Opinion ID: 2233517
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Executive Veto and Administrative Power

Text: [5] Plaintiff asserts article IV, sec. 23a of the Wisconsin Constitution, vests the power to veto county board legislation exclusively in the county executive and thereby precludes the town board from simultaneously possessing the same veto power. Plaintiff alternatively argues because article IV, sec. 23 confers upon the county executive powers of an administrative character, the county executive's power to veto county board adopted legislation under sec. 23a is, a fortiori, an administrative power. (Emphasis added.) Therefore, plaintiff argues by analogy, the town board's power to veto county board adopted legislation is likewise an administrative power. Plaintiff cites State ex rel. Humble Oil & Ref. Co. v. Wahner, 25 Wis. 2d 1, 130 N.W.2d 304 (1964) for the recognized proposition that administrative powers must be exercised in accordance with adopted standards. Because the town board's power to veto county board adopted legislation is not circumscribed by standards required for administrative decisions, plaintiff argues it is unconstitutional. We find, as to plaintiff's latter argument, the power of veto granted to the town board is legislative power not administrative power, and, therefore, we reject plaintiff's argument it need be circumscribed by appropriate adopted standards. As to the plaintiff's former argument, we find the rule expressio unius est exclusio alterius, an expression of one thing is the exclusion of another, is inapplicable and the power to veto is constitutionally and legally lodged concurrently in the county executive and the town board. The rule expressio unius est exclusio alterius should not be invoked where the result will be to limit the plenary power of the legislature by implication. Ferguson v. Kenosha, 5 Wis. 2d 556, 564-65, 93 N.W.2d 560 (1958).