Simone Lawson
The Illinois Constitution has been amended 15 times, with the most recent amendment voted in favour of by the public on November 8, 2022. The Illinois Constitution is the governing document of the state of Illinois and has been amended through four mechanisms: a constitutional convention, a legislative process, and a citizen-initiated process. The Illinois Constitution has a preamble and 14 articles, with Article XIV requiring that Illinois voters be asked at least once every 20 years if they desire a constitutional convention. The Illinois Constitution was first adopted in 1818 when Illinois became a state and has since been ratified in 1848, 1870, and 1970.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of amendments | 15 |
| First amendment | Adopted in 1818 |
| Current amendment | Amendment 1, approved on November 8, 2022 |
| Number of mechanisms for amending the constitution | 4 |
| Number of signatures required for an initiated amendment | 8% of votes cast for governor in the previous gubernatorial election |
| Number of Illinois Constitutions | 4 |
| Year of the current constitution's adoption | 1970 |
| Number of articles in the 1970 Constitution | 14 |
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What You'll Learn
Illinois Constitution Amendments
The Illinois Constitution is the governing document of the state of Illinois. There have been four Illinois Constitutions, with the fourth and current version adopted in 1970. This constitution has been amended 15 times, with voters most recently approving a new amendment on November 8, 2022.
Illinois became the 21st state on December 3, 1818, and its first constitution was adopted that same year. The second and third constitutions were ratified in 1848 and 1870, respectively, and the fourth and current version, referred to as the "Constitution of Illinois of 1970" or the “1970 Constitution,” was ratified in 1970 and took effect on July 1, 1971.
The 1970 Constitution has a preamble and 14 articles. It includes important features such as the creation of home rule powers for larger municipalities and other units of local government. It also outlines the state's framework for governance, including the powers, structure, and limitations of the state government, individual and civil rights, and other matters.
The Illinois Constitution provides four mechanisms for amending the state constitution: a constitutional convention, a legislative process, and a citizen-initiated process. An amendment may be proposed through a constitutional convention, which can be triggered automatically every 20 years or by a supermajority vote in the state legislature. Alternatively, the state legislature can refer a constitutional amendment to the ballot for voters to decide, requiring a 60% vote during one legislative session. In the case of a citizen-initiated process, the number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is 8% of the votes cast for governor in the previous gubernatorial election. All amendments must ultimately be approved by either a majority of those voting in the election or three-fifths of those voting on the amendment.
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Illinois Constitution Articles
The Illinois Constitution, which was adopted in 1970, has been amended 15 times. It consists of a preamble, 14 articles, and a schedule. Here is an overview of the key articles within the Illinois Constitution:
Article I: Bill of Rights
Article I of the Illinois Constitution outlines the inherent and inalienable rights of all individuals. It guarantees rights such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It also includes provisions for maintaining religious liberty, freedom of speech, and other fundamental freedoms.
Article II: Workers' Rights
Article II protects the rights of employees in the state. It grants employees the fundamental right to organize, bargain collectively, and negotiate wages, hours, and working conditions. This article ensures that employees can protect their economic welfare and safety in the workplace without interference from any laws or regulations.
Article IV: Structure of the Illinois State Legislature
Article IV addresses the structure and organization of the Illinois State Legislature. It defines the powers and responsibilities of the legislative branch, including the process for passing laws and the roles of different legislative bodies.
Article V: The Executive
Article V focuses on the executive branch of Illinois. It outlines the roles and responsibilities of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and other executive officers. It also includes provisions for impeachment and removal from office.
Article XIV: Constitutional Revision
Article XIV sets forth the procedures for amending the Illinois Constitution. It provides for four mechanisms of amendment: a constitutional convention, a legislative process, a citizen-initiated process, and a convention-referred process. This article ensures that the constitution can be revised and updated as needed.
Article XVI: Legislatively Referred Constitutional Amendment
Article XVI allows the state legislature to refer constitutional amendments directly to the voters for their decision. It specifies the requirements for placing a constitutional amendment on the ballot, including the necessary votes in the Illinois General Assembly.
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Illinois Constitution Ratification
The Illinois Constitution is the fundamental document outlining the state's framework for governance, including the powers, structure, and limitations of the state government, individual and civil rights, and other matters. Illinois has had four constitutions in its history, with the current version, the "Constitution of Illinois of 1970" or the "1970 Constitution", being the most recent. This constitution has been amended 15 times, with the most recent amendment being approved by voters on November 8, 2022.
The process of amending the Illinois Constitution is outlined in Article XIV, which provides four mechanisms for amendments: a constitutional convention, a legislative process, and a citizen-initiated process. A constitutional convention is a gathering where delegates propose and debate changes to the constitution. In Illinois, a constitutional convention question can be placed on the state's ballot if 60% of the members of both houses of the Illinois General Assembly vote in favour. The state also has a unique feature where a question about holding a constitutional convention automatically appears on the ballot every 20 years, with the last occurrence being in 2008, which failed to pass with 67% voting against.
The legislative process for amending the constitution involves the state legislature referring constitutional amendments to the ballot for voters to decide. This requires a 60% vote during one legislative session, amounting to a minimum of 71 votes in the Illinois House of Representatives and 36 votes in the Illinois State Senate.
The citizen-initiated process, or initiated constitutional amendment, allows citizens to directly propose amendments to the constitution. In Illinois, the number of signatures required for this process is equal to 8% of the votes cast for governor in the previous gubernatorial election. These initiated measures may only amend Article IV of the Illinois Constitution, pertaining to the structure of the Illinois State Legislature. All amendments, regardless of the proposal method, must be approved by either a majority of those voting in the election or three-fifths of those specifically voting on the amendment.
The Illinois Constitution of 1970 includes a preamble and 14 articles. Notable features of this constitution include the creation of home rule powers for larger municipalities and local governments, and the inclusion of sections not present in the United States Constitution, such as prohibitions against discrimination based on sex or physical and mental handicaps. The constitution also covers various topics such as voting qualifications and election rules, procedures for recalling the governor, and the rules governing state-elected offices.
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Illinois Constitutional Convention
The Illinois Constitution has been amended 15 times, with voters most recently approving a new amendment in November 2022. The current constitution is the product of the Sixth Illinois Constitutional Convention, also known as Con-Con, which took place between December 1969 and September 1970.
Illinois is one of 14 states that provides for an automatic constitutional convention question to appear on the ballot every 20 years, with the last vote taking place in 2008. The state's constitution can also be amended through a legislative process or a citizen-initiated process. For a citizen-initiated amendment, a petition must contain the text of the proposed amendment and the date of the general election at which it will be submitted. The number of signatures required is equal to 8% of the votes cast for governor in the previous gubernatorial election.
The Sixth Illinois Constitutional Convention, which resulted in the 1970 Illinois Constitution, was presided over by attorney Samuel W. Witwer and had 116 delegates elected in nonpartisan elections. The convention's delegates included Odas Nicholson, the only officer who was not a white man, and John Alexander, the only officer under 40 who faced opposition and ultimately prevailed.
The 1970 constitution was approved by Illinois voters in a special election on December 15, 1970, with a 55.5% majority and a 37% turnout. This constitution includes a preamble, 14 articles, and a schedule.
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Illinois Constitutional Revision
The Illinois Constitution is the governing document of the state of Illinois and has been amended 15 times, with the most recent amendment voted in favour of by the public on November 8, 2022. The first Illinois Constitution was adopted in 1818 when Illinois became a state. There have been four Illinois Constitutions in total, with the fourth and current version being ratified in 1970 and taking effect in 1971.
Illinois is one of 14 states that provides for an automatic constitutional convention question to appear on the state's ballot every 20 years, starting in 1918. The last time this occurred was in 2008, when the ballot failed with 67% voting against it. A constitutional convention question can also be placed before voters if 60% of the members of both houses of the Illinois General Assembly vote for it. If this happens, it must be approved by a supermajority vote of 60% of those voting on the question or a majority of those who cast a ballot in that election.
There are four mechanisms for amending the Illinois Constitution: a constitutional convention, a legislative process, a citizen-initiated process, and a convention-referred constitutional amendment. For a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment, the number of signatures required is equal to 8% of the votes cast for the governor in the previous gubernatorial election. These initiated measures may only amend Article IV of the Illinois Constitution, which addresses the structure of the Illinois State Legislature. All amendments must be approved by either a majority of those voting in the election or three-fifths of those voting on the amendment itself.
The Illinois Constitution of 1970 includes important features such as the creation of home rule powers for larger municipalities and other units of local government. It consists of a preamble and 14 articles, including a bill of rights that mirrors the United States Bill of Rights and includes additional provisions, such as prohibiting discrimination based on sex.
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Frequently asked questions
There have been 15 amendments to the Illinois Constitution, with the latest one being approved on November 8, 2022.
Article XIV of the Illinois Constitution requires that voters be asked at least every 20 years if they desire a constitutional convention.
Amendments to the Illinois Constitution can be approved through four mechanisms: a constitutional convention, a legislative process, a citizen-initiated process, and a convention-referred constitutional amendment.
