Legislative Redistricting in Wisconsin, Part 1: Introduction and the 8 Congressional Districts

All documents cited and provided as screenshots in this series of blogposts are available here.

As is done every 10 years, the lines of legislative districts have been redrawn for all of us -- at all 4 levels of representation.  Legislation creating these redistricting plans has been passed by the Senate and Assembly and signed by the Governor, although both Acts 44 and 43 are subject to a lawsuit in federal court.

• Federal  (2011 Wisconsin Act 44)
• From Legislative Reference Bureau analysis. This bill redistricts, according to the number of inhabitants, the congressional districts of this state based on the results of the 2010 federal decennial census of population. In accordance with that census, the bill maintains the number of congressional districts at eight. All districts created under the bill are composed of whole counties or municipalities or U.S. census tracts or blocks (subunits of tracks) reflecting population and boundaries as of April 1, 2010. 
• State (2011 Wisconsin Act 43)
• From Legislative Reference Bureau analysis. This bill redistricts, according to the number of inhabitants, the legislative districts of this state based on the results of the 2010 federal decennial census of population. The bill maintains the number of assembly districts at 99 and the number of senate districts at 33. All assembly districts created by the bill are composed of whole counties or municipalities or U.S. census tracts or blocks (subunits of tracts) reflecting population and boundaries as of April 1, 2010. In accordance with article IV, section 5, of the state constitution, no assembly district created under the bill is divided in the creation of a senate district. 
• County (2011 Wisconsin Act 39)
• From Legislative Reference Bureau analysis. 
• The bill requires municipal ward plans, and the aldermanic and supervisory districts upon which they are based, to reflect municipal boundaries on April 1 of the year of each federal decennial census. Currently, ward plans must reflect municipal boundaries on August 1 of the year following the year of the federal decennial census. 
• The change applies retroactively to ward plans and aldermanic and supervisory districts created in response to the 2010 federal decennial census.
• The bill also amends the laws governing municipal ward division to ensure that if municipal wards do not accommodate a congressional or legislative redistricting  act on its date of enactment, the affected municipalities must change their wards so that their ward divisions enable the election of members of congress and members of the legislature under the redistricting act. Currently, the laws only partially accommodate this process. 
• Local  (2011 Wisconsin Act 39; i.e, covered in same bill same as county redistricting.)

Wisconsin's 8 Congressional districts

Wisconsin Legislative Council Act Memo

8 Congressional districts created by Act 44

Districts established in 2001

As a result of the latest round of redistricting, Adams County, for example, moves from the 6th to the 3rd Congressional district.  Iowa and Lafayette counties move from the 3rd to the 2nd.  The 7th district takes over most of top of the state.  Study the maps and you'll find more changes.  Call it a variation of musical chairs where no one is left standing.

Next time.  A look at the 132 Wisconsin legislative districts -- 33 Senate and 99 Assembly.  This is the level of representation where we'll need to make the most adjustments to the Wisconsin Library Association's advocacy efforts and relationship building.