80th Wisconsin Legislature

The Eightieth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 4, 1971, to January 1, 1973, in regular session, and also convened in a special session in April 1972.

The April 1972 special session was called to come to a final agreement on a pivotal redistricting plan, which eliminated an Assembly district and broke the longstanding precedent of adhering to county boundaries.

Senators representing odd-numbered districts were newly elected for this session and were serving the first two years of a four-year term. Assembly members were elected to a two-year term. Assembly members and odd-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 3, 1970. Senators representing even-numbered districts were serving the third and fourth year of a four-year term, having been elected in the general election of November 5, 1968.

Major events

 * January 4, 1971: Inauguration of Patrick Lucey as the 38th Governor of Wisconsin.
 * March 1, 1971: A bomb exploded in a restroom in the United States Capitol, the Weather Underground claimed repsonsibility.
 * April 30, 1971: The Milwaukee Bucks won the 1971 NBA Finals.
 * May 3, 1971: The 1971 May Day protests against the Vietnam War began in Washington, D.C., attempting to disrupt government operations. Over 12,000 were arrested.
 * July 1, 1971: The Twenty-sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution came into force when a sufficient number of states ratified.
 * August 15, 1971: In what's known as the Nixon shock, U.S. President Richard Nixon signed Executive Order 11615, ending the convertibility of the U.S. dollar to gold at a fixed value. The order also imposed a 90-day freeze on wages, prices, and rents.
 * December 13, 1971: Wisconsin Assembly speaker Robert T. Huber resigned his seat in the legislature to become chair of the state highway commission.
 * April 4, 1972: 1972 Wisconsin Spring election:
 * Wisconsin voters ratified four amendments to the state constitution:
 * Allowing the legislature to create alternative systems of county government.
 * Allowing counties the option to retain the office of coroner or replace it with a medical examiner.
 * Allowing public school buildings to be utilized for civic, religious, or charitable events during non-school hours.
 * Allowing public school students to receive separate religious instruction outside of public school facilities during school hours.
 * June 17, 1972: Five Nixon campaign operatives were arrested trying to break into the Democratic National Committee offices at the Watergate in Washington, D.C.
 * November 7, 1972:
 * Richard Nixon (R) re-elected President of the United States.

Major legislation

 * November 19, 1971: An Act ... relating to redistricting this state pursuant to the congressional apportionment based on the 1970 census of population, 1971 Act 133.
 * May 8, 1972: An Act ... relating to districting the senate and assembly based on the number of inhabitants shown by the certified results of the 1970 census of population, 1971 Act 304.

Sessions

 * Regular session: January 4, 1971 –January 1, 1973
 * April 1972 special session: April 19, 1972 –April 28, 1972

Senate leadership

 * President of the Senate: Martin J. Schreiber (D)
 * President pro tempore: Robert P. Knowles (R–New Richmond)
 * Majority leader: Ernest Keppler (R–Sheboygan)
 * Minority leader: Fred Risser (D–Madison)

Assembly leadership

 * Speaker of the Assembly: Robert T. Huber (D–West Allis) (until Dec. 13, 1971)
 * Norman C. Anderson (D–Madison) (from Dec. 17, 1971)
 * Speaker pro tempore: Joseph Sweda (D–Lublin)
 * Majority leader: Norman C. Anderson (D–Madison) (until Dec. 17, 1971)
 * Tony Earl (D–Wausau) (from Dec. 17, 1971)
 * Minority leader: Harold V. Froehlich (R–Appleton)

Members of the Senate
Members of the Senate for the Eightieth Wisconsin Legislature:

Members of the Assembly
Members of the Assembly for the Eightieth Wisconsin Legislature:

Senate employees

 * Chief Clerk: William P. Nugent
 * Sergeant-at-Arms: Kenneth Nicholson

Assembly employees

 * Chief Clerk: Thomas P. Fox
 * Sergeant-at-Arms: William F. Quick