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Overview of State Legislative Process

The Wisconsin State Legislature posts the document, "The Legislative Process in Wisconsin," on its official Web site.

The document is organized into two parts:

  • A general overview of the legislative process and the organization and structure of the legislature. It describes the steps involved in the transformation of an idea into a bill draft and its subsequent journey from introduction to enactment. Attention is given to the work of legislative committees, action on the floor of each house, and the governor's role in the legislative process. The part played by individuals, associations and lobbyists is described in detail.
  • A case study of a specific bill, 1991 Assembly Bill 655, relating to health insurance and health care costs. AB-655, which eventually was enacted as 1991 Wisconsin Act 250, was chosen to illustrate many of the points of legislative procedure outlined in part one.