1. Illinois Constitution Unit

2. The Illinois Constitution Test
80 questions
All multiple choice
One class period
Passing grade is a
C- (70%).
Retakes will be required if you do not pass the first time.

3. Branches of government you will need to know

4. Illinois The State Motto is “State Sovereignty, National Union.”
The State Slogan is “Land of Lincoln.”
The State Nickname is “Prairie State.”
The word Illinois comes from a Native American phrase. It means “tribe of superior men.”

5. Illinois Farming Illinois is largely an agricultural state (farming).
The chief crops that Illinois produces include corn, soybeans, wheat, oats and hay.

6. State symbols http://www. museum. state. il. us/exhibits/symbols/index
Tree
White Oak
Flower
Violet
Prairie grass
Big Blue Stem
Snack food
Popcorn
Animal
White Tail Deer
Bird
Cardinal
Insect
Monarch Butterfly
Fish
Blue Gill
Reptile
Eastern Painted Turtle

7. State symbols Amphibian East. Tiger Salamander Mineral Fluorite Soil
Drummer Silty Clay
Dance
Square Dance
State Flag State Seal

8. Illinois’ Five Largest Cities (2010 U.S. Census)
Chicago 2,695,598
Aurora ,899
Rockford 152,871
Joliet ,433
Naperville 141,853
Crystal Lake 40,743 (2010 U.S. Census)

9. States that Border Illinois
Five states border Illinois. They are Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, and Indiana.
Michigan does not border Illinois.

10. History of Illinois A. 1673 – French rule Illinois territory
1. Marquette & Joliet
2. Trading and exploring for the French Government
B. French established forts at:
1. Fort St. Louis at Starved Rock
2. Fort de Crevecoeur
3. Pimitouri (Peoria) & Kaskaskia

11. History of Illinois
C. French and Indian War 1. The French lose to the British in The British now possess most of America. D. Revolutionary War George Rogers Clark defeats British in the Illinois area E. After the war, Virginia claimed the Illinois area as a county in 1783.

12. History of Illinois
F – Illinois area became attached to a variety of territories. 2. Indiana & Wisconsin G Illinois became a state on December 3rd 2. Illinois is the 21st state in the Union. 3. Kaskaskia was named the first capital. 4. Shadrach Bond was named the first governor.

13. History of Illinois
H. Indian uprisings 1. Don’t want to leave land 2. Chief Black Hawk 3. Lose to Illinois militia I. State Capitals – moved from Kaskaskia to Vandalia – moved from Vandalia to Springfield because, in part, Abraham Lincoln and his colleagues helped get the capital moved (Long Nine)

14. History of Illinois
J Constitution – 1st 1. Did not interfere with slavery already in state 2. Did not allow anymore slaves to enter K – Proposed law 1. Allow slavery? Some people want it 2. Governor Edward Coles will not let it happen 3. Illinois remains a FREE STATE

15. History of Illinois
L. More Slavery Issues 1. Lincoln challenges Stephan A. Douglas for Senate seat 2. “Little Giant” wants people to choose, not the state 3. Both debate the topic, gathers nationwide attention 4. Douglas wins but Lincoln impresses many people 5. Lincoln nominated for and wins Presidency M Constitution 1. More power to the people 2. Executive offices will now be elected rather than appointed.

16. History of Illinois
N Constitution 1. Constitution changed again 2. Unchanged for 100 years and is outdated O Constitution Two major changes: Have a greater protection on individual rights Improve the tax system STOP HERE. STUDY FOR QUIZ #1.

17. History of Illinois (review)
Kaskaskia was the first capital, then Vandalia, and then Springfield.
Illinois has had four constitutions – 1818, 1848, 1870, and 1970.
Illinois became a state in 1818 with a population of 35,000.
The Illinois Constitution is just like the U.S. Constitution but much longer.
A constitution is a plan telling how a government will be run.

18. Preamble
A preamble tells why the constitution is being written – for the welfare of the people and to maintain a representative (democratic) government. There are 14 articles in the Illinois Constitution.

19. Article I The Bill of Rights
Inherent and inalienable rights – people have the right to life, happiness, and to be free. It is up to the government to protect these rights.
Due Process of law and equal protection under the law – Due process is the means by which fair treatment is attained. (Hearing/respond)
Religious Freedom

20. Article I 4. Freedom of speech and freedom of the press
5. Right to assemble (meetings for peaceful purposes) and petition (show opinions/feelings)
6. Freedom from unlawful search, seizures, or invasions of privacy
a. Private homes
b. Unless there is proof of criminal activity
7. Right of Grand Jury Indictment (paper telling you the crime you committed if there is enough evidence)

21. Article I
8. Rights of persons accused of crimes – meet with witnesses, call witnesses, speedy public jury trial, and impartial jury. 9. Right of bail (getting freedom before trial) and Writ of Habeas Corpus (order to bring a person before the court to see if they have been legally imprisoned). 10. Self-incrimination and double jeopardy (a person cannot be tried for the same crime twice). 11. Penalty limitations (Should fit the crime). 12. Right to Remedy and Justice for wrongs done to a person, property, or reputation.

22. Article I Right to trial by jury (impartial peers).
No imprisonment for debt (owing money).
Just compensation for property taken for public use – eminent domain.
No ex post facto laws (a law punishing you for something you did before it was illegal).
No discrimination in employment and the sale or rental of property.
No sex discrimination in government.
No discrimination against handicapped.
Condemns insulting statements about persons.

23. Article I No quartering of soldiers in peace time.
Right to bear arms subject to police power.
Residents have to obey laws if they are to be effective.
Residents have rights not mentioned in Article 1 (right to vote, free schooling through grade 12, and healthful environment)
STOP HERE. STUDY FOR QUIZ #2.

24. Article II - Powers of state
1. Powers are divided between the legislative, executive and judicial branches of the government. (3 branches)
2. Separation of powers
a. No branch is allowed to become more powerful than another
b. System of checks and balances to make sure

25. Article III – Suffrage and Elections
Suffrage means the right to vote
You must be 18 years of age to vote in Illinois
You must be a resident of Illinois for at least 30 days
You cannot vote while you are in jail or if you were convicted of a felony (major crime)
Your right to vote is returned to you if you complete your sentence
Voting is a privilege, not a right! You can lose it.

26. Article IV – Legislative Branch (Makes the Laws)
The General Assembly is when the Senate and the House of Representatives meets together
Members must be 21, a resident of their district for 2 years and a citizen.
There are 59 districts with 1 senator and 2 representatives each
a. 3 for each district
b. Redistrict after each U.S. census

27. Article IV
Senators have a 4 year term; representatives have a 2 year term
The chairman (leader) of the Senate is called the President of the Senate
The leader of the House of Rep. is called the Speaker of the House
In case of Impeachment ( to impeach means to accuse of wrongdoing), the House of Rep. starts the proceedings (investigation) and the Senate will hold the trial

28. Article IV
A bill becomes a law by passing both the House and Senate and then being signed by the governor
It can also be held unsigned for 60 days and then it will become a law
A governor may veto (vote “no”) all of a bill or just parts of it
11. To pass a bill over a veto requires a 3/5 vote from the both the House and the Senate

29. How a Bill becomes a Law
Legislator introduces a bill (idea) to their part of the General Assembly
The bill is given a number and a title and then read for the first time (the whole thing isn’t read, just the number and title part. Some bills could be really long)
The bill is assigned to a committee to examine if this idea could work
a. If it does not pass, it is dead
b. If it does, it goes before the entire house

30. Bill becoming a Law
The bill is read a second time and other legislators may add amendments to it
The bill is read a third time, debated over and voted on by the entire house
If it passes, it must be sent to the other house and all of the previous steps must be followed again

31. Bill becoming a Law
If the bill passes the second house, it is sent to the governor
The governor can then:
a. Sign it into law
b. Veto by sending it back to its house of origin with objections
c. Leave it alone for 60 days and then it will become a
law automatically
(A governor can veto the bill anytime during those 60 days)

32. Article V – Executive Branch (Enforces the Law)
The Governor:
a. Must account for all funds
b. Can appoint and remove officers
c. Can grant reprieves (temporary suspension or delay in sentence)
d. Can grant pardons (set free from punishment)
e. Commands the National Guard (our militia)
f. Can assemble the Senate to elect a President (if needed)

33. Article V
The Governor must be 25 years old, resident for 3 years, serve 4 year term
Other Executive Officers: (also must be 25, serve 4 year term)
a. Lieutenant Governor – second in command
b. Attorney General – Legal officer, states lawyer
c. Secretary of state – Maintains records
d. Comptroller – Deposits and holds money
e. Treasurer – Approves payments, writes checks

34. Executive Officers Governor Lt. Governor Comptroller Treasurer
Secretary of State Attorney General
Patrick Quinn
Sheila Simon
Dan Rutherford
Judy Barr Topinka
Jesse White
Lisa Madigan

35. Article VI – Judicial Branch (Interprets Laws and Justice)
3 Illinois Court Systems:
a. Circuit Court – all cases start here
b. Appellate Court – you can appeal or ask for your case to be looked at again if convicted the first time
c. Supreme Court – if case gets this far, their ruling is considered final
Supreme Court has 7 judges (3 from Cook county area)
a. Chief Justice runs the group
b. All serve 10 year terms
c. Can run for re-election without opposition

36. Article VII – Local Government
The basic subdivision of Illinois is called the county
a. There are 102 counties in Illinois
The county is responsible for many areas of government such as:
Police Courts
Roads Land use
Taxes Elections
Health Care Parks
Licensing etc…

37. Article VII
Counties are also divided into townships which take care of :
a. Rural roads
b. Assistance to the needy
c. Assessment (evaluation) of property
The 1970 Constitution gave counties and cities more power to deal with local problems
This is called Home Rule
This is all designed so that every problem does not fall into one group’s responsibility

38. Article VIII - Finance Article IX – Revenue The state taxes in 3 ways:
Illinois public funds (money), property or credit may only be used for public purposes
Article IX – Revenue
The state taxes in 3 ways:
Property tax – house, land
Sales tax – clothes, food, etc…
Income tax – the amount of money that you make at your job

39. Article XI – Healthful Environment
Article X - Education
The 1970 Constitution set up a State Board of Education
Free education from Kindergarten through 12th grade
Illinois does not pay for college
Article XI – Healthful Environment
It is the policy of the State of Illinois and the duty of each person to maintain a healthful environment. Pick up after yourself.

40. Article XII – State Militia
The Governor is the Commander–in–Chief of the National Guard (The National Guard is a branch of the U.S. Army. It protects our state and helps during crisis situations.)
Article XIII – General Provisions
People convicted of major crimes are ineligible to hold public office.
a. Must take oath swearing you will follow laws of Illinois
b. Break the oath and you face possible impeachment.

41. Article XIV – Changing the State Constitution
There are 3 provisions:
a. 3/5 of the General Assembly must call for a convention. The people of Illinois must approve this call and also the proposals being made for it
b. 3/5 of the General Assembly is needed to propose amendments to the people of Illinois
c. 3/5 of the General Assembly is needed or a majority is needed to vote on any proposals for passage

42. Your Illinois Senator & Representative
These people have local offices in McHenry County and represent us in the General Assembly:
32nd District State Senator: Pamela Althoff
64th District State Representative: Michael W. Tryon
Your U.S. Representatives
These people have offices in Illinois but represent us in Washington D.C.:
16th District U.S. Representative: Don Manzullo
Illinois State Senators: Dick Durbin and Mark Kirk.