PROFILE OF THE ExECUTIvE BRANCH


building corporations were a useful device. They proved a real boon to the
state at a time when
di-rect borrowing was constitutionally barred and revenues proved insufficient
to provide the
facilities required for a rapidly expanding population and increased demand
for public services.
   In 1969 the use of building corporations was terminated following the
adoption of a constitu-
tional amendment allowing the state to contract direct debt. In October of
that year, the out-
standing debt of all the building corporations was $412.6 million.
   Subsequent legislation created the State Bond Board to administer and
approve all matters
relating to the incurrence of "general obligation" debt, backed
by the full faith and credit of the
state. The board was abolished in 1973, and the function was transferred
to the State of Wiscon-
sin Building Commission. By April 30, 1989, the total state indebtedness
was almost $2.2 billion.

                              Functions of the Executive Branch

  So far we have talked about how the executive branch is organized and operated.
But what
does the government do? What services does it provide to you? Like all levels
of government, the
state government, through its executive branch, exists to provide necessary
services for people
that they cannot provide adequately for themselves. Following the practice
used in the state
budget, the state services are grouped here into several broad functional
areas, namely, com-
merce, education, environmental resources, human relations and resources,
and general functions.
These categories are also used in the detailed departmental descriptions
which follow. Admit-
tedly, there are some departmental activities that fit into more than one
category and, thus,
certain divisions may appear to be somewhat arbitrary, but broadly categorizing
government
services in this manner seems to aid in grasping the total range of activities
performed by state
government.
  Governor and Lieutenant Governor. The activities of the governor and the
lieutenant governor
could very properly be classified under the general functions of the executive
branch. However,
since the governor is the repository of "the executive power" and
occupies a supervisory function
over the entire executive branch, it seems preferable to consider the functions
of the Office of the
Governor separately.


  in A   l rtt Yoo6, Ljovernor i ommy i nompson stgnea Witsconsin Act 2YO,
authorizing tne state to
purchase 6,900 acres on the Chippewa Flowage in Sawyer County. The "Chippewa"
is Wisconsin's
largest wilderness water body, abounding with fish and wildlife (photo courtesy
of Wisconsin Department of
Natural Resources).


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