The Minority Leader is Janet Bewley, a Democrat. They are the main leader for the party that has fewer members.

These leaders work to represent their parties and help shape the laws that are passed.

Where the Senate Meets

The Wisconsin State Senate meets in a beautiful building called the Wisconsin State Capitol. This building is located in Madison, which is the capital city of Wisconsin. Madison is in Dane County. The Capitol building is where much of Wisconsin's government work happens.

Images for kids

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  The Senate chamber seen from the gallery