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Illinois Constitution

Illinois Constitution. Historical Background. Admitted into the Union in 1818 as the 21 st state Has had 3 state capitals City that serves as seat of gov’t Kaskaskia (1818 – 1820) Vandalia (1820 – 1853) Springfield (1853-present). Historical Background. Illinois has had 6 capitols

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Illinois Constitution

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  1. Illinois Constitution

  2. Historical Background • Admitted into the Union in 1818 as the 21st state • Has had 3 state capitals • City that serves as seat of gov’t • Kaskaskia (1818 – 1820) • Vandalia (1820 – 1853) • Springfield (1853-present)

  3. Historical Background • Illinois has had 6 capitols • Building that serves as the seat of gov’t • The present capitol was completed in 1888

  4. Historical Background • Illinois has had 4 state constitutions • The current Constitution has been in effect since 1970 • The constitutions of 1818, 1840 and 1870 preceded the Constitution of 1970 • The Constitution of 1870 was the most enduring Illinois state constitution

  5. Illinois Facts and Figures • Population – slightly more than 12.8 million • 18 members in the House of Representatives • Williamsville/Sherman – 18th Congressional District • 20 electoral votes

  6. Federal Figures • 18th Congressional District Aaron Schock

  7. Federal Figures • United States Senators Dick Durbin (D) Mark Kirk (R)

  8. State Figures Governor Pat Quinn (D) Lt. Governor Sheila Simon (D)

  9. State Officials Attorney General Lisa Madigan Secretary of State Jesse White

  10. State Officials Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka Treasurer Dan Rutherford Auditor General William G. Holland

  11. State Officials Speaker of the House Michael Madigan (D) President of the Senate John J. Cullerton (D)

  12. State Officials State Senator Bill Brady (R) 87th Representative District Rich Brauer (R)

  13. State Official Supreme Court Justice 4th District Rita B. Garman Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Thomas L. Kilbride

  14. State Symbols • State Flag • “Illinois” • White field • Emblem of State seal • State Song • Illinois

  15. State Symbols • State Slogan • “Land of Lincoln” • State Seal • Illinois has had 3 state seals • Features the following phrases: • “State sovereignty, National Union” • “Seal of the State of Illinois” • “Aug. 26th, 1818”

  16. State Tree White Oak State flower Violet State bird Cardinal State animal White-tailed deer State fish Bluegill State insect Monarch butterfly State Symbols

  17. Legislative Branch

  18. Legislative Branch • Headed by the General Assembly • Makes laws for Illinois • Bicameral • House of Representatives • Senate

  19. Qualifications for General Assembly • Must be a United States Citizen • At least 21 years old • Must have lived in IL for two years prior to election

  20. Representation in General Assembly • 59 Legislative Districts • Legislative District • Represented by 1 senator in the IL Senate • Divided into 2 Representative Districts • Each representative district elects 1 representative to IL House

  21. Terms • A member of IL House serves a two-year term • A IL Senator serves a two- and four-year terms. • There are no limits on the number of terms a representative or senator may serve

  22. Officers of General Assembly • Speaker of the Illinois House • Elected by members of the House • President of the Senate • Elected by members of the Senate

  23. Legislative Process • Either house may introduce legislation • All bills must be read 3 times before passed • All bills must pass by majority vote in both houses in identical form before going to the governor.

  24. Sessions • Convenes on the 2nd Wednesday in January each year • Usually adjourns at the end of May • Reconvenes for two-weeks in October or November to consider vetoes • Special sessions • Called by governor or joint proclamation of Speaker and President of Senate • Must deal with subject(s) for which General Assembly was reconvened

  25. Impeachment • The General Assembly is responsible for impeaching officials from the executive or judicial branches • House accuses with a majority vote • Senate tries the individual, and it takes 2/3 to convict and remove the official from their position • The president of the Senate presides unless the governor is being impeached • Chief justice of IL Supreme Court presides if governor is being impeached

  26. Executive Branch • Enforces and administers the laws of IL • Officers of the Executive Branch • Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Attorney General • Secretary of State • Comptroller • Treasurer

  27. Qualifications for Executive Office • Must be US citizen • Must be at least 25 years old • Must have lived in Illinois 3 consecutive years prior to the election Terms of Executive Officers • Four years • Unlimited

  28. Duties of Executive Officers • Governor • Chief executive officer of the state • Lieutenant Governor • To succeed the governor in case of death, resignation, impeachment, or disability • Attorney General • The chief legal officer of the state; in charge of seeing that violators of the laws are punished

  29. Duties of Executive Officers • Secretary of State • Maintains all the records of the state, such as issuing drivers’ licenses • The keeper of the Great Seal of Illinois • Comptroller • Controls and supervises state spending • Treasurer • Safeguards all state monies

  30. Election of Executive Officers • Elected in the general elections in the off-year elections • Non-presidential elections • Each of the executive officers are elected separately except governor and lieutenant governor. • Governor and Lt. Governor are elected together and must be from the same party.

  31. Gubernatorial Succession • Lt. Governor • Attorney General • Secretary of State

  32. Executive Office Vacancies • A vacancy in office of Lt. Governor is left vacant • All other executive vacancies are filled by the governor, who appoints a successor to serve until the next election

  33. Powers of the Governor • Appoints and removes all executive officers not otherwise provided for by the Illinois Constitution • Grants pardons, reprieves and commutations • Delivers the “State of the State Address” • Calls special sessions of the General Assembly • Serves as commander in chief of the Illinois militia (National Guard)

  34. Governor’s Options on Bills • Sign it – becomes a law • Do nothing – automatically becomes a law after 60 days • Veto • Rejects the entire bill • Goes back to the General Assembly with an explanation why it was vetoed • May be overridden with a 3/5 vote in both houses of the General Assembly

  35. Governor’s Options on Bills • Item Veto • Removes objectionable parts of an appropriations bill while accepting the rest • May be restored with a 3/5 vote of both houses of the General Assembly • Reduction Veto • Reduces certain parts of an appropriations bill while accepting the rest • May be restored with a majority vote of the General Assembly

  36. Governor’s Options on Bills • Amendatory Veto • Returns a passed bill with suggestions and recommendations for change to the General Assembly • Can be accepted with a majority vote of both houses • Can be returned to the governor with a majority vote

  37. Judicial Branch

  38. Structure of the Court System • Illinois Supreme Court • Final court of appeals in Illinois • Currently has 7 justices • Requires 4 to make a decision • Appellate Courts • Appellate jurisdiction – review cases from inferior courts • Divided into five judicial districts • Cook County – 1st Judicial District • Sangamon County – 4th Judicial District

  39. Structure of the Court System • Circuit Courts • Main trial courts in Illinois • Original jurisdiction – hear cases before any other court • Divided into 22 judicial circuits

  40. Judges • Supreme Court Justices • Elected • 10 year term • Chief Justice • Chosen by the other members of the court • Serves a 3-year term • Appellate judges • Elected • 10 year term

  41. Judges • Circuit Court Judges • Elected • Serve a 6 year term • Associate Judges • Appointed by circuit judges • Serve a 4 year term

  42. Qualifications • US citizen • Licensed attorney in the State of Illinois • Must reside in the district or circuit from which they are elected

  43. Other Court Officials • Clerks • Take care of the administrative responsibilities of the court they serve • Appointed by the justices or judges in the court they serve • State’s Attorneys • The official who sees to it that violators of the state and local laws are prosecuted • One state’s attorney for each county • Elected for 4 year terms

  44. Suffrage and Elections

  45. Voter Qualifications • US citizen • 18 years old • Must have resided in Illinois for at least 30 days • Must register 30 days prior to election

  46. State Board of Elections • Supervises and carries out the registration and election laws • Must be bipartisan • Composed of members from both parties

  47. General Elections • Those elections in which members of the Illinois General Assembly are chosen • Tuesday following the first Monday in November of even-numbered years

  48. Getting a Candidate on the Ballot • Primary Election • Allows the voters of each political party to select their party’s candidates • Closed Primary • Primary election in which voters must declare their party choice on election day and may only vote for one party’s candidates

  49. Retention Elections • Applies to justices and judges • Candidates run on a question of retention without opposition

  50. Other Provisions of Illinois Constitution

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