The Eighty-Third Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular session, and also convened in four special sessions.

This legislative session saw a dramatic overhaul of the Wisconsin judicial system as voters approved a series of amendments to the Constitution of Wisconsin which established the Wisconsin Court of Appeals and collapsed the county courts into the Wisconsin circuit court system. The amendment also established a constitutional basis for the powers of the Wisconsin Supreme Court to administer the state court system.

Senators representing even-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 even-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 2, 1976. Senators representing odd-numbered districts were serving the third and fourth year of a four-year term, having been elected in the general election of November 5, 1974.

The governor of Wisconsin for the first six months of this term was Democrat Patrick Lucey, of Crawford County, serving the third year of his second four-year term, having won re-election in the 1974 Wisconsin gubernatorial election. Lucey resigned on July 6, 1977, to accept appointment as United States Ambassador to Mexico. At that time, the lieutenant governor, Democrat Martin J. Schreiber, of Milwaukee County, then ascended to become governor for the remainder of this legislative term.

Major events January 20, 1977: Inauguration of Jimmy Carter as 39th President of the United States. April 5, 1977: 1977 Wisconsin spring election: William G. Callow was elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court to succeed Robert W. Hansen. Wisconsin voters ratified five amendments to the state constitution: Allowing the legislature to authorize charitable raffle games as an exception to state gambling prohibitions. Collapsing the county court system into the Wisconsin circuit courts. Establishing the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. Establishing disciplinary rules for the judiciary. Repealing the mandatory retirement age for judges (70) and instead enabling the Legislature to set a mandatory retirement age. The legislature has never yet implemented such a law. July 3, 1977: About 20,000 members of the Wisconsin State Employee's Union started an illegal strike, paralyzing many state agencies and functions. July 6, 1977: Wisconsin governor Patrick Lucey resigned from office after he was confirmed by the United States Senate as Ambassador to Mexico. Lieutenant Governor Martin J. Schreiber immediately succeeded him as the 39th Governor of Wisconsin. July 21, 1977: The Wisconsin State Employee's Union strike came to an end after receiving concessions from the state government. August 4, 1977: U.S. President Jimmy Carter signed legislation creating the United States Department of Energy. January 24, 1978: The Great Blizzard of 1978 began, affecting all of the Great Lakes region. April 4, 1978: 1978 Wisconsin spring election: John Louis Coffey was elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court to succeed Leo B. Hanley. Wisconsin voters rejected an amendment to the state constitution which would have allowed the Legislature to set up different forms of town government. August 6, 1978: Pope Paul VI died at Castel Gandolfo in Italy. August 26, 1978: The August 1978 papal conclave elected Cardinal-Priest Albino Luciani as the next pope, he then took the papal name September 17, 1978: The Camp David Accords were signed between Israel and Egypt. September 28, 1978: Pope John Paul I died. October 16, 1978: The October 1978 papal conclave elected Cardinal-Priest Karol Józef Wojtyła as the next pope, he then took the papal name November 7, 1978: 1978 United States general election: Lee S. Dreyfus (R) elected Governor of Wisconsin.

Major legislation June 29, 1977: An Act ... relating to state finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget bill of the 1977 legislature, and making appropriations, 1977 Act 29. It was vetoed in part, but the vetoes were overridden. Established the office of secretary of the Department of Industry, Labor & Human Relations, making it a gubernatorial appointee. The Department of Agriculture was renamed the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

Party summary Senate summary

Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 18 14 32 1 Start of Reg. Session 23 10 33 0 From Jan. 29, 1977Democrat Jerome Martin (1st District) died. 22 32 1 From May 12, 1977Republican Alan Lasee (1st District) was sworn in to replace Jerome Martin. 11 33 0 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 21 10 31 2

Assembly summary

Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 63 36 99 0 Start of Reg. Session 66 33 99 0 From Jun. 27, 1977Republican Lloyd H. Kincaid (36th District) switched his party affiliation to Democratic. 67 32 99 0 From Jul. 25, 1977Democrat Peter J. Tropman (32nd District) resigned. 66 98 1 From Aug. 15, 1977Democrat Michael P. Early (30th District) resigned after he was appointed secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs. 65 97 2 From Nov. 7, 1977Republican James Harsdorf (30th District) and Democrat Dismas Becker (32nd District) were sworn in to replace Michael P. Early and Peter J. Tropman, respectively. 66 33 99 0 From Nov. 14, 1977Democrat Michael Elconin (16th District) resigned. 65 98 1 From Jan. 24, 1978Democrat William B. Broydrick (16th District) was sworn in to replace Michael Elconin. 66 99 0 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 60 39 99 0

Sessions Regular session: January 3, 1977January 3, 1979 June 1977 special session: June 30, 1977 November 1977 special session: November 7, 1977November 11, 1977 June 1978 special session: June 13, 1978June 15, 1978 December 1978 special session: December 20, 1978

Leaders Senate leadership President of the Senate: Martin J. Schreiber (D) President pro tempore: Fred Risser (D–Madison)

Senate majority leadership Majority Leader: William A. Bablitch (D–Stevens Point) Assistant Majority Leader: Jerry Kleczka (D–Milwaukee)

Senate minority leadership Minority Leader: Clifford Krueger (R–Merrill) Assistant Minority Leader: Jim Sensenbrenner (R–Shorewood)

Assembly leadership Speaker of the Assembly: Edward Jackamonis (D–Waukesha) Speaker pro tempore: Michael P. Early (D–River Falls)

Assembly majority leadership Majority Leader: James W. Wahner (D–Milwaukee) Assistant Majority Leader: R. Michael Ferrall (D–Racine)

Assembly minority leadership Minority Leader: John C. Shabaz (R–New Berlin) Assistant Minority Leader: Tommy Thompson (R–Elroy)

Members Members of the Senate Members of the Senate for the Eighty-Third Wisconsin Legislature:

Dist. Senator Party Age(1977) Home Firstelected 01 Dem. Whitelaw, Manitowoc County 1970 Rep. De Pere, Brown County 1977 02 Rep. Green Bay, Brown County 1972 03 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1974 04 Rep. Shorewood, Milwaukee County 1975 05 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1974 06 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1972 07 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1970 08 Dem. West Allis, Milwaukee County 1972 09 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1968 10 Dem. North Hudson, St. Croix County 1976 11 Dem. Milwaukee, Milwaukee County 1976 12 Rep. Merrill, Lincoln County 1946 13 Dem. Jefferson, Jefferson County 1969 14 Rep. Bear Creek, Outagamie County 1954 15 Dem. Janesville, Rock County 1974 16 Dem. Stoughton, Dane County 1959 17 Dem. Platteville, Grant County 1974 18 Rep. , Fond du Lac County 1976 19 Dem. Oshkosh, Winnebago County 1974 20 Rep. Sheboygan, Sheboygan County 1960 21 Dem. Racine, Racine County 1965 22 Dem. Kenosha, Kenosha County 1975 23 Dem. Chippewa Falls, Chippewa County 1970 24 Dem. Stevens Point, Portage County 1972 25 Rep. Ashland, Ashland County 1972 26 Dem. Madison, Dane County 1962 27 Rep. Portage, Columbia County 1970 28 Dem. New Berlin, Waukesha County 1976 29 Rep. Wausau, Marathon County 1966 30 Dem. Green Bay, Brown County 1976 31 Dem. Neillsville, Clark County 1974 32 Dem. La Crosse, La Crosse County 1968 33 Rep. Waukesha, Waukesha County 1970

Members of the Assembly Members of the Assembly for the Eighty-Third Wisconsin Legislature:

SenateDist.Dist.RepresentativePartyAge(1977)HomeFirstElected 01 01 Dem. Luxemburg 1970 02 Dem. Manitowoc 1972 03 Dem. Reedsville 1976 02 04 Rep. Green Bay 1972 05 Dem. Kaukauna 1962 06 Dem. Chilton 1966 03 07 Dem. Milwaukee 1974 08 Dem. Milwaukee 1974 09 Dem. Milwaukee 1974 04 10 Rep. Fox Point 1975 11 Dem. Milwaukee 1971 12 Rep. Mequon 1976 05 13 Dem. Milwaukee 1974 14 Dem. Milwaukee 1972 15 Dem. Milwaukee 1970 06 16 Dem. Milwaukee 1972 Dem. Milwaukee 1978 17 Dem. Milwaukee 1972 18 Dem. Milwaukee 1976 07 19 Dem. Milwaukee 1972 20 Dem. Milwaukee 1972 21 Dem. South Milwaukee 1974 08 22 Rep. Wauwatosa 1966 23 Dem. West Allis 1972 24 Dem. West Allis 1972 09 25 Dem. Milwaukee 1976 26 Dem. Milwaukee 1976 27 Dem. Milwaukee 1968 10 28 Dem. Luck 1958 29 Dem. Woodville 1970 30 Dem. River Falls 1970 Rep. River Falls 1977 11 31 Dem. Milwaukee 1976 32 Dem. Milwaukee 1972 Dem. Milwaukee 1977 33 Dem. Milwaukee 1966 12 34 Dem. Gilman 1974 35 Rep. Merrill 1972 36 Rep. Crandon 1972Dem. 13 37 Dem. Madison 1976 38 Dem. Edgerton 1970 39 Rep. Fort Atkinson 1976 14 40 Rep. Marion 1968 41 Rep. Shiocton 1964 42 Rep. Appleton 1972 15 43 Rep. Burlington 1972 44 Rep. Janesville 1972 45 Dem. Beloit 1970 16 46 Dem. Sun Prairie 1976 47 Dem. Primrose 1976 48 Dem. Janesville 1976 17 49 Rep. Platteville 1976 50 Dem. Cazenovia 1970 51 Rep. Shullsburg 1967 18 52 Rep. Fond du Lac 1956 53 Rep. West Bend 1972 54 Rep. Horicon 1962 19 55 Rep. Neenah 1970 56 Dem. Oshkosh 1972 57 Rep. Oshkosh 1968 20 58 Dem. Sheboygan 1967 59 Dem. Kohler 1974 60 Rep. Saukville 1972 21 61 Dem. Racine 1972 62 Dem. Racine 1970 63 Dem. Wind Point 1974 22 64 Dem. Kenosha 1976 65 Dem. Kenosha 1970 66 Rep. Randall 1960 23 67 Dem. Chippewa Falls 1976 68 Dem. Eau Claire 1968 69 Rep. Elk Mound 1974 24 70 Dem. Pittsville 1974 71 Dem. Stevens Point 1966 72 Rep. Berlin 1974 25 73 Dem. Superior 1972 74 Dem. Washburn 1972 75 Rep. Spooner 1970 26 76 Dem. Madison 1972 77 Dem. Madison 1970 78 Dem. Madison 1974 27 79 Rep. Elroy 1966 80 Dem. Baraboo 1976 81 Dem. Beaver Dam 1974 28 82 Dem. Hales Corners 1970 83 Rep. New Berlin 1964 84 Rep. Oconomowoc 1974 29 85 Dem. Wausau 1974 86 Dem. Eland 1968 87 Rep. Shawano 1974 30 88 Rep. Crivitz 1972 89 Dem. Pittsfield 1958 90 Dem. Green Bay 1974 31 91 Rep. Osseo 1974 92 Rep. Sparta 1970 93 Dem. Wisconsin Rapids 1970 32 94 Dem. Holmen 1970 95 Dem. La Crosse 1976 96 Rep. Viroqua 1954 33 97 Dem. Menomonee Falls 1974 98 Dem. Waukesha 1970 99 Rep. Brookfield 1974

Employees Senate employees Chief Clerk: Donald J. Schneider Sergeant-at-Arms: Robert M. Thompson

Assembly employees Chief Clerk: Everett E. Bolle Sergeant-at-Arms: Joseph E. Jones

Notes

References

External links 1977: Related Documents from Wisconsin Legislature