The Illinois Constitution

1. The Illinois Constitution

2. Illinois History • Was “discovered” by Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet in 1673 • Named after the Illiniwek Indians • Settled by the French prior to the French and Indian War, when the treaty gave the land to the British (see: Fort Massac) • Became the 21st state in 1818

3. Illinois History • First governor: Shadrach Bond • State nickname: Land of Lincoln • Has had three state capitals: • Kaskaskia • Vandalia • Springfield (current)

4. Legislative Branch in Illinois • The two-house legislature is called the General Assembly • House of Representatives • Senate • Convenes on the 2nd Wednesday in January each year • Qualifications to be a member of the General Assembly: • At least 21 years old • Must be a resident of the district you represent for at least two years • US citizen

5. The IL House of Representatives • Has 118 members • Elected to two-year terms, and no term limits • Elections are held in even numbered years • Leader is the Speaker of the House • Current Speaker of the House is Michael Madigan

6. IL Senate • Has 59 members • Senators serve for two four-year terms and one two-year term per decade in each district • Elected on even numbered years, with about half up for election every two years • Leader is the President of the Senate • Current President of the Senate is John J. Cullerton

7. Who Represents Us Where? • The US Congress goes to Washington, DC as our elected leaders in the federal government • 12th Congressional District: Rep. Bill Enyart • US Senators for IL: Richard Durbin and Mark Kirk • In the IL General Assembly in Springfield, our elected leaders in the STATE government are: • 59th Senate District : Gary Forby • 118th Representative District : Brandon Phelps

8. Making Laws • The overall process is very similar to the way laws are passed in the federal government, but there are some differences • In IL, bills must: • Be read on three different days before final passage • Be mostly confined to one subject • Go to the governor within 30 days of passage

9. Making Laws • The governor has 60 days to act on a bill once he receives it • He can: • Sign the bill into law • Leave it unsigned for 60 days (and then it becomes a law without his signature) • Veto the bill

10. Governor’s Veto Options • Regular veto – the same kind that the President uses in the federal government, which rejects the whole bill • Item Veto – Used for spending bills; rejects specific parts of the bill, but passes others • Amendatory Veto – The governor offers notes/recommendations and the houses pass the bill into law by approving those changes

11. The Executive Branch Governor – Chief Executive of IL • Current governor is Pat Quinn Duties of the governor: • Make appointments to the government with approval of the IL Senate • Grant pardons, reprieves and commutations • Pardon – forgives a person of a crime • Reprieve – delay the carrying out of a criminal sentence • Commutation – to shorten a criminal sentence

12. The Executive Branch Duties of the governor continued: • Deliver the State of the State address yearly to the General Assembly • Commander-in-Chief of the state militia • Call special sessions of the General Assembly Qualifications to be a member of the Executive Branch: • At least 25 years old • US citizen • Resident of IL at least three years prior to election

13. Other Executive Offices • Lt. Governor– Sheila Simon – performs duties given by the governor or prescribed by law • Attorney General– Lisa Madigan – Chief Legal Officer of IL • Secretary of State – Jesse White – issues driver’s licenses and plates; over state libraries and archives • Comptroller– Judy Baar Topinka – controls the bill payment of the state; “writes the checks” • Treasurer – Dan Rutherford – responsible for the safe keeping of the state’s monies

14. Order of Gubernatorial Succession: • Governor • Lt. Governor • Attorney General • Secretary of State

15. The Judicial Branch Types of courts in IL • IL Supreme Court • IL Appellate Court • Circuit Courts Circuit Courts: • Lowest court; general trial courts in each county • Circuit court judges are elected to six year terms • County seats – city in each county where the courthouse is located

16. Counties and County Seats • Pulaski – Mound City • Alexander – Cairo • Massac – Metropolis • Johnson – Vienna • Union – Jonesboro • Pope – Golconda • Jackson – Murphysboro

17. Counties and County Seats (continued) • Williamson – Marion • Franklin – Benton • Saline – Harrisburg • Jefferson – Mt. Vernon • Perry – Pinckneyville • Hardin – Elizabethtown • Gallatin - Shawneetown

18. Judicial Branch continued • Appellate courts – hear appeals from the circuit court; judges serve 10-year terms • IL Supreme Court • 7 justices • Thomas Killbride is the Chief Justice • Hear appeals from lower courts and has original jurisdiction in some matters • Elected to 10-year terms

19. Judicial Branch continued Qualifications to be a judge: • US citizen • Licensed attorney in IL • Resident of the district from which you are elected Once elected, judges can run “on their record.” This means that voters vote yes or no on them retaining their seat. 3/5 of voters must vote yes or the judge is replaced.

20. Elections in IL Voter Qualifications in IL • Must be at least 18 years old • Resident of your district for at least 30 days • US citizen • Must register in your district at least 28 days before the election **If you are in jail, you lose your right to vote. When you are released, your right to vote is restored.

21. Elections in IL continued • General elections are held the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. • Primaries are how candidates from political parties are selected • IL uses closed primaries, which means that you have to be registered with a political party to choose that party’s candidates • Referendums may also appear on ballots • Referendum – vote yes or no on public issues, such as raising taxes or building school or parks

22. County Government There are 102 counties in IL. Each have similar offices, but we will be focusing on Pulaski Co. County Offices – elected positions • Commissioners – governing board for the county; review the day-to-day operations of the county; three positions • Monte Russell • Rex Wilburn • David Sharp

23. County Government • Sheriff – Conservator of the peace; head of the county’s police force • Randy Kern • County Clerk – maintains the county records, such as deeds or maps; leads county elections and issues marriage licenses • Julie Sauerbrunn

24. County Government • Treasurer – responsible for the collection of taxes, disbursement of funds, and investing the county’s money • Robert Moore • Coroner – Investigates deaths within the county • Bryan Curry

25. County Government • Circuit Clerk – maintains court records, summons prospective jurors, and collects court fines • Cindy Kennedy • State’s Attorney – Prosecutes criminal cases for the county • Grayson Gile

26. Special Purpose District • Includes any public school board Century School Board • Keith Clark • MarlanHight • Garrett Wilson • Pete Franco • Shane Halvorsen • Lisa Miller • Clint Green

27. Education Hierarchy in IL IL State Board of Education State Superintendent of Schools Regional Superintendent of Schools Local Board of Education Superintendent Principal Teachers/Staff Students