Illinois Constitution Unit

The Illinois Constitution Test

• 80 questions• All multiple choice• One class period• Passing grade is a

C- (70%).• Retakes will be required

if you do not pass the first time.

Branches of government you will need to know

Illinois

• The word Illinois comes from a Native American phrase. It means “tribe of superior men.”

• The State Motto is “State Sovereignty, National Union.”

• The State Slogan is “Land of Lincoln.”

• The State Nickname is “Prairie State.”

Illinois Farming

• Illinois is largely an agricultural state (farming).• The chief crops that Illinois produces include corn,

soybeans, wheat, oats and hay.

State symbolshttp://www.museum.state.il.us/exhibits/symbols/index.html

Tree White Oak

Flower Violet

Prairie grass Big Blue Stem

Snack food Popcorn

Animal White Tail Deer

Bird Cardinal

Insect Monarch Butterfly

Fish Blue Gill

Reptile Eastern Painted Turtle

State symbolsAmphibian East. Tiger Salamander

Mineral Fluorite

Soil Drummer Silty Clay

Dance Square Dance

State Flag State Seal

Illinois’ Five Largest Cities(2010 U.S. Census)

1. Chicago 2,695,598

2. Aurora 197,8993. Rockford 152,8714. Joliet 147,4335. Naperville 141,853

Crystal Lake 40,743 (2010 U.S. Census)

States that Border Illinois

Five states border Illinois. They are Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, and Indiana.

Michigan does not border Illinois.

History of Illinois

A. 1673 – French rule Illinois territory1. Marquette & Joliet2. Trading and exploring for the French

Government

B. French established forts at: 1. Fort St. Louis at Starved Rock2. Fort de Crevecoeur3. Pimitouri (Peoria) & Kaskaskia

History of IllinoisC. French and Indian War

1. The French lose to the British in 1763.2. The British now possess most of

America.D. Revolutionary War

1. 17782. George Rogers Clark defeats British in the Illinois area

E. After the war, Virginia claimed the Illinois area as a county in 1783.

History of IllinoisF. 1787 – 1807

1. Illinois area became attached to a variety of territories.2. Indiana & Wisconsin

G. 18181. Illinois became a state on

December 3rd2. Illinois is the 21st state in the Union.3. Kaskaskia was named the first capital.4. Shadrach Bond was named the first governor.

History of IllinoisH. Indian uprisings

1. Don’t want to leave land2. Chief Black Hawk3. Lose to Illinois militia

I. State Capitals1. 1820 – moved from Kaskaskia to Vandalia2. 1839 – moved from Vandalia to Springfield

because, in part, Abraham Lincoln and his

colleagues helped get the capital moved (Long Nine)

History of Illinois

J. 1818 Constitution – 1st1. Did not interfere with slavery already in state2. Did not allow anymore slaves to enter

K. 1824 – Proposed law1. Allow slavery? Some people want it2. Governor Edward Coles will not let it happen3. Illinois remains a FREE STATE

History of IllinoisL. More Slavery Issues

1. Lincoln challenges Stephan A. Douglas for Senate seat2. “Little Giant” wants people to choose, not the

state3. Both debate the topic, gathers nationwide attention4. Douglas wins but Lincoln impresses many people5. Lincoln nominated for and wins Presidency

M. 1848 Constitution1. More power to the people

2. Executive offices will now be elected rather than appointed.

History of IllinoisN. 1870 Constitution

1. Constitution changed again2. Unchanged for 100 years and is outdated

O. 1970 ConstitutionTwo major changes:Have a greater protection on individual rightsImprove the tax system

STOP HERE. STUDY FOR QUIZ #1.

History of Illinois (review)

1.Kaskaskia was the first capital, then Vandalia, and then Springfield.

2. Illinois has had four constitutions – 1818, 1848, 1870, and 1970.

3. Illinois became a state in 1818 with a population of 35,000.

4.The Illinois Constitution is just like the U.S. Constitution but much longer.

5.A constitution is a plan telling how a government will be run.

Preamble

A preamble tells why the constitution is being written – for the welfare of the people and to maintain a representative (democratic) government.

There are 14 articles in the Illinois Constitution.

Article IThe Bill of Rights

1. Inherent and inalienable rights – people have the right to life, happiness, and to be free. It is up to the government to protect these rights.

2. Due Process of law and equal protection under the law – Due process is the means by which fair treatment is attained. (Hearing/respond)

3. Religious Freedom

Article I4. Freedom of speech and freedom of the press5. Right to assemble (meetings for peaceful purposes)

and petition (show opinions/feelings)6. Freedom from unlawful search, seizures, or

invasions of privacya. Private homesb. Unless there is proof of criminal activity

7. Right of Grand Jury Indictment (paper telling you the crime you committed if there is enough evidence)

Article I8. Rights of persons accused of crimes – meet with witnesses,

call witnesses, speedy public jury trial, and impartial jury.9. Right of bail (getting freedom before trial) and Writ of

Habeas Corpus (order to bring a person before the court to see if they have been legally imprisoned).

10. Self-incrimination and double jeopardy (a person cannot be tried for the same crime twice).

11. Penalty limitations (Should fit the crime).12. Right to Remedy and Justice for wrongs done to a person,

property, or reputation.

Article I13. Right to trial by jury (impartial peers).14. No imprisonment for debt (owing money).15. Just compensation for property taken for public use –

eminent domain.16. No ex post facto laws (a law punishing you for something

you did before it was illegal).17. No discrimination in employment and the sale or rental of

property.18. No sex discrimination in government.19. No discrimination against handicapped.20. Condemns insulting statements about persons.

Article I21. No quartering of soldiers in peace time.22. Right to bear arms subject to police power.23. Residents have to obey laws if they are to be effective.24. Residents have rights not mentioned in Article 1 (right to

vote, free schooling through grade 12, and healthful environment)

STOP HERE. STUDY FOR QUIZ #2.

Article II - Powers of state

1. Powers are divided between the legislative, executive and judicial branches of the government. (3 branches)

2. Separation of powersa. No branch is allowed to become more powerful than anotherb. System of checks and balances to make sure

Article III – Suffrage and Elections

1. Suffrage means the right to vote2. You must be 18 years of age to vote in Illinois3. You must be a resident of Illinois for at least 30 days4. You cannot vote while you are in jail or if you were

convicted of a felony (major crime)5. Your right to vote is returned to you if you complete

your sentence6. Voting is a privilege, not a right! You can lose it.

Article IV – Legislative Branch(Makes the Laws)

1. The General Assembly is when the Senate and the House of Representatives meets together

2. Members must be 21, a resident of their district for 2 years and a citizen.

3. There are 59 districts with 1 senator and 2 representatives each

a. 3 for each districtb. Redistrict after each U.S. census

Article IV4. Senators have a 4 year term; representatives have a 2

year term5. The chairman (leader) of the Senate is called the

President of the Senate6. The leader of the House of Rep. is called the Speaker

of the House7. In case of Impeachment ( to impeach means to accuse

of wrongdoing), the House of Rep. starts the proceedings (investigation) and the Senate will hold the trial

Article IV8. A bill becomes a law by passing both the House

and Senate and then being signed by the governor 9. It can also be held unsigned for 60 days and then it

will become a law10. A governor may veto (vote “no”) all of a bill or just

parts of it11. To pass a bill over a veto requires a 3/5 vote from

the both the House and the Senate

How a Bill becomes a Law

1. Legislator introduces a bill (idea) to their part of the General Assembly

2. The bill is given a number and a title and then read for the first time (the whole thing isn’t read, just the number and title part. Some bills could be really long)

3. The bill is assigned to a committee to examine if this idea could work

a. If it does not pass, it is deadb. If it does, it goes before the entire house

Bill becoming a Law

4. The bill is read a second time and other legislators may add amendments to it

5. The bill is read a third time, debated over and voted on by the entire house

6. If it passes, it must be sent to the other house and all of the previous steps must be followed again

Bill becoming a Law7. If the bill passes the second house, it is sent to the governor8. The governor can then:

a. Sign it into lawb. Veto by sending it back to its house of origin with objectionsc. Leave it alone for 60 days and then it will become a

law automatically(A governor can veto the bill anytime during those 60 days)

Article V – Executive Branch(Enforces the Law)

1. The Governor:a. Must account for all fundsb. Can appoint and remove officersc. Can grant reprieves (temporary suspension or

delay in sentence)d. Can grant pardons (set free from punishment)e. Commands the National Guard (our militia)f. Can assemble the Senate to elect a President (if

needed)

Article V

2. The Governor must be 25 years old, resident for 3 years, serve 4 year term

3. Other Executive Officers: (also must be 25, serve 4 year term)

a. Lieutenant Governor – second in commandb. Attorney General – Legal officer, states lawyerc. Secretary of state – Maintains recordsd. Comptroller – Deposits and holds moneye. Treasurer – Approves payments, writes checks

Executive Officers

Governor Lt. Governor

Comptroller Treasurer

Secretary of State Attorney General

Patrick Quinn Sheila Simon

Dan Rutherford

Lisa MadiganJesse White

Judy Barr Topinka

Article VI – Judicial Branch(Interprets Laws and Justice)

1. 3 Illinois Court Systems:a. Circuit Court – all cases start hereb. Appellate Court – you can appeal or ask for your case to be

looked at again if convicted the first timec. Supreme Court – if case gets this far, their ruling is

considered final2. Supreme Court has 7 judges (3 from Cook county

area)a. Chief Justice runs the groupb. All serve 10 year termsc. Can run for re-election without opposition

Article VII – Local Government

1. The basic subdivision of Illinois is called the countya. There are 102 counties in Illinois

2. The county is responsible for many areas of government such as:

Police CourtsRoads Land useTaxes ElectionsHealth Care ParksLicensing etc…

Article VII

3. Counties are also divided into townships which take care of :

a. Rural roadsb. Assistance to the needyc. Assessment (evaluation) of property

4. The 1970 Constitution gave counties and cities more power to deal with local problems

5. This is called Home Rule6. This is all designed so that every problem does not

fall into one group’s responsibility

Article VIII - FinanceIllinois public funds (money), property or credit may only be used for public purposes

Article IX – RevenueThe state taxes in 3 ways:

Property tax – house, landSales tax – clothes, food, etc…Income tax – the amount of money that you make at

your job

Article X - EducationThe 1970 Constitution set up a State Board of Education

Free education from Kindergarten through 12th gradeIllinois does not pay for college

Article XI – Healthful EnvironmentIt is the policy of the State of Illinois and the duty of each person to maintain a healthful environment. Pick up after yourself.

Article XII – State MilitiaThe Governor is the Commander–in–Chief of the National Guard (The National Guard is a branch of the U.S. Army. It protects our state and helps during crisis situations.)

Article XIII – General ProvisionsPeople convicted of major crimes are ineligible to hold public office.

a. Must take oath swearing you will follow laws of Illinoisb. Break the oath and you face possible impeachment.

Article XIV – Changing the State Constitution

1. There are 3 provisions:a. 3/5 of the General Assembly must call for a

convention. The people of Illinois must approve this call and also the proposals being made for it

b. 3/5 of the General Assembly is needed to propose amendments to the people of Illinois

c. 3/5 of the General Assembly is needed or a majority is needed to vote on any proposals for passage

Your Illinois Senator & RepresentativeThese people have local offices in McHenry County and represent us in

the General Assembly:

32nd District State Senator: Pamela Althoff

64th District State Representative: Michael W. Tryon

Your U.S. RepresentativesThese people have offices in Illinois but represent us in Washington

D.C.:

16th District U.S. Representative: Don Manzullo

Illinois State Senators: Dick Durbin and Mark Kirk.