| Constitution of Wisconsin | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Jurisdiction | Wisconsin |
| Subordinate to | Supreme law of the United States |
| Presented | February 1, 1848 |
| Ratified | March 13, 1848 |
| System | Constitutional republic |
| Government structure | |
| Branches | 4 (legislative, executive, administrative, judicial) |
| Chambers | Bicameral |
| Executive | Governor |
| Judiciary | Supreme, Appeals, Circuits |
| History | |
| First legislature | June 5, 1848 |
| First executive | June 7, 1848 |
| First court | August 28, 1848 |
| Amendments | 150 |
| Last amended | April 2024 |
| Citation | Wisconsin Constitution, 2024 |
| Location | Missing; copy on display in the Wisconsin State Capitol rotunda[1] |
The Constitution of the State of Wisconsin is the governing document of the U.S. State of Wisconsin. It establishes the structure and function of state government, describes the state boundaries, and declares the rights of state citizens. The Wisconsin Constitution was written at a constitutional convention held in Madison, Wisconsin, in December 1847 and approved by the citizens of Wisconsin Territory in a referendum held in March 1848. Wisconsin was admitted to the United States on May 29, 1848. Although it has been amended over a hundred times, the original constitution ratified in 1848 is still in use. This makes the Wisconsin Constitution the oldest U.S. state constitution outside New England. Only Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and Rhode Island use older constitutions.
The current Wisconsin Constitution contains a brief preamble and fourteen articles detailing the state government, its powers, and its limitations.
- ^ State constitution still MIA. Accessed 7 May 2022.