Illinois Constitution

1
Illinois Constitution

• American Government

2
Illinois Budget

• 38.2 billion dollars
• 25 spent on education
• Eminent Domain compensation of seized property

3
General Assembly

• 21 years of age to serve
• 118 reps and 59 Senators
• Jobs enact, amend, repeal laws, pass
  resolutions, adopt appropriation bills
• Acts on Amendments to US constitution
• Proposes and submits Amendments for Illinois
  constitution for voters.
• Immunity going to and from session except for
  treason, felony, and breach of peace.

4
General Assembly

• Convenes the 2nd Wed of January on odd numbered
  years following an election year
• Adjourn end of May and Reconvening Oct. or Nov.
  for 2 weeks to consider Governors veto.
• Secretary of State presides over House until a
  Speaker is elected
• Governor presides over Senate until President
  elected
• Speaker of House Michael Madigan
• Senate President James PatePhilip

5
Presiding Officers

• Senate President leader of majority party in
  upper chamber
• 2 year term
• Speaker of the House leader of house Majority
  Party
• Appoints members of committees and chairpersons
• Can throw in jail, any non-member for contempt or
  disorderly behavior for 24 hours.

6
Special Session

• Special session is convened by governor or joint
  proclamation by the presiding officers of both
  chambers for special subjects
• Confirmation
• impeachment

7
Impeachment

• Impeach and convict executive and judicial
  officeholders
• House impeaches majority needed
• Senate is the adjudicator 2/3 vote for guilty
• Only removed from office
• Chief Justice of Illinois SC is the judge when
  the Governor is impeached
• General Assembly members expelled by 2/3 vote
  from their chamber.

8
Legislative Districts

• 1 Senator and 2 House reps.
• 59 total districts. Why?
• We are in the 45th district, page
• 88 rep is Mitchell and 89 rep is Lawfer
• Live 2 years in the area you are elected from
• If vacancy and more than 28 months left, special
  election, less - appointment

9
How a Bill Becomes a Law

• Bills originate in either house
• Any bill passed after May 31 cannot take effect
  until June 1st of the following year unless
  passes both houses by 3/5
• Bill is read 3 times by title
• Introduce
• Allow for amendments
• vote

10
Simple

• If House starts bill and Senate okays bill goes
  to Governor who may sign it, allow it to pass, or
  veto it.
• If senate Amends it, goes back, if House concurs,
  it goes back to Governor.
• House refuses to okay amendment, and the Senate
  withdraws its Amendment, it goes back to
  Governor.
• If Senate does not withdraw, it goes to
  conference committee, then back to both chambers,
  if okayed, then back to Governor.
• If not okayed by both chambers, goes to second
  Conference Committee, if one does not approve, it
  is dead

11
Elections

• State Board of Elections bipartisan
• Duty is to ensure the uniform administration of
  election laws statewide.
• Primary election party election, must decide
  whether Republican or Democrat - Closed Primary.
• Party Caucus Party Leaders hold meeting and
  decide
• Party Convention Counties send delegates to
  state convention to determine
• General Election

12
Suffrage

• Must register to vote 30 days before election
• If convicted of a felony, or in jail, cannot vote.

13
Judicial Branch

• Supreme Court 7 judges, elected for ten year
  term
• Chief Justice is elected from the 7 for a 3 year
  term
• Hears death sentence cases, what it wants,
  original jurisdiction, and if the Appellate
  recommends a case.
• Appellate courts have 3 judges and serve a 10
  year term
• Each Judicial Circuit will have one circuit judge
  elected per county. Circuit judges will appoint
  associate judges.

14
Executive Branch

• 4 year term
• 25 years old
• If tie in election, draw lots for all executive
  offices
• Succession Lt. Governor, Attorney General,
  Secretary of State
• Governor appoints all vacancies

15
Duties of Executive Branch

• Lt. Governor delegated by Governor
• Attorney General legal officer of state
• Secretary of State record acts of General
  Assembly and elections. Drivers license
• Comptroller orders treasure to pay bills
• Invests monies and distributes upon order from
  Comptroller

16
Militia

• All able bodied persons
• General Assembly equips and Organizes
• Governor is Commander in Chief except when they
  are in the service of the US.
• Enforce laws, suppress insurrection or repel
  invasion
• Commission militia officers
• Except in causes of treason, felony, and breach
  of peace, persons going to, returning from or on
  militia duty are privileged from arrest.