Illinois Government Study Guide

The Executive Branch

The Executive Branch The executive branch, is headed by the Governor. BRUCE RAUNER The Governor is elected every four years. A Governor may serve an unlimited number of terms. The Governor oversees the administration of most areas of government. The Governor appoints the state department directors.

The Lieutenant Governor Each year the Governor appears before the General Assembly in January In April, the Governor appears before the General Assembly to present the budget for the state. The Governor also has the important job of reviewing all legislation that passes the General Assembly before it becomes law. The Governor can also veto or reject a piece of legislation if it is not good for the people in the state. Finally, the Governor can make small changes to legislation if the changes make will make the law better but do not alter the meaning of the bill. This is called an amendatory veto. The Lieutenant Governor Elected with the Governor The Lieutenant Governor helps the Governor do his/her job. EVELYN SANGUINETTI The Lieutenant Governor may also have programs of his/her own.

The Offices The Attorney General -The state's chief lawyer LISA MADIGAN The Attorney General is the lawyer for all of the elected state officials The Attorney General also is responsible for protecting the people of Illinois from things such as pollution, fraud and crime.

The Secretary of State JESSE WHITE Responsible for maintaining all of the official state records and the state seal. In addition, the Secretary of State issues all driver's licenses and license plates. Lost or replaced titles to cars, trailers etc. The Secretary of State serves as the state librarian.

The Comptroller SUSANA MENDOZA The chief financial officer for the state and is responsible for keeping track of the state's money. The Treasurer MICHAEL FRERICHS is the state's banker. The Treasurer decides where the state should invest its money.

The Legislative Branch Consists of the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate. The House of Representatives consists of 118 members. The members are elected by the people in their district or area of the State. A Representative serves a 2-year term.

The LB con’t The Senate has 59 members who are elected from districts throughout the State. A Senator serves a 4yr OR 2 yr term. The House and the Senate are known as the General Assembly. The General Assembly makes the laws for the State of Illinois. House expels house. members/ Senate expels Senate members.

Your Reps and Senators U.S. SENATORS---Dick Durbin/ Tammy Duckworth U.S. Rep— Brad Schneider-10th District State Reps and Senators— JOHN J. CULLERTON---Senate President MICHAEL J. MADIGAN--Speaker of the House 31st Legislative District Melinda Bush(D)-------State Senator (31st Leg District) Sheri Jesiel(R)---------State Representative (61st Rep District)

AUDITOR GENERAL Frank Mautino The auditor general is vested with the responsibility of auditing and reviewing the receipt obligation and use of all state of Illinois funds.

Illinois Supreme Court Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier Circuit Courts Appellate Courts Associate Court Judges-appointed States Attorney—Lake County

The Judicial Branch Headed by the Illinois Supreme Court 7 justices The Illinois Supreme Court interprets the Illinois Constitution and Illinois laws. This branch also has over 400 appellate court and circuit court judges. The judges determine whether or not laws have been broken in the State. If a law is broken, the judge determines the penalty.

Government Overview LEGISLATIVE makes laws EXECUTIVE carries out laws Three Branches of Illinois Government Government Overview LEGISLATIVE makes laws EXECUTIVE carries out laws JUDICIAL explains laws General Assembly Senate --59 senators --elected by the people --1 from each legislative district --term:  2 years (senators 2/4 yrs) Qualifications --at least 21 years old --U.S. citizen --resident of district for 2 years House of Representatives --118 representatives --2 representatives from each legislative district --term: 2 years Qualifications (same as for Senator)  --at least 21 years old --U.S. citizen --resident of district for 2 years 6 elected officials Governor  --chief executive officer Lieutenant  governor --takes over as governor if necessary Attorney general --chief legal officer Secretary of state --keeps official records Comptroller --chief fiscal officer, pays the bills Treasurer --acts as the state's banker 6 officials --elected by the people  --term:  4 years Qualifications --at least 25 years old --U.S. citizen --resident of Illinois for 3 years 3 types of courts Supreme Court --7 justices --elected by the people --term:  10 years Appellate courts --54 appellate judges --elected by the people --term:  10 years District Courts Illinois is divided into 23 judicial circuits.  Each circuit has a chief judge, circuits judges, and associate judges. --circuit judges are elected  --circuit judges serve 6-year term  --associate judges are appointed by circuit judges --associate judges serve 4-year term 

ILL. History 1st Illinois Governor: Shadrach Bond Longest= James Thompson llinois has had four constitutions: one from 1818 to 1848,  1848 to 1870, 1870 to 1970, and finally our current constitution Illinois has had three different Capitals—Kaskaskia, Vandalia and Springfield The first capitol building was in Kaskaskia. Vandalia became the second capital of Illinois in 1820

IL. History con’t Illinois voters selected Springfield as the new state capital city in 1839. Illinois' fifth capitol was built in Springfield in 1853 at a cost of $260,000 Construction on the sixth and present capitol was begun in 1868. The building took twenty years to complete at a cost of $4.5 million.

Flags and Seals When Illinois became a state in 1818, it adopted the seal of the Northwest Territory, of which Illinois was a part. The "Seal of the State of Illinois--August 26, 1818" and the addition of a banner in the eagle's mouth reading "State Sovereignty, National Union."

Local Government Zion Mayor – Al Hill Winthrop Harbor Mayor- Michael Bruno Chicago Mayor- Rahm Emmanuel Beach Park Mayor---John Hucker

The Specifics Article IV, section 8-understanding Constitutional Change- constitutional convention Initiative Article 1, section 23 Vote Preamble-detailed by state Chicago ---Democrats in urban areas

Your Government at Large U.S. Senators Dick Durbin Tammy Duckworth U.S. Representative  10th District Brad Schiender Illinois Senator 31st District Melinda Bush Illinois Representative 61st District Sheri Jesiel

General Assembly Requirements Must be a United States citizen at least 21 years old Two years preceding his election or appointment a resident of the district which he is to represent

Home Rule Ordinances enacted by home rule municipalities trump state statutes A population of more than 25,000 Has a chief executive officer The General Assembly may not deny or limit the power of home rule units

Changes in the Constitution First=1818 1848= Limited Veto power 1970=Line item veto/amendatory, Home Rule  The Governor then has 60 calendar days to sign it, or to return it with his veto