The Ninety-Sixth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 6, 2003, to January 3, 2005, in regular session, and held a concurrent special session from January 30, 2003, to February 20, 2003. They also held seven extraordinary sessions during the term.[1]
96th Wisconsin Legislature | |||||||||||||||||
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Overview | |||||||||||||||||
Legislative body | Wisconsin Legislature | ||||||||||||||||
Meeting place | Wisconsin State Capitol | ||||||||||||||||
Term | January 6, 2003 – January 3, 2005 | ||||||||||||||||
Election | November 5, 2002 | ||||||||||||||||
Senate | |||||||||||||||||
Members | 33 | ||||||||||||||||
Senate President | Alan Lasee (R) | ||||||||||||||||
President pro tempore | Robert T. Welch (R) | ||||||||||||||||
Party control | Republican | ||||||||||||||||
Assembly | |||||||||||||||||
Members | 99 | ||||||||||||||||
Assembly Speaker | John Gard (R) | ||||||||||||||||
Speaker pro tempore | Stephen Freese (R) | ||||||||||||||||
Party control | Republican | ||||||||||||||||
Sessions | |||||||||||||||||
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Special sessions | |||||||||||||||||
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This was the first legislative session after the redistricting of the Senate and Assembly according to the 2002 federal court decision, Baumgart v. Wendelberger.
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 5, 2002.[2] Senators representing even-numbered districts were serving the third and fourth year of their four-year term, having been elected in the general election of November 7, 2000.[3]
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)
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Total | |||
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Democratic | Republican | Vacant | ||
End of previous Legislature | 18 | 15 | 33 | 0 |
Start of Reg. Session [note 1] | 13 | 18 | 31 | 2 |
From May 9, 2003[note 2] | 15 | 33 | 0 | |
From Nov. 18, 2003[note 3] | 14 | 32 | 1 | |
From Nov. 25, 2003[note 4] | 15 | 33 | 0 | |
Final voting share | 45.45% | 54.55% | ||
Beginning of the next Legislature | 14 | 19 | 33 | 0 |
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)
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Total | |||
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Democratic | Republican | Vacant | ||
End of previous Legislature | 43 | 56 | 99 | 0 |
Start of Reg. Session | 41 | 58 | 99 | 0 |
From Feb. 1, 2003[note 5] | 40 | 98 | 1 | |
From Apr. 30, 2003[note 6] | 41 | 99 | 0 | |
From May 9, 2003[note 7] | 39 | 97 | 2 | |
From Aug. 4, 2003[note 8] | 59 | 98 | 1 | |
From Aug. 11, 2003[note 9] | 40 | 99 | 0 | |
From Nov. 25, 2003[note 10] | 39 | 98 | 1 | |
From Feb. 3, 2004[note 11] | 40 | 99 | 0 | |
Final voting share | 40.4% | 59.6% | ||
Beginning of the next Legislature | 39 | 60 | 99 | 0 |
Members of the Wisconsin Senate for the Ninety-Sixth Wisconsin Legislature:[4]
Members of the Assembly for the Ninety-Sixth Wisconsin Legislature:[4]
The most significant structural change to the Legislature between the 95th and 96th sessions was the reapportionment and redistricting of legislative seats. The new districts were defined in the federal court decision Baumgart v. Wendelberger, from a three-judge panel of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.