Illinois GovernmentIllinois Government

Mostly overlooked but has most Mostly overlooked but has most contact with our daily livescontact with our daily lives

StructureStructure

The The PREAMBLEPREAMBLE-States the purposes -States the purposes of the state government.of the state government.

Current Illinois Constitution effective Current Illinois Constitution effective since since 19701970

Structure: 2 Major Sections.Structure: 2 Major Sections. 1414 Articles in the Illinois Constitution. Articles in the Illinois Constitution. Three Branches in the Illinois, just Three Branches in the Illinois, just

like the like the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

Legislative BranchLegislative Branch Called the Called the GENERAL GENERAL

ASSEMBLYASSEMBLY and is a and is a BICAMERALBICAMERAL system. system.

Required Meetings: Required Meetings: ONCE A YEARONCE A YEAR

Qualifications: Qualifications: 21 21 Years OldYears Old, U.S. , U.S. Citizen and Citizen and LIVE IN LIVE IN THE DISTRICT YOU THE DISTRICT YOU REPRESENT!!!REPRESENT!!!..

Two Branches:Two Branches: State House of State House of

Representatives has Representatives has 118 MEMBERS. 118 MEMBERS.

State Senate has State Senate has 59 59 MEMBERS. MEMBERS.

TermsTerms

Like the House of Representatives Like the House of Representatives the State House of Representatives the State House of Representatives has a TWO YEAR term. has a TWO YEAR term.

State Senator, like the President, is State Senator, like the President, is elected everyelected every 4 YEARS 4 YEARS;HOWEVER, ;HOWEVER, there is a one half stagger, unlike the there is a one half stagger, unlike the US Senate which as a US Senate which as a 1/3 STAGGER1/3 STAGGER. .

Executive BranchExecutive Branch MembersMembers Governor-EXECUTIVE Governor-EXECUTIVE

OFFICEROFFICER

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR- LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR- responsibilities given by responsibilities given by law and governor.law and governor.

ATTORNEY GENERAL- ATTORNEY GENERAL- chief legal officer for chief legal officer for state. state.

Secretary of State: Secretary of State: official RECORD official RECORD KEEPER for the state.KEEPER for the state.

COMPTROLLER- COMPTROLLER- decides which bills will decides which bills will be paid with available be paid with available money.money.

Treasurer- keeps safe Treasurer- keeps safe and INVESTS state and INVESTS state MONEY. (writes MONEY. (writes checks to pay bills the checks to pay bills the comptroller tells him comptroller tells him to pay.)to pay.)

QualificationsQualifications

In order to run you must be In order to run you must be 2525 years years old old 3 years3 years in the state. in the state.

One Term: One Term: 4 years 4 years but elected in but elected in NON-PRESIDENTIAL years.NON-PRESIDENTIAL years.

Powers of the GovernorPowers of the Governor

Amendatory VETO: governor can make Amendatory VETO: governor can make specific changes in a bill after it has specific changes in a bill after it has passed in the General Assembly.passed in the General Assembly.

LINE ITEM VETO- governor can reduce the LINE ITEM VETO- governor can reduce the amount of money appropriated in a amount of money appropriated in a revenue bill. revenue bill.

Number of days to consider vetoes: Number of days to consider vetoes: 60 60 DaysDays

Judiciary BranchJudiciary Branch

Top: State SUPREME COURT: 7 judges.Top: State SUPREME COURT: 7 judges. Like Federal Supreme Court it hears Like Federal Supreme Court it hears

FINAL appeals.FINAL appeals. Middle: State Appellate Courts- reviews Middle: State Appellate Courts- reviews

decisions of CIRCUIT COURTS.decisions of CIRCUIT COURTS. Bottom- CIRCUIT COURTS- general trial Bottom- CIRCUIT COURTS- general trial

courts (5 circuits or judicial districts in courts (5 circuits or judicial districts in state)state)

QualificationsQualifications

LawyerLawyer License to Practice License to Practice

in ILLINOISin ILLINOIS Live in judicial Live in judicial

district that they district that they represent. represent.

Unlike Federal Unlike Federal Supreme Court the Supreme Court the judges are judges are ELECTEDELECTED

Supreme Court and Supreme Court and Appellate: Appellate: 10 10 YEARSYEARS..

Circuit Courts: Circuit Courts: 6 6 YearsYears..

ArticlesArticles

Article One: State of Illinois “BILL OF Article One: State of Illinois “BILL OF RIGHTS” RIGHTS”

Article Two: Separation of Powers Article Two: Separation of Powers into THREE branches. into THREE branches.

Article 7: HOME RULE PROVISION. All Article 7: HOME RULE PROVISION. All municipalities over 25, 000 can municipalities over 25, 000 can automatically levy taxes, license automatically levy taxes, license businesses, and borrow money. businesses, and borrow money.

Amendment ProceduresAmendment Procedures

Step 1 Step 1 PROPOSALPROPOSAL: : 3/5 of each branch 3/5 of each branch of the GENERAL of the GENERAL ASSEMBLY ask if ASSEMBLY ask if there should be a there should be a State constitutional State constitutional convention. convention.

Step 2 Step 2 RATIFICATION:RATIFICATION:by the people, in a by the people, in a state-wide ballet state-wide ballet called a called a REFERENDUM.REFERENDUM.

OROR

Step 2 Step 2 Ratification:Ratification:

Approval in a Approval in a referendum.referendum.

Step 1 Proposal:Step 1 Proposal:

3/5 of each branch 3/5 of each branch of the General of the General Assembly propose Assembly propose an amendment.an amendment.

IllinoisFederal

Compare and Contrast the Federal Government to the Illinois Government

on the Venn Diagram.

Take your chart out Take your chart out and review with me…and review with me…

Comparing Illinois to the Comparing Illinois to the Federal GovernmentFederal Government

IllinoisIllinois___ members in the ___ members in the

Senate.Senate.____ members in the ____ members in the

House. House. Has a ________ term Has a ________ term

limit for judges.limit for judges.The Governor can The Governor can remain a governor remain a governor

for __________ for __________ terms. terms.

FederalFederal____ members in the ____ members in the

Senate.Senate.____ members in the ____ members in the

House.House.Has a _________ term Has a _________ term

limit for judges. limit for judges. The President can The President can

run for _______ run for _______ terms.terms.

Similarities of the State and Similarities of the State and Federal GovernmentFederal Government

Both have a “_______ of ________” to Both have a “_______ of ________” to protect the citizens rights.protect the citizens rights.

Both have a _________, _________, and Both have a _________, _________, and ________ branch. ________ branch.

Both have a higher court called the Both have a higher court called the _________ _________. _________ _________.