The delegates to the 1970 Illinois Constitutional Convention recognized these problems. Henry I. The Sixth Illinois Constitutional Convention met from December 8, 1969 to September 3, 1970. The first amendment adopted to the new charter still remains the most radical—the 1980 Cutback Amendment that eliminated one-third of the House—59 members—and did away with cumulative voting, perhaps the highlight of the 1870 charter. In the past, the duties had been combined in a single office, permitting Orville Hodge to embezzle more than $6 million in the 1950s. A constitutional convention was proposed to Illinois voters in the 1988 general election but was defeated 2,727,144 to 900,109. These involve the 1970 goal of confirming the Rather than revamp certain provisions, suppose citizens want to rewrite the entire document? The proposal fell far short of approval last month. •  The Legislature chooses an auditor general to review the fiscal operations and policies of all state government, giving lawmakers oversight of their budget and policy decisions, in place of the former popularly-elected auditor of public accounts. Constitutional Conventions in Illinois 2d ed. However, some provisions, such as the change in the dates for the election of constitutional officers, did not take effect for several years. The 1870 Constitution expanded the powers of the executive and judicial branches. Unlike their peers in olden times, they won’t have to wait 98 years for the chance, thanks to one forward-looking provision included in the 1970 charter—a provision that voters must be asked every 20 years whether a new convention should be called, with the time clock starting from 1968, when the call for the state’s sixth convention was overwhelmingly approved. IDPH has also compiled a list of, WASHINGTON  — Democrat Joe Biden has defeated President Donald Trump to become the 46th president of the United States. Her treatise “The Illinois State Constitution: A Reference Guide” was published in December 2009. The question is especially timely now, as the citizens he cited ratified the delegates’ work 50 years ago this month, on December 15, 1970. J.B. Pritzker has ordered the closing of every school in the state until March 30 amid concerns over the spread of coronavirus. .grecaptcha-badge { That Convention was tasked with rewriting the Illinois State Constitution, and the Bill of Rights Committee was formed to propose a Bill of Rights as part of that … 1970 constitutional convention, is in “Introduction to the 1970 Illinois Constitution” in the Record of Proceedings of the Sixth Illinois Constitutional Convention, volume I, pages vii to x. The new evidence-based funding model adopted a few years ago promises to boost state dollars to local schools, if—a huge qualifier—its funding requirements can be met in tight fiscal times. But the language certainly holds out the aspirations: *  “The state has the primary responsibility” for funding “an efficient system of high quality public educational institutions and services,” according to Article X—Education. That Convention was tasked with rewriting the Illinois State Constitution, and the Bill of Rights Committee was formed to propose a Bill of Rights as part of that new Constitution. Join with thousands of others to keep this important public media-based resource available to all. By either test, I submit, the 1970 Constitution … How did Illinois do it? But keeping mass transit afloat in Chicago and its suburbs and providing bus service in many Downstate communities was a pressing concern in 1970, four years before voters approved formation of the Regional Transportation Authority and a new sales tax to help fund it. But the language certainly holds out the aspirations: *  “The state has the primary responsibility” for funding “an efficient system of high quality public educational institutions and services,” according to Article X—Education. ILLINOIS CONSTITUTION OF 1970 by ELMER GERTZ* As Edward S. Gilbreth phrased it in the Chicago Daily News at the beginning of June, 1970, battle lines were being formed at the Convention as the long-awaited Bill of Rights Report was coming up for consideration on so-called first reading. Three-quarters of voters rejected the automatic call in 1988; two-thirds turned thumbs down in 2008, with approval requiring either three-fifths of those voting on the question or a majority of those voting in the election. Constitutional Convention; Illinois. It was approved. Although written to address the concerns leading to the 1920 convention, the introductory pages provide a good summary of the constitutional conventions of … The 1870 charter’s much tighter debt limits helped spur the expansion of special taxing districts when counties and cities couldn’t sell bonds to finance much-needed services like fire protection, libraries, or park districts; Illinois still has more limited-purpose units than any other state. The two disciplinary panels originally were to be composed entirely of judges and attorneys; voters later approved an amendment adding non-lawyers to both. Originally published on December 22, 2020 7:15 pm. Had it been ratified, the change would have come a close second to the Cutback Amendment in the “most far-reaching” category. Further, the 1970 constitution created the office of comptroller to keep the state’s books and write the checks, in tandem with the treasurer, who’s responsible for the safe-keeping and investment of the state’s receipts. • The 1970 charter’s Environment Article-- added in the spirit of the first Earth Day celebrated early in the convention— states, “Each person has the right to a healthful environment (and) may enforce this right against any party, governmental or private, through appropriate legal proceedings” and provides that the state’s public policy, and each person’s duty, “is to provide and maintain a healthful environment for the benefit of this and future generations.” … The new constitution, drafted by the convention, was adopted on December 15, 1970. On November 4th Illinois voters will be asked to decide whether Illinois should convene a state constitutional convention. See also. Five decades ago the state’s political power brokers spent over nine months together and painstakingly hammered out a new constitution for Illinois. Samuel W. Witwer, president, Sixth Illinois Constitutional Convention. Voters have said no to nine others, the most recent being the so-called “Fair Tax” amendment to permit a graduated income tax, with different rates for different income levels. On July 1, 1971, a new constitution became effective in Illinois. Constitution of the State of Illinois Adopted in Convention at Springfield, May 13, A.D. 1870. In yet another “back to the future” moment, the CTA, commuter rail and suburban buses are now facing equally dire fiscal challenges, as ridership has crashed due to pandemic-motivated work-at-home orders. 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