Constitution of Wisconsin (2026 publisher edition) — Article V

Publisher edition notice: The publisher identifies this complete compilation as published August 5, 2026 and last amended April 2025. Publisher context and source notes are preserved; later amendments have not been independently verified.

Article V

ARTICLE V. EXECUTIVE Governor; lieutenant governor; term. SECTION 1. [As amended April 1979] The executive power shall be vested in a governor who shall hold office for 4 years; a lieutenant gover- nor shall be elected at the same time and for the same term. [1977 J.R. 32, 1979 J.R. 3, vote April 1979] Governor; 4-year term. SECTION 1m. [Created April 1967; repealed April 1979; see 1965 J.R. 80, 1967 J.R. 10 and 15, vote April 1967; 1977 J.R. 32, 1979 J.R. 3, vote April 1979.] Lieutenant governor; 4-year term. SECTION 1n. [Cre- ated April 1967; repealed April 1979; see 1965 J.R. 80, 1967 J.R. 10 and 15, vote April 1967; 1977 J.R. 32, 1979 J.R. 3, vote April 1979.] Eligibility. SECTION 2. No person except a citizen of the United States and a qualified elector of the state shall be eligible to the office of governor or lieutenant governor. Election. SECTION 3. [As amended April 1967] The gover- nor and lieutenant governor shall be elected by the qualified electors of the state at the times and places of choosing mem- bers of the legislature. They shall be chosen jointly, by the cast- ing by each voter of a single vote applicable to both offices be- ginning with the general election in 1970. The persons respec- tively having the highest number of votes cast jointly for them for governor and lieutenant governor shall be elected; but in case two or more slates shall have an equal and the highest num- ber of votes for governor and lieutenant governor, the two houses of the legislature, at its next annual session shall forth- with, by joint ballot, choose one of the slates so having an equal and the highest number of votes for governor and lieutenant governor. The returns of election for governor and lieutenant governor shall be made in such manner as shall be provided by law. [1965 J.R. 45, 1967 J.R. 11 and 14, vote April 1967] Powers and duties. SECTION 4. The governor shall be commander in chief of the military and naval forces of the state. He shall have power to convene the legislature on extraordinary occasions, and in case of invasion, or danger from the preva- lence of contagious disease at the seat of government, he may convene them at any other suitable place within the state. He shall communicate to the legislature, at every session, the con- dition of the state, and recommend such matters to them for their consideration as he may deem expedient. He shall transact all necessary business with the officers of the government, civil and military. He shall expedite all such measures as may be re- solved upon by the legislature, and shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed. Compensation of governor. SECTION 5. [Amended Nov. 1869 and Nov. 1926; repealed Nov. 1932; see 1868 J.R. 9, 1869 J.R. 2, 1869 c. 186, vote Nov. 1869; 1923 J.R. 80, 1925 J.R. 52, 1925 c. 413, vote Nov. 1926; 1929 J.R. 69, 1931 J.R. 52, vote Nov. 1932.] Pardoning power. SECTION 6. The governor shall have power to grant reprieves, commutations and pardons, after con- viction, for all offenses, except treason and cases of impeach- ment, upon such conditions and with such restrictions and limi- tations as he may think proper, subject to such regulations as may be provided by law relative to the manner of applying for pardons. Upon conviction for treason he shall have the power to suspend the execution of the sentence until the case shall be re- ported to the legislature at its next meeting, when the legislature shall either pardon, or commute the sentence, direct the execu- tion of the sentence, or grant a further reprieve. He shall annu- ally communicate to the legislature each case of reprieve, com- mutation or pardon granted, stating the name of the convict, the crime of which he was convicted, the sentence and its date, and Wisconsin Constitution updated by the Legislative Reference Bureau. Published August 5, 2026. Click for the Coverage of Annotations for the Annotated Constitution. Report errors at 608.504.5801 or lrb.legal@legis.wisconsin.gov.

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Published August 5, 2026. 10 ART. V, §6, WIS. CONSTITUTION the date of the commutation, pardon or reprieve, with his rea- sons for granting the same. Lieutenant governor, when governor. SECTION 7. [As amended April 1979] (1) Upon the governor’s death, resigna- tion or removal from office, the lieutenant governor shall be- come governor for the balance of the unexpired term. (2) If the governor is absent from this state, impeached, or from mental or physical disease, becomes incapable of per- forming the duties of the office, the lieutenant governor shall serve as acting governor for the balance of the unexpired term or until the governor returns, the disability ceases or the im- peachment is vacated. But when the governor, with the consent of the legislature, shall be out of this state in time of war at the head of the state’s military force, the governor shall continue as commander in chief of the military force. [1977 J.R. 32, 1979 J.R. 3, vote April 1979] Secretary of state, when governor. SECTION 8. [As amended April 1979] (1) If there is a vacancy in the office of lieutenant governor and the governor dies, resigns or is removed from office, the secretary of state shall become governor for the balance of the unexpired term. (2) If there is a vacancy in the office of lieutenant governor and the governor is absent from this state, impeached, or from mental or physical disease becomes incapable of performing the duties of the office, the secretary of state shall serve as act- ing governor for the balance of the unexpired term or until the governor returns, the disability ceases or the impeachment is vacated. [1977 J.R. 32, 1979 J.R. 3, vote April 1979] Compensation of lieutenant governor. SECTION 9. [Amended Nov. 1869; repealed Nov. 1932; see 1868 J.R. 9, 1869 J.R. 2, 1869 c. 186, vote Nov. 1869; 1929 J.R. 70, 1931 J.R. 53, vote Nov. 1932.] Governor to approve or veto bills; proceedings on veto. SECTION 10. [As amended Nov. 1908, Nov. 1930, April 1990, and April 2008] (1) (a) Every bill which shall have passed the legislature shall, before it becomes a law, be pre- sented to the governor. (b) If the governor approves and signs the bill, the bill shall become law. Appropriation bills may be approved in whole or in part by the governor, and the part approved shall become law. (c) In approving an appropriation bill in part, the governor may not create a new word by rejecting individual letters in the words of the enrolled bill, and may not create a new sentence by combining parts of 2 or more sentences of the enrolled bill. (2) (a) If the governor rejects the bill, the governor shall re- turn the bill, together with the objections in writing, to the house in which the bill originated. The house of origin shall en- ter the objections at large upon the journal and proceed to re- consider the bill. If, after such reconsideration, two-thirds of the members present agree to pass the bill notwithstanding the objections of the governor, it shall be sent, together with the ob- jections, to the other house, by which it shall likewise be recon- sidered, and if approved by two-thirds of the members present it shall become law. (b) The rejected part of an appropriation bill, together with the governor’s objections in writing, shall be returned to the house in which the bill originated. The house of origin shall en- ter the objections at large upon the journal and proceed to re- consider the rejected part of the appropriation bill. If, after such reconsideration, two-thirds of the members present agree to ap- prove the rejected part notwithstanding the objections of the governor, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the other house, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two-thirds of the members present the rejected part shall become law. (c) In all such cases the votes of both houses shall be deter- mined by ayes and noes, and the names of the members voting for or against passage of the bill or the rejected part of the bill notwithstanding the objections of the governor shall be entered on the journal of each house respectively. (3) Any bill not returned by the governor within 6 days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to the gov- ernor shall be law unless the legislature, by final adjournment, prevents the bill’s return, in which case it shall not be law. [1905 J.R. 14, 1907 J.R. 13, 1907 c. 661, vote Nov. 1908; 1927 J.R. 37, 1929 J.R. 43, vote Nov. 1930; 1987 J.R. 76, 1989 J.R. 39, vote April 1990; 2005 J.R. 46, 2007 J.R. 26, vote April 2008]