Draft:Amendments to the Illinois Constitution of 1970
The Illinois Constitution of 1970 has been amended fourteen times since it was ratified in 1970.
Amendment proccess
[edit]The process to amend the Constitution of Illinois is outlined in Article XIV of the constitution.[1]
A constitutional convention can be called through a ballot measure. In order for such a ballot measure to be approved, thus triggering a Constitution convention, votes in favor of holding a convention must equal either a 60% supermajority of votes cast on the ballot measure or a simple 50% majority of all ballots cast in the state general election.[1] It is also stipulated that a vote on whether to hold a constitution convention is automatically referred to voters every 20 years.[1] Such automatically reffered votes have taken place in 1988, 2008, being defeated each time.[2][3]
Amendments can be passed as legislatively referred constitutional amendments. In order to refer a proposed constitutional amendment to the voters, each chamber of the Illinois General Assembly must cast a 60% supermajority vote in support of referring the proposed amendment to voters. A proposed amendment is ratified if Illinois voters' votes in support of it equal either a 60% supermajority of votes cast on the ballot measure or a simple 50% majority of all ballots cast in the state general election.[1] The Illinois General Assembly is limited to referring no more than three proposed constitutional amendments to voters in a single election.[1] If a constitutional convention has been called, the Illinois General Assembly is prohibited from referring proposed amendments to Illinois voters until after the convention has met and any amendments recommended by the convention have been voted on been voted on by Illinois voters.[1]
Proposed amendments to the Article IV of the constitution may be referred to a vote by the state's electorate through an initiative.[1] Initiated amendments are not permitted for any other article of the constitution.[1] In order for a proposed amendment to be reffered to the state's electorate, signatures equal to 8% of the total vote of the preceding gubernatorial election must be collected.[1] A proposed amendment is ratified if Illinois voters' votes in support of it equal either a 60% supermajority of votes cast on the ballot measure or a simple 50% majority of all ballots cast in the state general election.[1]
Ratified amendments
[edit]In the years since the constitution's ratification, 14 amendments have been ratified.
Table of ratified amendments
[edit]Size of State House of Representatives Amendment (ratified in 1980)
[edit]Sale of Tax Delinquent Property Amendment (ratified in 1980)
[edit]Bail Amendment (ratified in 1982)
[edit]Bail Amendment (ratified in 1986)
[edit]Illinois Voting Requirement Amendment (ratified in 1988)
[edit]Redemption Periods for Property Sold for Non-Payment of Taxes Amendment (ratified in 1990)
[edit]Crime Victim Rights Amendment (ratified in 1992)
[edit]Criminal Defendants' Right to Meet Witnesses Amendment (ratified in 1994)
[edit]Legislative Session Length Amendment (ratified in 1994)
[edit]Courts Commission Amendment (ratified in 1998)
[edit]Governor Recall Amendment (ratified in 2010)
[edit]Crime Victims' Bill of Rights (ratified in 2014)
[edit]Right to Vote Amendment (ratified in 2014)
[edit]Transportation Taxes and Fees Lockbox Amendment (ratified in 2016)
[edit]Proposed amendments that were defeated as ballot measures
[edit]In votes coinciding with the 1970 ratification vote, Illinois voters rejected the ratification both the Death Penalty Amendment and the Voting Age Amendment
In the years subsequent to the ratification of the constitution, eight proposed amendments that had been advanced by the Illinois Legislature to a public vote (as legislatively referred constitutional amendments) have been defeated, failing to meet either vote threshold for ratification.
- Restrict Governor's Amendatory Veto Power Amendment (1974)
- Exempt Veterans' Organizations from Property Taxes Amendment (1978)
- Personal Property Tax Amendment (1978)
- Exempt Veterans' Organizations from Property Taxes Amendment (1984)
- Exempt Veterans' Organizations from Property Taxes Amendment (1986)
- Education Equality Amendment (1992)
- Public Pension Amendment (2012)
- Allow for Graduated Income Tax Amendment (2020)
Proposed amendment currently pending a public vote
[edit]The proposed Illinois Right to Collective Bargaining Amendment has been referred to the voters of Illinois, and will be on the ballot of the November 2022 statewide election.[needs update][4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Article XIV, Illinois Constitution". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ "Illinois Constitutional Convention Question (1988)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ "Illinois 2008 ballot measures". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ "Illinois Right to Collective Bargaining Amendment (2022)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 27 January 2022.