AJR 63

This constitutional amendment, proposed to the 2011 legislature on first

consideration, limits the grounds for the recall of an incumbent congressional,

judicial, or legislative elective officer or any county elective officer specified in the

Wisconsin Constitution (elective officer). Currently, a petition for recall may be filed

with the officer who receives the nomination petition to the elective office in the

primary (filing officer), and need not demonstrate any grounds for the recall of an

elective officer. Under this amendment, an elective officer may be recalled only if he

or she has been charged with a serious crime or if a finding of probable cause has been

made that he or she violated the state code of ethics.

The amendment further requires the filing officer to determine, before a recall

election is scheduled, that the petition for recall demonstrates sufficient grounds for

recalling the elective officer.

The amendment also requires the legislature to establish a code of ethics for

government officials and a board to administer the code.

A proposed constitutional amendment requires adoption by two successive

legislatures, and ratification by the people, before it becomes effective.