ILLINOIS CONSTITUTION

Governor

• Pat Quinn (Democrat)• Chief Executive• Appoints key administrators• Proposes budget yearly• Grants reprieves and pardons• Fills vacancies in executive offices

Powers of Governor

• Call out the National Guard• Call special sessions of the General

Assembly• Issue Executive Orders

Powers of the Governor

• Make addresses to set state policy– State of the state speech– Budget address

Powers of the Governor

Veto Bills

Total Veto Line-Item Veto Reduction Veto Amendatory Veto

Lieutenant Governor

• ?????(Democrat)• Successor to the Governor• Responsible for various administrative

assignments

Attorney General

• Lisa Madigan (Democrat)• Chief law enforcement officer for the state• Chief legal officer

Secretary of State

• Jesse White (Democrat)• Issues vehicle license plates and titles• Issues drivers licenses and maintains

records• Registers corporations

Comptroller

• Daniel Hynes (Democrat)• Chief fiscal officer• Manages transactions made within the

budget

Treasurer

• Alexi Giannoulias (Democrat)• State’s banker

General AssemblyILL House ILL Senate U.S. House U.S. Senate

Age Requirement 21 21 25 30

Residency Requirement 2 years 2 years State they

RepresentState they represent

Citizenship At time of election

At time of election 7 years 9 years

Term of office

2 years118 members

Staggered 4-2-459 Members

2 years 6 years

LeaderSpeaker elected by house vote

President elected by senate vote

Speaker elected by house vote

Vice pres. empowered by U.S. Const

Illinois Court System

Supreme Court

Appellate Court

Circuit Court

Supreme Court

• Seven justices• Elected by the voters• Ten year terms

Appellate Court

• Five districts• Three justices hear each appellate case• Elected by voters• Ten year terms

Circuit Court

• Twenty-one courts• Types

– Felony, Misdemeanor, Small Claims, Family, Juvenile and other courts

• Judges elected by voters• Six year terms• Associate judges appointed by circuit

judges for four year term