il test

Constitution:

IL is longer and waymore specific

Was made after the US constitution 

Starts with a Bill of Rights (longer and more specific)

Joined the union in 1818

Present version adopted in 1970

2 major sections: 14 articles, 3 branches

Legislative

General Assembly

   -Bicameral: House (118) and Senate (59) 2:1 ratio

^must be 21, a citizen, live in the district you represent, must meet at least once a year

Terms

Representatives: 2 yr term

State Senator:Terms are staggered (4-4-2) (4-2-4) 10 yrs total 

Executive

Governor - Executive Officer (JB Pritzker) 43rd

^at least 25, citizen, 3 years in state, 4 yr terms in non presidential yrs, no limit on # of terms

Lieutenant Governor - Role given by law and governor 

Attorney General - Chief legal advisor of state

Secretary of State - Record keeper of the state  

Comptroller - Decides which bills paid, w/which money 

Treasurer - Invests states money 

Veto Powers of the Governor

Total Veto: Governor can veto the entire bill; can be overridden with 3/5 of both chambers

Amendatory Veto - Substantive: Governor can make specific changes in a bill after it has passed in the General Assembly 

Line-Item/Reduction Veto - Appropriations: Governor can reduce/eliminate the amount of money appropriated in a revenue bill

Number of days to consider the veto: 60 Days

Judiciary

State Supreme Court - 7 Judges in one court

Like Federal Supreme Court, it hears final appeals

State Appellate Courts - Reviews Decisions of Circuit Courts (5 circuit courts in the State)

State Circuit Courts - General Trial Courts (24 district courts in the State) 

Judges qualifications

Lawyer/license to practice law

Live in district they represent

Unlike Federal Supreme Court, the judges are elected

Supreme Court & Appellate: 10 year terms

Circuit Courts: 6 years

Retention; not reelection

Amendment procedure

Step 1 Proposal: 3/5 of each branch of the General Assembly ask if there should be a state constitutional convention

Step 2 Ratification: By the people, in a statewide ballot called a referendum

Local Governments

6,918 w/in IL

General Purpose Units

-Multiple functions

-Provide basic services

-Police, fire, roads, water, sewer…

-County = 102

-Municipal = 1,297

-Township = 1,429 

Special Purpose Units (4,090)

-Dedicated to a single purpose

-School districts = 886

-Parks and recreation’ library; soil and water conservation; hospitals; mass transit