Levels of Government
List all the levels of government, including the breakdown of local levels
Federal
State
Local
County
City/Township
Are all laws passed by the legislature automatically constitutional?
No. The judicial branch (the Supreme Court) can review laws and determine if they are constitutional or not.
Who breaks ties in the Senate?
Vice President
When did Wisconsin become a state?
1848
What is the largest issue that National Farmers Union continually advocates for on a national level?
Passing a Farm Bill!
If a Wisconsin city ordinance conflicts with a state statute, which law will stay in place?
State law. It always overrules local law.
Who decides who the justices on the Supreme Court are?
The President selects judges and the Senate approves, or confirms, them.
Which government group decides whether a new factory will be built in a specific location?
Local government is almost in charge of regulations about new construction.
Does the United States use a direct democracy system?
No. If we did, every citizen would have to vote on every single law ever passed! Instead, we have a representative democracy, where we elect people to vote on laws for us.
What agency does WFU work with on issues about consumer protection?
DATCP (Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection)
This level of government regulates land use through zoning ordinances
Local
Under what branch does the US Department of Agriculture function?
Executive. The USDA is one of many executive departments.
Who oversees statewide task forces?
Lieutenant Governor
What state is the only state to not have a bicameral legislature?
Nebraska. They only have one chamber and call their legislators Senators.
Who writes the WFU policy book?
You do! Any WFU member that registers as a delegate and attends state convention can submit and vote on policy. The policy book changes every year.
On what level are elections administered?
Local. County clerks and municipal clerks prepare and distribute ballots, train election officials, maintain voter records, and collect/manage candidacy paperwork.
What executive power allows the governor to reject individual pieces in a budget bill without vetoing the entire bill?
Partial/line-item veto
Who Introduces legislation related to the state budget for the first time?
State Representative
What do all 50 states spend the most state (not federal) money on?
Public Education
What are two issues that WFU has advocated for in the past?
Cottage foods, anti-monopolization, affordable healthcare, clean water access, environmental stewardship, equitable dairy and market policy, grants for small farmers, farm-to-food programs, rural broadband, support for hemp growers, small meat processors, and more!
How many legislators work in the US Senate and the House of Representatives combined?
535 Members of Congress. 100 serve in the Senate and 435 serve in the House of Representatives.
Federally, what branch approves of treaties and high-level appointments?
Legislative
Which elected officials would you call about changing a permit process to build a garage on your house?
City counselor/town board member
How many presidents have served without a vice president?
Four - John Tyler, Millard Fillmore, Andrew Johnson, and Chester Arthur. All four of them became president while serving as VP when the President died. Until 1967 there was no process for filling the vacancy of the Vice President.
What year did WFU hold its first convention?
1930