Omar Bennett
The Illinois Constitution is the governing document of the State of Illinois. There have been four Illinois Constitutions, with the fourth and current version, also known as the 1970 Constitution, being ratified in 1970 and coming into effect on July 1, 1971. The 1970 Constitution has a preamble and 14 articles, with the preamble stating: We, the People of the State of Illinois—grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberty which He has permitted us to enjoy and seeking His blessing upon our endeavors—in order to provide for the health, safety and welfare of the people; maintain.... This paragraph introduces the topic of the introduction to the Illinois Constitution, also known as the preamble.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Constitution of Illinois |
| Date of adoption | 1970 |
| Number of state constitutions | 4 |
| Number of articles | 14 |
| Number of amendments | 15 |
| Last amended | November 8, 2022 |
| Number of delegates at the first convention | 33 |
| Date of first convention | August 3, 1818 |
| Date Illinois became a state | December 3, 1818 |
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What You'll Learn
Illinois' statehood and its first constitution
Illinois became the 21st state of the Union on December 3, 1818, when President James Monroe signed the legislation for statehood. This was a significant milestone in the state's journey from a frontier territory to a full-fledged state. Illinois Constitution Day is observed every year on August 26, marking the ratification of the state's first constitution in 1818.
The first Illinois Constitution was drafted by 33 delegates from 15 counties, with Judge Jesse Thomas serving as presiding officer and Elias Kent Kane, a 24-year-old Yale-educated lawyer from New York, as the acknowledged leader. The convention was held at Bennett's Tavern in the territorial capital of Kaskaskia. The delegates managed to draft, debate, and approve the constitution within just three weeks. The 1818 Constitution was modelled after the state constitutions of New York, Kentucky, and Ohio. It was considered very liberal for its time, granting voting rights to all white males who had resided in the state for six months, with no property restrictions or citizenship requirements.
The first constitution also included provisions for a weak governor, limiting the executive's authority. It set the governor's term at four years, without the possibility of re-election, and established a minimum age of 30 years for the position. Additionally, it allowed the legislature to appoint most statewide officials, with only the governor and lieutenant governor being popularly elected. The constitution also set aside land in every township for schools and established the Illinois General Assembly, dividing it into two bodies: the Illinois Senate with 59 legislative districts and the Illinois House of Representatives with 118 representative districts.
The 1818 Illinois Constitution was one of four state constitutions that Illinois has had. The subsequent constitutions were ratified in 1848, 1870, and 1970. The fourth and current version of the Illinois Constitution, referred to as the "Constitution of Illinois of 1970" or simply the "1970 Constitution", includes a preamble and 14 articles. It contains unique provisions such as the prohibition of discrimination based on sex or physical and mental handicaps, as well as the creation of home rule powers for larger municipalities and local governments.
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The 1848 Constitution
Additionally, the 1848 Constitution outlined the election process for various government positions. It specified that the first general election for these positions would be held on the first Monday of August 1848, and subsequent elections would occur once every four years, commencing in November 1852.
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The 1970 Constitution
The 1848 Constitution was drafted due to the judicial inadequacies of the 1818 Constitution, which granted the General Assembly the power to appoint and remove judges, preventing an independent judicial system from taking root. The 1870 Constitution followed, and constitutional conventions were held in 1920 and 1969, resulting in the 1970 Constitution.
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Constitutional conventions
The Illinois Constitution is the governing document of the state of Illinois. Illinois has had four state constitutions, with the fourth and current version, also known as the "1970 Constitution", being adopted in 1970 and amended 15 times since. The 1970 Constitution has a preamble, 14 articles, and a schedule.
The first Illinois Constitution was adopted in 1818 when Illinois became a state. Following elections in July, 33 delegates met in the territorial capital of Kaskaskia on August 3, 1818, to begin drafting the constitution. The delegates approved the new constitution on August 26, 1818, and it consisted of eight articles. The 1818 Constitution was modelled after the state constitutions of New York, Kentucky, and Ohio. It was considered very liberal at the time, as it allowed all white males who had lived in the state for six months the right to vote with no property restrictions and no requirement that they be US citizens.
The 1818 Constitution was subsequently revised and ratified in 1848, 1870, and 1970. In 1862 and 1920, constitutional conventions were held, but the proposed changes were not ratified by the voters. The Sixth Illinois Constitutional Convention was held from December 8, 1969, to September 3, 1970, and resulted in the fourth version of the Illinois Constitution. This version was ratified by a special election on December 15, 1970, and went into effect on July 1, 1971.
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. Article II of the Illinois Constitution, for example, is titled "Powers of the State" and separates the state government into executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Article III, "Suffrage and Elections", outlines voting qualifications and other election rules, such as the requirement that a person must be 18 years old and a resident of the state for 30 days to vote.
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The Illinois Constitution today
The Illinois Constitution is the governing document of the state of Illinois. There have been four Illinois Constitutions, with the fourth and current version, also known as the "1970 Constitution", being ratified in 1970 and taking effect on July 1, 1971. This version has a preamble and 14 articles, and has been amended 15 times since its ratification.
The 1970 Constitution includes important features such as the creation of home rule powers for larger municipalities and other units of local government. It also contains items not included in the United States Constitution, such as Section 18, which prohibits discrimination based on sex, and Section 19, which prohibits discrimination based on physical or mental handicaps.
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. For example, Article II of the Illinois Constitution, titled "Powers of the State", separates the state government into the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Article III, "Suffrage and Elections", outlines voting qualifications and other election rules, such as the requirement that a person must be 18 years old and a resident of the state for 30 days to vote.
The Constitution also provides rules for the Illinois General Assembly, which is divided into two bodies: the Illinois Senate with 59 legislative districts, and the Illinois House of Representatives with 118 representative districts. The General Assembly may provide aid and assistance to public transportation and is responsible for establishing rules for elections. It also has the power to grant public funds or credit to any corporation or public authority authorised to provide public transportation within the state.
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Frequently asked questions
The introduction to the Illinois Constitution is called the preamble.
The preamble of the 1970 Illinois Constitution starts with: "We, the People of the State of Illinois—grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberty which He has permitted us to enjoy and seeking His blessing upon our endeavors—in order to provide for the health, safety and welfare of the people; maintain...".
The Illinois Constitution is the state constitution of Illinois. It is the fundamental document that outlines the state's framework for governance, including the powers, structure, and limitations of the state government, individual and civil rights, and other matters.
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