Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly

Last updated
Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly
Seal of Wisconsin.svg
Robin Vos speaks at Racine Tea Party event (8378614585).jpg
Incumbent
Robin Vos
since January 7, 2013
Wisconsin State Assembly
Style
Status Presiding officer
Seat Wisconsin State Capitol, Madison, Wisconsin
AppointerThe Assembly
Term length At the Assembly's pleasure; elected at the beginning of the new Legislature by a majority of the representatives-elect, and upon a vacancy during a session.
Constituting instrument Constitution of Wisconsin
FormationJune 5, 1848;175 years ago (1848-06-05)
First holder Ninian E. Whiteside
June 5, 1848
Deputy Speaker pro tempore
Salary $53,299 [1]

The Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly is the presiding officer of the Wisconsin State Assembly, the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Article IV of the Constitution of Wisconsin, ratified in 1848, establishes the legislature and specifies the election of officers. The role and responsibilities of the speaker are defined in the Assembly Rules, originally in Rule 1, and also, under the present rules, Rule 3. [2]

Contents

Selection

The speaker is chosen by a majority vote of the Assembly members at the start of each session or whenever a vacancy occurs in the role during a session, as such, the speaker is almost always the de facto leader of the Assembly's majority party. A speaker pro tempore is elected concurrent with the election of the speaker, to carry out the speaker's duties in his or her absence. Unlike the United States House of Representatives, the rules of the Assembly require that the speaker and speaker pro tempore be elected from among the members of the Assembly. [2]

Powers and duties

The speaker is empowered to make all Assembly committee assignments and office assignments for members, and supervises all officers of the Assembly. The speaker is required to authenticate all acts, orders, or proceedings from the Assembly, and, with the countersignature of the chief clerk, issues all subpoenas on behalf of the Assembly or its committees. [2]

Current Speaker

The current Speaker of the Assembly for the 105th Wisconsin Legislature is Robin Vos of Burlington, Racine County, Wisconsin. He is the 79th speaker since the establishment of the State Assembly and the 75th person to hold the office. He is currently serving his fourth term as speaker, first elected to the role on January 7, 2013. [3]

The Speaker pro tempore is Representative Tyler August of Lake Geneva, Walworth County, Wisconsin. This is his third full term in the role after being elected by the caucus in the October 2013. [3]

List of speakers

Wisconsin Territory (1836–1848)

AssemblySession
(years)
Speaker [4] PartyResidenceNotes
1st 1st Session
(1836)
Peter H. Engle Democratic Dubuque
2nd Session
(1837 1838)
Isaac Leffler Whig Des Moines
Special Session
(1838)
William B. Sheldon Democratic Milwaukee
2nd 1st Session
(1838)
Judge John W. Blackstone.png John Wilford Blackstone Sr. Whig Iowa County
2nd Session
(1839)
Lucius Israel Barber Whig Milwaukee
3rd Session
(1839 1840)
Edward Vernon Whiton - Wisconsin Supreme Court - DSC03193.JPG Edward V. Whiton Whig Rock County
4th Session
(1840)
Nelson Dewey.jpg Nelson Dewey Democratic Grant County
3rd 1st Session
(1840 1841)
David Newland Democratic Iowa County
2nd Session
(1841 1842)
4th 1st Session
(1842 1843)
Albert G. Ellis.png Albert Gallatin Ellis Democratic Portage
2nd Session
(1843 1844)
George H. Walker.jpg George H. Walker Democratic Milwaukee
3rd Session
(1845)
4th Session
(1846)
Mason C. Darling, painted by Samuel M. Brookes and Thomas H. Stevenson, 1856.jpg Mason C. Darling Democratic Fond du Lac
5th 1st Session
(1847)
William Shew Democratic Milwaukee
Special Session
(1847)
Isaac P. Walker.jpg Isaac P. Walker Democratic Milwaukee
2nd Session
(1848)
Timothy Burns Democratic Iowa County

Wisconsin State Assembly (1848–Present)

OrderLegislature
(years)
Speaker [5] PartyResidenceNotes
1 1st
(1848)
Ninian E. Whiteside Democratic Belmont, Lafayette County
2 2nd
(1849)
HarrisonCHobart.jpg Harrison Carroll Hobart Democratic Sheboygan, Sheboygan County
3 3rd
(1850)
Moses M. Strong.jpg Moses M. Strong Democratic Mineral Point, Iowa County
4 4th
(1851)
Frederick W. Horn.png Frederick W. Horn Democratic Cedarburg, Washington County
5 5th
(1852)
James M. Shafter (Vermont, Wisconsin, California politician).jpg James McMillan Shafter Whig Sheboygan, Sheboygan County
6 6th
(1853)
Henry L. Palmer.jpg Henry L. Palmer Democratic Milwaukee, Milwaukee County
7 7th
(1854)
Frederick W. Horn.png Frederick W. Horn Democratic Cedarburg, Ozaukee County
8 8th
(1855)
Charles Sholes.png Charles C. Sholes Republican Kenosha, Kenosha County
9 9th
(1856)
William Hull Democratic Potosi, Grant County
10 10th
(1857)
Wyman Spooner.png Wyman Spooner Republican Elkhorn, Walworth County
11 11th
(1858)
Frederick S Lovell.png Frederick S. Lovell Republican Kenosha, Kenosha County
12 12th
(1859)
William P. Lyon.png William P. Lyon Republican Racine, Racine County
13th
(1860)
13 14th
(1861)
Amasa Cobb Republican Mineral Point, Iowa County
14 15th
(1862)
Joseph W. Beardsley Union Democrat Prescott, Pierce County
15 16th
(1863)
J. Allen Barber (Wisconsin Congressman).jpg J. Allen Barber Republican Lancaster, Grant County
16 17th
(1864)
William W. Field.png William W. Field Union Fennimore, Grant County
18th
(1865)
17 19th
(1866)
Henry D. Barron.png Henry D. Barron Republican St. Croix Falls, Polk County
18 20th
(1867)
Angus Cameron - Brady-Handy.jpg Angus Cameron Republican La Crosse, La Crosse County
19 21st
(1868)
Alexander McDonald Thomson.png Alexander McDonald Thomson Republican Janesville, Rock County
22nd
(1869)
20 23rd
(1870)
James M. Bingham Republican Palmyra, Jefferson County
21 24th
(1871)
William E. Smith.jpg William E. Smith Republican Fox Lake, Dodge County
22 25th
(1872)
Daniel Hall Republican Watertown, Jefferson County
23 26th
(1873)
Henry D. Barron.png Henry D. Barron Republican St. Croix Falls, Polk County
24 27th
(1874)
GabrielBouck.jpg Gabriel Bouck Democratic Oshkosh, Winnebago County
25 28th
(1875)
Frederick W. Horn.png Frederick W. Horn Democratic Cedarburg, Ozaukee County
26 29th
(1876)
Samuel Fifield.png Sam S. Fifield Republican Ashland, Ashland County
27 30th
(1877)
John B. Cassoday.png John B. Cassoday Republican Janesville, Rock County
28 31st
(1878)
Augustus Barrows Greenbacker Chippewa Falls, Chippewa County
29 32nd
(1879)
David M. Kelly Republican Green Bay, Brown County
30 33rd
(1880)
Alexander A. Arnold 1911.png Alexander A. Arnold Republican Galesville, Trempealeau County
31 34th
(1881)
Ira B. Bradford Republican Augusta, Eau Claire County
32 35th
(1882)
Franklin L. Gilson.png Franklin L. Gilson Republican Ellsworth, Pierce County
33 36th
(1883 1884)
Earl P. Finch Democratic Oshkosh, Winnebago County
34 37th
(1885 1886)
Hiram Orlando Fairchild.png Hiram Orlando Fairchild Republican Marinette, Marinette County
35 38th
(1887 1888)
Thomas Brooks Mills Republican Millston, Jackson County
39th
(1889 1890)
36 40th
(1891 1892)
James J. Hogan Democratic La Crosse, La Crosse County
37 41st
(1893 1894)
Edward Keogh (1835-1898).png Edward Keogh Democratic Milwaukee, Milwaukee County
38 42nd
(1895 1896)
George B. Burrows Republican Madison, Dane County
39 43rd
(1897 1898)
George A. Buckstaff.png George A. Buckstaff Republican Oshkosh, Winnebago County
40 44th
(1899 1900)
George H. Ray Republican La Crosse, La Crosse County
45th
(1901 1902)
41 46th
(1903 1904)
LENROOT, IRWIN L. SENATOR LCCN2016857277 (cropped).jpg Irvine Lenroot Republican West Superior, Douglas County
47th
(1905 1906)
42 48th
(1907 1908)
Herman Ekern (WI).jpg Herman L. Ekern Republican Whitehall, Trempealeau County
43 49th
(1909 1910)
Levi Horace Bancroft.png Levi H. Bancroft Republican Richland Center, Richland County
44 50th
(1911 1912)
Charles A. Ingram.png Charles A. Ingram Republican Durand, Pepin County
45 51st
(1913 1914)
MerlinHull.jpg Merlin Hull Republican Black River Falls, Jackson County
46 52nd
(1915 1916)
Lawrence Clarke Whittet.png Lawrence C. Whittet Republican Edgerton, Rock County
53rd
(1917 1918)
47 54th
(1919 1920)
Riley S. Young Republican Darien, Walworth County
55th
(1921 1922)
48 56th
(1923 1924)
John L. Dahl.png John L. Dahl Republican Rice Lake, Barron County
49 57th
(1925 1926)
Herman W. Sachtjen Republican Madison, Dane County
50 Nelson-George-A-1936.JPG George A. Nelson Republican Milltown, Polk County
51 58th
(1927 1928)
John W. Eber Republican Milwaukee, Milwaukee County
52 59th
(1929 1930)
Charles B. Perry.png Charles B. Perry Republican Wauwatosa, Milwaukee County
60th
(1931 1932)
53 61st
(1933 1934)
Cornelius T. Young Democratic Milwaukee, Milwaukee County
54 62nd
(1935 1936)
Jorge W. Carow Progressive Ladysmith, Rusk County
55 63rd
(1937 1938)
Paul R. Alfonsi Progressive Pence, Iron County
56 64th
(1939 1940)
Vernon Wallace Thomson (1905-1988) (8276634634) (1).jpg Vernon Wallace Thomson Republican Richland Center, Richland County
65th
(1941 1942)
66th
(1943 1944)
57 67th
(1945 1946)
Donald C. McDowell Republican Soldiers Grove, Crawford County
68th
(1947 1948)
58 69th
(1949 1950)
Alex L. Nicol (8275574815) (1).jpg Alex L. Nicol Republican Sparta, Monroe County
59 70th
(1951 1952)
Ora Ray Rice (1885-1966) (8275573431) (1).jpg Ora R. Rice Republican Delavan, Walworth County
71st
(1953 1954)
60 72nd
(1955 1956)
Mark S. Catlin (8276636594) (1).jpg Mark Catlin, Jr. Republican Appleton, Outagamie County
61 73rd
(1957 1958)
Robert G. Marotz Republican Shawano, Shawano County
62 74th
(1959 1960)
George Molinaro Democratic Kenosha, Kenosha County
63 75th
(1961 1962)
David J. Blanchard Republican Edgerton, Rock County
64 76th
(1963 1964)
Robert D. Haase Republican Marinette, Marinette County
65 77th
(1965 1966)
Robert T. Huber Democratic West Allis, Milwaukee County
66 78th
(1967 1968)
HVFroehlich.png Harold Vernon Froehlich Republican Appleton, Outagamie County
79th
(1969 1970)
67 80th
(1971 1972)
Robert T. Huber Democratic West Allis, Milwaukee County
68 Norman C. Anderson Democratic Madison, Dane County
81st
(1973 1974)
82nd
(1975 1976)
69 83rd
(1977 1978)
Edward G. Jackamonis Democratic Waukesha, Waukesha County
84th
(1979 1980)
85th
(1981 1982)
70 86th
(1983 1984)
ThomasALofthusUSEmbassyOslo.jpg Thomas A. Loftus Democratic Sun Prairie, Dane County
87th
(1985 1986)
88th
(1987 1988)
89th
(1989 1990)
71 90th
(1991 1992)
Walter Kunicki Democratic Milwaukee, Milwaukee County
91st
(1993 1994)
7292nd
(1995 1996)
David Prosser, Jr. Republican Appleton, Outagamie County
73 93rd
(1997 1998)
Ben Brancel Republican Endeavor, Marquette County
74 Scott R. Jensen Republican Waukesha, Waukesha County
94th
(1999 2000)
95th
(2001 2002)
75 96th
(2003 2004)
John Gard Republican Peshtigo, Marinette County
97th
(2005 2006)
76 98th
(2007 2008)
Michael Huebsch Republican West Salem, La Crosse County
77 99th
(2009 2010)
Michael J. Sheridan 2009.jpg Michael J. Sheridan Democratic Janesville, Rock County
78 100th
(2011 2012)
Jeff Fitzgerald.jpg Jeff Fitzgerald Republican Horicon, Dodge County
79 101st
(2013 2014)
Robin Vos speaks at Racine Tea Party event (8378614585).jpg Robin Vos Republican Burlington, Racine County Longest-serving speaker
102nd
(2015 2016)
103rd
(2017 2018)
104th
(2019 2020)
105th
(2021 2022)
106th
(2023 2024)

See also

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References

  1. Salaries of Wisconsin State Elected Officials (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. 2019. p. 2. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "Assembly Rules". Wisconsin Legislature . Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  3. 1 2 "Wisconsin State Assembly". Wisconsin Legislature . Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  4. Heg, J. E., ed. (1882). "Annals of the Legislature". The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 161–174. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  5. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (2019). "Statistics and Reference: Historical lists" (PDF). Wisconsin Blue Book 2019-2020 (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. pp. 486–487. ISBN   978-1-7333817-0-3 . Retrieved May 12, 2020.