Illinois Constitution – ANSWER KEY
Section One – The Illinois Government (pages 12–19)
1. When was the first Illinois Constitution written?
First adopted in 1818
2. What number state was Illinois to enter the Union?
21st state
3. When was the current Illinois Constitution written?
Adopted in 1970
4. What were some important additions to the current Illinois Constitution?
1. Extended anti-discrimination and health environment rights
2. Granted home-rule rights to larger cities and counties to tax and rule without state authorization
3. Gave line-item veto power to the governor to eliminate specific provisions in legislation
5. How many branches of government does Illinois have?
Three branches of government
6. What office is the head of the Executive Branch?
Governor
7. What group/body is in charge of the Legislative Branch?
The General Assembly
8. The Judicial Branch is led by what court?
Illinois Supreme Court
9. How many different units of local government does Illinois have? How does that rank our state in
comparison to other states?
1. 6,968 units of local government
2. Illinois has more local government units than any other state in the country
10. How many counties are there in Illinois?
102 counties
11. How many municipalities are in Illinois?
1,298 municipalities
12. How many school districts are there in Illinois?
905 school districts
13. What are the two major political parties in Illinois?
Republican and Democrat
14. Who is the current governor of Illinois?
Governor Bruce Rauner
15. What is his top goal as governor?
Create a prosperous state, where everyone has an opportunity to succeed
16. What was our current governor’s career before he entered politics?
Former partner at an investment company called GTCR, which oversees the retirement investments of first
responders, teachers, and other Illinois workers
17. What two types of vehicles does the governor drive/ride?
1. 20-year old camper van
2. Harley
18. What type of watch does the governor boast about wearing?
$18 watch
19. The governor must submit a proposed ______________ to the General Assembly each year.
State budget
20. Who must approve of all gubernatorial appointments?
Senate
21. What powers of forgiveness does the governor have?
Ability to grant pardons and reprieves
22. What type of legislative sessions can the governor call?
Special legislative sessions
23. What can the governor do regarding legislation passed by the General Assembly?
Approves or vetoes legislation
24. The governor serves as commander-in-chief of what?
State’s military forces
25. Who is the current lieutenant governor of Illinois?
Evelyn Sanguinetti
26. From where did the lieutenant governor’s parents come to America?
Her mother was a Cuban refugee and her father was an Ecuadorian immigrant
27. What disease does the lieutenant governor suffer from?
Multiple Sclerosis
28. What is the primary duty of the office of lieutenant governor?
Governor’s point person on education reform and chairs the Governor’s Rural Affairs Council
29. All other duties and responsibilities of the lieutenant governor are assigned by whom?
Governor
30. Who is the current Attorney General of Illinois?
Lisa Madigan
31. The Attorney General has fought to protect consumers from whom/what?
From the country’s biggest mortgage lenders for the 2008 economic collapse and subsequent foreclosure
crisis
32. List three criminal behaviors the Attorney General has targeted for prosecution:
1. Imposed tough sanctions on sex offenders and passed stronger laws to prosecute sexual violence
2. Created a law that requires background checks and criminal analyses of nursing home employees to
ensure nursing home resident safety
3. Created a Public Integrity Unit to investigate fraud and protect the taxpayers
33. Who does the Attorney General represent and protect?
Lawyer for the state and people of Illinois
34. Who is the current Illinois Secretary of State?
Jesse White
35. What Illinois Secretary of State program is a model for the nation to follow?
State’s Organ / Tissue Donor Program
36. Why was our Secretary of State world famous before he even entered politics?
Founded the Jesse White Tumbling Team in 1959
37. List five responsibilities the Illinois Secretary of State’s office is in charge of operating for the citizens/state
that make it the most diverse of its kind in the nation?
1. Issues vehicle license plates and titles
2. Licenses drivers and maintains driver records
3. Registers corporations
4. Enforces the Illinois Securities Act
5. Administers the state’s organ / tissue donor registry
6. Oversees State Library and literacy programs
7. Maintains records of legal and historical value in the Illinois State Archives
38. Who is the current Comptroller of Illinois?
Susana Mendoza (Newly elected Comptroller)
(For more information: http://susanamendoza.com/meet-susana/biography/)
39. What political party does she belong to?
Democrat
40. Prior to being Comptroller, what was her most recent position?
Chicago City Clerk
41. As the chief fiscal officer, the Comptroller is responsible for _______ing the state’s bills.
Maintaining
42. Who is the current state Treasurer of Illinois?
Michael Frerichs
43. From what region of our state was the Treasurer born and raised?
Champaign County farming community of Gifford, Illinois
44. What language, besides English, can the Treasurer speak?
Mandarin Chinese
45. As the state’s banker, the Treasurer is in charge of _______ing the state’s money.
Investing
46. What does the Treasurer’s Unclaimed Property Division do for citizens?
Aims to reunite more than $1.5 billion in lost and abandoned property with its rightful owners
Open Response Questions
Please write one paragraph answering each of the following questions.
1. After reading about all six statewide elected officials, which office do you believe is the most powerful?
Please list specific reasons why you think this.
2. Which of our statewide officers do you believe is the least powerful? Please state specific reasons that
support your opinion.
Section Two – The Legislative Branch (pages 28–51)
1. What are the three requirements to be eligible to serve in the General Assembly?
1. A person must be a United States citizen
2. At least 21 years old
3. Reside in the district being represented for at least two years prior to the election or appointment
2. How many members compose the Illinois Senate?
59 members
3. How many members are there in the Illinois House of Representatives?
118 members
4. What are the General Assembly’s three major duties regarding laws?
1. Enacting, amending or repealing laws
2. Passing resolutions
3. Adopting appropriation bills and conducting inquiries on proposed legislation
5. Which chamber of the General Assembly votes to impeach officials of wrongdoing?
House of Representatives
6. Which chamber acts as the jury in the impeachment trial? What fraction vote does it take to convict?
Senate; Two-thirds vote
7. How long is the term of a representative of the Illinois House?
Two-year term
8. How many times every ten years must Illinois senators face re-election?
Face re-election three times in ten years
9. When does the General Assembly convene each year?
The General Assembly convenes each year on the second Wednesday in January.
10. What important speech does the Governor give each January/February?
State of the State address to the legislature
11. When does the General Assembly adjourn each year?
The General Assembly adjourns at the end of May
12. For what purpose does the General Assembly meet each October or November?
To consider the governor’s vetoes
13. Who can call the General Assembly back to Springfield for a special session?
The governor or a joint proclamation by the presiding officers of both chambers
14. In which chamber must bills be introduced in the Illinois General Assembly?
A bill may be introduced in either the House or the Senate
15. How many times must a bill be “read” on the House and Senate floor in order to become law?
Each bill must be read on three different days in each chamber before it is passed
16. What happens after a bill’s first reading?
The bill is referred to the appropriate committee for review
17. What can happen during a bill’s second reading?
An amendment can be added to the bill
18. What happens during a bill’s third reading?
The bill is debated and then voted on
19. Who is the current president of the Senate?
John J. Cullerton
20. Who is the current speaker of the House?
Michael J. Madigan
21. Which party currently holds a majority in both legislative chambers?
The Democratic Party
22. Using the map on pages 51/52, who currently represents you in the Illinois House of Representatives?
Answer Depends
23. Using the same map, who is your current state senator?
Answer Depends
Open Response Questions
Please write one paragraph answering each of the following questions.
1. After reading about how a bill becomes a law in Illinois, what new law would you like to see passed by the
General Assembly? Please explain why this law would benefit our state.
2. You learned that the General Assembly has the power to repeal laws as well as create them. What one law
would you like to see taken off the books in Illinois? Please gives evidence to support your opinion.
Section Three – The Judicial Branch (pages 54–56)
1. What is the highest tribunal (court) in Illinois?
Illinois Supreme Court
2. The Supreme Court has what two types of jurisdiction in Illinois?
General administrative and supervisory authority over all courts in Illinois
3. How many justices serve on the Illinois Supreme Court?
Seven justices
4. How are members of the Illinois Supreme Court selected for their position?
Elected from five judicial districts
5. For how long does a member of the Illinois Supreme Court serve once elected?
10-year term
6. Who is the current chief justice of the Illinois Supreme Court?
Rita B. Garman
Chief Justice, 4th District
7. What are the two types of courts that are below the Illinois Supreme Court?
Appellate Court and Circuit Court
8. How are judges on both of these courts selected for their jobs for the first time?
1. Appellate judges are elected from the five judicial districts for 10-year terms
2. Circuit judges are elected for six-year terms, and they appoint associate judges who serve four-year
terms.
9. If these state judges want to keep their jobs, what kind of special elections are held?
Special judicial ballot, without party designation and an opposing candidate, on the sole question of whether
the judge shall be retained in office for another term.
10. Where is the Illinois Supreme Court building located?
Springfield, Illinois
Open Response Question
Please write one paragraph answering the following question.
1. Please explain three key differences between the U.S. Supreme Court and the Illinois Supreme Court.
Section Four – The Federal-State Relationship (pages 5–11)
1. According to the U.S. Constitution, government powers are split between what two levels?
The federal government and the states
2. What government body has final say on disputes between states and the federal government?
The U.S. Supreme Court
3. What constitutional amendment gives the states their powers?
The 10th Amendment
4. The federal government depends on the states to handle what two major responsibilities?
Approving amendments to the U.S. Constitution and the election of federal officials
5. Which of Illinois’ U.S. Senators has served the longest?
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin
6. Which political party does our senior senator belong to?
The Democratic Party
7. Which of Illinois’ U.S. Senators was elected most recently?
U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth
8. Which political party does our junior senator belong to?
The Democratic Party
9. How many members of the U.S. House of Representatives does Illinois have?
18 Congressional Districts
10. Is this number up or down from the previous census/reapportionment? Why?
Down; Illinois has fewer citizens
11. Using the map on pages 10/11, who currently represents you in the U.S. House of Representatives?
Answer Depends
Open Response Question
Please write one paragraph answering the following question.
1. Knowing that the Constitution allows states the freedom to elect federal officials, should Illinois lower its
voting age from 18? Please explain why or why not.
Section Five – Fun Facts (pages 57–62)
1. How many people live in Illinois?
12,882,135
2. How many high schools are there in Illinois?
789
3. In total, how many colleges, universities and community colleges exist across Illinois?
186
4. Illinois produces the most bushels of which crop each year?
Corn
5. Does Illinois currently have more lawyers or doctors?
Lawyers
6. What was the first capital city of Illinois?
Kaskaskia
7. What was Illinois’ second capital city?
Vandalia
8. What is Illinois’ third and current capital city?
Springfield
9. What is the state tree?
White Oak
10. What is the state flower?
Violet
11. What is the state song? (Lyrics found on page 62, and music can be heard at www.50states.com/songs.)
“Illinois”
12. What is the state bird?
Cardinal
13. What is the state slogan?
“Land of Lincoln”
14. What is the state animal?
White-tailed Deer
15. What is the state fish?
Bluegill
16. What is the state dance?
Square Dance
17. What is the state snack food?
Popcorn
18. What is the state fruit?
Goldrush Apple
Fun Facts About the Illinois State Flag (pages 3–4)
19. How old is the Illinois state flag?
101 years old
20. What color is the state flag?
White
21. What design is found in the center of the state flag?
State seal
22. What was added to the state flag in 1969?
“Illinois” beneath the Great Seal
23. When did Illinois first begin the practice of flying the state flag over the Illinois Capitol building?
1965