IL Constitution Test Flashcards
Illinois had four constitutions in the years…
1818, 1848, 1870, 1970
Illinois became a state in
1818
Illinois had __ capitals in…
- Kaskaskia, Vandalia, Springfield
Legislative branch is called the…
General assembly
The general assembly is made of…
2 houses: House of Representatives and the Senate
House of Reps. has ___ members.
118, each from their district. (118 districts)
Members of the house must be at least…
21 years old
Representatives serve for…
2 years, elections are in each even year.
House of Reps. is led by…
The speaker of the house (Michael Madigan)
Senate has ___ members
59, each from their district (59 districts)
Members must be…
At least 21 years old
Senators serve…
4 year terms, with staggered elections (half are elected at a time)
The senate is led by…
The president of the senate who is elected by senate members
(John Cullerton)
The governor is the…
Chief executive of the state (Pat Quinn)
Lt. Governor has…
Assigned duties by the governor (Sheila Simon)
Attorney general is…
The legal officer for the state (Lisa Madigan)
Secretary of State is the…
Official record keeper for the state (Jesse White)
Comptroller does what?
Maintains money records, orders payments of funds (Judy Bar Topinka, R.)
The treasurer does what?
Keeps and invests the state’s money and lays out when ordered to. (Dan Rutherford)
Circuit courts…
Try cases
Judges serve for…
6 years
Appellate courts do what?
Hear appeals of cases concerning fairness and interpretation about cases tried at circuit courts, judges serve 10 years
Supreme Court of IL
Final court of appeals with 7 judges who serve 10 year terms
Judges are chosen by…
Voters
A proposed law is called a…
Bill
A bill can be introduced in…
Either house of the general assembly
When an identically worded bill passes both houses of the general assembly…
It is sent to the governor for appeoval
If the governor signs the bill…
It becomes an IL law
If the governor does not approve of the bill, he has three…
Veto options
The general assembly can override the veto with a…
3/5 vote
Regular veto
Whole bill is rejected
Amendatory veto
Governor can make small changes in the wording that he believes makes the bill better but does not alter its meaning or intent.
Line item veto
Governor can change the amount of money going into the bill, called appropriations
The IL house of reps can…
Impeach members of the executive or judicial branches
The IL senate…
Tries impeached officials
An impeached person can be removed from office with a…
2/3 vote
Before you vote you must…
Be 18 years old and registered to vote
Registration takes place when?
Before Election Day
Once you are registered, you do not need to register again unless you…
Change your residence
Candidates can gain a place on the ballot by…
Winning their party’s primary election or independently by collecting a signed list of voters who support them.
Voting takes place…
In secret and the voter’s ballot can’t be identified
What type of voting system does the US use?
The “Australian Ballot” system
The Australian Ballot requires that…
The names of the candidates be listed on a form in uniform size and color and printed or prepared at the government’s expense.
All types of voting allow the voter to “write in” to…
Vote for a candidate whose name does not appear on the ballot.
Voters who can’t make it to the polling place on Election Day…
May arrange to vote in advance by casting an absentee ballot.
