The Fifty-Fourth Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular session, and re-convened in two special sessions in September 1919 and May 1920.

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 5, 1918. 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 7, 1916.

The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican Emanuel L. Philipp, of Milwaukee County, serving his third two-year term, having won re-election in the 1918 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.

Major events January 16, 1919: The Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, establishing the prohibition of alcohol, was ratified by the requisite number of states to come into force. January 21, 1919: The Irish Republic declared independence from the United Kingdom, initiating the Irish War of Independence. January 25, 1919: The League of Nations was founded in Paris. June 28, 1919: The Treaty of Versailles was signed, formalizing Germany's settlement with the Entente at the end of World War I. August 11, 1919: The Green Bay Packers American football club was founded by Curly Lambeau and George Whitney Calhoun. October 2, 1919: U.S. President Woodrow Wilson suffered a severe stroke, leaving him partially paralyzed, with permanent neurological damage. October 28, 1919: The U.S. Congress overrode President Woodrow Wilson's veto of the Volstead Act, which established prohibition of alcohol enabled by the new 18th amendment. November 30, 1919: Health officials declared an end to the Spanish flu pandemic. March 19, 1920: The U.S. Senate failed in its last attempt to ratify the Treaty of Versailles. Wisconsin's senior U.S. senator Robert M. La Follette was among the leading "irreconcilable" holdouts preventing ratification. April 6, 1920: Wisconsin voters rejected two amendments to the state constitution: to allow legislator pay to be set by law rather than fixed in the constitution. to allow the legislature to decrease the number of state judicial circuits while maintaining or increasing the number of judges. July 13, 1920: Wisconsin chief justice John B. Winslow died in office. Justice Robert G. Siebecker immediately succeeded to the position of chief justice due to the rule of seniority. August 18, 1920: The Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, guaranteeing women the right to vote, was ratified by the requisite number of states to come into force. September 6, 1920: Attorney Burr W. Jones was appointed a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court by Governor Emanuel L. Philipp, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of chief justice November 2, 1920: 1920 United States general election: Warren G. Harding elected President of the United States. John J. Blaine elected Governor of Wisconsin. Irvine Lenroot re-elected United States senator from Wisconsin. December 1, 1920: Mexican revolutionary general Álvaro Obregón was inaugurated as president of Mexico, effectively ending the Mexican Revolution.

Major legislation Joint Resolution ratifying an amendment to the constitution of the United States relating to intoxicating liquors, 1919 Joint Resolution 1. Wisconsin's ratification of the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Joint Resolution relating to the league of nations, 1919 Joint Resolution 26. Endorsed the League of Nations and supported the United States joining. Joint Resolution relating to the establishment of a Jewish State of Palestine and for the granting of complete liberty to the Jewish people in all countries, 1919 Joint Resolution 34. Joint Resolution to amend section 21 of article IV of the constitution, relating to compensation of members of the legislature, 1919 Joint Resolution 37. Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to allow the Legislature to set its own salary through the normal legislative process. The amendment was defeated by voters in the April 1920 election. Joint Resolution to amend section 4 of article VI of the constitution, relating to county officers, 1919 Joint Resolution 38. First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to remove term limits for sheriffs. Joint Resolution to amend sections 6 and 7, of article VII, of the constitution of the state of Wisconsin, relating to circuit judges, 1919 Joint Resolution 47. Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to allow the Legislature to decrease the number of state judicial circuits. This amendment was also defeated by voters in the April 1920 election. Joint Resolution memorializing congress in behalf of the farmers to repeal the law advancing the time one hour, 1919 Joint Resolution 48. Communicating to Congress disapproval of daylight saving time. Joint Resolution to create section 3b of article XI of the constitution, relating to the indebtedness of municipal corporations, 1919 Joint Resolution 53. First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to extend the allowance for municipal indebtedness for the purpose of establishing street rail projects or for heat, water, and power utility purposes. Joint Resolution to amend section 5, article I, of the constitution, relating to trial by jury, 1919 Joint Resolution 58. First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to change the jury rules for civil cases to require a minimum of five-sixths majority for a valid verdict. Joint Resolution ratifying an amendment to the constitution of the United States relating to woman's suffrage, 1919 Joint Resolution 64. Wisconsin's ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Party summary Senate summary

Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Soc. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 6 2 24 32 1 Start of 1st Session 2 4 27 33 0 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 2 4 27 33 0

Assembly summary

Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Soc. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 13 8 79 100 0 Start of 1st Session 6 16 78 100 0 From May 1, 1919Republican Levi Withee Gibson (Taylor County) died. 77 99 1 From Nov. 19, 1919Republican Eber Simpson (Winnebago County) died. 76 98 2 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 2 6 92 100 0

Sessions Regular session: January 8, 1919July 30, 1919 September 1919 special session: September 4, 1919September 8, 1919 May 1920 special session: May 25, 1920June 4, 1920

Leaders Senate leadership President of the Senate: Edward Dithmar (R) President pro tempore: Willard T. Stevens (R–Rhinelander)

Assembly leadership Speaker of the Assembly: Riley S. Young (R–Darien)

Members Members of the Senate Members of the Senate for the Fifty-Fourth Wisconsin Legislature:

Dist. Counties Senator Residence Party 01 Door, Kewaunee, Sturgeon Bay Rep. 02 Brown Green Bay Rep. 03 Kenosha Racine Rep. 04 Milwaukee Milwaukee Rep. 05 Milwaukee Milwaukee Soc. 06 Milwaukee Milwaukee Soc. 07 Milwaukee Milwaukee Soc. 08 Milwaukee Milwaukee Rep. 09 Milwaukee Milwaukee Dem. 10 Buffalo, Pepin, Pierce, River FallsRep. 11 Burnett, Douglas, SuperiorRep. 12 Ashland, Bayfield, Price, Rusk, BayfieldRep. 13 Dodge Iron RidgeRep. 14 Outagamie ShawanoRep. 15 Calumet Rantoul Soc. 16 Crawford, Grant, FennimoreRep. 17 Green, Iowa, BlanchardvilleRep. 18 North Fond du LacRep. 19 Winnebago NeenahRep. 20 Ozaukee SheboyganRep. 21 Adams, Juneau, Marquette, Westfield Rep. 22 Rock Beloit Rep. 23 Portage Iola Rep. 24 Clark Grand Rapids Rep. 25 Langlade Wausau Rep. 26 Dane Stoughton Rep. 27 Columbia Caledonia Rep. 28 Chippewa, Eau Claire Rep. 29 Barron, Dunn, Menomonie Rep. 30 Florence, Forest, Iron, Lincoln, Oneida, Taylor, Rhinelander Rep. 31 Jackson, Monroe, Viroqua Rep. 32 La Crosse Galesville Rep. 33 Jefferson Dem.

Members of the Assembly Members of the Assembly for the Fifty-Fourth Wisconsin Legislature:

SenateDist. County Dist. Representative Party Residence 21 Adams Rep. Montello 12 Ashland Rep. Ashland 29 Barron Rep. Barron 12 Bayfield Rep. Washburn 02 Brown 1 Dem. Green Bay 2 Rep. Denmark 10 Buffalo Rep. 11 Burnett Rep. Grantsburg 15 Calumet Soc. Rantoul 28 Chippewa Rep. 24 Clark Rep. 27 Columbia Rep. Leeds 16 Crawford Rep. Wauzeka 26 Dane 1 Rep. Madison 2 Rep. Christiana 3 Rep. Mount Horeb 13 Dodge 1 Rep. Juneau 2 Rep. Elba 01 Door Rep. 11 Douglas 1 Rep. Superior 2 Rep. 29 Dunn Rep. Tiffany 28 Eau Claire Rep. Washington 30 Florence, Forest, Rep. Cassian 18 Fond du Lac 1 Rep. Empire 2 Rep. Brandon 16 Grant 1 Rep. Platteville 2 Rep. Boscobel 17 Green Rep. Jordan 18 Green Lake Rep. Green Lake 17 Iowa Rep. Dodgeville 30 Iron Rep. Saxon 31 Jackson Rep. Hixton 33 Jefferson 1 Rep. Palmyra 2 Rep. Oakland 21 Juneau Rep. Camp Douglas 03 Kenosha Rep. 01 Kewaunee Dem. Franklin 32 La Crosse 1 Rep. La Crosse 2 Rep. Burns 17 Lafayette Rep. Darlington 25 Langlade Rep. Elcho 30 Lincoln Rep. Merrill 15 Manitowoc 1 Rep. Meeme 2 Soc. Kiel 25 Marathon 1 Soc. Flieth 2 Soc. Wausau 01 Marinette Rep. Marinette 09 Milwaukee 1 Dem. Milwaukee 2 Soc. Milwaukee 3 Dem. Milwaukee 05 4 Soc. Milwaukee 08 5 Rep. Milwaukee 05 6 Soc. Milwaukee 7 Soc. Milwaukee 08 8 Dem. Milwaukee 06 9 Soc. Milwaukee 04 10 Soc. Milwaukee 08 11 Soc. Milwaukee 12 Dem. Milwaukee 04 13 Soc. Milwaukee 07 14 Soc. Milwaukee 05 15 Soc. Milwaukee 16 Rep. Milwaukee 07 17 Soc. Milwaukee 04 18 Rep. Milwaukee 07 19 Rep. West Allis 31 Monroe Rep. Tomah 02 Oconto Rep. Oconto 14 Outagamie 1 Rep. Grand Chute 2 Rep. Deer Creek 20 Ozaukee Rep. Belgium 10 Pierce Rep. River Falls 29 Polk Rep. Apple River 23 Portage Rep. Stevens Point 12 Price Rep. Kennan 03 Racine 1 Rep. Racine 2 Rep. Norway 28 Richland Rep. Cazenovia 22 Rock 1 Rep. Janesville 2 Rep. Beloit 12 Rusk Rep. Hayward 27 Sauk Rep. Baraboo 14 Shawano Rep. Shawano 20 Sheboygan 1 Soc. Sheboygan 2 Rep. Greenbush 10 St. Croix Rep. New Richmond 30 Taylor Rep. Medford 32 Trempealeau Rep. Independence 31 Vernon Rep. Readstown 23 Walworth Rep. Darien 13 Washington Rep. Addison 33 Waukesha 1 Rep. Waukesha 2 Rep. Sussex 23 Waupaca Rep. Scandinavia 21 Waushara Rep. Coloma 19 Winnebago 1 Rep. Oshkosh 2 Rep. Vinland 3 Rep. Oshkosh 24 Wood Rep. Arpin

Committees Senate committees Senate Standing Committee on CommitteesI. P. Witter, chair Senate Standing Committee on Contingent ExpendituresH. E. Roethe, chair Senate Standing Committee on CorporationsJ. H. Bennett, chair Senate Standing Committee on Education and Public WelfareA. J. Pullen, chair Senate Standing Committee on HighwaysL. E. Cunningham, chair Senate Standing Committee on the JudiciaryT. Benfey, chair Senate Standing Committee on Legislative ProcedureW. T. Stevens, chair Senate Standing Committee on Reconstruction and ReadjustmentR. P. Wilcox, chair Senate Standing Committee on State AffairsW. T. Stevens, chair

Assembly committees Assembly Standing Committee on AgricultureS. R. Webster, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce and ManufacturesJ. E. Johnson, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Contingent ExpendituresJ. W. Conner, chair Assembly Standing Committee on EducationM. L. Hineman, chair Assembly Standing Committee on ElectionsW. R. Chipman, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Engrossed BillsE. F. Ganz, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Enrolled BillsC. E. Hanson, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Excise and FeesJ. C. Anderson, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Fish and GameH. Kandutsch, chair Assembly Standing Committee on HighwaysJ. J. Ruka, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Insurance and BankingJ. C. Chapple, chair Assembly Standing Committee on the JudiciaryT. S. Nolan, chair