Illinois State Government Comparison

ILLINOISSTATE 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 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!!

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Comparison of U.S. & Illinois ConstitutionsLEGISLATIVE 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

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 ConstitutionsJUDICIAL 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

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-GOVERNORORDER OF SUCCESSION:

Lieutenant-Gov., Attorney General, Secretary of State

Comparison of U.S. & Illinois Constitutions EXECUTIVE BRANCH

U.S. ILLINOIS

Comparison of U.S. & Illinois Constitutions

MAJOR DIFFERENCESUNITED 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