• Ratified by voters  1970
• Similar form as federal government  (3  branches)
• Provides for areas not covered by federal government
  • Local  government
  • Taxation
  • Public  education
  • Elections
  • Voting

• makes 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

• Legislative
• Executive
• Judicial

• U.S.  citizen
• 18 years old
• reside at least 30 days in IL
• people 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

Primary Election

• each political party chooses its candidates for the general election

• 118 members
• 2 year term
• 1 Rep. elected from each representative district
• Presiding Officer is the Speaker, elected from among the  118 Reps

Each person in IL

• lives in a legislative district & a representative district
• is represented by one state senator and one state representative in the General Assembly

Senate

• 4 year term
• 59 members
• 1 senator elected from each of 59 Illinois legislative districts
• Presiding officer is a senator chosen by the senate (President of the senate)

Making State Laws

• BILL, a proposed law, must pass both houses of the General Assembly by majority vote
• 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

   

• 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

• 25  years  old
• U.S.  citize
• Reside  in  IL  for  3  years

Governor

• carrying  out  state  laws
• signing  or  vetoing  bills
• calling  special  sessions  of   General  Assembly
• commanding  the  IL  National  Guard  in peacetime

Lieutenant Governor

• must  be  of  same  political  party  as  the  Governor
• performs  duties  that  are  delegated  by  Gov.  and  prescribed  by  law

Attorney General

• legal officer  of  the  state

Secretary of State

• maintains  official  state  records  as  well  as  issues  drivers  and  auto  licenses

Treasurer

• responsible  for  safekeeping  &  investment  of  money
• disburses  money  upon  order  of  the  comptroller

Comptroller

• maintains  state’s  central  fiscal  accounts
• orders  payments  into  and out  of  funds  held  by  treasurer
• "fiscal"  refers  to  the  record-keeping  of  money  and  is  a  365  day period  that  usually  begins  July  1  &  ends  June  30

• Illinois Supreme Court
• Appellate (Appeal) Courts
• Circuit Courts  (main  trial  courts)

Illinois has Five Judicial Districts

Illinois  judges are elected (except  associate judges  who  are  appointed)

• 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

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

• Non-graduated income tax
• No Personal property tax

Property not taxed

• State owned or government owned
• School Districts
• Church Property
• Cemeteries
• Hospitals
• Non-Profits

State  may  sell  bonds  to  raise  money             

• Goal  of  education  is  educational  development  of  all  persons
• Free education  through  secondary  level
• State Board  of  Education  plans  educational  program

• Illinois National Guard

• 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

• 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  

• State of Illinois Web Site

• State of Illinois Page

• Legislative Links

• Illinois Government Information

• State of Illinois - Project Vote Smart

• Illinois Government Web Sites

• State and Local Government

• Vital Records Information - Illinois

• City of Rockford

• Area Guide - Rockford

• Rockford Board of Elections

• Rockford Public Library

• 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

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

U.S. Supreme Court

• Appointed

• 9 Justices

• Lifetime term

U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals

U.S. District Courts  

Illinois Supreme Court

• Elected

• Qualifications:  U.S. Citizen,  Licensed  Lawyer,  Resident  of  Unit in which elected

•  7 Judges

• 10  yr. term

Illinois Appellate Courts

Illinois 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-President.

Order of Succession:  Vice-president, Speaker of  House, President 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-Governor, Attorney  General,  Secretary of  State

UNITED  STATES

• President

• Judges Appointed (9)

• Bill of Rights:   Amendmets 1-10

• 1789

• Amending:  Approved by States

• Amendments:   27 - Added On

• Congress Leader:  Speaker of the House

• Senate Leader:  Vice-President

• 435 Representatives to Congress:  1  Per District

• 100  Senators:  2  Per State

Illinois

• Governor

• Judges:  Elected  (7)

• Bill of Rights:  Article  I

• 1970

• Amending:  Approved by Voters

• Amendments:   Inserted in

• General Assembly Leader:  Speaker of the House

• Senate Leader:  President of Senate

• 118  Representatives to General Assembly:  1 Per  District

• 59 Senators:  1 Per  District