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The Eightieth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 4, 1971, to January 1, 1973, in regular session, and also convened in a special session in April 1972.[1]
| 80th Wisconsin Legislature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||
 Wisconsin State Capitol | |||||
| Overview | |||||
| Legislative body | Wisconsin Legislature | ||||
| Meeting place | Wisconsin State Capitol | ||||
| Term | January 4, 1971 – January 1, 1973 | ||||
| Election | November 3, 1970 | ||||
| Senate | |||||
| Members | 33 | ||||
| Senate President | Martin J. Schreiber (D) | ||||
| President pro tempore | Robert P. Knowles (R) | ||||
| Party control | Republican | ||||
| Assembly | |||||
| Members | 100 | ||||
| Assembly Speaker |
| ||||
| Speaker pro tempore | Joseph Sweda (D) | ||||
| Party control | Democratic | ||||
| Sessions | |||||
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| Special sessions | |||||
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The April 1972 special session was called to come to a final agreement on a pivotal redistricting plan, which eliminated an Assembly district and broke the longstanding precedent of adhering to county boundaries.
Senators representing odd-numbered districts were newly elected for this session and were serving the first two years of a four-year term. Assembly members were elected to a two-year term. Assembly members and odd-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 3, 1970. Senators representing even-numbered districts were serving the third and fourth year of a four-year term, having been elected in the general election of November 5, 1968.[1]
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- January 4, 1971: Inauguration of Patrick Lucey as the 38th Governor of Wisconsin.
- March 1, 1971: A bomb exploded in a restroom in the United States Capitol, the Weather Underground claimed responsibility.
- April 30, 1971: The Milwaukee Bucks won the 1971 NBA Finals.
- May 3, 1971: The 1971 May Day protests against the Vietnam War began in Washington, D.C., attempting to disrupt government operations. Over 12,000 were arrested.
- July 1, 1971: The Twenty-sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution came into force when a sufficient number of states ratified.
- August 15, 1971: In what's known as the Nixon shock, U.S. President Richard Nixon signed Executive Order 11615, ending the convertibility of the U.S. dollar to gold at a fixed value. The order also imposed a 90-day freeze on wages, prices, and rents.
- December 13, 1971: Wisconsin Assembly speaker Robert T. Huber resigned his seat in the legislature to become chair of the state highway commission.
- April 4, 1972: 1972 Wisconsin Spring election:
- Wisconsin voters ratified four amendments to the state constitution:
- Allowing the legislature to create alternative systems of county government.
- Allowing counties the option to retain the office of coroner or replace it with a medical examiner.
- Allowing public school buildings to be utilized for civic, religious, or charitable events during non-school hours.
- Allowing public school students to receive separate religious instruction outside of public school facilities during school hours.
- Wisconsin voters ratified four amendments to the state constitution:
- June 17, 1972: Five Nixon campaign operatives were arrested trying to break into the Democratic National Committee offices at the Watergate in Washington, D.C.
- November 7, 1972:
- Richard Nixon (R) re-elected President of the United States.
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- November 19, 1971: An Act ... relating to redistricting this state pursuant to the congressional apportionment based on the 1970 census of population, 1971 Act 133.
- May 8, 1972: An Act ... relating to districting the senate and assembly based on the number of inhabitants shown by the certified results of the 1970 census of population, 1971 Act 304.
Senate summary
Democratic: 13 seats
Republican: 20 seats
| Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) |
Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dem. | Rep. | Vacant | ||
| End of previous Legislature | 11 | 21 | 32 | 1 |
| Start of Reg. Session[note 1] | 12 | 20 | 32 | 1 |
| From May 4, 1971[note 2] | 13 | 33 | 0 | |
| Final voting share | 39.39% | 60.61% | ||
| Beginning of the next Legislature | 15 | 18 | 33 | 0 |
Assembly summary
Democratic: 66 seats
Republican: 34 seats
| Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) |
Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dem. | Ind. | Rep. | Vacant | ||
| End of previous Legislature | 48 | 1 | 51 | 100 | 0 |
| Start of Reg. Session | 67 | 0 | 33 | 100 | 0 |
| From Jan. 19, 1971[note 3] | 66 | 99 | 1 | ||
| From Apr. 13, 1971[note 4] | 34 | 100 | 0 | ||
| From May 4, 1971[note 5] | 65 | 99 | 1 | ||
| From Sep. 20, 1971[note 6] | 66 | 100 | 0 | ||
| From Dec. 13, 1971[note 7] | 65 | 99 | 1 | ||
| From Apr. 19, 1972[note 8] | 66 | 100 | 0 | ||
| Final voting share | 66% | 34% | |||
| Beginning of the next Legislature | 62 | 0 | 37 | 99 | 0 |
- Regular session: January 4, 1971 – January 1, 1973
- April 1972 special session: April 19, 1972 – April 28, 1972
Senate leadership
- President of the Senate: Martin J. Schreiber (D)
- President pro tempore: Robert P. Knowles (R–New Richmond)
- Majority leader: Ernest Keppler (R–Sheboygan)
- Minority leader: Fred Risser (D–Madison)
Assembly leadership
- Speaker of the Assembly: Robert T. Huber (D–West Allis) (until Dec. 13, 1971)
- Norman C. Anderson (D–Madison) (from Dec. 17, 1971)
- Speaker pro tempore: Joseph Sweda (D–Lublin)
- Majority leader: Norman C. Anderson (D–Madison) (until Dec. 17, 1971)
- Minority leader: Harold V. Froehlich (R–Appleton)
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Members of the Senate
Members of the Senate for the Eightieth Wisconsin Legislature:[2]
Democratic: 13 seats
Republican: 20 seats
Members of the Assembly
Members of the Assembly for the Eightieth Wisconsin Legislature:[2]
Democratic: 66 seats
Republican: 34 seats
Senate employees
- Chief Clerk: William P. Nugent[2]
- Sergeant-at-Arms: Kenneth Nicholson
Assembly employees
- Chief Clerk: Thomas P. Fox[2]
- Sergeant-at-Arms: William F. Quick
- Democrat Martin J. Schreiber (6th District) resigned before the start of the session due to his election as Lieutenant Governor.
- Democrat Mark Lipscomb Jr. (6th District) was sworn in to replace Martin J. Schreiber.
- Democrat John Q. Radcliffe (Jackson & Trempealeau counties) resigned to accept appointment to the state highway commission.
- Republican Alan S. Robertson (Jackson & Trempealeau counties) was sworn in to replace John Q. Radcliffe.
- Democrat Mark Lipscomb Jr. (Milwaukee County) resigned to take office in the state senate.
- Democratic speaker Robert T. Huber (Milwaukee County) resigned to accept appointment to the state highway commission.
- Democrat Gary J. Barczak (Milwaukee County) was sworn in to replace Robert T. Huber.
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