Share this page Follow Ballotpedia. What's on your ballot? Jump to: navigation , search. United States Constitution. Virgin Islands. Categories : Pages using duplicate arguments in template calls Illinois Constitution Constitution articles by state. Hidden category: Pages with reference errors. Voter information What's on my ballot? Where do I vote? How do I register to vote? How do I request a ballot? When do I vote?
When are polls open? Who Represents Me? Congress special elections Governors State executives State legislatures Ballot measures State judges Municipal officials School boards. How do I update a page? Election results. Privacy policy About Ballotpedia Disclaimers Login. 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.
However, the people's inalienable fundamental rights cannot be contracted away or transferred to government. Thus, a constitution recognizes and protects individual rights and liberties, but it does not create them. First, it declares and guarantees the people's rights and liberties. Each of the 50 state constitutions and the United States Constitution includes a bill of rights or declaration of rights.
Because a state legislature may act in every area of government subject to constitutional limitations, the inclusion of certain individual rights and liberties in a state bill of rights places them beyond the reach of state government. Second, it establishes the framework or structure of government. It follows the classic pattern of separation of powers between the three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial.
The distribution of power under this theory, with a system of checks and balances, inhibits any single branch of government from unduly extending its power. For example, the legislative branch enacts laws. However, the executive branch can veto legislation and the judicial branch can declare legislation unconstitutional. The executive branch executes laws and the judicial branch interprets laws. However, the legislative branch can limit the budgets of those branches; enact laws restricting their authority in certain areas, within constitutional limitations; confirm many of their officers and, when warranted, impeach their officers for illegal actions.
The Illinois Constitution and state statutes also determine the existence, form, function, and powers of local government, including home rule for qualifying local governments.
Third, because state government addresses all areas not specifically delegated to the federal government, a state constitution must necessarily be more detailed than the United States Constitution. Accordingly, the Illinois Constitution, like most state constitutions, sets forth fundamental policy on a wide variety of additional subjects, such as finance, revenue, and education.
Because a state constitution addresses so many areas in state government, the document must be a "good fit" for the present and the foreseeable future and allow for appropriate alteration to address evolving needs and conditions. This is seen in a brief history of Illinois' four constitutions. Illinois' first constitution was approved in and was a requirement for statehood.
The structure of government that it established met the needs of what was then a sparsely populated frontier state. However, during the next 30 years, rapid growth and development changed Illinois from a pioneer state to one of the most populous in the nation. Illinois government under the constitution became inadequate for the people's needs. In response, Illinois voters approved the constitution.
It created a state government with significantly limited power regarding banking, finance, and revenue. The Illinois Constitutional Convention of Illinois State Historical Society Journal, v. Legislative Reference Bureau, Constitutional Conventions in Illinois. A history of Constitutional Conventions held in Illinois written before the Constitutional Convention of It also includes a list of items for consideration during the Constitutional Convention.
The Illinois State Library has digitized all editions of the ratified and proposed state constitutions, as well as reference works about the constitutions and journals of the various constitutional conventions.
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