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         Constitution of the State of Illinois    Adopted at special election on December 15, 1970                          PREAMBLE     We, the People of the State of Illinois - grateful toAlmighty God for the civil, political and religious libertywhich He has permitted us to enjoy and seeking His blessingupon our endeavors - in order to provide for the health,safety and welfare of the people; maintain a representativeand orderly government; eliminate poverty and inequality;assure legal, social and economic justice; provideopportunity for the fullest development of the individual;insure domestic tranquility; provide for the common defense;and secure the blessings of freedom and liberty to ourselvesand our posterity - do ordain and establish this Constitutionfor the State of Illinois.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)                        ARTICLE I                      BILL OF RIGHTSSECTION 1. INHERENT AND INALIENABLE RIGHTS    All men are by nature free and independent and havecertain inherent and inalienable rights among which are life,liberty and the pursuit of happiness. To secure these rightsand the protection of property, governments are institutedamong men, deriving their just powers from the consent of thegoverned.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 2. DUE PROCESS AND EQUAL PROTECTION    No person shall be deprived of life, liberty or propertywithout due process of law nor be denied the equal protectionof the laws.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 3. RELIGIOUS FREEDOM    The free exercise and enjoyment of religious professionand worship, without discrimination, shall forever beguaranteed, and no person shall be denied any civil orpolitical right, privilege or capacity, on account of hisreligious opinions; but the liberty of conscience herebysecured shall not be construed to dispense with oaths oraffirmations, excuse acts of licentiousness, or justifypractices inconsistent with the peace or safety of the State.No person shall be required to attend or support any ministryor place of worship against his consent, nor shall anypreference be given by law to any religious denomination ormode of worship.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 4. FREEDOM OF SPEECH    All persons may speak, write and publish freely, beingresponsible for the abuse of that liberty. In trials forlibel, both civil and criminal, the truth, when publishedwith good motives and for justifiable ends, shall be asufficient defense.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 5. RIGHT TO ASSEMBLE AND PETITION    The people have the right to assemble in a peaceablemanner, to consult for the common good, to make known theiropinions to their representatives and to apply for redress ofgrievances.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 6. SEARCHES, SEIZURES, PRIVACY AND INTERCEPTIONS    The people shall have the right to be secure in theirpersons, houses, papers and other possessions againstunreasonable searches, seizures, invasions of privacy orinterceptions of communications by eavesdropping devices orother means. No warrant shall issue without probable cause,supported by affidavit particularly describing the place tobe searched and the persons or things to be seized.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 7. INDICTMENT AND PRELIMINARY HEARING    No person shall be held to answer for a criminal offenseunless on indictment of a grand jury, except in cases inwhich the punishment is by fine or by imprisonment other thanin the penitentiary, in cases of impeachment, and in casesarising in the militia when in actual service in time of waror public danger. The General Assembly by law may abolish thegrand jury or further limit its use.    No person shall be held to answer for a crime punishableby death or by imprisonment in the penitentiary unless eitherthe initial charge has been brought by indictment of a grandjury or the person has been given a prompt preliminaryhearing to establish probable cause.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 8. RIGHTS AFTER INDICTMENT    In criminal prosecutions, the accused shall have theright to appear and defend in person and by counsel; todemand the nature and cause of the accusation and have a copythereof; to be confronted with the witnesses against him orher and to have process to compel the attendance of witnessesin his or her behalf; and to have a speedy public trial by animpartial jury of the county in which the offense is allegedto have been committed.(Source: Amendment adopted at general election November 8,1994.)SECTION 8.1. CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS.    (a) Crime victims, as defined by law, shall have the following rights:        (1) The right to be treated with fairness and     respect for their dignity and privacy and to be free     from harassment, intimidation, and abuse throughout the     criminal justice process.        (2) The right to notice and to a hearing before a     court ruling on a request for access to any of the     victim's records, information, or communications which     are privileged or confidential by law.        (3) The right to timely notification of all court     proceedings.        (4) The right to communicate with the prosecution.        (5) The right to be heard at any post-arraignment     court proceeding in which a right of the victim is at     issue and any court proceeding involving a     post-arraignment release decision, plea, or sentencing.        (6) The right to be notified of the conviction, the     sentence, the imprisonment, and the release of the     accused.        (7) The right to timely disposition of the case     following the arrest of the accused.        (8) The right to be reasonably protected from the     accused throughout the criminal justice process.        (9) The right to have the safety of the victim and     the victim's family considered in denying or fixing the     amount of bail, determining whether to release the     defendant, and setting conditions of release after     arrest and conviction.        (10) The right to be present at the trial and all     other court proceedings on the same basis as the     accused, unless the victim is to testify and the court     determines that the victim's testimony would be     materially affected if the victim hears other testimony     at the trial.        (11) The right to have present at all court     proceedings, subject to the rules of evidence, an     advocate and other support person of the victim's choice.        (12) The right to restitution.    (b) The victim has standing to assert the rights enumerated in subsection (a) in any court exercising jurisdiction over the case. The court shall promptly rule on a victim's request. The victim does not have party status. The accused does not have standing to assert the rights of a victim. The court shall not appoint an attorney for the victim under this Section. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to alter the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the prosecuting attorney.    (c) The General Assembly may provide for an assessment against convicted defendants to pay for crime victims' rights.    (d) Nothing in this Section or any law enacted under this Section creates a cause of action in equity or at law for compensation, attorney's fees, or damages against the State, a political subdivision of the State, an officer, employee, or agent of the State or of any political subdivision of the State, or an officer or employee of the court.    (e) Nothing in this Section or any law enacted under this Section shall be construed as creating (1) a basis for vacating a conviction or (2) a ground for any relief requested by the defendant.(Source: Amendment adopted at general election November 4, 2014.)SECTION 9. BAIL AND HABEAS CORPUS    All persons shall be bailable by sufficient sureties,except for the following offenses where the proof is evidentor the presumption great: capital offenses; offenses forwhich a sentence of life imprisonment may be imposed as aconsequence of conviction; and felony offenses for which asentence of imprisonment, without conditional and revocablerelease, shall be imposed by law as a consequence ofconviction, when the court, after a hearing, determines thatrelease of the offender would pose a real and present threatto the physical safety of any person. The privilege of thewrit of habeas corpus shall not be suspended except in casesof rebellion or invasion when the public safety may requireit.    Any costs accruing to a unit of local government as aresult of the denial of bail pursuant to the 1986 Amendmentto this Section shall be reimbursed by the State to the unitof local government.(Source: Amendment adopted at general election November 4,1986.)SECTION 10. SELF-INCRIMINATION AND DOUBLE JEOPARDY    No person shall be compelled in a criminal case to giveevidence against himself nor be twice put in jeopardy for thesame offense.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 11. LIMITATION OF PENALTIES AFTER CONVICTION    All penalties shall be determined both according to theseriousness of the offense and with the objective ofrestoring the offender to useful citizenship. No convictionshall work corruption of blood or forfeiture of estate. Noperson shall be transported out of the State for an offensecommitted within the State.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 12. RIGHT TO REMEDY AND JUSTICE    Every person shall find a certain remedy in the laws forall injuries and wrongs which he receives to his person,privacy, property or reputation. He shall obtain justice bylaw, freely, completely, and promptly.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 13. TRIAL BY JURY    The right of trial by jury as heretofore enjoyed shallremain inviolate.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 14. IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT    No person shall be imprisoned for debt unless he refusesto deliver up his estate for the benefit of his creditors asprovided by law or unless there is a strong presumption offraud. No person shall be imprisoned for failure to pay afine in a criminal case unless he has been afforded adequatetime to make payment, in installments if necessary, and haswillfully failed to make payment.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 15. RIGHT OF EMINENT DOMAIN    Private property shall not be taken or damaged for publicuse without just compensation as provided by law. Suchcompensation shall be determined by a jury as provided bylaw.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 16. EX POST FACTO LAWS AND IMPAIRING CONTRACTS    No ex post facto law, or law impairing the obligation ofcontracts or making an irrevocable grant of specialprivileges or immunities, shall be passed.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 17. NO DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT AND THE SALE ORRENTAL OF PROPERTY    All persons shall have the right to be free fromdiscrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, nationalancestry and sex in the hiring and promotion practices of anyemployer or in the sale or rental of property.    These rights are enforceable without action by theGeneral Assembly, but the General Assembly by law mayestablish reasonable exemptions relating to these rights andprovide additional remedies for their violation.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 18. NO DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF SEX    The equal protection of the laws shall not be denied orabridged on account of sex by the State or its units of localgovernment and school districts.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 19. NO DISCRIMINATION AGAINST THE HANDICAPPED    All persons with a physical or mental handicap shall befree from discrimination in the sale or rental of propertyand shall be free from discrimination unrelated to ability inthe hiring and promotion practices of any employer.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 20. INDIVIDUAL DIGNITY    To promote individual dignity, communications thatportray criminality, depravity or lack of virtue in, or thatincite violence, hatred, abuse or hostility toward, a personor group of persons by reason of or by reference toreligious, racial, ethnic, national or regional affiliationare condemned.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 21. QUARTERING OF SOLDIERS    No soldier in time of peace shall be quartered in a housewithout the consent of the owner; nor in time of war exceptas provided by law.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 22. RIGHT TO ARMS    Subject only to the police power, the right of theindividual citizen to keep and bear arms shall not beinfringed.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 23. FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES    A frequent recurrence to the fundamental principles ofcivil government is necessary to preserve the blessings ofliberty. These blessings cannot endure unless the peoplerecognize their corresponding individual obligations andresponsibilities.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 24. RIGHTS RETAINED    The enumeration in this Constitution of certain rightsshall not be construed to deny or disparage others retainedby the individual citizens of the State.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 25. WORKERS' RIGHTS(a) Employees shall have the fundamental right to organize and to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing for the purpose of negotiating wages, hours, and working conditions, and to protect their economic welfare and safety at work. No law shall be passed that interferes with, negates, or diminishes the right of employees to organize and bargain collectively over their wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment and work place safety, including any law or ordinance that prohibits the execution or application of agreements between employers and labor organizations that represent employees requiring membership in an organization as a condition of employment.(b) The provisions of this Section are controlling over those of Section 6 of Article VII.(Source: Amendment adopted at general election November 8, 2022.)                    ARTICLE II             THE POWERS OF THE STATE   SECTION 1. SEPARATION OF POWERS    The legislative, executive and judicial branches areseparate. No branch shall exercise powers properly belongingto another.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 2. POWERS OF GOVERNMENT    The enumeration in this Constitution of specified powersand functions shall not be construed as a limitation ofpowers of state government.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)                    ARTICLE III              SUFFRAGE AND ELECTIONSSECTION 1. VOTING QUALIFICATIONS    Every United States citizen who has attained the age of18 or any other voting age required by the United States forvoting in State elections and who has been a permanentresident of this State for at least 30 days next precedingany election shall have the right to vote at such election.The General Assembly by law may establish registrationrequirements and require permanent residence in an electiondistrict not to exceed thirty days prior to an election. TheGeneral Assembly by law may establish shorter residencerequirements for voting for President and Vice-President ofthe United States.(Source: Amendment adopted at general election November 8,1988.)SECTION 2. VOTING DISQUALIFICATIONS    A person convicted of a felony, or otherwise undersentence in a correctional institution or jail, shall losethe right to vote, which right shall be restored not laterthan upon completion of his sentence.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 3. ELECTIONS    All elections shall be free and equal.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 4.  ELECTION LAWS    The General Assembly by law shall define permanentresidence for voting purposes, insure secrecy of voting andthe integrity of the election process, and facilitateregistration and voting by all qualified persons. Lawsgoverning voter registration and conduct of elections shallbe general and uniform.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION  5. BOARD OF ELECTIONS    A State Board of Elections shall have general supervisionover the administration of the registration and election lawsthroughout the State. The General Assembly by law shalldetermine the size, manner of selection and compensation ofthe Board. No political party shall have a majority ofmembers of the Board.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 6. GENERAL ELECTION    As used in all articles of this Constitution exceptArticle VII, "general election" means the biennial electionat which members of the General Assembly are elected. Suchelection shall be held on the Tuesday following the firstMonday of November in even-numbered years or on such otherday as provided by law.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 7. INITIATIVE TO RECALL GOVERNOR    (a) The recall of the Governor may be proposed by a petition signed by a number of electors equal in number to at least 15% of the total votes cast for Governor in the preceding gubernatorial election, with at least 100 signatures from each of at least 25 separate counties. A petition shall have been signed by the petitioning electors not more than 150 days after an affidavit has been filed with the State Board of Elections providing notice of intent to circulate a petition to recall the Governor. The affidavit may be filed no sooner than 6 months after the beginning of the Governor's term of office. The affidavit shall have been signed by the proponent of the recall petition, at least 20 members of the House of Representatives, and at least 10 members of the Senate, with no more than half of the signatures of members of each chamber from the same established political party.    (b) The form of the petition, circulation, and procedure for determining the validity and sufficiency of a petition shall be as provided by law. If the petition is valid and sufficient, the State Board of Elections shall certify the petition not more than 100 days after the date the petition was filed, and the question "Shall (name) be recalled from the office of Governor?" must be submitted to the electors at a special election called by the State Board of Elections, to occur not more than 100 days after certification of the petition. A recall petition certified by the State Board of Elections may not be withdrawn and another recall petition may not be initiated against the Governor during the remainder of the current term of office. Any recall petition or recall election pending on the date of the next general election at which a candidate for Governor is elected is moot.    (c) If a petition to recall the Governor has been filed with the State Board of Elections, a person eligible to serve as Governor may propose his or her candidacy by a petition signed by a number of electors equal in number to the requirement for petitions for an established party candidate for the office of Governor, signed by petitioning electors not more than 50 days after a recall petition has been filed with the State Board of Elections. The form of a successor election petition, circulation, and procedure for determining the validity and sufficiency of a petition shall be as provided by law. If the successor election petition is valid and sufficient, the State Board of Elections shall certify the petition not more than 100 days after the date the petition to recall the Governor was filed. Names of candidates for nomination to serve as the candidate of an established political party must be submitted to the electors at a special primary election, if necessary, called by the State Board of Elections to be held at the same time as the special election on the question of recall established under subsection (b). Names of candidates for the successor election must be submitted to the electors at a special successor election called by the State Board of Elections, to occur not more than 60 days after the date of the special primary election or on a date established by law.    (d) The Governor is immediately removed upon certification of the recall election results if a majority of the electors voting on the question vote to recall the Governor. If the Governor is removed, then (i) an Acting Governor determined under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article V shall serve until the Governor elected at the special successor election is qualified and (ii) the candidate who receives the highest number of votes in the special successor election is elected Governor for the balance of the term.(Source: Amendment adopted at general election November 2, 2010.)SECTION 8. VOTER DISCRIMINATION     No person shall be denied the right to register to vote or to cast a ballot in an election based on race, color, ethnicity, status as a member of a language minority, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or income. (Source: Amendment adopted at general election November 4, 2014.)                         ARTICLE IV                      THE LEGISLATURESECTION 1. LEGISLATURE - POWER AND STRUCTURE    The legislative power is vested in a General Assemblyconsisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives,elected by the electors from 59 Legislative Districts and 118Representative Districts.(Source: Amendment adopted at general election November 4,1980.)SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE COMPOSITION    (a)  One Senator shall be elected from each LegislativeDistrict. Immediately following each decennial redistricting,the General Assembly by law shall divide the LegislativeDistricts as equally as possible into three groups. Senatorsfrom one group shall be elected for terms of four years, fouryears and two years; Senators from the second group, forterms of four years, two years and four years; and Senatorsfrom the third group, for terms of two years, four years andfour years. The Legislative Districts in each group shall bedistributed substantially equally over the State.    (b)  Each Legislative District shall be divided into twoRepresentative Districts. In 1982 and every two yearsthereafter one Representative shall be elected from eachRepresentative District for a term of two years.    (c)  To be eligible to serve as a member of the GeneralAssembly, a person must be a United States citizen, at least21 years old, and for the two years preceding his election orappointment a resident of the district which he is torepresent. In the general election following a redistricting,a candidate for the General Assembly may be elected from anydistrict which contains a part of the district in which heresided at the time of the redistricting and reelected if aresident of the new district he represents for 18 monthsprior to reelection.    (d)  Within thirty days after a vacancy occurs, it shallbe filled by appointment as provided by law. If the vacancyis in a Senatorial office with more than twenty-eight monthsremaining in the term, the appointed Senator shall serveuntil the next general election, at which time a Senatorshall be elected to serve for the remainder of the term. Ifthe vacancy is in a Representative office or in any otherSenatorial office, the appointment shall be for the remainderof the term. An appointee to fill a vacancy shall be a memberof the same political party as the person he succeeds.    (e)  No member of the General Assembly shall receivecompensation as a public officer or employee from any othergovernmental entity for time during which he is in attendanceas a member of the General Assembly.    No member of the General Assembly during the term forwhich he was elected or appointed shall be appointed to apublic office which shall have been created or thecompensation for which shall have been increased by theGeneral Assembly during that term.(Source: Amendment adopted at general election November 4,1980.)SECTION 3. LEGISLATIVE REDISTRICTING    (a)  Legislative Districts shall be compact, contiguousand substantially equal in population. RepresentativeDistricts shall be compact, contiguous, and substantiallyequal in population.    (b)  In the year following each Federal decennial censusyear, the General Assembly by law shall redistrict theLegislative Districts and the Representative Districts.    If no redistricting plan becomes effective by June 30 ofthat year, a Legislative Redistricting Commission shall beconstituted not later than July 10. The Commission shallconsist of eight members, no more than four of whom shall bemembers of the same political party.    The Speaker and Minority Leader of the House ofRepresentatives shall each appoint to the Commission oneRepresentative and one person who is not a member of theGeneral Assembly. The President and Minority Leader of theSenate shall each appoint to the Commission one Senator andone person who is not a member of the General Assembly.    The members shall be certified to the Secretary of Stateby the appointing authorities. A vacancy on the Commissionshall be filled within five days by the authority that madethe original appointment. A Chairman and Vice Chairman shallbe chosen by a majority of all members of the Commission.    Not later than August 10, the Commission shall file withthe Secretary of State a redistricting plan approved by atleast five members.    If the Commission fails to file an approved redistrictingplan, the Supreme Court shall submit the names of twopersons, not of the same political party, to the Secretary ofState not later than September 1.    Not later than September 5, the Secretary of Statepublicly shall draw by random selection the name of one ofthe two persons to serve as the ninth member of theCommission.    Not later than October 5, the Commission shall file withthe Secretary of State a redistricting plan approved by atleast five members.    An approved redistricting plan filed with the Secretaryof State shall be presumed valid, shall have the force andeffect of law and shall be published promptly by theSecretary of State.    The Supreme Court shall have original and exclusivejurisdiction over actions concerning redistricting the Houseand Senate, which shall be initiated in the name of thePeople of the State by the Attorney General.(Source: Amendment adopted at general election November 4,1980.)SECTION 4. ELECTION    Members of the General Assembly shall be elected at thegeneral election in even-numbered years.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 5. SESSIONS    (a)  The General Assembly shall convene each year on thesecond Wednesday of January. The General Assembly shall be acontinuous body during the term for which members of theHouse of Representatives are elected.    (b)  The Governor may convene the General Assembly or theSenate alone in special session by a proclamation stating thepurpose of the session; and only business encompassed by suchpurpose, together with any impeachments or confirmation ofappointments shall be transacted. Special sessions of theGeneral Assembly may also be convened by joint proclamationof the presiding officers of both houses, issued as providedby law.    (c)  Sessions of each house of the General Assembly andmeetings of committees, joint committees and legislativecommissions shall be open to the public. Sessions andcommittee meetings of a house may be closed to the public iftwo-thirds of the members elected to that house determinethat the public interest so requires; and meetings of jointcommittees and legislative commissions may be so closed iftwo-thirds of the members elected to each house so determine.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 6. ORGANIZATION    (a)  A majority of the members elected to each houseconstitutes a quorum.    (b)  On the first day of the January session of theGeneral Assembly in odd-numbered years, the Secretary ofState shall convene the House of Representatives to electfrom its membership a Speaker of the House of Representativesas presiding officer, and the Governor shall convene theSenate to elect from its membership a President of the Senateas presiding officer.    (c)  For purposes of powers of appointment conferred bythis Constitution, the Minority Leader of either house is amember of the numerically strongest political party otherthan the party to which the Speaker or the President belongs,as the case may be.    (d)  Each house shall determine the rules of itsproceedings, judge the elections, returns and qualificationsof its members and choose its officers. No member shall beexpelled by either house, except by a vote of two-thirds ofthe members elected to that house. A member may be expelledonly once for the same offense. Each house may punish byimprisonment any person, not a member, guilty of disrespectto the house by disorderly or contemptuous behavior in itspresence. Imprisonment shall not extend beyond twenty-fourhours at one time unless the person persists in disorderly orcontemptuous behavior.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 7. TRANSACTION OF BUSINESS    (a)  Committees of each house, joint committees of thetwo houses and legislative commissions shall give reasonablepublic notice of meetings, including a statement of subjectsto be considered.    (b)  Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedingsand a transcript of its debates. The journal shall bepublished and the transcript shall be available to thepublic.    (c)  Either house or any committee thereof as provided bylaw may compel by subpoena the attendance and testimony ofwitnesses and the production of books, records and papers.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 8. PASSAGE OF BILLS    (a)  The enacting clause of the laws of this State shallbe: "Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,represented in the General Assembly."    (b)  The General Assembly shall enact laws only by bill.Bills may originate in either house, but may be amended orrejected by the other.    (c)  No bill shall become a law without the concurrenceof a majority of the members elected to each house. Finalpassage of a bill shall be by record vote. In the Senate atthe request of two members, and in the House at the requestof five members, a record vote may be taken on any otheroccasion. A record vote is a vote by yeas and nays entered onthe journal.    (d)  A bill shall be read by title on three differentdays in each house. A bill and each amendment thereto shallbe reproduced and placed on the desk of each member beforefinal passage.    Bills, except bills for appropriations and for thecodification, revision or rearrangement of laws, shall beconfined to one subject. Appropriation bills shall be limitedto the subject of appropriations.    A bill expressly amending a law shall set forthcompletely the sections amended.    The Speaker of the House of Representatives and thePresident of the Senate shall sign each bill that passes bothhouses to certify that the procedural requirements forpassage have been met.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 9. VETO PROCEDURE    (a)  Every bill passed by the General Assembly shall bepresented to the Governor within 30 calendar days after itspassage. The foregoing requirement shall be judiciallyenforceable. If the Governor approves the bill, he shall signit and it shall become law.    (b)  If the Governor does not approve the bill, he shallveto it by returning it with his objections to the house inwhich it originated. Any bill not so returned by the Governorwithin 60 calendar days after it is presented to him shallbecome law. If recess or adjournment of the General Assemblyprevents the return of a bill, the bill and the Governor'sobjections shall be filed with the Secretary of State withinsuch 60 calendar days. The Secretary of State shall returnthe bill and objections to the originating house promptlyupon the next meeting of the same General Assembly at whichthe bill can be considered.    (c)  The house to which a bill is returned shallimmediately enter the Governor's objections upon its journal.If within 15 calendar days after such entry that house by arecord vote of three-fifths of the members elected passes thebill, it shall be delivered immediately to the second house.If within 15 calendar days after such delivery the secondhouse by a record vote of three-fifths of the members electedpasses the bill, it shall become law.    (d)  The Governor may reduce or veto any item ofappropriations in a bill presented to him. Portions of a billnot reduced or vetoed shall become law. An item vetoed shallbe returned to the house in which it originated and maybecome law in the same manner as a vetoed bill. An itemreduced in amount shall be returned to the house in which itoriginated and may be restored to its original amount in thesame manner as a vetoed bill except that the required recordvote shall be a majority of the members elected to eachhouse. If a reduced item is not so restored, it shall becomelaw in the reduced amount.    (e)  The Governor may return a bill together withspecific recommendations for change to the house in which itoriginated. The bill shall be considered in the same manneras a vetoed bill but the specific recommendations may beaccepted by a record vote of a majority of the memberselected to each house. Such bill shall be presented again tothe Governor and if he certifies that such acceptanceconforms to his specific recommendations, the bill shallbecome law. If he does not so certify, he shall return it asa vetoed bill to the house in which it originated.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 10. EFFECTIVE DATE OF LAWS    The General Assembly shall provide by law for a uniformeffective date for laws passed prior to June 1 of a calendaryear. The General Assembly may provide for a differenteffective date in any law passed prior to June 1. A billpassed after May 31 shall not become effective prior to June1 of the next calendar year unless the General Assembly bythe vote of three-fifths of the members elected to each houseprovides for an earlier effective date.(Source: Amendment adopted at general election November 8,1994.)SECTION 11. COMPENSATION AND ALLOWANCES    A member shall receive a salary and allowances asprovided by law, but changes in the salary of a member shallnot take effect during the term for which he has beenelected.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 12. LEGISLATIVE IMMUNITY    Except in cases of treason, felony or breach of peace, amember shall be privileged from arrest going to, during, andreturning from sessions of the General Assembly. A membershall not be held to answer before any other tribunal for anyspeech or debate, written or oral, in either house. Theseimmunities shall apply to committee and legislativecommission proceedings.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 13. SPECIAL LEGISLATION    The General Assembly shall pass no special or local lawwhen a general law is or can be made applicable. Whether ageneral law is or can be made applicable shall be a matterfor judicial determination.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 14. IMPEACHMENT    The House of Representatives has the sole power toconduct legislative investigations to determine the existenceof cause for impeachment and, by the vote of a majority ofthe members elected, to impeach Executive and Judicialofficers. Impeachments shall be tried by the Senate. Whensitting for that purpose, Senators shall be upon oath, oraffirmation, to do justice according to law. If the Governoris tried, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shallpreside. No person shall be convicted without the concurrenceof two-thirds of the Senators elected. Judgment shall notextend beyond removal from office and disqualification tohold any public office of this State. An impeached officer,whether convicted or acquitted, shall be liable toprosecution, trial, judgment and punishment according to law.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 15. ADJOURNMENT    (a)  When the General Assembly is in session, neitherhouse without the consent of the other shall adjourn for morethan three days or to a place other than where the two housesare sitting.    (b)  If either house certifies that a disagreement existsbetween the houses as to the time for adjourning a session,the Governor may adjourn the General Assembly to a time notlater than the first day of the next annual session.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)                          ARTICLE V                        THE EXECUTIVESECTION 1. OFFICERS    The Executive Branch shall include a Governor, LieutenantGovernor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptrollerand Treasurer elected by the electors of the State. Theyshall keep the public records and maintain a residence at theseat of government during their terms of office.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 2. TERMS    These elected officers of the Executive Branch shall holdoffice for four years beginning on the second Monday ofJanuary after their election and, except in the case of theLieutenant Governor, until their successors are qualified.They shall be elected at the general election in 1978 andevery four years thereafter.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 3. ELIGIBILITY    To be eligible to hold the office of Governor, LieutenantGovernor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptrolleror Treasurer, a person must be a United States citizen, atleast 25 years old, and a resident of this State for thethree years preceding his election.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 4. JOINT ELECTION    In the general election for Governor and LieutenantGovernor, one vote shall be cast jointly for the candidatesnominated by the same political party or petition. TheGeneral Assembly may provide by law for the joint nominationof candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 5. CANVASS - CONTESTS    The election returns for executive offices shall besealed and transmitted to the Secretary of State, or otherperson or body provided by law, who shall examine andconsolidate the returns. The person having the highest numberof votes for an office shall be declared elected. If two ormore persons have an equal and the highest number of votesfor an office, they shall draw lots to determine which ofthem shall be declared elected. Election contests shall bedecided by the courts in a manner provided by law.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 6. GUBERNATORIAL SUCCESSION    (a)  In the event of a vacancy, the order of successionto the office of Governor or to the position of ActingGovernor shall be the Lieutenant Governor, the electedAttorney General, the elected Secretary of State, and then asprovided by law.    (b)  If the Governor is unable to serve because of death,conviction on impeachment, failure to qualify, resignation orother disability, the office of Governor shall be filled bythe officer next in line of succession for the remainder ofthe term or until the disability is removed.    (c)  Whenever the Governor determines that he may beseriously impeded in the exercise of his powers, he shall sonotify the Secretary of State and the officer next in line ofsuccession. The latter shall thereafter become ActingGovernor with the duties and powers of Governor. When theGovernor is prepared to resume office, he shall do so bynotifying the Secretary of State and the Acting Governor.    (d)  The General Assembly by law shall specify by whomand by what procedures the ability of the Governor to serveor to resume office may be questioned and determined. TheSupreme Court shall have original and exclusive jurisdictionto review such a law and any such determination and, in theabsence of such a law, shall make the determination undersuch rules as it may adopt.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 7. VACANCIES IN OTHER ELECTIVE OFFICES    If the Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptrolleror Treasurer fails to qualify or if his office becomesvacant, the Governor shall fill the office by appointment.The appointee shall hold office until the elected officerqualifies or until a successor is elected and qualified asmay be provided by law and shall not be subject to removal bythe Governor. If the Lieutenant Governor fails to qualify orif his office becomes vacant, it shall remain vacant untilthe end of the term.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 8. GOVERNOR - SUPREME EXECUTIVE POWER    The Governor shall have the supreme executive power, andshall be responsible for the faithful execution of the laws.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 9. GOVERNOR - APPOINTING POWER    (a)  The Governor shall nominate and, by and with theadvice and consent of the Senate, a majority of the memberselected concurring by record vote, shall appoint all officerswhose election or appointment is not otherwise provided for.Any nomination not acted upon by the Senate within 60 sessiondays after the receipt thereof shall be deemed to havereceived the advice and consent of the Senate. The GeneralAssembly shall have no power to elect or appoint officers ofthe Executive Branch.    (b)  If, during a recess of the Senate, there is avacancy in an office filled by appointment by the Governor byand with the advice and consent of the Senate, the Governorshall make a temporary appointment until the next meeting ofthe Senate, when he shall make a nomination to fill suchoffice.    (c)  No person rejected by the Senate for an officeshall, except at the Senate's request, be nominated again forthat office at the same session or be appointed to thatoffice during a recess of that Senate.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 10. GOVERNOR - REMOVALS    The Governor may remove for incompetence, neglect ofduty, or malfeasance in office any officer who may beappointed by the Governor.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 11. GOVERNOR - AGENCY REORGANIZATION    The Governor, by Executive Order, may reassign functionsamong or reorganize executive agencies which are directlyresponsible to him. If such a reassignment or reorganizationwould contravene a statute, the Executive Order shall bedelivered to the General Assembly. If the General Assembly isin annual session and if the Executive Order is delivered onor before April 1, the General Assembly shall consider theExecutive Order at that annual session. If the GeneralAssembly is not in annual session or if the Executive Orderis delivered after April 1, the General Assembly shallconsider the Executive Order at its next annual session, inwhich case the Executive Order shall be deemed to have beendelivered on the first day of that annual session. Such anExecutive Order shall not become effective if, within 60calendar days after its delivery to the General Assembly,either house disapproves the Executive Order by the recordvote of a majority of the members elected. An Executive Ordernot so disapproved shall become effective by its terms butnot less than 60 calendar days after its delivery to theGeneral Assembly.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 12. GOVERNOR - PARDONS    The Governor may grant reprieves, commutations andpardons, after conviction, for all offenses on such terms ashe thinks proper. The manner of applying therefore may beregulated by law.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 13. GOVERNOR - LEGISLATIVE MESSAGES    The Governor, at the beginning of each annual session ofthe General Assembly and at the close of his term of office,shall report to the General Assembly on the condition of theState and recommend such measures as he deems desirable.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 14. LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR - DUTIES    The Lieutenant Governor shall perform the duties andexercise the powers in the Executive Branch that may bedelegated to him by the Governor and that may be prescribedby law.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION  15. ATTORNEY GENERAL - DUTIES    The Attorney General shall be the legal officer of theState, and shall have the duties and powers that may beprescribed by law.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 16. SECRETARY OF STATE - DUTIES    The Secretary of State shall maintain the officialrecords of the acts of the General Assembly and such officialrecords of the Executive Branch as provided by law. Suchofficial records shall be available for inspection by thepublic. He shall keep the Great Seal of the State of Illinoisand perform other duties that may be prescribed by law.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 17. COMPTROLLER - DUTIES    The Comptroller, in accordance with law, shall maintainthe State's central fiscal accounts, and order payments intoand out of the funds held by the Treasurer.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 18. TREASURER - DUTIES    The Treasurer, in accordance with law, shall beresponsible for the safekeeping and investment of monies andsecurities deposited with him, and for their disbursementupon order of the Comptroller.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 19. RECORDS - REPORTS    All officers of the Executive Branch shall keep accountsand shall make such reports as may be required by law. Theyshall provide the Governor with information relating to theirrespective offices, either in writing under oath, orotherwise, as the Governor may require.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 20. BOND    Civil officers of the Executive Branch may be required bylaw to give reasonable bond or other security for thefaithful performance of their duties. If any officer is indefault of such a requirement, his office shall be deemedvacant.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 21. COMPENSATION    Officers of the Executive Branch shall be paid salariesestablished by law and shall receive no other compensationfor their services. Changes in the salaries of these officerselected or appointed for stated terms shall not take effectduring the stated terms.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)                       ARTICLE VI                     THE JUDICIARYSECTION 1. COURTS    The judicial power is vested in a Supreme Court, anAppellate Court and Circuit Courts.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 2. JUDICIAL DISTRICTS    The State is divided into five Judicial Districts for theselection of Supreme and Appellate Court Judges. The FirstJudicial District consists of Cook County. The remainder ofthe State shall be divided by law into four JudicialDistricts of substantially equal population, each of whichshall be compact and composed of contiguous counties.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 3. SUPREME COURT - ORGANIZATION    The Supreme Court shall consist of seven Judges. Threeshall be selected from the First Judicial District and onefrom each of the other Judicial Districts. Four Judgesconstitute a quorum and the concurrence of four is necessaryfor a decision. Supreme Court Judges shall select a ChiefJustice from their number to serve for a term of three years.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 4. SUPREME COURT - JURISDICTION    (a)  The Supreme Court may exercise original jurisdictionin cases relating to revenue, mandamus, prohibition or habeascorpus and as may be necessary to the complete determinationof any case on review.    (b)  Appeals from judgments of Circuit Courts imposing asentence of death shall be directly to the Supreme Court as amatter of right. The Supreme Court shall provide by rule fordirect appeal in other cases.    (c)  Appeals from the Appellate Court to the SupremeCourt are a matter of right if a question under theConstitution of the United States or of this State arises forthe first time in and as a result of the action of theAppellate Court, or if a division of the Appellate Courtcertifies that a case decided by it involves a question ofsuch importance that the case should be decided by theSupreme Court. The Supreme Court may provide by rule forappeals from the Appellate Court in other cases.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 5. APPELLATE COURT - ORGANIZATION    The number of Appellate Judges to be selected from eachJudicial District shall be provided by law. The Supreme Courtshall prescribe by rule the number of Appellate divisions ineach Judicial District. Each Appellate division shall have atleast three Judges. Assignments to divisions shall be made bythe Supreme Court. A majority of a division constitutes aquorum and the concurrence of a majority of the division isnecessary for a decision. There shall be at least onedivision in each Judicial District and each division shallsit at times and places prescribed by rules of the SupremeCourt.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 6. APPELLATE COURT - JURISDICTION    Appeals from final judgments of a Circuit Court are amatter of right to the Appellate Court in the JudicialDistrict in which the Circuit Court is located except incases appealable directly to the Supreme Court and exceptthat after a trial on the merits in a criminal case, thereshall be no appeal from a judgment of acquittal. The SupremeCourt may provide by rule for appeals to the Appellate Courtfrom other than final judgments of Circuit Courts. TheAppellate Court may exercise original jurisdiction whennecessary to the complete determination of any case onreview. The Appellate Court shall have such powers of directreview of administrative action as provided by law.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 7. JUDICIAL CIRCUITS    (a)  The State shall be divided into Judicial Circuitsconsisting of one or more counties. The First JudicialDistrict shall constitute a Judicial Circuit. The JudicialCircuits within the other Judicial Districts shall be asprovided by law. Circuits composed of more than one countyshall be compact and of contiguous counties. The GeneralAssembly by law may provide for the division of a circuit forthe purpose of selection of Circuit Judges and for theselection of Circuit Judges from the circuit at large.    (b)  Each Judicial Circuit shall have one Circuit Courtwith such number of Circuit Judges as provided by law. Unlessotherwise provided by law, there shall be at least oneCircuit Judge from each county. In the First JudicialDistrict, unless otherwise provided by law, Cook County,Chicago, and the area outside Chicago shall be separate unitsfor the selection of Circuit Judges, with at least twelvechosen at large from the area outside Chicago and at leastthirty-six chosen at large from Chicago.    (c)  Circuit Judges in each circuit shall select bysecret ballot a Chief Judge from their number to serve attheir pleasure. Subject to the authority of the SupremeCourt, the Chief Judge shall have general administrativeauthority over his court, including authority to provide fordivisions, general or specialized, and for appropriate timesand places of holding court.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 8. ASSOCIATE JUDGES    Each Circuit Court shall have such number of AssociateJudges as provided by law. Associate Judges shall beappointed by the Circuit Judges in each circuit as theSupreme Court shall provide by rule. In the First JudicialDistrict, unless otherwise provided by law, at leastone-fourth of the Associate Judges shall be appointed from,and reside, outside Chicago. The Supreme Court shall provideby rule for matters to be assigned to Associate Judges.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 9. CIRCUIT COURTS - JURISDICTION    Circuit Courts shall have original jurisdiction of alljusticiable matters except when the Supreme Court hasoriginal and exclusive jurisdiction relating to redistrictingof the General Assembly and to the ability of the Governor toserve or resume office. Circuit Courts shall have such powerto review administrative action as provided by law.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 10. TERMS OF OFFICE    The terms of office of Supreme and Appellate Court Judgesshall be ten years; of Circuit Judges, six years; and ofAssociate Judges, four years.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 11. ELIGIBILITY FOR OFFICE    No person shall be eligible to be a Judge or AssociateJudge unless he is a United States citizen, a licensedattorney-at-law of this State, and a resident of the unitwhich selects him. No change in the boundaries of a unitshall affect the tenure in office of a Judge or AssociateJudge incumbent at the time of such change.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 12. ELECTION AND RETENTION    (a)  Supreme, Appellate and Circuit Judges shall benominated at primary elections or by petition. Judges shallbe elected at general or judicial elections as the GeneralAssembly shall provide by law. A person eligible for theoffice of Judge may cause his name to appear on the ballot asa candidate for Judge at the primary and at the general orjudicial elections by submitting petitions. The GeneralAssembly shall prescribe by law the requirements forpetitions.    (b)  The office of a Judge shall be vacant upon hisdeath, resignation, retirement, removal, or upon theconclusion of his term without retention in office. Wheneveran additional Appellate or Circuit Judge is authorized bylaw, the office shall be filled in the manner provided forfilling a vacancy in that office.    (c)  A vacancy occurring in the office of Supreme,Appellate or Circuit Judge shall be filled as the GeneralAssembly may provide by law. In the absence of a law,vacancies may be filled by appointment by the Supreme Court.A person appointed to fill a vacancy 60 or more days prior tothe next primary election to nominate Judges shall serveuntil the vacancy is filled for a term at the next general orjudicial election. A person appointed to fill a vacancy lessthan 60 days prior to the next primary election to nominateJudges shall serve until the vacancy is filled at the secondgeneral or judicial election following such appointment.    (d)  Not less than six months before the general electionpreceding the expiration of his term of office, a Supreme,Appellate or Circuit Judge who has been elected to thatoffice may file in the office of the Secretary of State adeclaration of candidacy to succeed himself. The Secretary ofState, not less than 63 days before the election, shallcertify the Judge's candidacy to the proper electionofficials. The names of Judges seeking retention shall besubmitted to the electors, separately and without partydesignation, on the sole question whether each Judge shall beretained in office for another term. The retention electionsshall be conducted at general elections in the appropriateJudicial District, for Supreme and Appellate Judges, and inthe circuit for Circuit Judges. The affirmative vote ofthree-fifths of the electors voting on the question shallelect the Judge to the office for a term commencing on thefirst Monday in December following his election.    (e)  A law reducing the number of Appellate or CircuitJudges shall be without prejudice to the right of the Judgesaffected to seek retention in office. A reduction shallbecome effective when a vacancy occurs in the affected unit.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 13. PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES    (a)  The Supreme Court shall adopt rules of conduct forJudges and Associate Judges.    (b)  Judges and Associate Judges shall devote full timeto judicial duties. They shall not practice law, hold aposition of profit, hold office under the United States orthis State or unit of local government or school district orin a political party. Service in the State militia or armedforces of the United States for periods of time permitted byrule of the Supreme Court shall not disqualify a person fromserving as a Judge or Associate Judge.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 14. JUDICIAL SALARIES AND EXPENSES - FEE OFFICERS ELIMINATED    Judges shall receive salaries provided by law which shallnot be diminished to take effect during their terms ofoffice. All salaries and such expenses as may be provided bylaw shall be paid by the State, except that Appellate,Circuit and Associate Judges shall receive such additionalcompensation from counties within their district or circuitas may be provided by law. There shall be no fee officers inthe judicial system.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 15. RETIREMENT - DISCIPLINE    (a) The General Assembly may provide by law for the retirement of Judges and Associate Judges at a prescribed age. Any retired Judge or Associate Judge, with his or her consent, may be assigned by the Supreme Court to judicial service for which he or she shall receive the applicable compensation in lieu of retirement benefits. A retired Associate Judge may be assigned only as an Associate Judge.     (b) A Judicial Inquiry Board is created. The Supreme Court shall select two Circuit Judges as members and the Governor shall appoint four persons who are not lawyers and three lawyers as members of the Board. No more than two of the lawyers and two of the non-lawyers appointed by the Governor shall be members of the same political party. The terms of Board members shall be four years. A vacancy on the Board shall be filled for a full term in the manner the original appointment was made. No member may serve on the Board more than eight years.     (c) The Board shall be convened permanently, with authority to conduct investigations, receive or initiate complaints concerning a Judge or Associate Judge, and file complaints with the Courts Commission. The Board shall not file a complaint unless five members believe that a reasonable basis exists (1) to charge the Judge or Associate Judge with willful misconduct in office, persistent failure to perform his duties, or other conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice or that brings the judicial office into disrepute, or (2) to charge that the Judge or Associate Judge is physically or mentally unable to perform his duties. All proceedings of the Board shall be confidential except the filing of a complaint with the Courts Commission. The Board shall prosecute the complaint.     (d) The Board shall adopt rules governing its procedures. It shall have subpoena power and authority to appoint and direct its staff. Members of the Board who are not Judges shall receive per diem compensation and necessary expenses; members who are Judges shall receive necessary expenses only. The General Assembly by law shall appropriate funds for the operation of the Board.     (e) An independent Courts Commission is created consisting of one Supreme Court Judge selected by that Court as a member and one as an alternate, two Appellate Court Judges selected by that Court as members and three as alternates, two Circuit Judges selected by the Supreme Court as members and three as alternates, and two citizens selected by the Governor as members and two as alternates. Members and alternates who are Appellate Court Judges must each be from a different Judicial District. Members and alternates who are Circuit Judges must each be from a different Judicial District. Members and alternates of the Commission shall not be members of the Judicial Inquiry Board. The members of the Commission shall select a chairperson to serve a two-year term.     The Commission shall be convened permanently to hear complaints filed by the Judicial Inquiry Board. The Commission shall have authority after notice and public hearing, (1) to remove from office, suspend without pay, censure or reprimand a Judge or Associate Judge for willful misconduct in office, persistent failure to perform his or her duties, or other conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice or that brings the judicial office into disrepute, or (2) to suspend, with or without pay, or retire a Judge or Associate Judge who is physically or mentally unable to perform his or her duties.     (f) The concurrence of four members of the Commission shall be necessary for a decision. The decision of the Commission shall be final.     (g) The Commission shall adopt comprehensive rules to ensure that its procedures are fair and appropriate. These rules and any amendments shall be public and filed with the Secretary of State at least 30 days before becoming effective.     (h) A member of the Commission shall disqualify himself or herself, or the other members of the Commission shall disqualify a member, with respect to any proceeding in which disqualification or recusal would be required of a Judge under rules of the Supreme Court, under rules of the Commission, or by law.     If a Supreme Court Judge is the subject of a proceeding, then there shall be no Supreme Court Judge sitting as a member of the Commission with respect to that proceeding. Instead, an alternate Appellate Court Judge not from the same Judicial District as the subject Supreme Court Judge shall replace the subject Supreme Court Judge. If a member who is an Appellate Court Judge is the subject of a proceeding, then an alternate Appellate Court Judge shall replace the subject Appellate Court Judge. If an Appellate Court Judge who is not a member is the subject of a proceeding and an Appellate Court Judge from the same Judicial District is a member, then an alternate Appellate Court Judge shall replace that member. If a member who is a Circuit Judge is the subject of a proceeding, then an alternate Circuit Judge shall replace the subject Circuit Judge. If a Circuit Judge who is not a member is the subject of a proceeding and a Circuit Judge from the same Judicial District is a member, then an alternate Circuit Judge shall replace that member.     If a member of the Commission is disqualified under this Section with respect to any proceeding, that member shall be replaced by an alternate on a rotating basis in a manner provided by rule of the Commission. The alternate shall act as member of the Commission with respect to that proceeding only.     (i) The Commission shall have power to issue subpoenas.     (j) Members and alternates of the Commission who are not Judges shall receive per diem compensation and necessary expenses; members and alternates who are Judges shall receive necessary expenses only. The General Assembly shall provide by law for the expenses and compensation of the Commission. (Source: Amendment adopted at general election November 3, 1998.)SECTION 16. ADMINISTRATION    General administrative and supervisory authority over allcourts is vested in the Supreme Court and shall be exercisedby the Chief Justice in accordance with its rules. TheSupreme Court shall appoint an administrative director andstaff, who shall serve at its pleasure, to assist the ChiefJustice in his duties. The Supreme Court may assign a Judgetemporarily to any court and an Associate Judge to servetemporarily as an Associate Judge on any Circuit Court. TheSupreme Court shall provide by rule for expeditious andinexpensive appeals.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 17. JUDICIAL CONFERENCE    The Supreme Court shall provide by rule for an annualjudicial conference to consider the work of the courts and tosuggest improvements in the administration of justice andshall report thereon annually in writing to the GeneralAssembly not later than January 31.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 18. CLERKS OF COURTS    (a)  The Supreme Court and the Appellate Court Judges ofeach Judicial District, respectively, shall appoint a clerkand other non-judicial officers for their Court or District.    (b)  The General Assembly shall provide by law for theelection, or for the appointment by Circuit Judges, of clerksand other non-judicial officers of the Circuit Courts and fortheir terms of office and removal for cause.    (c)  The salaries of clerks and other non-judicialofficers shall be as provided by law.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 19. STATE'S ATTORNEYS - SELECTION, SALARY    A State's Attorney shall be elected in each county in1972 and every fourth year thereafter for a four year term.One State's Attorney may be elected to serve two or morecounties if the governing boards of such counties so provideand a majority of the electors of each county voting on theissue approve. A person shall not be eligible for the officeof State's Attorney unless he is a United States citizen anda licensed attorney-at-law of this State. His salary shall beprovided by law.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)                         ARTICLE VII                      LOCAL GOVERNMENTSECTION 1. MUNICIPALITIES AND UNITS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT    "Municipalities" means cities, villages and incorporatedtowns. "Units of local government" means counties,municipalities, townships, special districts, and units,designated as units of local government by law, whichexercise limited governmental powers or powers in respect tolimited governmental subjects, but does not include schooldistricts.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 2. COUNTY TERRITORY, BOUNDARIES AND SEATS    (a)  The General Assembly shall provide by law for theformation, consolidation, merger, division, and dissolutionof counties, and for the transfer of territory betweencounties.    (b)  County boundaries shall not be changed unlessapproved by referendum in each county affected.    (c)  County seats shall not be changed unless approved bythree-fifths of those voting on the question in a county-widereferendum.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 3. COUNTY BOARDS    (a)  A county board shall be elected in each county. Thenumber of members of the county board shall be fixed byordinance in each county within limitations provided by law.    (b)  The General Assembly by law shall provide methodsavailable to all counties for the election of county boardmembers. No county, other than Cook County, may change itsmethod of electing board members except as approved bycounty-wide referendum.    (c)  Members of the Cook County Board shall be electedfrom two districts, Chicago and that part of Cook Countyoutside Chicago, unless (1) a different method of election isapproved by a majority of votes cast in each of the twodistricts in a county-wide referendum or (2) the Cook CountyBoard by ordinance divides the county into single memberdistricts from which members of the County Board resident ineach district are elected. If a different method of electionis adopted pursuant to option (1) the method of election maythereafter be altered only pursuant to option (2) or bycounty-wide referendum. A different method of election may beadopted pursuant to option (2) only once and the method ofelection may thereafter be altered only by county-widereferendum.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 4. COUNTY OFFICERS    (a)  Any county may elect a chief executive officer asprovided by law. He shall have those duties and powersprovided by law and those provided by county ordinance.    (b)  The President of the Cook County Board shall beelected from the County at large and shall be the chiefexecutive officer of the County. If authorized by countyordinance, a person seeking election as President of the CookCounty Board may also seek election as a member of the Board.    (c)  Each county shall elect a sheriff, county clerk andtreasurer and may elect or appoint a coroner, recorder,assessor, auditor and such other officers as provided by lawor by county ordinance. Except as changed pursuant to thisSection, elected county officers shall be elected for termsof four years at general elections as provided by law. Anyoffice may be created or eliminated and the terms of officeand manner of selection changed by county-wide referendum.Offices other than sheriff, county clerk and treasurer may beeliminated and the terms of office and manner of selectionchanged by law. Offices other than sheriff, county clerk,treasurer, coroner, recorder, assessor and auditor may beeliminated and the terms of office and manner of selectionchanged by county ordinance.    (d)  County officers shall have those duties, powers andfunctions provided by law and those provided by countyordinance. County officers shall have the duties, powers orfunctions derived from common law or historical precedentunless altered by law or county ordinance.    (e)  The county treasurer or the person designated toperform his functions may act as treasurer of any unit oflocal government and any school district in his county whenrequested by any such unit or school district and shall soact when required to do so by law.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 5. TOWNSHIPS    The General Assembly shall provide by law for theformation of townships in any county when approved bycounty-wide referendum. Townships may be consolidated ormerged, and one or more townships may be dissolved ordivided, when approved by referendum in each townshipaffected. All townships in a county may be dissolved whenapproved by a referendum in the total area in which townshipofficers are elected.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 6. POWERS OF HOME RULE UNITS    (a)  A County which has a chief executive officer electedby the electors of the county and any municipality which hasa population of more than 25,000 are home rule units. Othermunicipalities may elect by referendum to become home ruleunits. Except as limited by this Section, a home rule unitmay exercise any power and perform any function pertaining toits government and affairs including, but not limited to, thepower to regulate for the protection of the public health,safety, morals and welfare; to license; to tax; and to incurdebt.    (b)  A home rule unit by referendum may elect not to be ahome rule unit.    (c)  If a home rule county ordinance conflicts with anordinance of a municipality, the municipal ordinance shallprevail within its jurisdiction.    (d)  A home rule unit does not have the power (1) toincur debt payable from ad valorem property tax receiptsmaturing more than 40 years from the time it is incurred or(2) to define and provide for the punishment of a felony.    (e)  A home rule unit shall have only the power that theGeneral Assembly may provide by law (1) to punish byimprisonment for more than six months or (2) to license forrevenue or impose taxes upon or measured by income orearnings or upon occupations.    (f)  A home rule unit shall have the power subject toapproval by referendum to adopt, alter or repeal a form ofgovernment provided by law, except that the form ofgovernment of Cook County shall be subject to the provisionsof Section 3 of this Article. A home rule municipality shallhave the power to provide for its officers, their manner ofselection and terms of office only as approved by referendumor as otherwise authorized by law. A home rule county shallhave the power to provide for its officers, their manner ofselection and terms of office in the manner set forth inSection 4 of this Article.    (g)  The General Assembly by a law approved by the voteof three-fifths of the members elected to each house may denyor limit the power to tax and any other power or function ofa home rule unit not exercised or performed by the Stateother than a power or function specified in subsection (l) ofthis section.    (h)  The General Assembly may provide specifically by lawfor the exclusive exercise by the State of any power orfunction of a home rule unit other than a taxing power or apower or function specified in subsection (l) of thisSection.    (i)  Home rule units may exercise and performconcurrently with the State any power or function of a homerule unit to the extent that the General Assembly by law doesnot specifically limit the concurrent exercise orspecifically declare the State's exercise to be exclusive.    (j)  The General Assembly may limit by law the amount ofdebt which home rule counties may incur and may limit by lawapproved by three-fifths of the members elected to each housethe amount of debt, other than debt payable from ad valoremproperty tax receipts, which home rule municipalities mayincur.    (k)  The General Assembly may limit by law the amount andrequire referendum approval of debt to be incurred by homerule municipalities, payable from ad valorem property taxreceipts, only in excess of the following percentages of theassessed value of its taxable property: (1) if its populationis 500,000 or more, an aggregate of three percent; (2) if itspopulation is more than 25,000 and less than 500,000, anaggregate of one percent; and (3) if its population is 25,000or less, an aggregate of one-half percent. Indebtedness whichis outstanding on the effective date of this Constitution orwhich is thereafter approved by referendum or assumed fromanother unit of local government shall not be included in theforegoing percentage amounts.    (l)  The General Assembly may not deny or limit the powerof home rule units (1) to make local improvements by specialassessment and to exercise this power jointly with othercounties and municipalities, and other classes of units oflocal government having that power on the effective date ofthis Constitution unless that power is subsequently denied bylaw to any such other units of local government or (2) tolevy or impose additional taxes upon areas within theirboundaries in the manner provided by law for the provision ofspecial services to those areas and for the payment of debtincurred in order to provide those special services.    (m)  Powers and functions of home rule units shall beconstrued liberally.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 7. COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES OTHER           THAN HOME RULE UNITS    Counties and municipalities which are not home rule unitsshall have only powers granted to them by law and the powers(1) to make local improvements by special assessment and toexercise this power jointly with other counties andmunicipalities, and other classes of units of localgovernment having that power on the effective date of thisConstitution unless that power is subsequently denied by lawto any such other units of local government; (2) byreferendum, to adopt, alter or repeal their forms ofgovernment provided by law; (3) in the case ofmunicipalities, to provide by referendum for their officers,manner of selection and terms of office; (4) in the case ofcounties, to provide for their officers, manner of selectionand terms of office as provided in Section 4 of this Article;(5) to incur debt except as limited by law and except thatdebt payable from ad valorem property tax receipts shallmature within 40 years from the time it is incurred; and (6)to levy or impose additional taxes upon areas within theirboundaries in the manner provided by law for the provision ofspecial services to those areas and for the payment of debtincurred in order to provide those special services.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 8. POWERS AND OFFICERS OF SCHOOL           DISTRICTS AND UNITS OF LOCAL           GOVERNMENT OTHER THAN COUNTIES           AND MUNICIPALITIES    Townships, school districts, special districts and units,designated by law as units of local government, whichexercise limited governmental powers or powers in respect tolimited governmental subjects shall have only powers grantedby law. No law shall grant the power (1) to any of theforegoing units to incur debt payable from ad valoremproperty tax receipts maturing more than 40 years from thetime it is incurred, or (2) to make improvements by specialassessments to any of the foregoing classes of units which donot have that power on the effective date of thisConstitution. The General Assembly shall provide by law forthe selection of officers of the foregoing units, but theofficers shall not be appointed by any person in the JudicialBranch.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 9. SALARIES AND FEES    (a)  Compensation of officers and employees and theoffice expenses of units of local government shall not bepaid from fees collected. Fees may be collected as providedby law and by ordinance and shall be deposited upon receiptwith the treasurer of the unit. Fees shall not be based uponfunds disbursed or collected, nor upon the levy or extensionof taxes.    (b)  An increase or decrease in the salary of an electedofficer of any unit of local government shall not take effectduring the term for which that officer is elected.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 10. INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION    (a)  Units of local government and school districts maycontract or otherwise associate among themselves, with theState, with other states and their units of local governmentand school districts, and with the United States to obtain orshare services and to exercise, combine, or transfer anypower or function, in any manner not prohibited by law or byordinance. Units of local government and school districts maycontract and otherwise associate with individuals,associations, and corporations in any manner not prohibitedby law or by ordinance. Participating units of government mayuse their credit, revenues, and other resources to pay costsand to service debt related to intergovernmental activities.    (b)  Officers and employees of units of local governmentand school districts may participate in intergovernmentalactivities authorized by their units of government withoutrelinquishing their offices or positions.    (c)  The State shall encourage intergovernmentalcooperation and use its technical and financial resources toassist intergovernmental activities.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 11. INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM    (a)  Proposals for actions which are authorized by thisArticle or by law and which require approval by referendummay be initiated and submitted to the electors by resolutionof the governing board of a unit of local government or bypetition of electors in the manner provided by law.    (b)  Referenda required by this Article shall be held atgeneral elections, except as otherwise provided by law.Questions submitted to referendum shall be adopted ifapproved by a majority of those voting on the question unlessa different requirement is specified in this Article.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 12. IMPLEMENTATION OF GOVERNMENTAL CHANGES    The General Assembly shall provide by law for thetransfer of assets, powers and functions, and for the paymentof outstanding debt in connection with the formation,consolidation, merger, division, dissolution and change inthe boundaries of units of local government.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)                        ARTICLE VIII                           FINANCESECTION 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS    (a)  Public funds, property or credit shall be used onlyfor public purposes.    (b)  The State, units of local government and schooldistricts shall incur obligations for payment or makepayments from public funds only as authorized by law orordinance.    (c)  Reports and records of the obligation, receipt anduse of public funds of the State, units of local governmentand school districts are public records available forinspection by the public according to law.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 2. STATE FINANCE    (a)  The Governor shall prepare and submit to the GeneralAssembly, at a time prescribed by law, a State budget for theensuing fiscal year. The budget shall set forth the estimatedbalance of funds available for appropriation at the beginningof the fiscal year, the estimated receipts, and a plan forexpenditures and obligations during the fiscal year of everydepartment, authority, public corporation and quasi-publiccorporation of the State, every State college and university,and every other public agency created by the State, but notof units of local government or school districts. The budgetshall also set forth the indebtedness and contingentliabilities of the State and such other information as may berequired by law. Proposed expenditures shall not exceed fundsestimated to be available for the fiscal year as shown in thebudget.    (b)  The General Assembly by law shall makeappropriations for all expenditures of public funds by theState. Appropriations for a fiscal year shall not exceedfunds estimated by the General Assembly to be availableduring that year.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 3. STATE AUDIT AND AUDITOR GENERAL    (a)  The General Assembly shall provide by law for theaudit of the obligation, receipt and use of public funds ofthe State. The General Assembly, by a vote of three-fifths ofthe members elected to each house, shall appoint an AuditorGeneral and may remove him for cause by a similar vote. TheAuditor General shall serve for a term of ten years. Hiscompensation shall be established by law and shall not bediminished, but may be increased, to take effect during histerm.    (b)  The Auditor General shall conduct the audit ofpublic funds of the State. He shall make additional reportsand investigations as directed by the General Assembly. Heshall report his findings and recommendations to the GeneralAssembly and to the Governor.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 4. SYSTEMS OF ACCOUNTING, AUDITING AND REPORTING    The General Assembly by law shall provide systems ofaccounting, auditing and reporting of the obligation, receiptand use of public funds. These systems shall be used by allunits of local government and school districts.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)                         ARTICLE IX                           REVENUESECTION 1. STATE REVENUE POWER    The General Assembly has the exclusive power to raiserevenue by law except as limited or otherwise provided inthis Constitution. The power of taxation shall not besurrendered, suspended, or contracted away.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 2. NON-PROPERTY TAXES - CLASSIFICATION,           EXEMPTIONS, DEDUCTIONS, ALLOWANCES           AND CREDITS    In any law classifying the subjects or objects ofnon-property taxes or fees, the classes shall be reasonableand the subjects and objects within each class shall be taxeduniformly. Exemptions, deductions, credits, refunds and otherallowances shall be reasonable.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 3. LIMITATIONS ON INCOME TAXATION    (a)  A tax on or measured by income shall be at anon-graduated rate. At any one time there may be no more thanone such tax imposed by the State for State purposes onindividuals and one such tax so imposed on corporations. Inany such tax imposed upon corporations the rate shall notexceed the rate imposed on individuals by more than a ratioof 8 to 5.    (b)  Laws imposing taxes on or measured by income mayadopt by reference provisions of the laws and regulations ofthe United States, as they then exist or thereafter may bechanged, for the purpose of arriving at the amount of incomeupon which the tax is imposed.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 4. REAL PROPERTY TAXATION    (a)  Except as otherwise provided in this Section, taxesupon real property shall be levied uniformly by valuationascertained as the General Assembly shall provide by law.    (b)  Subject to such limitations as the General Assemblymay hereafter prescribe by law, counties with a population ofmore than 200,000 may classify or continue to classify realproperty for purposes of taxation. Any such classificationshall be reasonable and assessments shall be uniform withineach class. The level of assessment or rate of tax of thehighest class in a county shall not exceed two and one-halftimes the level of assessment or rate of tax of the lowestclass in that county. Real property used in farming in acounty shall not be assessed at a higher level of assessmentthan single family residential real property in that county.    (c)  Any depreciation in the value of real estateoccasioned by a public easement may be deducted in assessingsuch property.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 5. PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXATION    (a)  The General Assembly by law may classify personalproperty for purposes of taxation by valuation, abolish suchtaxes on any or all classes and authorize the levy of taxesin lieu of the taxation of personal property by valuation.    (b)  Any ad valorem personal property tax abolished on orbefore the effective date of this Constitution shall not bereinstated.    (c)  On or before January 1, 1979, the General Assemblyby law shall abolish all ad valorem personal property taxesand concurrently therewith and thereafter shall replace allrevenue lost by units of local government and schooldistricts as a result of the abolition of ad valorem personalproperty taxes subsequent to January 2, 1971. Such revenueshall be replaced by imposing statewide taxes, other than advalorem taxes on real estate, solely on those classesrelieved of the burden of paying ad valorem personal propertytaxes because of the abolition of such taxes subsequent toJanuary 2, 1971. If any taxes imposed for such replacementpurposes are taxes on or measured by income, such replacementtaxes shall not be considered for purposes of the limitationsof one tax and the ratio of 8 to 5 set forth in Section 3(a)of this Article.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 6. EXEMPTIONS FROM PROPERTY TAXATION    The General Assembly by law may exempt from taxation onlythe property of the State, units of local government andschool districts and property used exclusively foragricultural and horticultural societies, and for school,religious, cemetery and charitable purposes. The GeneralAssembly by law may grant homestead exemptions or rentcredits.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 7. OVERLAPPING TAXING DISTRICTS    The General Assembly may provide by law for fairapportionment of the burden of taxation of property situatedin taxing districts that lie in more than one county.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 8. TAX SALES    (a)  Real property shall not be sold for the nonpaymentof taxes or special assessments without judicial proceedings.    (b)  The right of redemption from all sales of realestate for the nonpayment of taxes or special assessments,except as provided in subsections (c) and (d), shall exist infavor of owners and persons interested in such real estatefor not less than 2 years following such sales.    (c)  The right of redemption from the sale for nonpaymentof taxes or special assessments of a parcel of real estatewhich:  (1) is vacant non-farm real estate or (2) contains animprovement consisting of a structure or structures each ofwhich contains 7 or more residential units or (3) iscommercial or industrial property; shall exist in favor ofowners and persons interested in such real estate for notless than one year following such sales.    (d)  The right of redemption from the sale for nonpaymentof taxes or special assessments of a parcel real estatewhich:  (1) is vacant non-farm real estate or (2) contains animprovement consisting of a structure or structures each ofwhich contains 7 or more residential units or (3) iscommercial or industrial property; and upon which all or apart of the general taxes for each of 2 or more years aredelinquent shall exist in favor of owners and personsinterested in such real estate for not less than 6 monthsfollowing such sales.    (e)  Owners, occupants and parties interested shall begiven reasonable notice of the sale and the date ofexpiration of the period of redemption as the GeneralAssembly provides by law.(Source: Amendment adopted at general election November 6,1990.)SECTION 9. STATE DEBT    (a)  No State debt shall be incurred except as providedin this Section. For the purpose of this Section, "Statedebt" means bonds or other evidences of indebtedness whichare secured by the full faith and credit of the State or arerequired to be repaid, directly or indirectly, from taxrevenue and which are incurred by the State, any department,authority, public corporation or quasi-public corporation ofthe State, any State college or university, or any otherpublic agency created by the State, but not by units of localgovernment, or school districts.    (b)  State debt for specific purposes may be incurred orthe payment of State or other debt guaranteed in such amountsas may be provided either in a law passed by the vote ofthree-fifths of the members elected to each house of theGeneral Assembly or in a law approved by a majority of theelectors voting on the question at the next general electionfollowing passage. Any law providing for the incurring orguaranteeing of debt shall set forth the specific purposesand the manner of repayment.    (c)  State debt in anticipation of revenues to becollected in a fiscal year may be incurred by law in anamount not exceeding 5% of the State's appropriations forthat fiscal year. Such debt shall be retired from therevenues realized in that fiscal year.    (d)  State debt may be incurred by law in an amount notexceeding 15% of the State's appropriations for that fiscalyear to meet deficits caused by emergencies or failures ofrevenue. Such law shall provide that the debt be repaidwithin one year of the date it is incurred.    (e)  State debt may be incurred by law to refundoutstanding State debt if the refunding debt matures withinthe term of the outstanding State debt.    (f)  The State, departments, authorities, publiccorporations and quasi-public corporations of the State, theState colleges and universities and other public agenciescreated by the State, may issue bonds or other evidences ofindebtedness which are not secured by the full faith andcredit or tax revenue of the State nor required to be repaid,directly or indirectly, from tax revenue, for such purposesand in such amounts as may be authorized by law.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 10. REVENUE ARTICLE NOT LIMITED    This Article is not qualified or limited by theprovisions of Article VII of this Constitution concerning thesize of the majorities in the General Assembly necessary todeny or limit the power to tax granted to units of localgovernment.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 11. TRANSPORTATION FUNDS    (a) No moneys, including bond proceeds, derived from taxes,fees, excises, or license taxes relating to registration,title, or operation or use of vehicles, or related to the useof highways, roads, streets, bridges, mass transit, intercitypassenger rail, ports, airports, or to fuels used forpropelling vehicles, or derived from taxes, fees, excises, orlicense taxes relating to any other transportationinfrastructure or transportation operation, shall be expendedfor purposes other than as provided in subsections (b) and (c).    (b) Transportation funds may be expended for the following:the costs of administering laws related to vehicles andtransportation, including statutory refunds and adjustmentsprovided in those laws; payment of highway obligations; costsfor construction, reconstruction, maintenance, repair, andbetterment of highways, roads, streets, bridges, mass transit,intercity passenger rail, ports, airports, or other forms oftransportation; and other statutory highway purposes.Transportation funds may also be expended for the State orlocal share of highway funds to match federal aid highwayfunds, and expenses of grade separation of highways andrailroad crossings, including protection of at-grade highwaysand railroad crossings, and, with respect to local governments,other transportation purposes as authorized by law.    (c) The costs of administering laws related to vehicles andtransportation shall be limited to direct program expensesrelated to the following: the enforcement of traffic, railroad,and motor carrier laws; the safety of highways, roads, streets,bridges, mass transit, intercity passenger rail, ports, orairports; and the construction, reconstruction, improvement,repair, maintenance, operation, and administration ofhighways, under any related provisions of law or any purposerelated or incident to, including grade separation of highwaysand railroad crossings. The limitations to the costs ofadministering laws related to vehicles and transportationunder this subsection (c) shall also include direct programexpenses related to workers' compensation claims for death orinjury of employees of the State's transportation agency; theacquisition of land and the erection of buildings for highwaypurposes, including the acquisition of highway rights-of-wayor for investigations to determine the reasonable anticipatedfuture highway needs; and the making of surveys, plans,specifications, and estimates for the construction andmaintenance of flight strips and highways. The expenses relatedto the construction and maintenance of flight strips andhighways under this subsection (c) are for the purpose ofproviding access to military and naval reservations,defense-industries, defense-industry sites, and sources of rawmaterials, including the replacement of existing highways andhighway connections shut off from general use at military andnaval reservations, defense-industries, and defense-industrysites, or the purchase of rights-of-way.    (d) None of the revenues described in subsection (a) ofthis Section shall, by transfer, offset, or otherwise, bediverted to any purpose other than those described insubsections (b) and (c) of this Section.    (e) If the General Assembly appropriates funds for a modeof transportation not described in this Section, the GeneralAssembly must provide for a dedicated source of funding.    (f) Federal funds may be spent for any purposes authorizedby federal law.(Source: Amendment adopted at general election November 8,2016.)                          ARTICLE X                          EDUCATIONSECTION 1.  GOAL - FREE SCHOOLS    A fundamental goal of the People of the State is theeducational development of all persons to the limits of theircapacities.    The State shall provide for an efficient system of highquality public educational institutions and services.Education in public schools through the secondary level shallbe free. There may be such other free education as theGeneral Assembly provides by law.    The State has the primary responsibility for financingthe system of public education.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 2. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION - CHIEF STATE EDUCATIONALOFFICER    (a)  There is created a State Board of Education to beelected or selected on a regional basis. The number ofmembers, their qualifications, terms of office and manner ofelection or selection shall be provided by law. The Board,except as limited by law, may establish goals, determinepolicies, provide for planning and evaluating educationprograms and recommend financing. The Board shall have suchother duties and powers as provided by law.    (b)  The State Board of Education shall appoint a chiefstate educational officer.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 3. PUBLIC FUNDS FOR SECTARIAN PURPOSES FORBIDDEN    Neither the General Assembly nor any county, city, town,township, school district, or other public corporation, shallever make any appropriation or pay from any public fundwhatever, anything in aid of any church or sectarian purpose,or to help support or sustain any school, academy, seminary,college, university, or other literary or scientificinstitution, controlled by any church or sectariandenomination whatever; nor shall any grant or donation ofland, money, or other personal property ever be made by theState, or any such public corporation, to any church, or forany sectarian purpose.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)                         ARTICLE XI                         ENVIRONMENTSECTION 1.  PUBLIC POLICY - LEGISLATIVE RESPONSIBILITY    The public policy of the State and the duty of eachperson is to provide and maintain a healthful environment forthe benefit of this and future generations. The GeneralAssembly shall provide by law for the implementation andenforcement of this public policy.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 2.  RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS    Each person has the right to a healthful environment.Each person may enforce this right against any party,governmental or private, through appropriate legalproceedings subject to reasonable limitation and regulationas the General Assembly may provide by law.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)                         ARTICLE XII                           MILITIASECTION 1.  MEMBERSHIP    The State militia consists of all able-bodied personsresiding in the State except those exempted by law.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 2.  SUBORDINATION OF MILITARY POWER    The military shall be in strict subordination to thecivil power.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 3.  ORGANIZATION, EQUIPMENT AND DISCIPLINE    The General Assembly shall provide by law for theorganization, equipment and discipline of the militia inconformity with the laws governing the armed forces of theUnited States.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 4.  COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF AND OFFICERS    (a)  The Governor is commander-in-chief of the organizedmilitia, except when they are in the service of the UnitedStates. He may call them out to enforce the laws, suppressinsurrection or repel invasion.    (b)  The Governor shall commission militia officers whoshall hold their commissions for such time as may be providedby law.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 5. PRIVILEGE FROM ARREST    Except in cases of treason, felony or breach of peace,persons going to, returning from or on militia duty areprivileged from arrest.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)                        ARTICLE XIII                     GENERAL PROVISIONSSECTION 1. DISQUALIFICATION FOR PUBLIC OFFICE    A person convicted of a felony, bribery, perjury or otherinfamous crime shall be ineligible to hold an office createdby this Constitution. Eligibility may be restored as providedby law.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 2.  STATEMENT OF ECONOMIC INTERESTS    All candidates for or holders of state offices and allmembers of a Commission or Board created by this Constitutionshall file a verified statement of their economic interests,as provided by law. The General Assembly by law may impose asimilar requirement upon candidates for, or holders of,offices in units of local government and school districts.Statements shall be filed annually with the Secretary ofState and shall be available for inspection by the public.The General Assembly by law shall prescribe a reasonable timefor filing the statement. Failure to file a statement withinthe time prescribed shall result in ineligibility for, orforfeiture of, office. This Section shall not be construed aslimiting the authority of any branch of government toestablish and enforce ethical standards for that branch.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 3.  OATH OR AFFIRMATION OF OFFICE    Each prospective holder of a State office or other Stateposition created by this Constitution, before taking office,shall take and subscribe to the following oath oraffirmation:    "I do solemnly swear (affirm) that I will support theConstitution of the United States, and the Constitution ofthe State of Illinois, and that I will faithfully dischargethe duties of the office of .... to the best of my ability."(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 4. SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY ABOLISHED    Except as the General Assembly may provide by law,sovereign immunity in this State is abolished.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 5. PENSION AND RETIREMENT RIGHTS    Membership in any pension or retirement system of theState, any unit of local government or school district, orany agency or instrumentality thereof, shall be anenforceable contractual relationship, the benefits of whichshall not be diminished or impaired.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 6.  CORPORATIONS    Corporate charters shall be granted, amended, dissolved,or extended only pursuant to general laws.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 7.  PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION    Public transportation is an essential public purpose forwhich public funds may be expended. The General Assembly bylaw may provide for, aid, and assist public transportation,including the granting of public funds or credit to anycorporation or public authority authorized to provide publictransportation within the State.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 8.  BRANCH BANKING    Branch banking shall be authorized only by law approvedby three-fifths of the members voting on the question or amajority of the members elected, whichever is greater, ineach house of the General Assembly.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)                         ARTICLE XIV                   CONSTITUTIONAL REVISIONSECTION 1.  CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION    (a)  Whenever three-fifths of the members elected to eachhouse of the General Assembly so direct, the question ofwhether a Constitutional Convention should be called shall besubmitted to the electors at the general election nextoccurring at least six months after such legislativedirection.    (b)  If the question of whether a Convention should becalled is not submitted during any twenty-year period, theSecretary of State shall submit such question at the generalelection in the twentieth year following the last submission.    (c)  The vote on whether to call a Convention shall be ona separate ballot. A Convention shall be called if approvedby three-fifths of those voting on the question or a majorityof those voting in the election.    (d)  The General Assembly, at the session followingapproval by the electors, by law shall provide for theConvention and for the election of two delegates from eachLegislative District; designate the time and place of theConvention's first meeting which shall be within three monthsafter the election of delegates; fix and provide for the payof delegates and officers; and provide for expensesnecessarily incurred by the Convention.    (e)  To be eligible to be a delegate a person must meetthe same eligibility requirements as a member of the GeneralAssembly. Vacancies shall be filled as provided by law.    (f)  The Convention shall prepare such revision of oramendments to the Constitution as it deems necessary. Anyproposed revision or amendments approved by a majority of thedelegates elected shall be submitted to the electors in suchmanner as the Convention determines, at an electiondesignated or called by the Convention occurring not lessthan two nor more than six months after the Convention'sadjournment. Any revision or amendments proposed by theConvention shall be published with explanations, as theConvention provides, at least one month preceding theelection.    (g)  The vote on the proposed revision or amendmentsshall be on a separate ballot. Any proposed revision oramendments shall become effective, as the Conventionprovides, if approved by a majority of those voting on thequestion.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 2.  AMENDMENTS BY GENERAL ASSEMBLY    (a)  Amendments to this Constitution may be initiated ineither house of the General Assembly. Amendments shall beread in full on three different days in each house andreproduced before the vote is taken on final passage.Amendments approved by the vote of three-fifths of themembers elected to each house shall be submitted to theelectors at the general election next occurring at least sixmonths after such legislative approval, unless withdrawn by avote of a majority of the members elected to each house.    (b)  Amendments proposed by the General Assembly shall bepublished with explanations, as provided by law, at least onemonth preceding the vote thereon by the electors. The vote onthe proposed amendment or amendments shall be on a separateballot. A proposed amendment shall become effective as theamendment provides if approved by either three-fifths ofthose voting on the question or a majority of those voting inthe election.    (c)  The General Assembly shall not submit proposedamendments to more than three Articles of the Constitution atany one election. No amendment shall be proposed or submittedunder this Section from the time a Convention is called untilafter the electors have voted on the revision or amendments,if any, proposed by such Convention.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 3. CONSTITUTIONAL INITIATIVE FOR LEGISLATIVE ARTICLE    Amendments to Article IV of this Constitution may beproposed by a petition signed by a number of electors equalin number to at least eight percent of the total votes castfor candidates for Governor in the preceding gubernatorialelection. Amendments shall be limited to structural andprocedural subjects contained in Article IV. A petition shallcontain the text of the proposed amendment and the date ofthe general election at which the proposed amendment is to besubmitted, shall have been signed by the petitioning electorsnot more than twenty-four months preceding that generalelection and shall be filed with the Secretary of State atleast six months before that general election. The procedurefor determining the validity and sufficiency of a petitionshall be provided by law. If the petition is valid andsufficient, the proposed amendment shall be submitted to theelectors at that general election and shall become effectiveif approved by either three-fifths of those voting on theamendment or a majority of those voting in the election.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 4. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITEDSTATES    The affirmative vote of three-fifths of the memberselected to each house of the General Assembly shall berequired to request Congress to call a Federal ConstitutionalConvention, to ratify a proposed amendment to theConstitution of the United States, or to call a StateConvention to ratify a proposed amendment to the Constitutionof the United States. The General Assembly shall not takeaction on any proposed amendment to the Constitution of theUnited States submitted for ratification by legislaturesunless a majority of the members of the General Assemblyshall have been elected after the proposed amendment has beensubmitted for ratification. The requirements of this Sectionshall govern to the extent that they are not inconsistentwith requirements established by the United States.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)                     TRANSITION SCHEDULE    The following Schedule Provisions shall remain part ofthis Constitution until their terms have been executed. Onceeach year the Attorney General shall review the followingprovisions and certify to the Secretary of State which, ifany, have been executed. Any provisions so certified shallthereafter be removed from the Schedule and no longerpublished as part of this Constitution.    Section 1. (Removed)    Section 2. Prospective Operation of Bill of Rights.    Section 3. (Removed)    Section 4. Judicial Offices.    Section 5. Local Government.    Section 6. Authorized Bonds.    Section 7. (Removed)    Section 8. Cumulative Voting for Directors.    Section 9. General Transition.    Section 10. (Removed)(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 2. PROSPECTIVE OPERATION OF BILL OF RIGHTS    Any rights, procedural or substantive, created for thefirst time by Article I shall be prospective and notretroactive.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 4. JUDICIAL OFFICES    (a)  On the effective date of this Constitution,Associate Judges and magistrates shall become Circuit Judgesand Associate Judges, respectively, of their Circuit Courts.All laws and rules of court theretofore applicable toAssociate Judges and magistrates shall remain in force and beapplicable to the persons in their new offices until changedby the General Assembly or the Supreme Court, as the case maybe.    (b)  (Removed)    (c)  (Removed)    (d)  Until otherwise provided by law and except to theextent that the authority is inconsistent with Section 8 ofArticle VII, the Circuit Courts shall continue to exercisethe non-judicial functions vested by law as of December 31,1963, in county courts or the judges thereof.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 5. LOCAL GOVERNMENT    (a)  The number of members of a county board in a countywhich, as of the effective date of this Constitution, electsthree members at large may be changed only as approved bycounty-wide referendum. If the number of members of such acounty board is changed by county-wide referendum, theprovisions of Section 3(a) of Article VII relating to thenumber of members of a county board shall govern thereafter.    (b)  In Cook County, until (1) a method of election ofcounty board members different from the method in existenceon the effective date of this Constitution is approved by amajority of votes cast both in Chicago and in the areaoutside Chicago in a county-wide referendum or (2) the CookCounty Board by ordinance divides the county into singlemember districts from which members of the County Boardresident in each district are elected, the number of membersof the Cook County Board shall be fifteen except that thecounty board may increase the number if necessary to complywith apportionment requirements. If either of the foregoingchanges is made, the provisions of Section 3(a) of ArticleVII shall apply thereafter to Cook County.    (c)  Townships in existence on the effective date of thisConstitution are continued until consolidated, merged,divided or dissolved in accordance with Section 5 of ArticleVII.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 6.  AUTHORIZED BONDS    Nothing in Section 9 of Article IX shall be construed tolimit or impair the power to issue bonds or other evidencesof indebtedness authorized but unissued on the effective dateof this Constitution.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 8.  CUMULATIVE VOTING FOR DIRECTORS    Shareholders of all corporations heretofore organizedunder any law of this State which requires cumulative votingof shares for corporate directors shall retain their right tovote cumulatively for such directors.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)SECTION 9. GENERAL TRANSITION    The rights and duties of all public bodies shall remainas if this Constitution had not been adopted with theexception of such changes as are contained in thisConstitution. All laws, ordinances, regulations and rules ofcourt not contrary to, or inconsistent with, the provisionsof this Constitution shall remain in force, until they shallexpire by their own limitation or shall be altered orrepealed pursuant to this Constitution. The validity of allpublic and private bonds, debts and contracts, and of allsuits, actions and rights of action, shall continue as if nochange had taken place. All officers filling any office byelection or appointment shall continue to exercise the dutiesthereof, until their offices shall have been abolished ortheir successors selected and qualified in accordance withthis Constitution or laws enacted pursuant thereto.(Source: Illinois Constitution.)