1. Illinois State Government Comparison

2. 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

3. Articles I-II Article I: Bill of Rights  Makes the 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  Similarities to U.S. Constitution: Due process of the law and equal protection of the law Free Religion, Speech, Assemble Freedom from unreasonable search/seizure Equal opportunity  Differences to U.S. Constitution State responsibility for local government, education, militia and the environment. Article II Separation of Powers  Legislative  Executive  Judicial State Checks and Balances!!

4. Article III Voting and Elections VOTING ELIGIBILITY  U.S. citizen  18 years old  Must reside at least 30 days in IL  Citizens in prison cannot vote, but can vote when released 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

5. Article IV: Legislative Branch State Senate and House of Representatives make up the General Assembly There is one senator chosen from each Legislative district. There are 59 senators.  Representatives are chosen from Representative districts. There are 118 representatives.  A senator has a term of 2, or 4 years.  A representative has a term of 2years.  To be a member of the General Assembly you must be 21 years old and a resident of the district he/she represents.  Redistricting occurs once every 10 years.

6. Article IV: Legislative Branch cont. MAKING STATE LAWS BILL, a proposed law, must pass both houses of the General Assembly by majority vote plus 1 (50% + 1)  Must be read for 3 days 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 General Assembly has 30 days to get the bill to Gov. Governor has 60 days to act upon it Can override veto with a 3/5 vote 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

7. Article V: Executive Branch Governor: Pat Quinn  carrying out state laws  signing or vetoing bills  calling special sessions of General Assembly  commanding the IL National Guard in peacetime Lieutenant Governor: Sheila Simon  must be of same political party as the Governor  performs duties that are delegated by Gov. and prescribed by law Attorney General: Lisa Madigan  legal officer of the state Secretary of State : Jesse White  maintains official state records as well as issues drivers and auto licenses Treasurer : Dan Rutherford  responsible for safekeeping & investment of money  disburses money upon order of the comptroller Comptroller : Judy Barr Topinka  maintains state’s central fiscal accounts  orders payments into and out of funds held by treasurer

8. Article VI: Judicial Branch  3 types of courts:  ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT  DISTRICT APPELLATE (APPEAL) COURTS  CIRCUIT COURTS (main trial courts) IL has 5 JUDICIAL DISTRICTS  ILLINOIS JUDGES ARE ELECTED (EXCEPT associate judges who are appointed) Different from U.S. Supreme Court

9. 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  Government money must be used for public purposes  Governor prepares budget  Legislature (General Assembly) decides how money will actually be spent

10. 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

11. 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

12. Comparison of U.S. & Illinois Constitutions LEGISLATIVE BRANCH (law-making) 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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 EXECUTIVE BRANCH U.S. ILLINOIS

16. Comparison of U.S. & Illinois Constitutions MAJOR DIFFERENCES UNITED STATES  PRESIDENT  JUDGES: APPOINTED (9)  BILL OF RIGHTS: Amendments 1-10  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  AMENDING: APPROVED BY VOTERS  AMENDMENTS: INSERTED IN  GENERAL ASSEMBLY LEADER:  SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE  SENATE LEADER: PRES. of SENATE  118 REPRESENTATIVES to Gen. Assem  2 PER DISTRICT  59 SENATORS: 1 PER DISTRICT