PROFILE OF LEGISLATIVE BRANCH


measures, under consideration. Caucus meetings may be held at regular intervals,
such as daily,
or whenever the caucus is convened by the party leaders. A caucus meeting
is held shortly after
the general election - several weeks prior to the opening of the session
- to select candidates for
the house offices.
  Legislative Officers Are Elected In Each House. As a result of the constitutional
amendment
ratified by the voters in April 1979, the lieutenant governor no longer is
president of the Senate;
the Senate selects its president from among its members. The president is
the presiding officer of
the Senate. The corresponding officer in the Assembly is the speaker, who
is a representative
chosen by the members. The speaker presides over the Assembly, supervises
all other officers,
and appoints committees. When the president of the Senate is absent or unable
to preside, the
assistant majority leader may preside as substitute president; in the Assembly
the corresponding
officer is the speaker pro tempore. The other officers are a chief clerk
and a sergeant at arms in
each house, elected by the members from outside the membership. The chief
clerk serves as the
clerk of the house when it is in session and supervises the preparation of
legislative records. As
the chief administrative officer for the house, the chief clerk works with
the committee on organi-
zation and under the direction of the presiding officer, and generally supervises
personnel func-
tions. The sergeant at arms maintains order in and about the chamber and
supervises the messen-
gers. The 1967 Senate had an additional officer, president emeritus, while
the 1973 Senate
created the office of vice president of the Senate, and the Senate created
the post of Senate presi-
dent pro tempore in 1981 and 1983.


   Speaker of the Assembly Thomas A. Loftus (left), and President of the
Senate Fred A. Risser
 (right), preside during ajoint session of the Wisconsin Legislature. Joint
sessions are typically held
for the Governor's state of the state message and budget message (photo courtesy
of Senate Democratic
Caucus).


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