1. Mostly overlooked but has most contact with our daily lives
Illinois Government
Mostly overlooked but has most contact with our daily lives

2. Structure The PREAMBLE-States the purposes of the state government.
Current Illinois Constitution effective since 1970
Structure: 2 Major Sections.
14 Articles in the Illinois Constitution.
Three Branches in the Illinois, just like the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

3. Legislative Branch
Two Branches:
State House of Representatives has 118 MEMBERS.
State Senate has 59 MEMBERS.
Called the GENERAL ASSEMBLY and is a BICAMERAL system.
Required Meetings: ONCE A YEAR
Qualifications: 21 Years Old, U.S. Citizen and LIVE IN THE DISTRICT YOU REPRESENT!!!.

4. Terms
Like the House of Representatives the State House of Representatives has a TWO YEAR term.
State Senator, like the President, is elected every 4 YEARS;HOWEVER, there is a one half stagger, unlike the US Senate which as a 1/3 STAGGER.

5. Executive Branch Members Governor-EXECUTIVE OFFICER
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR- responsibilities given by law and governor.
ATTORNEY GENERAL- chief legal officer for state.
Secretary of State: official RECORD KEEPER for the state.
COMPTROLLER- decides which bills will be paid with available money.
Treasurer- keeps safe and INVESTS state MONEY. (writes checks to pay bills the comptroller tells him to pay.)

6. Qualifications
In order to run you must be 25 years old 3 years in the state.
One Term: 4 years but elected in NON-PRESIDENTIAL years.

7. Powers of the Governor
Amendatory VETO: governor can make specific changes in a bill after it has passed in the General Assembly.
LINE ITEM VETO- governor can reduce the amount of money appropriated in a revenue bill.
Number of days to consider vetoes: 60 Days

8. Judiciary Branch Top: State SUPREME COURT: 7 judges.
Like Federal Supreme Court it hears FINAL appeals.
Middle: State Appellate Courts- reviews decisions of CIRCUIT COURTS.
Bottom- CIRCUIT COURTS- general trial courts (5 circuits or judicial districts in state)

9. Qualifications Lawyer License to Practice in ILLINOIS
Live in judicial district that they represent.
Unlike Federal Supreme Court the judges are ELECTED
Supreme Court and Appellate: 10 YEARS.
Circuit Courts: 6 Years.

10. Articles Article One: State of Illinois “BILL OF RIGHTS”
Article Two: Separation of Powers into THREE branches.
Article 7: HOME RULE PROVISION. All municipalities over 25, 000 can automatically levy taxes, license businesses, and borrow money.

11. Amendment Procedures
Step 1 PROPOSAL: 3/5 of each branch of the GENERAL ASSEMBLY ask if there should be a State constitutional convention.
Step 2 RATIFICATION:
by the people, in a state-wide ballet called a REFERENDUM.

12. OR
Step 1 Proposal:
3/5 of each branch of the General Assembly propose an amendment.
Step 2 Ratification:
Approval in a referendum.

13. Compare and Contrast the Federal Government to the Illinois Government on the Venn Diagram.

14. Take your chart out and review with me…

15. Comparing Illinois to the Federal Government
___ members in the Senate.
____ members in the House.
Has a ________ term limit for judges.
The Governor can remain a governor for __________ terms.
Federal
____ members in the Senate.
____ members in the House.
Has a _________ term limit for judges.
The President can run for _______ terms.

16. Similarities of the State and Federal Government
Both have a “_______ of ________” to protect the citizens rights.
Both have a _________, _________, and ________ branch.
Both have a higher court called the _________ _________.