as follows: The first circuit shall comprise the counties of Racine, rth, Rock and Green; the second circuit the counties of Milwaukee, sha, Jefferson and Dane; the third circuit, the counties of Washington, Columbia, Marquette, Sauk and Portage; the fourth circuit, the counI Brown, Manitowoc, Sheboygan, Fond du Lac, Winnebago and Calumet : he fifth circuit shall comprise the counties of Iowa, LaFayette, Grant, ord and St. Croix; and the county of Richland shall be attached to the county of Chippewa to the county of Crawford, and the county of ointe to the county of St. Croix for judicial purposes until otherwise ded by the Legislature. SEC. 6. The Legislature may alter the limits, or increase the number of its, making them as compact and convenient as practicable, and bounding by county lines; but no such alteration or increase shall have the effect emove a judge from office. In case of an increase of circuits, the judge idges shall be elected as provided in this Constitution and receive a salary less than that herein provided for the judges of the circuit court. SEC. 7. For each circuit there shall be chosen by the qualified electors eof, one circuit judge, except that in any circuit composed of one county 7, which county shall contain a population according to the last state or ted States census, of one hundred thousand inhabitants or over, the Legture may, from time to time, authorize additional circuit judges to be sen. Every circuit judge shall reside in the circuit from which he is ted, and shall hold his office for such term and receive such compensation the Legislature shall prescribe.16 SEC. 8. The circuit courts shall have original jurisdiction in all matters 1 and criminal within this State, not excepted in this Constitution, and hereafter prohibited by law; and appellate jurisdiction from all inferior rts and tribunals and a supervisory control over the same. They shall > have the power to issue writs of habeas corpus, mandamus, injunction, warranto, certiorari, and all other writs necessary to carry into effect ir orders, judgments and decrees, and give them a general control over erior courts and jurisdictions. SEC. 9. When a vacancy shall happen in the office of judge of the Supreme circuit courts, such vacancy shall be filled by an appointment of the Govor, which shall continue until a successor is elected and qualified; and en elected such successor shall hold his office the residue of the unexpired There shall be no election for a judge or judges at any general eleca for State or county officers, nor within thirty days either before or after h election. m. SEC. 10. Each of the judges of the supreme and circuit courts shall reve a salary, payable at such time as the legislature shall fix, of not less an one thousand five hundred dollars annually; they shall receive no fees office, or other compensation than their salary; they shall hold no office public trust except a judicial office, during the term for which they are pectively elected, and all votes for either of them for any office, except a licial office, given by the legislature or the people, shall be void. No per shall be eligible to the office of judge who shall not at the time of his ction, be a citizen of the United States and have attained the age of enty-five years, and be a qualified elector within the jurisdiction for which may be chosen.17 SEC. 11. 16 Amendment proposed and adopted by the legislature of 1895, readopted by the islature of 1897, and ratified on April 6, 1897. "Amendment proposed and adopted by the legislature of 1909, readopted by the islature of 1911, and ratified on Nov. 5, 1912. This amendment, as proposed by the islature of 1909, was supposedly agreed to by the legislature of 1911, but by a resoion which was somewhat faulty. The act submitting the amendment to the electors, ts 1911, Chapter 665, recites due approval of the proposed amendment by the latter gislature, but there was no roll call in either house upon the passage of the act, as is quired in the adoption of an approving resolution, and there is no proof that a jority of the members of either house voted in favor of its adoption. law, and the Legislature may provide for holding other terms, and at other places when they may deem it necessary. A Circuit Court shall be held. least twice in each year, in each county of this State organized for jude purposes. The judges of the circuit court may hold courts for each other. and shall do so when required by law. SEC. 12. There shall be a clerk of the circuit court chosen in each fomy organized for judicial purposes by the qualified electors thereof, who hold his office for two years, subject to removal as shall be provided by la. in case of a vacancy the judge of the circuit court shall have power to appea a clerk until the vacancy shall be filled by an election; the clerk thus eleral or appointed shall give such security as the Legislature may require. Ta supreme court shall appoint its own clerk; and a clerk of the circuit er may be appointed a clerk of the supreme court. 18 Sec. 13. Any judge of the Supreme or circuit court may be removed fr office. by address of both houses of the Legislature, if two-thirds of all te members: elected to each house concur therein, but no removal shall be by virtue of this section, unless the judge complained of shall have be served with a copy of the charges against him, as the ground of address. 1'i shall have had an opportunity of being heard in his defense. On the questi of removal, the ayes and noes shall be entered on the journals. SEC. 14. There shall be chosen in each county, by the qualified eletr thereof, a Judge of Probate, who shall hold his office for two years, and m his successors shall be elected and qualified, and whose jurisdiction, posen and duties shall be prescribed by law. Provided, however, that the Leg lature shall have power to abolish the office of Judge of Probate in any ot and to confer Probate powers upon such inferior courts as may be et lished in said county. SEC. 15. The electors of the several towns, at their annual town medits and the electors of cities and villages, at their charter elections, shall in s manner as the Legislature may direct, elect justices of the peace, whose ver of office shall be for two years, and until their successors in office shali» elected and qualified. In case of an election to fill a vacancy, oceur before the expiration of a full term, the justice elected shall hold for a residue of the unexpired term. Their number and classification shall be ulated by law. And the tenure of two years shall in no wise interfere the classification in the first instance. The justices, thus elected, shall by such civil and criminal jurisdiction as shall be prescribed by law. SEC. 16. The legislature shall pass laws for the regulation of tribas of conciliation, defining their power and duties. Such tribunals may be e lished in and for any township, and shall have power to render juda to be obligatory on the parties, when they shall voluntarily submit their m ter in difference to arbitration, and agree to abide the judgment, or a there to in writing. SEC. 17. The style of all writs and process shall be. "The State of W.consin:" all criminal prosecutions shall be carried on in the name and by t authority of the same; and all indictments shall conclude against the pe and dignity of the State. SEC. 18. The Legislature shall impose a tax on all civil suits commens or prosecuted in the municipal, inferior, or circuit courts, which shall t stitute a fund to be applied toward the payment of the salary of judges. SEC. 19. The testimony in causes in equity shall be taken in like m as in cases at law, and the office of master in chancery is hereby probite. SEC. 20. Any suitor, in any court of this State, shall have the right prosecute or defend his suit either in his own proper person, or by an affor or agent of his choice. SEC. 21. The Legislature shall provide by law for the speedy publisťof all statute laws, and of such judicial decisions, made within the Ste 18 Amendment proposed and adopted by the legislature of 1881, readopted in legislature of 1882, and ratified on Nov. 7, 1882. ay be deemed expedient. shed. And no general law shall be in force until ,,་ EC. 22. The Legislature at its first session, after the adoption of this titution, shall provide for the appointment of three commissioners, whose it shall be to inquire into, revise, and simplify the rules of practice, ngs, fornis and proceedings, and arrange a system, adapted to the courts ecord of this-State, and report the same to the Legislature, subject to - modification and adoption; and such commission shall terminate upon the ering of the report, unless otherwise provided by law. SEC. 29. The Legislature may provide for the appointment of one · or persons in each organized county, and may vest in such person such dal powers as shall be prescribed by law. Provided, that said power Tot exceed that of a judge of a circuit court at chambers." ARTICLE VIII, FINANCE,OET SECTION 1. The rules of taxation shall be uniform, and taxes shall be ed upon such property as the Legislature shall prescribe. Taxes may also Imposed on incomes, privileges and occupations, which taxes may be grad ed and progressive, and reasonable exemptions may be provided.19. SEC. 2. No money shall be paid out of the treasury, except in pursuance n appropriation by law. No appropriation shall be made for the payment any claim against the State, except claims of the United States, and ginents, unless filed within six years after the claim accrued.20 SEC. 3. The credit of the State shall never be given, or loaned, in aid of individual, association, or corporation. SEC. 4. The State shall never contract any public debt, except in the es and manier herein provided. SPC 5. The Legislature shall provide for an annual tax sufficient to dey the estimated expenses of the State for each year; and whenever the penses of any year shall exceed the income, the Legislature shall provide levying a tax for the ensuing year, sufficient, with other sources of inne. to pay the deficiency as well as the estimated expenses of such ensuing ir. SEC. 6. For the purpose of defraying extraordinary expenditures, the te may contract public debts (but such debts shall never in the aggregate ee one hundred thousand dollars). Every such debt shall be authorized law, for some purpose or purposes to be distinctly specified therein; and vote of a majority of all the members elected to each house, to be taken yeas and nays, shall be necessary to the passage of such law; and every h law shall provide for levying an annual tax sufficient to pay the annual erest of such debt, and the principal within five years from the passage of ch law, and shall specially appropriate the proceeds of such taxes to the yment of such principal and interest: and such appropriation shall not be pealed, nor the taxes be postponed, or diminished, until the principal and erest of such debt shall have been wholly paid. SEC. 7. The Legislature may also borrow money to repel invasion, supess insurrection, or defend the State in time of war; but the money thus ised shall be applied exclusively to the object for which the loan thorized, or to the repayment of the debt thereby created. was SEC. S. On the passage in either house of the Legislature, of any law ich imposes, continues, or renews a tax, or creates a debt, or charge, or akes, continues, or renews an appropriation of public, or trust money, or leases, discharges, or commutes a claim, or demand of the State, the queson shall be taken by yeas and nays, which shall be duly entered on the Amendment proposed and adopted by the legislature of 1905, readopted by the gislature of 1907, and ratified on Nov. 3, 1908. Amendment proposed and adopted by the legislature of 1876, readopted by the gislature of 1877, and ratified on Nov. 6, 1877. law, and the Legislature may provide for holding other terms, and at other places when they may deem it necessary. A Circuit Court shall be held at least twice in each year, in each county of this State organized for judicist purposes. The judges of the circuit court may hold courts for each other, and shall do so when required by law. SEC. 12. There shall be a clerk of the eircuit court chosen in each ot organized for judicial purposes by the qualified electors thereof. who shal hold his office for two years, subject to removal as shall be provided by law; in case of a vacancy the judge of the circuit court shall have power to app a clerk until the vacancy shall be filled by an election: the clerk thus eel or appointed shall give such security as the Legislature may require. Te supreme court shall appoint its own clerk; and a clerk of the circuit et may be appointed a clerk of the supreme court.18 Sec. 13. Any judge of the Supreme or circuit court may be removed from office. by address of both houses of the Legislature, if two-thirds of all members: elected to each house concur therein, but no removal shall be m by virtue of this section, unless the judge complained of shall have lear served with a copy of the charges against him, as the ground of address 1/ shall have had an opportunity of being heard in his defense. On the questio of removal, the ayes and noes shall be entered on the journals. SEC. 14. There shall be chosen in each county, by the qualified electors thereof, a Judge of Probate, who shall hold his office for two years, and his successors shall be elected and qualified, and whose jurisdiction, poses and duties shall be prescribed by law. Provided, however, that the Les lature shall have power to abolish the office of Judge of Probate in any ev and to confer Probate powers upon such inferior courts as may be e lished in said county. SEC. 15. The electors of the several towns, at their annual town nec L and the electors of cities and villages, at their charter elections, shall in s manner as the Legislature may direct, elect justices of the peace, whose te of office shall be for two years, and until their successors in office shim elected and qualified. In case of an election to fill a vacancy, ocenik before the expiration of a full term, the justice elected shall hold for te residue of the unexpired term. Their number and classification shall be re ulated by law. And the tenure of two years shall in no wise interfere wit the classification in the first instance. The justices, thus elected, shall lay such civil and criminal jurisdiction as shall be prescribed by law. SEC. 16. The legislature shall pass laws for the regulation of tribut of conciliation, defining their power and duties. Such tribunals may be e lished in and for any township, and shall have power to render judza to be obligatory on the parties, when they shall voluntarily submit their *** ter in difference to arbitration, and agree to abide the judgment, or 1881 there to in writing. SEC. 17. The style of all writs and process shall be. "The State of W.consin:" all criminal prosecutions shall be carried on in the name and by th authority of the same: and all indictments shall conclude against the pe and dignity of the State. SEC. 18. The Legislature shall impose a tax on all civil suits commete or prosecuted in the municipal, inferior, or circuit courts, which shall e stitute a fund to be applied toward the payment of the salary of judges. SEC. 19. The testimony in causes in equity shall be taken in like mans as in cases at law, and the office of master in chancery is hereby protit SEC. 20. Any suitor, in any court of this State, shall have the right prosecute or defend his suit either in his own proper person, or by an ather or agent of his choice. SEC. 21. The Legislature shall provide by law for the speedy pr of all statute laws, and of such judicial decisions, made within the Spi 18 Amendment proposed and adopted by the legislature of 1881, read opted to t legislature of 1882, and ratified on Nov. 7, 1882. y be deemed expedient. hed. EC. 22. The Legislature at its first session, after the adoption of this itation, shall provide for the appointment of three commissioners, whose it shall be to inquire into, revise, and simplify the rules of practice, ings, forms and proceedings, and arrange a system, adapted to the courts cord of this State, and report the same to the Legislature, subject to modification and adoption; and such commission shall terminate upon the ring of the report, unless otherwise provided by law. And no general law shall be in force until So. 23. The Legislature may provide for the appointment of one or persons in each organized county, and may vest in such person such al powers as shall be prescribed by law. Provided, that said power Tot exceed that of a judge of a circuit court at chambers.' SHUTION 1. The rules of taxation shall be uniform, and taxes shall be ed upon such property as the Legislature shall prescribe. Taxes may also mposed on incomes, privileges and occupations, which taxes may be grad. ed and progressive, and reasonable exemptions may be provided. 19 Sec. 2. No money shall be paid out of the treasury, except in pursuance an appropriation by law. No appropriation shall be made for the payment any claim against the State, except claims of the United States, and gments, unless filed within six years after the claim accrued.20 St. 3. The credit of the State shall never be given, or loaned, in aid of individual, association, or corporation. SEC. 4. The State shall never contract any public debt, except in the ses and mammer herein provided. SFC. 5. The Legislature shall provide for an annual tax sufficient to dey the estimated expenses of the State for each year; and whenever the penses of any year shall exceed the income, the Legislature shall provide · levying a tax for the ensuing year, sufficient, with other sources of inme, to pay the deficiency as well as the estimated expenses of such ensuing ar. SPC. 6. For the purpose of defraying extraordinary expenditures, the ate may contract public debts (but such debts shall never in the aggregate ceed one hundred thousand dollars). Every such debt shall be authorized law. for some purpose or purposes to be distinctly specified therein; and e vote of a majority of all the members elected to each house, to be taken yeas and nays, shall be necessary to the passage of such law; and every ch law shall provide for levying an annual tax sufficient to pay the annual terest of such debt, and the principal within five years from the passage of ch law. and shall specially appropriate the proceeds of such taxes to the yment of such principal and interest; and such appropriation shall not be pealed, nor the taxes be postponed, or diminished, until the principal and terest of such debt shall have been wholly paid. SEC. 7. The Legislature may also borrow money to repel invasion, supess insurrection, or defend the State in time of war; but the money thus Ised shall be applied exclusively to the object for which the loan was thorized, or to the repayment of the debt thereby created. SEC. S. On the passage in either house of the Legislature, of any law hich imposes, continues, or renews a tax, or creates a debt, or charge, or akes, continues, or renews an appropriation of public, or trust money, or leases, discharges, or commutes a claim, or demand of the State, the queson shall be taken by yeas and nays, which shall be duly entered on the Amendment proposed and adopted by the legislature of 1905, readopted by the gislature of 1907, and ratified on Nov. 3, 1908. Amendment proposed and adopted by the legislature of 1876, readopted by the gislature of 1877, and ratified on Nov. 6, 1877. |