Isabella Carter
The current Illinois Constitution, also known as the Constitution of Illinois of 1970 or the 1970 Constitution, came into effect on December 15, 1970, and is the fourth version of the state's governing document. The 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. It consists of a preamble, 14 articles, and a schedule, and has been amended several times since its adoption.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of Effect | 1970 |
| Date Adopted | December 15, 1970 |
| Date Ratified | July 2, 1870 |
| Number of Constitutions | 4 |
| Preamble | 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 a representative and orderly government; eliminate poverty and inequality; assure legal, social and economic justice; provide opportunity for the fullest development of the individual; insure domestic tranquility; provide for the common defense; and secure the blessings of freedom and liberty to ourselves and our posterity—do ordain and establish this Constitution for the State of Illinois. |
| Number of Articles | 14 |
| Amendments | Do not require governor's signature to be referred to the ballot |
| Article XII | Titled "Militia." It establishes rules for the state militia and authorises the Governor of Illinois as the commander-in-chief of the militia |
| Article XIII | Titled "General Provisions" and establishes rules governing the running for public office, pension and retirement rights and public transportation |
| Article XIV | Titled "Constitutional Revision" and sets up procedures to amend the constitution |
| Article XVI | States that the state Legislature can refer constitutional amendments to the ballot for voters to decide |
| Article XVIII | Prohibits discrimination based on sex |
| Article XIX | Prohibits discrimination based on physical or mental handicaps |
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What You'll Learn
The current Illinois Constitution came into effect in 1970
The current Illinois Constitution, also known as the "Constitution of Illinois of 1970" or the "1970 Constitution", came into effect on December 15, 1970. It is the fourth version of the Illinois Constitution, with the previous versions adopted in 1818, 1848, and 1870.
The 1970 Constitution has a preamble and 14 articles. The preamble expresses gratitude to Almighty God for civil, political, and religious liberty, and it seeks to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of the people of Illinois. It also aims to maintain a representative and orderly government, eliminate poverty and inequality, assure legal, social, and economic justice, provide opportunities for individual development, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, and secure the blessings of freedom and liberty for the people and their posterity.
The 1970 Constitution includes important features such as the creation of home rule powers for larger municipalities and other units of local government. It establishes rules for the state militia, designating the governor as the commander-in-chief and granting them authority to enforce laws, suppress insurrection, or repel invasion. The constitution also sets rules for persons holding public office, including pension and retirement rights, and establishes the Illinois General Assembly, which is divided into the Illinois Senate and the House of Representatives.
The Illinois Constitution, like other state constitutions, serves as the fundamental document outlining the state's framework for governance. It addresses matters such as the powers, structure, and limitations of the state government, individual and civil rights, voting qualifications, election rules, and procedures for amending the constitution. Amendments to the 1970 Constitution have been made after its adoption, demonstrating the dynamic nature of constitutional law and its ability to adapt to the changing needs of the state and its people.
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The constitution has 14 articles
The current Illinois Constitution, also known as the "Constitution of Illinois of 1970" or the "1970 Constitution", came into effect on December 15, 1970. It is the fourth version of the state's constitution, with the first one adopted in 1818 when Illinois became the 21st state and was admitted to the Union.
The 1970 Constitution has a preamble, 14 articles, and a schedule. The preamble expresses gratitude to Almighty God for civil, political, and religious liberty, and seeks His blessing in maintaining a representative and orderly government, eliminating poverty and inequality, assuring legal, social, and economic justice, providing opportunities for individual development, and securing domestic tranquility and freedom for the people of Illinois.
Article X of the constitution is titled "Local Government" and includes provisions for the division of powers into executive, legislative, and judicial branches. It also covers voting qualifications, disqualifications, and other election rules. For instance, Section 1 stipulates that a person must be 18 years old and a resident of the state for 30 days to be eligible to vote.
Article XII, titled "Militia," establishes rules for the state militia and designates the Governor of Illinois as its commander-in-chief. Article XIII, "General Provisions," covers rules for running for public office, pension and retirement rights, and public transportation.
Article XIV, "Constitutional Revision," outlines procedures for amending the constitution and requires that Illinois voters be asked at least every 20 years if they wish to convene a constitutional convention. This article also specifies that 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 of it.
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It includes a bill of rights
The current Illinois Constitution, also known as the "Constitution of Illinois of 1970" or the "1970 Constitution", came into effect on December 15, 1970. It is the fundamental governing document of the state of Illinois and includes a bill of rights.
The Illinois Constitution of 1970 is the fourth version of the state's constitution, and it includes a preamble and 14 articles. The bill of rights within the constitution contains provisions similar to those in the United States Bill of Rights, such as freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom of assembly. Additionally, it includes items not present in the United States Constitution, such as sections prohibiting discrimination based on sex and physical or mental handicaps.
The 1970 Constitution also establishes rules for the state militia, designating the governor as the commander-in-chief and granting them the authority to use the militia to enforce laws, suppress insurrection, or repel invasion. It outlines procedures for amending the constitution and requires that Illinois voters be asked at least every 20 years if they desire a constitutional convention.
Furthermore, the Illinois Constitution addresses voting qualifications, disqualifications, and election rules. It establishes the structure of the Illinois General Assembly and the state board of elections, ensuring that no single political party has a majority on the board. The constitution also provides rules for recalling the governor and outlines the powers of the assembly, dividing it into the Illinois Senate and the House of Representatives.
The bill of rights within the Illinois Constitution of 1970 is a crucial component, safeguarding the civil liberties and individual freedoms of the state's residents, while also addressing various other aspects of governance and social welfare.
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It establishes rules for the state militia
The current Illinois Constitution, also known as the "Constitution of Illinois of 1970" or the "1970 Constitution", came into effect after being adopted in a special election on December 15, 1970. Illinois has had four constitutions in total, with the first one being adopted in 1818 when Illinois became the 21st state and was admitted to the Union.
Rules for the State Militia
Article XII of the Illinois Constitution, titled "Militia", establishes rules for the state militia. It defines the state militia as consisting of:
> "The State militia consists of all able-bodied persons residing in the State except those exempted by law."
It also establishes the Governor of Illinois as the commander-in-chief of the militia, granting them the authority to use the militia to:
> "enforce the laws, suppress insurrection or repel invasion."
These rules for the state militia are distinct from the rules governing the Illinois National Guard, which is a separate entity that falls under federal jurisdiction and is composed of both federalised and non-federalised units.
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It outlines rules for amending the constitution
The current Illinois Constitution, also known as the "Constitution of Illinois of 1970" or the "1970 Constitution", came into effect following a special election on December 15, 1970, and was ratified by the people of Illinois. This constitution is the fourth version of the Illinois Constitution, with the first version adopted in 1818 when Illinois became the 21st state and was admitted to the Union.
Amending the Constitution
The Illinois Constitution outlines rules and procedures for amending the constitution itself. Article XIV of the Illinois Constitution, titled "Constitutional Revision", sets up the processes for amending the constitution. One of the key provisions of Article XIV is the requirement for a question about holding a constitutional convention to appear on the state's ballot every 20 years, starting in 1918. This provision ensures that Illinois voters have a regular opportunity to consider potential changes to the constitution. The last time this measure was put to a vote was in 2008, where it failed with 67% voting against it.
In addition to this automatic referendum, a constitutional convention question can also be triggered by the Illinois General Assembly. For this to occur, 60% of the members of both houses of the Assembly must vote in favour of the question. If the question is placed on the ballot, it must then 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 initiated by the state legislature or through a process of initiated constitutional amendment. For a legislatively referred constitutional amendment, the state Legislature must refer the amendment to the ballot for voters to decide, requiring a 60% vote during one legislative session. Initiated constitutional amendments require a number of signatures equal to 8% of the votes cast for the governor in the previous gubernatorial election and can only amend Article IV of the constitution, pertaining to the structure of the Illinois State Legislature. All amendments, regardless of the initiation process, must be approved by either a majority of those voting in the election or three-fifths of those voting specifically on the amendment.
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Frequently asked questions
The present Illinois Constitution went into effect in 1970.
There have been four Illinois Constitutions.
The 1970 Constitution includes a bill of rights that mirrors the US Bill of Rights, with freedoms of religion, speech, and assembly. It also establishes rules for the state militia and prohibits discrimination based on sex or physical/mental handicaps.
According to Article XIV, a question about holding a constitutional convention must appear on the state's ballot every 20 years, starting in 1918.
Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot. They must be approved by either a majority of those voting in the election or three-fifths of those voting on the amendment itself.
