Jonah Patel
The Illinois Constitution has been amended 15 times since its adoption in 1818. It provides four mechanisms for amending the state constitution: a constitutional convention, a legislative process, and a citizen-initiated process. Amendments may be proposed in either house of the General Assembly and must be read in full on three different days in each house before a vote is taken. If approved by a majority of delegates, the proposed amendment is submitted to the electors and becomes effective if approved by either three-fifths of those voting on the amendment or a majority of those voting in the election.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of mechanisms to amend the constitution | 4 |
| Mechanisms | Constitutional convention, legislative process, citizen-initiated process |
| Number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment | Equal to 8% of votes cast for governor in the previous gubernatorial election |
| Minimum frequency of asking Illinois voters if they desire a constitutional convention | Once every 20 years |
| Minimum frequency of a constitutional convention question appearing on the ballot | Once every 20 years, starting in 1918 |
| Number of votes required to place a constitutional convention question before the state's voters | 60% of the members of both houses of the Illinois General Assembly |
| Number of votes required to affirm a constitutional convention question | 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 |
| Number of amendments to the Illinois Constitution | 15 |
| Number of votes required for a proposed amendment to become effective | Three-fifths of those voting on the amendment or a majority of those voting in the election |
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What You'll Learn
Illinois Constitution Article XIV
Article XIV of the Illinois Constitution outlines the process for amending the state's constitution and the US Constitution.
Amendments to the US Constitution
According to Article XIV, the Illinois General Assembly must take specific steps to amend the US Constitution. Firstly, an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly is required to request one of the following:
- A Federal Constitutional Convention
- Ratification of a proposed amendment to the US Constitution
- A State Convention to ratify a proposed amendment to the US Constitution
The General Assembly cannot take action on any proposed amendment submitted for ratification by state legislatures unless a majority of its members have been elected after the amendment's submission.
Amendments to the Illinois Constitution
Amendments to the Illinois Constitution may be initiated in either house of the General Assembly. Any proposed amendment must be read in full on three separate days in each house and reproduced before the final passage vote. If an amendment is approved by at least three-fifths of the members elected to each house, it will be submitted to the electors in the next general election, provided that the election occurs at least six months after legislative approval. However, the amendment can be withdrawn before the election if a majority of the members elected to each house vote for withdrawal.
For an amendment to become effective, it must be approved by either three-fifths of those voting on it or a simple majority of those voting in the election. The General Assembly cannot propose amendments to more than three articles of the constitution in a single election.
Additionally, according to Article XIV, a question about holding a constitutional convention automatically appears on the state's ballot every 20 years, starting in 1918. Illinois is one of 14 states with this provision. A constitutional convention question can also be placed on the ballot if 60% of both houses of the General Assembly vote in favour.
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Constitutional convention
The Illinois Constitution provides four mechanisms for amending the state constitution: a constitutional convention, a legislative process, and a citizen-initiated process. A constitutional convention question is automatically placed on the state's ballot every 20 years, with the last vote taking place in 2008 and the next scheduled for 2028. This is in accordance with Article XIV of the Illinois Constitution, which also states that a constitutional convention question can be placed on the ballot if 60% of members of both houses of the Illinois General Assembly vote in favour. If the question is put to 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.
If a constitutional convention is approved, any proposed revisions or amendments must be submitted to the electors in the manner determined by the Convention. The vote on the proposed revisions or amendments will take place in a separate ballot, no less than two months and no more than six months after the Convention's adjournment. Any revisions or amendments will become effective if approved by a majority of those voting.
The Illinois Constitution has been amended 15 times, most recently on November 8, 2022, when voters approved Amendment 1.
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Legislative process
The Illinois Constitution provides four mechanisms for amending the state constitution: a constitutional convention, a legislative process, a citizen-initiated process, and a Federal Constitutional Convention. This response will focus on the legislative process.
Amendments to the Illinois Constitution may be initiated in either house of the General Assembly. Amendments must be read in full on three different days in each house and reproduced before the vote is taken on final passage. If three-fifths of the members of both the Senate and House approve the amendment, the question of whether to change the constitution is put before voters during the next statewide election. Amendments 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.
The General Assembly may also propose revisions or amendments to the constitution, which must be approved by a majority of the delegates elected. These revisions or amendments must be published with explanations at least one month before the election. The vote on the proposed revisions or amendments shall be on a separate ballot and shall become effective if approved by a majority of those voting.
The General Assembly enacts laws only by bill, which may originate in either house but may be amended or rejected by the other. No bill shall become a law without the concurrence of a majority of the members elected to each house. Final passage of a bill shall be by record vote. The General Assembly shall provide by law for a uniform effective date for laws passed prior to June 1 of a calendar year, and a different effective date may be provided for in any law passed prior to June 1.
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Citizen-initiated process
The Illinois Constitution provides four mechanisms for amending the state constitution, one of which is the citizen-initiated process. This process, also known as an initiated constitutional amendment, is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that allows citizens to propose changes to the state's governing document.
In Illinois, the number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is 8% of the votes cast for the governor in the previous gubernatorial election. This is a significant number of signatures and demonstrates the high threshold that citizens must meet to initiate constitutional change. It is worth noting that Illinois is one of 18 states that allow citizens to initiate constitutional amendments, showing that Illinois is among a group of states that empower their citizens to have a direct say in shaping their constitution.
The initiated constitutional amendment process in Illinois is specifically designed to amend Article IV of the Illinois Constitution, which pertains to the structure of the Illinois State Legislature. This focus on the state legislature highlights the intended purpose of this process, which is to give citizens a mechanism to propose changes to the legislative branch of their state government.
Once the required number of signatures is gathered, the proposed amendment enters the electoral process. The amendment will be submitted to the electors during a general election, where it will be voted on. For the amendment to be approved and become part of the constitution, it must meet one of two thresholds: it needs to be approved by either a majority of those voting in the election or three-fifths of those specifically voting on the amendment. This dual-approval mechanism ensures that the amendment has broad support and is not just the result of a simple plurality.
The citizen-initiated process for amending the Illinois Constitution empowers citizens to take an active role in shaping their state's governing document. By gathering signatures, citizens can propose changes to the structure of their state legislature, and through the electoral process, these changes can become part of the constitution. This process underscores the democratic ideals of citizen participation and direct influence in constitutional matters.
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Supermajority vote
The Illinois Constitution provides four mechanisms for amending the state constitution: a constitutional convention, a legislative process, a citizen-initiated process, and a supermajority vote. This response will focus on the supermajority vote process.
In Illinois, supermajority votes are required for certain types of amendments to the state constitution. For example, a supermajority vote of 60% of those voting is required to approve a constitutional convention, which is a gathering for the purpose of revising or amending a constitution. This type of convention can be called in two ways: by a ballot measure that appears automatically every 20 years (with the next occurrence being in 2028) or by a vote of 60% of the members of both houses of the Illinois General Assembly.
Additionally, a supermajority vote of three-fifths of the members of both the Senate and House is required to approve certain amendments, such as those related to changing the state's income tax structure. If this supermajority threshold is met, the proposed amendment is then put before voters in the next statewide election for final approval.
It is important to note that supermajority requirements for amending the Illinois Constitution ensure that any changes to the state's fundamental framework for governance require broad support and consensus.
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Frequently asked questions
There are four mechanisms for amending the Illinois Constitution: a constitutional convention, a legislative process, and a citizen-initiated process.
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.
An initiated constitutional amendment is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends a state's constitution. 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.
Amendments to the Illinois Constitution may be initiated in either house of the General Assembly. Amendments shall be read in full on three different days in each house and reproduced before the vote is taken on final passage. If three-fifths of both the Senate and the House approve the amendment, the question of whether to change the constitution is put to the voters during the next statewide election.
