1. ILLINOIS STATE GOVERNMENT
21st state – Joined Union 1818
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

2. PREAMBLE
We, the People of the State of Illinois - grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberty which He has permitted us to enjoy and seeking His blessing upon our endeavors - in order to provide for the health, safety and welfare of the people; maintain a representative and orderly government; eliminate poverty and inequality; assure legal, social and economic justice; provide opportunity for the fullest development of the individual; insure domestic tranquility; provide for the common defense; and secure the blessings of freedom and liberty to ourselves and our posterity - do ordain and establish this Constitution for the State of Illinois.

3. Legislative -(General Assembly/Legislature)
Articles I-II
Article I:
BILL OF RIGHTS
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
Article II
SEPARATION OF POWERS
Legislative -(General Assembly/Legislature)
Executive-Governor
Judicial-State Supreme Court

4. ILLINOIS STATE GOVERNMENT Article III VOTING & ELECTIONS
GENERAL ELECTION
voting for members of General Assembly (name of IL legislative body)
held every 2 years
PRIMARY ELECTION
each political party chooses its candidates for the general election
VOTING ELIGIBILITY
U.S. citizen
18 years old
reside at least 30 days in IL
people in prison cannot vote, but can vote when released

5. ILLINOIS STATE GOVERNMENT Article IV: STATE LEGISLATURE (BICAMERAL) - qualifications – US citizen, 21 yrs old, reside in dist. they rep for at least 2 years.
Senate:
2 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
House of Representatives
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 (Senatorial) district & a representative district
is represented by one state senator and one state rep. in the General Assembly

6. ILLINOIS STATE GOVERNMENT Article IV: STATE LEGISLATURE (continued)
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.

7. ILLINOIS STATE GOVERNMENT Article V: STATE EXECUTIVE 6 ELECTED OFFICERS: Qualifications 25 years old, a U.S. citizen, and reside in IL for 3 years, 4year terms
GOVERNOR duties:
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

8. ILLINOIS STATE GOVERNMENT Article V: State Executive Department (continued)
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 recordkeeping of money and is a day period that usually begins July 1 & ends June 30

9. ILLINOIS STATE GOV’T Article VI: STATE JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT
7 IL state supreme court justices
Must be US citizen, licensed attorney, resident of district elected, cant have private practice
3 TYPES OF COURTS
ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT
APPELLATE (APPEAL) COURTS
CIRCUIT COURTS (main trial courts)
IL has 5 JUDICIAL DISTRICTS
ILLINOIS JUDGES ARE ELECTED (EXCEPT associate judges who are appointed)

10. ILLINOIS STATE GOV’T: 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
Gov’t money must be used for public purposes
Governor prepares budget
Legislature (General Assembly) decides how money will actually be spent

11. ILLINOIS STATE GOV’T: 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
XII: MILITIA
IL National Guard

12. ILLINOIS STATE GOV’T: 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

13. More Illinois Information
STATE OF ILLINOIS WEBSITE
STATE OF ILLINOIS PAGE
LEGISLATIVE LINKS
ILLINOIS GOVERNMENT INFORMATION
STATE OF ILLINOIS - PROJECT VOTE SMART
ILLINOIS GOVERNMENT WEBSITES
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
VITAL RECORDS INFORMATION - ILLINOIS
CITY OF ROCKFORD
AREA GUIDE - ROCKFORD
ROCKFORD BOARD OF ELECTIONS
ROCKFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY

14. ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Comparison of U.S. & Illinois Constitutions LEGISLATIVE BRANCH (law-making)
U.S.
ILLINOIS
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

15. 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

16. 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

17. Comparison of U.S. & Illinois Constitutions EXECUTIVE BRANCH
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

18. Comparison of U.S. & Illinois Constitutions MAJOR DIFFERENCES
UNITED STATES
PRESIDENT
JUDGES: APPOINTED (9)
BILL OF RIGHTS: Amendments 1-10
1789
AMENDING: APPROVED BY STATES
AMENDMENTS: 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
1970
AMENDING: APPROVED BY VOTERS
AMENDMENTS: INSERTED IN
GENERAL ASSEMBLY LEADER:
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
SENATE LEADER: PRES. of SENATE
118 REPRESENTATIVES to Gen. Assem
1 PER DISTRICT
59 SENATORS: 1 PER DISTRICT

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THE END
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