[1] This was the first legislative session after the redistricting of the Senate and Assembly according to the 2002 federal court decision, Baumgart v. Wendelberger.

Senators representing odd-numbered districts were newly elected for this session and were serving the first two years of a four-year term.

[2] Senators representing even-numbered districts were serving the third and fourth year of their four-year term, having been elected in the general election of November 7, 2000.

[3] The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Democrat Jim Doyle, of Dane County, serving the first two years of a four-year term, having won election in the 2002 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.

Members of the Wisconsin Senate for the Ninety-Sixth Wisconsin Legislature:[4] Members of the Assembly for the Ninety-Sixth Wisconsin Legislature:[4] The most significant structural change to the Legislature between the 95th and 96th sessions was the reapportionment and redistricting of legislative seats.