                              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

   Section  1.    All  men are born equally free and  independent,  and  have
certain 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.

   Section 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.

   Section  3.    Every  person  may  freely speak,  write  and  publish  his
sentiments  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 criminal 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.

   Section 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.

   Section 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, however,  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]

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

   Section  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.

   Section  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 suspended unless when, in cases of rebellion or invasion,
the public safety may require it. [As amended Nov. 1870]

   Section 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.

   Section  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.

   Section  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.

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

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

   Section 14.   All lands within the state are declared to be allodial,  and
feudal  tenures are prohibited.  Leases and grants of agricultural 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.

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

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

   Section  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.

   Section  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.

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

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

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

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

   Section  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]

   Section  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.
