


                                  CONSTITUTION    
                                     OF THE       
                               STATE OF WISCONSIN 
                              (as amended to 1975)

                                    PREAMBLE     

          We, the people  of Wisconsin, grateful  to Almighty God  for
          our freedom, in order to  secure its blessings, form a  more
          perfect government, insure domestic tranquility and  promote
          the general welfare, do establish this Constitution.

                                   ARTICLE I     

                            DECLARATION OF RIGHTS

Sec. 1.   All men are born equally free and independent, and have cer-
          tain inherent rights; among these are life, liberty, and the
          pursuit of  happiness; to  secure these  rights, governments
          are instituted  among men,  deriving their  just powers from
          the consent of the governed.

Sec. 2.   There shall be neither slavery, nor involuntary servitude in
          this  state,  otherwise  than  for  the punishment of crime,
          whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.

Sec. 3.   Every person may freely speak, write and publish his  senti-
          ments on all  subjects, being responsible  for the abuse  of
          that  right,  and  no  laws  shall  be passed to restrain or
          abridge the liberty of speech or of the press. In all  crim-
          inal prosecutions or indictments for libel, the truth may be
          given in evidence, and if  it shall appear to the  jury that
          the matter charged  as libelous is  true, and was  published
          with good motives and for justifiable ends, the party  shall
          be acquitted; and the jury shall have the right to determine
          the law and the fact.

Sec. 4.   The  right of the  people peaceably to assemble,  to consult
          for the common good, and to petition the government, or  any
          department thereof, shall never be abridged.

Sec. 5.   The right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate, and shall
          extend to all cases at  law without regard to the  amount in
          controversy; but a jury trial  may be waived by the  parties
          in all cases in the manner prescribed by law. Provided, how-
          ever, that the Legislature may, from time to time, by statue
          provide that a valid verdict,  in civil cases, may be  based
          on the  votes of  a specified  number of  the jury, not less
          than five-sixths thereof.[as amended Nov. 1922]

Sec. 6.   Excessive  bail shall  not be required  nor shall  excessive
          fines  be  imposed,  nor   cruel  and  unusual   punishments
          inflicted.

Sec. 7.   In all  criminal  prosecutions the accused  shall enjoy  the
          right to  be heard  by himself  and counsel;  to demand  the
          nature and cause of the accusation against him; to meet  the
          witnesses   face  to  face;  to  have  compulsory process to
          compel the  attendance of  witnesses in  his behalf;  and in
          prosecution  by  indictment,  or  information,  to  a speedy
          public trial by an impartial jury of the county or  district
          wherein the offense shall have been committed; which  county
          or district shall have been previously ascertained by law.

Sec. 8.   No person  shall  be held to  answer for a  criminal offense
          without  due  process  of  law,  and  no person for the same
          offense shall be  put twice in  jeopardy of punishment,  nor
          shall be  compelled in  any criminal  case to  be a  witness
          against himself.  All  persons shall, before conviction,  be
          bailable by sufficient sureties, except for capital offenses
          when the proof is evident or the presumption great; and  the
          privilege of  the writ  of habeas  corpus shall  not be sus-
          pended unless when, in  cases of rebellion or  invasion, the
          public safety may require it. [As amended Nov. 1870]

Sec. 9.   Every person is entitled to a certain remedy in the laws for
          all injuries, or wrongs which he may receive in his  person,
          property, or character; he  ought to obtain justice  freely,
          and without  being obliged  to purchase  it, completely  and
          without denial, promptly  and without delay,  conformably to
          the laws.

Sec. 10.  Treason against the state shall consist only in levying  war
          against the same, or in adhering to its enemies, giving them
          aid and  comfort. No  person shall  be convicted  of treason
          unless on the testimony of  two witnesses to the same  overt
          act, or on confession in open court.

Sec. 11   The  right of  the  people  to be  secure in  their persons,
          houses, papers and effects against unreasonable searches and
          seizures shall not be  violated; and no warrant  shall issue
          but upon probable cause,  supported by oath or  affirmation,
          and particularly  describing the  place to  be searched, and
          the persons or things to be seized.

Sec. 12.  No bill of attainder, ex post facto law, nor any law impair-
          ing the obligation of  contracts, shall ever be  passed, and
          no conviction shall work  corruption of blood or  forfeiture
          of estate.

Sec. 13.  The property  of no  person  shall  be taken  for public use
          without just compensation therefor.

Sec. 14.  All lands within the state are declared to be allodial,  and
          feudal tenures are prohibited. Leases and grants of agricul-
          tural land  for a  longer term  than fifteen  years in which
          rent or service of any kind shall be reserved, and all fines
          and like restraints upon alienation reserved in any grant of
          land, hereafter made, are declared to be void.

Sec. 15.  No  distinction shall ever be  made by law between  resident
          aliens and citizens, in reference to the possession,  enjoy-
          ment or descent of property.

Sec. 16.  No person  shall  be imprisoned for  debt arising out  of or
          founded on contract, expressed or implied.

Sec. 17.  The privilege of the debtor to enjoy the necessary  comforts
          of life shall be  recognized by wholesome laws,  exempting a
          reasonable amount of property  from seizure or sale  for the
          payment of any debt or liability hereafter contracted.

Sec. 18.  The right of every man to worship Almighty God according  to
          the dictates of his own conscience shall never be infringed;
          nor shall any man be  compelled to attend, erect or  support
          any place of worship,  or to maintain any  ministry, against
          his consent; nor shall any control of, or interference with,
          the rights of conscience be permitted, or any preference  be
          given by  law to  any religious  establishments or  modes of
          worship; nor shall any money be drawn from the treasury  for
          the  benefit  of  religious   societies,  or  religious   or
          theological seminaries.

Sec. 19.  No religious tests shall ever be required as a qualification
          for any office of public trust under the state, and no  per-
          son shall be  rendered incompetent to  give evidence in  any
          court of law or equity in consequence of his opinions on the
          subject of religion.

Sec. 20.  The military shall  be in strict subordination to the  civil
          power.

Sec. 21.  Writs of error shall never be prohibited by law.

Sec. 22.  The blessings of free government can only be maintained by a
          firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality
          and virtue, and by frequent recurrence to fundamental  prin-
          ciples.

Sec. 23.  Nothing in this constitution shall prohibit the  legislature
          from providing  for the  safety and  welfare of  children by
          providing for the transportation of children to and from any
          parochial or private  school or institution  of learning.[As
          created April 1967]

Sec. 24.  Nothing in this constitution shall prohibit the  legislature
          from authorizing, by law, the use of public school buildings
          by  civic,  religious  or  charitable  organizations  during
          non-school hours  upon payment  by the  organization to  the
          school district of reasonable compensation for such use.


