Illinois has had four Constitutions

• 1818 - for statehood

• 1848 - improve the 1818

• 1870 - agriculture based

• 1970 - written to adapt to importance of industry

Illinois became a state in 1818 and has had 3 capitals

• Kaskaskia

• Vandalia

• Springfield

Introduces the Constitution and gives

it’s purpose

• Lists the rights of the people in 24 sections

• Also places restrictions on the government of Illinois

• Powers of the state

• Explains separation of powers principle

• Divided into three branches - legislative, executive, judicial

Suffrage and Elections

• Rules and regulations of voting

• Election procedures

• General election - Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even numbered years

• U.S. Citizen

• 18 years old

• State resident for 30 days

The Legislature

• Lawmaking power rests in a General Assembly

• 2 Houses - the House of Representatives and Senate

• Senators are chosen from 59 legislative districts

• Representatives are chosen from 118 Representative districts

• We are 56th Legislative, 112th Representative

• Senate - 2 or 4 year terms

• House - 2 year terms

• Requirements •21 years old

•U.S. citizen

•Resident of district for 2 years

• Vacancies are filled by appointment

• Session begins each January on second Wednesday

• Need quorum to meet - majority of members

• House - Speaker of the House - elected by the members

• Senate - President of Senate - elected by the members

• Bills may originate, be amended by, or rejected by both

• Majority required to pass

• Governor may veto within 60 days

• Becomes law without signature after 60 days

• House investigates and charges

• Senate acts as jury (tries cases)

• State S.C. Chief Justice presides if governor is on trial

• 2/3 vote required to remove a governor from office