Eleanor Finch
The Illinois Constitution, which was first adopted in 1818, has been amended 15 times and is the governing document of the state of Illinois. The current version, referred to as the Constitution of Illinois of 1970 or the 1970 Constitution, contains a preamble and 14 articles. One of its key features is the creation of home rule powers for larger municipalities and other units of local government. According to Article XIV, Illinois voters must be asked at least every 20 years if they wish to hold a constitutional convention. The last time this question was put to a vote was in 2008, and it failed with 67% voting against it. Amendments to the constitution can be proposed by the General Assembly or through a petition signed by electors, and they must be approved by either three-fifths of those voting on the amendment or a majority of those voting in the election.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Frequency of calling for a new constitution | At least once every 20 years |
| Who can call for a new constitution | Illinois voters or 60% of members of both houses of the Illinois General Assembly |
| How is a new constitution approved | 60% supermajority vote or a majority of those who cast a ballot for any office in that election |
| Who can propose amendments to the constitution | The General Assembly or petitioning electors |
| How are amendments approved | Three-fifths of those voting on the amendment or a majority of those voting in the election |
| How often are elections held for executive officers | Every four years |
| Requirements to hold office | Be a United States citizen, at least 25 years old, and a resident of Illinois for three years |
| Number of Constitutions | Four |
| Last amended | November 8, 2022 |
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What You'll Learn
Illinois Constitution amendments
The Illinois Constitution provides four mechanisms for amending the state constitution: a constitutional convention, a legislative process, and a citizen-initiated process.
Constitutional Convention
According to Article XIV of the Illinois Constitution, a question about whether to hold a constitutional convention is to automatically appear on the state's ballot every 20 years starting in 1918. A constitutional convention question can also be placed before the state's voters if 60% of the members of both houses of the Illinois General Assembly vote in the affirmative. If such a question does appear on the ballot, 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 for any office in that election.
Legislative Process
Amendments proposed by the General Assembly must be published with explanations at least one month before the vote by the electors. The vote on the proposed amendment or amendments shall be on a separate ballot. A proposed amendment shall become effective if approved by either three-fifths of those voting on the amendment or a majority of those voting in the election. The General Assembly shall not submit proposed amendments to more than three Articles of the Constitution at any one election.
Citizen-Initiated Process
In Illinois, the number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is equal to 8% of the votes cast for the governor in the previous gubernatorial election. Initiated measures in Illinois 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.
Frequency of Amendments
There is no set frequency for how often Illinois must call for a new constitution. However, the state's constitution provides several mechanisms for amending the document, and a question about whether to hold a constitutional convention automatically appears on the ballot every 20 years.
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Petition for amendments
The Illinois Constitution outlines the procedures for amending the constitution. A petition for amendments must follow the steps outlined in Article XIV of the Illinois Constitution. Firstly, a petition must contain the text of the proposed amendment and the date of the general election at which the amendment will be submitted for consideration. The petition must be signed by petitioning electors within 24 months preceding the election and filed with the Secretary of State at least six months before the election. The validity and sufficiency of the petition will be determined by law. If the petition is deemed valid, the proposed amendment will be submitted to the electors at the general election. For the amendment to be approved, it must receive the support of either three-fifths of those voting specifically on the amendment or a majority of those voting in the general election.
It is important to note that the General Assembly cannot submit proposed amendments to more than three Articles of the Constitution in a single election. Additionally, once a Convention is called, no amendments shall be proposed or submitted under this section until after the electors have voted on the resolution.
The Illinois Constitution also specifies that a question about whether to hold a constitutional convention should appear on the state's ballot every 20 years, starting in 1918. This is an opportunity for Illinois voters to express their desire for a constitutional convention, which can lead to significant revisions or amendments to the Constitution.
The current Illinois Constitution, referred to as the "Constitution of Illinois of 1970" or the "1970 Constitution", has been amended multiple times since its adoption. The most recent amendment, Amendment 1, was approved by voters on November 8, 2022.
To summarise, petitioning for amendments to the Illinois Constitution involves a specific process, including preparing and submitting a petition with the proposed amendment, meeting the required number of signatures, and obtaining approval from either three-fifths of those voting on the amendment or a majority of those voting in the general election. Additionally, Illinois provides for the option of calling for a constitutional convention every 20 years, allowing for more extensive revisions to the Constitution.
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Approval process
The Illinois Constitution 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 current Illinois Constitution has been amended 15 times, with the most recent amendment being approved by voters on November 8, 2022.
Illinois voters must be asked at least every 20 years if they desire a constitutional convention, with the last vote taking place in 2008. A constitutional convention can also be placed before the voters if 60% of the members of both houses of the Illinois General Assembly vote in favour. If the question of a constitutional convention is put to a vote, it must be approved by a supermajority of 60% of those voting on the question or a majority of those who cast a ballot in that election.
Amendments to the constitution can be proposed by the General Assembly or through a petition. If proposed by the General Assembly, amendments must be published with explanations at least one month before the vote and will be voted on via a separate ballot. Amendments become effective if approved by three-fifths of those voting on the amendment or a majority of those voting in the election.
For a petition to be valid, it must contain the text of the proposed amendment and the date of the general election at which the amendment will be submitted. The petition must be signed by petitioning electors within 24 months preceding the election and filed with the Secretary of State at least six months before the election. If the petition is valid, the proposed amendment will be submitted to the electors at the general election and will become effective if approved by three-fifths of those voting on the amendment or a majority of those voting in the election.
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Ballot measures
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. The current Illinois Constitution has been amended 15 times. Voters last approved a new amendment on November 8, 2022.
According to Article XIV of the Illinois Constitution, a question about whether to hold a constitutional convention is to automatically appear on the state's ballot every 20 years starting in 1918. Illinois is one of 14 states that provides for an automatic constitutional convention question. A constitutional convention question can also be placed before the state's voters if 60% of the members of both houses of the Illinois General Assembly vote in the affirmative. If such a question does appear on the ballot, 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 for any office in that election.
The vote on whether to call a convention shall be on a separate ballot. A convention shall be called if approved by three-fifths of those voting on the question or a majority of those voting in the election. The General Assembly, at the session following approval by the electors, shall provide for the convention and for the election of two delegates from each Legislative District.
In Illinois, the number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is equal to 8% of the votes cast for the governor in the previous gubernatorial election. Initiated measures in Illinois 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. According to Article XVI, the state Legislature can refer constitutional amendments to the ballot for voters to decide. A 60% vote is required during one legislative session for the Illinois General Assembly to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot.
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Constitutional convention
The Constitution of the State of Illinois is the governing document of the state and outlines the state's framework for governance, including the powers, structure, and limitations of the state government, individual and civil rights, and other matters. There have been four Illinois Constitutions, with the fourth version, also known as the "Constitution of Illinois of 1970" or the "1970 Constitution", adopted in 1970. This constitution has been amended 15 times, with the most recent amendment approved by voters on November 8, 2022.
Illinois is one of 14 states that provides for an automatic constitutional convention question. According to Article XIV of the Illinois Constitution, a question about whether to hold a constitutional convention is to automatically appear on the state's ballot every 20 years starting in 1918. The last time this measure was put to a vote was in 2008, where it failed with 67% voting against it.
A constitutional convention can also be placed before the state's voters if 60% of the members of both houses of the Illinois General Assembly vote in favor. If such a question appears on the ballot, 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.
The procedure for amending the constitution is outlined in Article XIV of the Illinois Constitution. Amendments proposed by the General Assembly must be published with explanations at least one month before the vote and shall be on a separate ballot. Amendments require the approval of three-fifths of those voting on the amendment or a majority of those voting in the election to become effective.
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Frequently asked questions
Every 20 years, Illinois voters are asked if they desire a constitutional convention.
A supermajority vote of 60% of those voting on the question or a majority of those who cast a ballot for any office in that election.
A petition shall contain the text of the proposed amendment and the date of the general election at which the proposed amendment is to be submitted. This must be signed by petitioning electors and filed with the Secretary of State at least six months before the general election. If the petition is valid, the proposed amendment will be submitted to the electors and shall become effective if approved by three-fifths of those voting on the amendment or a majority of those voting in the election.
The fourth version of the Illinois Constitution was ratified in 1970 and went into effect on July 1, 1971. It has been amended 15 times since.
The 1970 Illinois Constitution has a preamble and 14 articles. Important features include the creation of home rule powers for larger municipalities and other units of local government.
