Simone Lawson
The Illinois Constitution was first adopted in 1818, when Illinois became the 21st state. Since then, the constitution has been revised and ratified several times, with the most recent ratification taking place in 1970. To ratify an amendment to the Illinois Constitution, a petition must be filed with the Secretary of State at least six months before a general election. The petition must contain the text of the proposed amendment and be signed by petitioning electors within the preceding 24 months. If the petition is valid, the proposed amendment is then submitted to the electors at the general election and must be approved by either three-fifths of those voting on the amendment or a majority of those voting in the election. The General Assembly can also propose amendments, but only if a majority of its members have been elected after the proposed amendment has been submitted for ratification.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Petition contents | The text of the proposed amendment and the date of the general election at which the proposed amendment is to be submitted |
| Petition signatures | Signed by the petitioning electors not more than 24 months preceding that general election |
| Submission deadline | Filed with the Secretary of State at least six months before that general election |
| Approval required | Three-fifths of those voting on the amendment or a majority of those voting in the election |
| General Assembly action | A majority of the members of the General Assembly shall have been elected after the proposed amendment has been submitted for ratification |
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What You'll Learn
- The General Assembly cannot take action on a proposed amendment unless a majority of members have been elected after the proposed amendment has been submitted for ratification
- A petition must contain the text of the proposed amendment and the date of the general election at which the proposed amendment is to be submitted
- The petition must be signed by petitioning electors not more than 24 months before the general election and filed with the Secretary of State at least 6 months before the general election
- If the petition is valid, the proposed amendment shall be submitted to the electors at the general election
- The proposed amendment shall become effective if approved by three-fifths of those voting on the amendment or a majority of those voting in the election
The General Assembly cannot take action on a proposed amendment unless a majority of members have been elected after the proposed amendment has been submitted for ratification
The Illinois Constitution was first adopted in 1818, when Illinois became a state. Since then, the constitution has been revised and ratified several times, most recently in 1970.
The General Assembly cannot take action on a proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States submitted for ratification by legislatures unless a majority of the members of the General Assembly have been elected after the proposed amendment has been submitted for ratification. This is to ensure that the requirements of this section are not inconsistent with the requirements established by the United States.
A petition for a proposed amendment must contain the text of the amendment and the date of the general election at which the amendment is to be submitted. It must be signed by petitioning electors within 24 months of the general 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.
The process for determining the validity and sufficiency of a petition is provided by law.
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A petition must contain the text of the proposed amendment and the date of the general election at which the proposed amendment is to be submitted
The Illinois Constitution has been ratified several times since it was first adopted in 1818. The last time Illinois residents were asked if they desired to hold a constitutional convention was in 2008, but the ballot measure failed with 67% voting against it.
To ratify the Illinois Constitution, a petition must contain the text of the proposed amendment and the date of the general election at which the proposed amendment is to be submitted. The petition must be signed by the petitioning electors no more than 24 months before the general election and must be filed with the Secretary of State at least six months before that general election. The procedure for determining the validity and sufficiency of a petition is provided by law. If the petition is valid and sufficient, the proposed amendment shall be submitted to the electors at that general election and 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 take action on any proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States submitted for ratification by legislatures unless a majority of the members of the General Assembly shall have been elected after the proposed amendment has been submitted for ratification. The requirements of this Section shall govern to the extent that they are not inconsistent with requirements established by the United States.
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The petition must be signed by petitioning electors not more than 24 months before the general election and filed with the Secretary of State at least 6 months before the general election
The petitioning process for ratifying the Illinois Constitution is a crucial aspect of ensuring that any proposed amendments are supported by the state's electors. This process is designed to give electors a direct say in the amendment process, allowing them to influence the direction of their state's constitution.
To initiate this process, a petition must be signed by petitioning electors. This signature drive has a strict timeframe; signatures can only be collected within a 24-month window preceding the general election. This means that the signatures must be gathered relatively close to the election, ensuring that the support for the proposed amendment is current and reflective of the will of the people.
Once the petition has been signed by the required number of electors, it must be promptly filed with the Secretary of State. This filing also has a deadline; it must be submitted at least six months before the general election. By setting this deadline, the state ensures that there is sufficient time to review and validate the petition before placing the proposed amendment on the ballot.
The petition itself must adhere to specific requirements. It should include the full text of the proposed amendment, providing transparency and clarity on the exact changes being sought. Additionally, the petition must specify the date of the general election at which the proposed amendment will be submitted for a vote. This date is crucial, as it determines the timeframe for signature collection and the subsequent filing process.
The state has established a procedure to determine the validity and sufficiency of petitions. This process ensures that only legitimate and properly supported petitions proceed to the next stage. If a petition meets the required standards, the proposed amendment is then submitted to the electors during the specified general election. At this point, the electors have the power to approve or reject the amendment through their votes.
In conclusion, the petitioning process for ratifying the Illinois Constitution empowers electors to have a direct say in amending their state's constitution. By signing petitions and ultimately voting on proposed amendments, electors play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Illinois and its governing document.
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If the petition is valid, the proposed amendment shall be submitted to the electors at the general election
A petition to amend the Illinois Constitution must contain the text of the proposed amendment and the date of the general election at which the proposed amendment is to be submitted. It must be signed by petitioning electors no more than 24 months before that general election and filed with the Secretary of State at least six months before that general election. The procedure for determining the validity and sufficiency of a petition is provided by law.
If the petition is valid and sufficient, the proposed amendment shall be submitted to the electors at that general election and shall become effective if approved by either three-fifths of those voting on the amendment or a majority of those voting in the election.
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The proposed amendment shall become effective if approved by three-fifths of those voting on the amendment or a majority of those voting in the election
The Illinois Constitution has been ratified several times since the state joined the Union in 1818. The most recent ratification was in 1970.
To ratify an amendment to the Illinois Constitution, a petition must be signed by petitioning electors no more than 24 months before a general election and filed with the Secretary of State at least six months before that election. If the petition is valid, the proposed amendment will be submitted to the electors at the election. The amendment will 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 take action on any proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United States submitted for ratification by legislatures unless a majority of the members of the General Assembly shall have been elected after the proposed amendment has been submitted for ratification.
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Frequently asked questions
The Illinois Constitution is the governing document of the state of Illinois. The first Illinois Constitution was adopted in 1818, when Illinois was admitted to the Union as the 21st state. There have been several revisions to the Constitution since then, with the most recent one being ratified in 1970.
The Illinois Constitution can be ratified through a process that involves the General Assembly and the electors. A proposed amendment to the Constitution must be submitted to the General Assembly for ratification, and it can only be acted upon if a majority of the members of the General Assembly have been elected after the proposed amendment has been submitted. If the proposed amendment is approved by the General Assembly, it is then submitted to the electors at a general election and must be approved by either three-fifths of those voting on the amendment or a majority of those voting in the election to become effective.
Amendments to the Illinois Constitution can be proposed by the General Assembly or through a petition process. If proposed by petition, the petition must contain the text of the proposed amendment, the date of the general election at which it is to be submitted, and must be signed by petitioning electors not more than twenty-four months preceding that general election. The petition must then be filed with the Secretary of State at least six months before the general election.
The last time the Illinois Constitution was revised was in 1970.
Yes, voters can reject proposed amendments to the Illinois Constitution. In fact, this has happened several times in the past. In 1862, a set of changes known as the "Copperhead constitution" were not ratified by the voters. Similarly, in 1922, changes proposed by a constitutional convention held in 1920 were rejected by voters.
