Illinois Facts Illinois first became a state in 1818 Our first state capital was in Kaskaskia from 1818-1820 After Kaskaskia thecapital moved to Vandalia from 1820-1839 Then to Springfield from 1839 until present.

ILLINOIS STATE GOVERNMENT RATIFIED BY VOTERS 1970 SIMILAR FORM AS FEDERAL GOV’T (3 branches) PROVIDES FOR AREAS NOT COVERED BY FEDERAL GOV’T Local government Taxation Public education Elections Voting

Articles I-II Article I: BILL OF RIGHTS makes same guarantees to IL citizens as U.S. Constitution does to U.S. citizens guarantees that citizens will not be discriminated against because of sex or physical or mental handicaps Article II SEPARATION OF POWERS Legislative Executive Judicial

ILLINOIS STATE GOVERNMENT Article III VOTING & ELECTIONS GENERAL ELECTION voting for members of General Assembly (name of IL legislative body) held every 2 years U.S. President is elected in general election in the years divisible by 4 PRIMARY ELECTION each political party chooses its candidates for the general election VOTING ELIGIBILITY U.S. citizen 18 years old reside at least 30 days in IL people in prison cannot vote, but can vote when released

ILLINOIS STATE GOVERNMENT Article IV: STATE LEGISLATURE (BICAMERAL) Senate: 4 year term 59 members 1 senator elected from each of 59 Illinois legislative districts Presiding officer is a senator chosen by the senate President of the senate House of Representatives 118 members 2 year term 1 Rep. elected from each representative district Presiding Officer is the Speaker, elected from among the 118 Reps Each person in IL lives in a legislative district & a representative district is represented by one state senator and one state rep. in the General Assembly

ILLINOIS STATE GOVERNMENT Article IV: STATE LEGISLATURE (BICAMERAL) Our State Senator in Skokie 8th District: Ira I. Silverstein Our State Representative in Skokie 15th District: John D’Amico

ILLINOIS STATE GOVERNMENT Article IV: STATE LEGISLATURE (continued) MAKING STATE LAWS BILL, a proposed law, must pass both houses of the General Assembly by majority vote BILL is then sent to Governor who will Sign it into law or Veto it Item veto allows the Governor to veto 1 or more items in an appropriation bill without vetoing the entire bill House of Rep. has power to impeach (accuse, indict, bring charges against) state officers in cases of wrongdoing Senate has power to try impeachment cases Each house in Gen. Assembly determines its rules and the qualifications of its members

ILLINOIS STATE GOVERNMENT Article V: STATE EXECUTIVE 6 ELECTED OFFICERS: Qualifications 25 years old, a U.S. citizen, and reside in IL for 3 years GOVERNOR duties: carrying out state laws signing or vetoing bills calling special sessions of General Assembly commanding the IL National Guard in peacetime LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR must be of same political party as the Governor performs duties that are delegated by Gov. and prescribed by law ATTORNEY GENERAL legal officer of the state

ILLINOIS STATE GOVERNMENT Article V: State Executive Department (continued) Secretary of State: maintains official state records as well as issues drivers and auto licenses Treasurer: responsible for safekeeping & investment of money disburses money upon order of the comptroller Comptroller: maintains state’s central fiscal accounts orders payments into and out of funds held by treasurer fiscal refers to the recordkeeping of money and is a 365 day period that usually begins July 1 & ends June 30

Illinois Important Elected Officials Governor: Pat Quinn Lieutenant Governonr: Sheila Simon Attorney General: Lisa Madigan Secretary of the State: Jesse White Comptroller: Judy Baar Topinka Treasurer: Dan Rutherford

ILLINOIS STATE GOV’T Article VI: STATE JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT 3 TYPES OF COURTS ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT APPELLATE (APPEAL) COURTS CIRCUIT COURTS (main trial courts) IL has 5 JUDICIAL DISTRICTS ILLINOIS JUDGES ARE ELECTED (EXCEPT associate judges who are appointed)

ILLINOIS STATE GOV’T: Articles VII-VIII Article VII: Local gov’t counties, cities, villages, townships, special districts Limited Powers of Local gov’t: pass ordinances to protect people, license business & occupations, tax & borrow money State’s powers are greater than local governments Article VIII: Finance Gov’t money must be used for public purposes Governor prepares budget Legislature (General Assembly) decides how money will actually be spent

ILLINOIS STATE GOV’T: Articles IX-XII IX: REVENUE NONGRADUATED INCOME TAX NO PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX PROPERTY NOT TAXED: STATE OWNED OR GOV’T OWNED SCHOOL DISTRICTS CHURCH PROPERTY CEMETERIES HOSPITALS & NON-PROFITS State may sell bonds to raise money X: EDUCATION Goal of education is educational development of all persons FREE EDUCATION through secondary level STATE BD. OF EDUC. plans educational program XI: ENVIRONMENT IX: MILITIA IL National Guard

ILLINOIS STATE GOV’T: Articles XIII-XIV XIII: GENERAL PROVISIONS person convicted of serious crimes cannot hold office candidates or holders of state offices must file their ‘economic interests’ state of IL can be sued state money can be spent for public education XIV: CONSTITUTIONAL REVISION voters in state must decide every 20 years if a convention is needed to change the IL Constitution. changes must be approved by voters IL General Assembly cannot change Article IV which would affect the structure or procedures of itself Voters cannot change Article IV which would take away powers of General Assembly

More Illinois Information STATE OF ILLINOIS WEBSITE STATE OF ILLINOIS PAGE LEGISLATIVE LINKS ILLINOIS GOVERNMENT INFORMATION STATE OF ILLINOIS - PROJECT VOTE SMART ILLINOIS GOVERNMENT WEBSITES STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS VITAL RECORDS INFORMATION - ILLINOIS CITY OF ROCKFORD AREA GUIDE - ROCKFORD ROCKFORD BOARD OF ELECTIONS ROCKFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY

ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY Comparison of U.S. & Illinois Constitutions LEGISLATIVE BRANCH (law-making) U.S. ILLINOIS U.S. CONGRESS House of Representatives (435) Power to impeach Begins revenue bills Qualifications: 25 yrs. old, U.S. Citizen for 7 yrs., resident of state. Term: 2 yrs. Senate (100) Tries impeachment Qualifications: 30 yrs. old, U.S. citizen for 7 yrs., resident of state. Term: 6 yrs. ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY House of Representatives (118) Power to impeach Qualifications: 21 yrs. old, U.S. citizen, reside in district 2 years Term: 2 yrs. Senate (59) Holds trial after impeachment Qualifications: 21 yrs. old, U.S. citizen, reside in district 2 years Term: 2 or 4 yrs. depending on group

Comparison of U.S. & Illinois Constitutions LEGISLATIVE BRANCH (law-making) continued U.S. Congress can levy taxes, declare war, borrow money, coin money U.S. Congress can override a veto with a vote of 2/3 U.S. Congress cannot suspend writ of habeas corpus, pass bill of attainder or ex post facto laws IL General Assembly can override a veto with a vote of 3/5 Laws passed by IL General Assembly take affect July 1 of next calendar year unless there is a 3/5 vote to change the date

Comparison of U.S. & Illinois Constitutions JUDICIAL BRANCH U.S. SUPREME COURT Appointed 9 Justices Lifetime term U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals U.S. District Courts IL SUPREME COURT Elected Qualifications: U.S. Citizen, Licensed Lawyer, Resident of Unit in which elected 7 Judges 10 yr. term IL Appellate Courts IL Trial Courts

Comparison of U.S. & Illinois Constitutions EXECUTIVE BRANCH UNITED STATES PRESIDENT 35 yrs. old 14 yrs. resident of U.S. natural born citizen 4 YR. term Appoints ambassadors, etc. Commander-in-Chief of U.S. Military Veto bills (10 days or becomes a law) VICE-PRES. ORDER OF SUCCESSION: Vice-pres., Speaker of House, Pres. pro tempore ILLINOIS GOVERNOR 25 yrs. old U.S. citizen Resident of state for 3 yrs. 4 yr. term Appoints Dept. Heads, etc. Commander-in-.Chief of IL National Guard Veto bills (60 days or becomes a law) LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR ORDER OF SUCCESSION: Lieutenant-Gov., Attorney General, Secretary of State

Comparison of U.S. & Illinois Constitutions MAJOR DIFFERENCES UNITED STATES PRESIDENT JUDGES: APPOINTED (9) BILL OF RIGHTS: Amendmets 1-10 1789 AMENDING: APPROVED BY STATES AMENDMENTS: 27 - ADDED ON CONGRESS LEADER: SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE SENATE LEADER: VICE-PRES. 435 REPRESENTATIVES to Congress 1 PER DISTRICT 100 SENATORS: 2 PER STATE ILLINOIS GOVERNOR JUDGES: ELECTED (7) BILL OF RIGHTS: Article I 1970 AMENDING: APPROVED BY VOTERS AMENDMENTS: INSERTED IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY LEADER: SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE SENATE LEADER: PRES. of SENATE 118 REPRESENTATIVES to Gen. Assem 1 PER DISTRICT 59 SENATORS: 1 PER DISTRICT

TAKE THE CONSTITUTION PRACTICE TEST THE END TAKE THE CONSTITUTION PRACTICE TEST