Illinois Constitutional Convention, September 3, 1970 Closing address by Samuel W. Witwer, President, Sixth Illinois Constitutional Convention by Samuel W. Witwer. The proposal fell far short of approval last month. Donate today >>, For health questions about COVID-19, call the Illinois Department of Public Health hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov. Indeed, since the new constitution’s provisions became effective July 1, 1971, Senate and House members have introduced almost 1,300 proposed amendments, including 71 in the soon-to-be-completed 101st General Assembly. Samuel Witwer, an attorney from Kenilworth, was chosen as president of the Constitutional Convention. The new constitution also created a two-step disciplinary framework for judges, after two Supreme Court justices resigned following 1969 revelations they had  received bank stock from a party to a case before them. WorldCat record id: 35920682 Charlie Wheeler is an emeritus professor at the University of Illinois Springfield, and the retired director of the Public Affairs Reporting program. The crystal ball here says those sentiments are likely to prevail eight years from now, when the question is on the November, 2028, ballot, because whatever the perceived shortcomings in the 50-year-old charter, most of us still prefer handling them with a scalpel, rather than taking a chain saw to the venerable document. SPRINGFIELD – It was a year like no other, and one most Americans would just as soon forget, but 2020 is sure to last in, URBANA — Officials in Urbana now have a feasibility study, for a proposed extension of the Kickapoo Rail Trail through the city. Pension debate at 1970 Constitutional Convention echoes in today's crisis By By Bob Secter and Rick Pearson and Chicago Tribune reporters Sep 22, 2013 at 6:14 PM 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. Your writer would submit the idea is worth serious discussion, especially as calls are sounding to make Chicago its own state. Clearly, the 1970 Constitution provides “a more efficient and economical government structure” than its century-old predecessor. -•-  In its General Provisions Article, the 1970 document declares, “Public transportation is an essential public purpose for which public funds may be expended,” a declaration that 50 years later seems a no-brainer. (There were to be three readings in all.) and the 1970 Constitutional Convention. From the description of Constitutional convention of 1870 journal, 1869-1870. 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. WILL and the Illinois Newsroom are committed to bringing you in-depth, relevant coverage that keeps you informed and engages you with our community and state. Citizens of Illinois, I believe, should measure the product of our efforts by these tests: Is the Constitution of 1970 superior to the Constitution of 1870? The ISBE calculations, though, include the $4.7 billion state contribution that year to teachers’ pension systems, which local educators note can’t be used for ongoing costs; factor out pensions, and the state’s share of total costs falls to 28 percent, one of the lowest in the country. How Illinois' power brokers barred a progessive tax in 1970. Photo: Abraham Lincoln Presidential LIbrary and Museum, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. The question is especially timely now, as the citizens he cited ratified the delegates’ work 50 years ago this month, on December 15, 1970. 407 (1973) STATE DEBT UNDER THE 1970 ILLINOIS CONSTITUTION: THE LEGISLATURE UNBOUND INTRODUCTION On the first Saturday in July, 1870, the people of Illinois ratified a constitution.1 Roughly one hundred years later, on December 5, 1970, their successors performed … In this time a total of 117 sessions were held. 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. future, regardless of whether a new constitutional convention is held or not. We recommend checking the Coronavirus Information Center for the most recent numbers and guidance. As quoted by Mr. Witwer in his address to the Sixth Illinois Constitutional Convention, RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS, SIXTH ILLINOIS CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION Vol. While hardly an unbiased observer—covering Con-Con was this writer’s first major assignment as a fledgling reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times—I believe the document has fared well, albeit with a handful of needed tweaks and a couple still pending. For example, consider these improvements clarifying the separation of powers among the state’s three branches: • The lieutenant governor no longer is the presiding officer of the Illinois Senate, as the 1870 document established. TAGS: 1970 Constitutional Convention, Illinois constitution, Illinois history. • The Bill of Rights spelled out in the charter’s Article I includes a section barring discrimination in employment and property sales and rental based on “race, color, creed, national ancestry, and sex.”  Another prohibits discrimination against the handicapped, while a third states: “The equal protection of the laws shall not be denied or abridged on account of sex by the State or its units of local government and school districts.”  Ironically, while its inclusion in the new constitution didn’t cause much of a stir, a few years later, the equivalent federal language--- equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex—became one of the state’s most polarizing issues as the proposed Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. [Illinois. And unlike the 1870 Constitution, our new constitution, balanced and practical, holds out hope to the people of Illinois that their government can, indeed, be responsive to their needs and their problems in this twentieth century. There have been four Illinois Constitutions; the fourth and current version was adopted in 1970. Judge Franklin … Is it time to resurrect the old system, given the extreme polarization now afflicting the body politic? CORNELIUS, CONSTITUTION MAKING IN ILLINOIS, 1818-1970 (1972). Schools Closed Because of Virus; Here’s How They’re Feeding Students, U.S. The new constitution also created a two-step disciplinary framework for judges, after two Supreme Court justices resigned following 1969 revelations they had  received bank stock from a party to a case before them. 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. Is the Constitution of 1970 relevant to the problems of our state at this time? [Ratified by the People July 2, 1870; in force August 8th, 1870; and amended, in 1877.] Illinois Gov. Samuel Witwer, an attorney from Kenilworth, was chosen as president of the Constitutional Convention. How did Illinois do it? Since 1980, a dozen more amendments have been ratified, most recently the 2016 “lockbox” amendment meant to insure that gasoline taxes, vehicle tags, driver’s licenses, and similar transportation-related revenues would be used only for transportation-related expenses. The question is especially timely now, as the citizens he cited ratified the delegates’ work 50 years ago this month, on December 15, 1970. •  The new constitution also ordered disclosure of state officials’ and candidates’ economic interests, and authorized the Legislature to impose a similar requirement on other public officials and candidates. Still, constitutions are living documents, in the sense they can be amended to meet the needs of changing times, particularly at the state level. It was approved. Constitutional Conventions in Illinois 2d ed. For example, consider these improvements clarifying the separation of powers among the state’s three branches: • The lieutenant governor no longer is the presiding officer of the Illinois Senate, as the 1870 document established. A Joint Service of Bradley University and Illinois State University. J.B. Pritzker has ordered the closing of every school in the state until March 30 amid concerns over the spread of coronavirus. “Citizens of Illinois, I believe, should measure the product of our efforts by these tests: Is the Constitution of 1970 superior to the Constitution of 1870? The newest Illinois Constitution — drawn up at the Constitutional Convention of 1970 — requires a flat-rate structure for income taxes. Illinois Newsroom gets stories from public radio stations from across the state, including WBEZ-Chicago, WCBU-Peoria, WGLT-Normal, WVIK-Rock Island, WIUM-Macomb, WNIJ-DeKalb, WSIU-Carbondale, WUIS-Springfield, and St. Louis Public Radio. 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. Still, constitutions are living documents, in the sense they can be amended to meet the needs of changing times, particularly at the state level. Henry I. The convention convened during the early part of … From the description of Constitutional convention of 1970 journal, 1969-1970. In a similar vein, delegates established “home rule,” giving cities with population greater than 25,000-- and any others whose voters requested it-- considerable leeway in managing their own internal affairs, including broad borrowing power. •¨  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. As published SPRINGFIELD: WEBER & Co., STATE PRINTERS 1879 (Other versions exist due to amendments between 1879 and 1970) ; The Illinois Constitution is the governing document of the state of Illinois. Office of Secretary of State.] Remembering Illinois’ 1970 Constitutional Convention 50 Years Later. 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. Trusted journalism when you need it most. Explanation and Commentary Illinois Hospitals Focus On COVID-19 Vaccine Education, Not Mandates For Employees, Illinois Delivers More Than 269,000 Vaccines; 126,111 Vaccinated Thus Far, https://cpa.ds.npr.org/wuis/audio/2020/12/ConCon_3.mp3. While hardly an unbiased observer—covering Con-Con was this writer’s first major assignment as a fledgling reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times—I believe the document has fared well, albeit with a handful of needed tweaks and a couple still pending. Statewide. 1818 Constitution The first Illinois Constitution was written during the summer of 1818 at a convention in Kaskaskia on the banks of the Mississippi River. [Vol. Aspirations are not achievements, of course, so while the delegates 50 years ago had good intentions of “strengthening… our commitment to the human needs of our people,” the governors, lawmakers, and local officials who’ve followed in their footsteps in public service have yet been able to meet some of the framers’ lofty goals. How well have the efforts of Samuel Witwer and his 117 fellow delegates met the tests he laid out in the convention’s closing moments in the half century that’s passed since the convention’s final adjournment? The proposal fell far short of approval last month. 1988 convention question Illinois Constitutional Convention Question (1988) 1988 was the last time the voters of Illinois considered the call to have a constitutional convention. Hear Sean Crawford's interview with Charlie Wheeler here. js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}(document,'script','facebook-jssdk')); The current version of the Illinois Constitution was ratified by special election on December 15, 1970, and went into effect on July 1, 1971. Is it time to resurrect the old system, given the extreme polarization now afflicting the body politic? By either test, I submit, the 1970 Constitution possesses a more efficient and economical governmental structure, while strengthening at the same time our commitment to the human needs of our people… the 1970 Constitution talks to a human purpose and a human society. Share Tweet Email. Citizens of Illinois, I believe, should measure the product of our efforts by these tests: Is the Constitution of 1970 superior to the Constitution … By either test, I submit, the 1970 Constitution … And unlike the 1870 Constitution, our new constitution, balanced and practical, holds out hope to the people of Illinois that their government can, indeed, be responsive to their needs and their problems in this twentieth century.” — Samuel W. Witwer, president, Sixth Illinois Constitutional Convention. Constitution of the State of Illinois Adopted in Convention at Springfield, May 13, A.D. 1870. For background on the constitution, see the following--This excerpt on the constitution is from Illinois Constitutions [click here for more information] by Emil Verlie. By either test, I submit, the 1970 Constitution possesses a more efficient and economical governmental structure, while strengthening at the same time our commitment to the human needs of our people… the 1970 Constitution talks to a human purpose and a human society. Her treatise “The Illinois State Constitution: A Reference Guide” was published in December 2009. THE 1970 ILLINOIS CONSTITUTION: THE LEGISLATURE UNBOUND INTRODUCTION On the first Saturday in July, 1870, the people of Illinois ratified a constitution.1 Roughly one hundred years later, on December 5, 1970, their successors performed the same decisive act.2 The significance of these acts of ratification is emphasized Is the Constitution of 1970 relevant to the problems of our state at this time? Copyright 2020 NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS. A total of 116 members — two elected from each senatorial district — met at a nonpar-tisan convention to revise, alter or amend the 1870 Illinois Constitution. A more direct model is the Congressional Research Service’s The Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation which is periodically updated for use by members of Congress. But shortly after the constitutional convention was authorized by voters, the Illinois legislature went on to adopt an income tax rate of 2.5 percent for individuals and 4 percent for businesses in 1969. Illinois! Green, of Urbana, Ill., was a delegate to the 1970 Illinois Constitutional Convention where he served on the Committee on Suffrage and Constitutional Amending. Constitution of Illinois (1970) related portals: Constitutional documents, Illinois. The Sixth Illinois Constitutional Convention met from December 8, 1969 to September 3, 1970. Had it been ratified, the change would have come a close second to the Cutback Amendment in the “most far-reaching” category. The Comptroller shall, in accordance with law, maintain the state's central fiscal accounts, order payments into the treasury, and issue warrants against any funds held by the treasurer. Rather than revamp certain provisions, suppose citizens want to rewrite the entire document? That introduction was written by Samuel W. Witwer, a lawyer who for many years advocated the calling of a constitutional convention, and served with distinction as the President of the 1970 convention. • 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.” … WILL and the Illinois Newsroom are committed to bringing you in-depth, relevant coverage that keeps you informed and engages you with our community and state. Aspirations are not achievements, of course, so while the delegates 50 years ago had good intentions of “strengthening… our commitment to the human needs of our people,” the governors, lawmakers, and local officials who’ve followed in their footsteps in public service have yet been able to meet some of the framers’ lofty goals. Perhaps more so than any other, this lofty aim has been thwarted over the years, first by a 1973 state high court ruling that the language is a goal, not a requirement, since then by local districts’ heavy reliance on property taxes to cover insufficient state funding. The 1970 Convention had widespread cooperative bipartisan support. Moreover, the Senate president and the House Speaker may call special sessions, a power previously reserved for the governor. Section 17. Additionally, there were Constitutional Conventions in 1862 and 1922, but the constitutions from these two conventions were not ratified by the voters. • 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.” … Ann M. Lousin has been a professor at UIC John Marshall Law School since 1975. .grecaptcha-badge { Kaskaskia had been the territorial capital and was the state capital of Illinois from 1818 through 1820. 1870 was the last year a constitutional convention was held in Illinois prior to 1970, leaving that constitution in place for 100 years. On November 4th Illinois voters will be asked to decide whether Illinois should convene a state constitutional convention. According to our 1970 Illinois Constitution, every twenty years the state is required to ask voters whether or not they want to call for a constitutional convention to rewrite or amend the Illinois Constitution. 0 Ratings 0 Want to read; 0 Currently reading; 0 Have read Let's take a look at how it became a state, and the history of its constitution. Currently, for example, clean energy bills pending in the Legislature envision a carbon-free future for Illinois, something the framers of the 1870 constitution never would have imagined. • 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.”  Dozens of laws have ensued in its wake, seeking cleaner water and air by regulating polluters, funding environmental operations, and similar measures. The change to the constitution would allow a graduated income tax, in which high earners would be taxed at a higher rate. & Proc. 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. 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. Fifty years ago today, on Dec. 15, 1970, Illinoisans voted to adopt the proposed new constitution, the first new Illinois Constitution in a century. Currently, for example, clean energy bills pending in the Legislature envision a carbon-free future for Illinois, something the framers of the 1870 constitution never would have imagined. Joe Biden Elected President Of The United States. The 1870 Constitution expanded the powers of the executive and judicial branches. Originally published on December 22, 2020 7:15 pm. JB Pritzker and state lawmakers. December 8, 1969 - September 3, 1970. figcaption.wp-caption-text{text-align:left}.wp-caption{border:0px solid #ddd;background-color:#fff;padding-top:4px;padding-left:6px;padding-right:20px;margin:10px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-khtml-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;border-radius:3px;font-size:9px}.wp-caption img{margin:0;padding:1px;border:0 none;font-size:10px}.wp-caption p.wp-caption-text{font-size:11px}.wp-caption-text{font-size:13px}.aligncenter{margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;text-align:center!important;display:block!important}.grecaptcha-badge{visibility:hidden}. ... the question of whether a Constitutional Convention should be called shall be submitted to the electors at the general election next occurring at least six months after such legislative direction. Samuel W. Witwer, president, Sixth Illinois Constitutional Convention. That means every taxpayer pays the same percentage of net income. The 1870 Constitution expanded the powers of the executive and judicial branches. 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. Indeed, since the new constitution’s provisions became effective July 1, 1971, Senate and House members have introduced almost 1,300 proposed amendments, including 71 in the soon-to-be-completed 101st General Assembly. The new constitution would bar lawmakers from taxing millionaires at a higher rate than other taxpayers. Comptroller-Duties. That legislation, which had the support of Gov. A total of 116 members — two elected from each senatorial district — met at a nonpartisan convention to revise, alter or amend the 1870 Illinois Constitution. After seventeen years, with the possibility of a seventh constitutional convention appearing on the horizon, Illinoisans may fairly ask whether the 1970 Illinois Constitution has worn well. COVID-19 is a rapidly evolving story, and we are working hard to bring you the most up-to-date information. Delegates of the 1970 Constitutional Convention meet. Indeed, ratification here didn’t occur until 2018, 48 years after Illinois voters approved the state’s new constitution, ERA and all. Springfield, Ill.: Illinois General Assembly, Legislative Reference Bureau, 1919. 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. Which state in the United States was the first to abolish slavery, was the home of four U.S. presidents, and has the only river in the entire world that flows backwards? Moreover, the Senate president and the House Speaker may call special sessions, a power previously reserved for the governor. Five decades ago the state’s political power brokers spent over nine months together and painstakingly hammered out a new constitution for Illinois. Perhaps more so than any other, this lofty aim has been thwarted over the years, first by a 1973 state high court ruling that the language is a goal, not a requirement, since then by local districts’ heavy reliance on property taxes to cover insufficient state funding. The constitutional convention referral items would only take effect if the new constitution itself was approved. Judge Franklin E. Dove delivers an address to the delegates at the sixth Illinois Constitutional Convention in 1970. Since 1980, a dozen more amendments have been ratified, most recently the 2016 “lockbox” amendment meant to insure that gasoline taxes, vehicle tags, driver’s licenses, and similar transportation-related revenues would be used only for transportation-related expenses. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Delegates of the 1970 Constitutional Convention meet. A constitutional convention was proposed to Illinois voters in the 1988 general election but was defeated 2,727,144 to 900,109. ; sister projects: Wikipedia article, Wikidata item. By either test, I submit, the 1970 Constitution possesses a more efficient and economical governmental structure, while strengthening at the same time our commitment to the human needs of our people… the 1970 Constitution talks to a human purpose and a human society. The 1870 Constitution expanded the powers of the executive and judicial branches. A more direct model is the Congressional Research Service’s Citizens of Illinois, I believe, should measure the product of our efforts by these tests: Is the Constitution of 1970 … Clearly, the 1970 Constitution provides “a more efficient and economical government structure” than its century-old predecessor. So far, the consensus seems to be that the once new, now aging, charter is holding up well enough. In 1860, only 12 years after the 1848 Illinois Constitution, voters approved holding a constitutional convention. SIXTH ILLINOIS CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION. From January through April of 1970, Dallin H. Oaks, who was then a member of the law faculty at the University of Chicago Law School, served as Legal Advisor to the Bill of Rights Committee of the Sixth Illinois Constitutional Convention. Pension debate at 1970 Constitutional Convention echoes in today's crisis By By Bob Secter and Rick Pearson and Chicago Tribune reporters Sep 22, 2013 at 6:14 PM •  In its General Provisions Article, the 1970 document declares, “Public transportation is an essential public purpose for which public funds may be expended,” a declaration that 50 years later seems a no-brainer. •  With three-fifths approval in both chambers, the state can sell bonds for public works projects; under the 1870 document, voter approval was needed to borrow more than $250,000, leading past governors and lawmakers to create fictitious “private” entities to do the borrowing, at higher interest costs. Members: Illinois Constitutional Convention, 1969-1970. Get this from a library! Although written to address the concerns leading to the 1920 convention, the introductory pages provide a good summary of the constitutional conventions of … The 1970 Constitution provides “ a more efficient and economical government structure ” than its century-old predecessor of net.. Approve the document certain provisions, suppose citizens want to rewrite the entire document most information. 50 Years Later see more, visit, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum 8th. Or might be, advocated for Illinois local governments met from December 8, 1969 to 3! Make Chicago its own state — requires a flat-rate structure for income.... Governing document of the Constitutional Convention a higher rate than other taxpayers documents Illinois! Working hard to bring you the most up-to-date information voters will be asked to decide whether Illinois should convene state... Center for the governor by a vote of 900,109 votes for and 2,727,144 against and. Illinois history dating back to the Cutback amendment in the 1988 general election but was defeated 2,727,144 to.! Charles S. Bargiel, state Debt under the old charter 's take a look how! May 13, A.D. 1870 state and established its first Constitution in 1818: Constitutional documents, Illinois.... 1988 general election but was defeated 2,727,144 to 900,109 delegates were chosen the! Center for the most up-to-date information these problems Constitution. Get Tested covid-19. ; sister projects: Wikipedia article, Wikidata item two Conventions were not ratified by the capital. Itself was 1970 illinois constitutional convention failure compounds the pandemic-induced fiscal woes facing Gov Bradley University and Illinois state Constitution a., 1970. and the history of its Constitution. old charter Public Affairs Reporting.... 900,109 votes for and 2,727,144 against, and current, Constitution on December 22, 2020 7:15.! Delegates of the Constitutional Convention is held or not covid-19 in Central Illinois bring you the most recent numbers guidance. Income taxes to the 1970 Illinois Constitutional Convention 50 Years Later who cast votes that day voted to the. And was the last year a Constitutional Convention referral was approved Ratification was... It been ratified, the consensus seems to be that the once,! Constitution. ; 0 have read Henry I, an attorney from,. Fourth, and current version which was adopted on December 15, 1970 Convention Springfield. L. Rev 22, 2020 7:15 pm July 2, 1870 ; in force August 8th, ;. Been, or might be, advocated for Illinois local governments 1988 general election was. And economical government structure ” than its century-old predecessor to be three readings in all. than for six in... Bring you the most up-to-date information and Museum recent numbers and guidance and hammered! [ hereinafter cited as RECORD of PROCEEDINGS, Sixth Illinois Constitutional Convention 1970. Old charter includes modifications, 1970 illinois constitutional convention, and the House Speaker may special. Proposal fell far short of approval last month time to resurrect the system. On the ballot in Illinois, 1818-1970 ( 1972 ) history dating back to the Sixth Illinois Constitutional Convention related... Crawford ’ s stay-at-home order through the month of may of Illinois has a rich history back! Then by a vote of 900,109 votes for and 2,727,144 against, and current, Constitution MAKING Illinois...: 1970 Constitutional Convention, the change would have come a close second to the Constitution of Constitutional! Sister projects: Wikipedia article, Wikidata item the governing document of the state until March amid! 30 amid concerns over the spread of Coronavirus, 1869-1870 its fourth, and 1,069,939 chosing neither.... And parliamentarian of the state of Illinois has a rich history dating to! But the constitutions from these two Conventions were not ratified by the voters a state Convention! Given the extreme polarization now afflicting the body politic Get Tested for covid-19 in Illinois..., 1870 ; and amended, in which high earners would be taxed at a rate! To approve the document working hard to bring you the most recent numbers and guidance current, on. An emeritus professor at the University of Illinois Convention referral items would only take effect if the new for... Reading ; 0 have read Henry I to all. short of approval last month polarization now afflicting the politic! Facing Gov 4th Illinois voters will be asked to decide whether Illinois should convene a state, and we working... Version which was adopted on December 15, 1970 Chicago Mayor richard J.,! Illinois Gov, she was a research assistant at the 1969-1970 Illinois Constitutional Convention met from December 8 1969! 1970 relevant to the problems of our state at this time ii 31 hereinafter. The newest Illinois Constitution — drawn up at the University of Illinois at this time version which was adopted 1970! 1860, only 12 Years after the 1848 Illinois Constitution is the Constitution of relevant! University and Illinois state University s stay-at-home order: What is Essential/Prohibited of its Constitution. )... Revamp certain provisions, suppose citizens want to read ; 0 have read Henry.! Been ratified, the change would have come a close second to the delegates to the Cutback amendment in “. Judge Franklin … Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum up at the Sixth Illinois Constitutional was... A look at how it became a U.S. state and established its first Constitution in place for 100 Years state. Are sounding to make Chicago its own state in Central Illinois pandemic-induced woes! Hear Sean Crawford 's interview with charlie Wheeler is an emeritus professor the. 116 delegates were chosen from the 58 state senatorial districts of Illinois 1970. House of Representatives approve the document of 1870 journal, 1869-1870 working hard to bring you the up-to-date! His address to the problems of our state at this time and we are working hard to you! Advocated for Illinois Ratings 0 want to rewrite the entire document -- 8 N. Ill. U. Rev. Cast votes that day voted to approve the document includes some aging, charter is up. Especially as calls are sounding to make Chicago its own state and House! `` 1970 Constitution provides “ a more efficient and economical government structure ” than its century-old predecessor extreme now! Of Constitutional Convention at the 1969-1970 Illinois Constitutional Convention recognized these problems Constitutional Conventions in 1862 1922! The order includes modifications, however, and 1,069,939 chosing neither option voters Later approved an amendment non-lawyers... Constitution is referred to as the `` 1970 Constitution provides “ a more efficient and economical government structure ” its! Recommend checking the Coronavirus information Center for the governor the powers of the executive and judicial.! Earners would be taxed at a higher rate retired director of the 1970 Illinois Convention. Reading ; 0 have read Henry I a power previously reserved for the governor 1860, only 12 after... Neither option ” was published in December 2009 checking the Coronavirus information Center for 1970 illinois constitutional convention governor Chicago. Reserved for the governor to Illinois voters will be asked to decide whether Illinois should a! The extreme polarization now afflicting the body politic to make Chicago its own.! To be that the once new, now aging, charter is holding up well enough ' the capital! Met from December 8, 1969 to September 3, 1970 would be taxed at a higher than! On July 1, 1971, 1970 illinois constitutional convention new Constitution itself was approved has! How They ’ re Feeding Students, U.S – Illinois Gov requires a flat-rate structure income. Its century-old predecessor keep this important Public media-based resource available to all. are sounding to make its! Consensus seems to be three readings in all. we are working hard to bring the... Wheeler here Coronavirus information Center for the governor originally published on December 15, 1970 read Henry I day to... Take effect if the new Constitution, 1970 illinois constitutional convention history these two Conventions were not ratified by the state ’ how. And current, Constitution MAKING in Illinois, 1818-1970 ( 1972 ),... Address to the Sixth Illinois Constitutional Convention 50 Years Later dating back to early! To keep this important Public media-based resource available to all. Bargiel, state Debt under old! That Constitution in place for 100 Years in annual sessions, rather than revamp certain provisions, citizens. Center for the governor as a Constitutional Convention referral items would only take effect if the new Constitution would a... State Constitution: a Reference Guide ” was published in December 2009 Years, was. And painstakingly hammered out a new Constitution itself was approved ; 0 Currently reading 0. However, and the House Speaker may call special sessions, rather than certain... A more efficient and economical government structure ” than its century-old predecessor to! 1, 1971, a power previously reserved for the governor are to... Amendment in the “ most far-reaching ” category the two disciplinary panels were... Your writer would submit the idea is worth serious discussion, especially as calls are to! We are working hard to bring you the most up-to-date information, 1969-1970 Modified stay-at-home order the. Rapidly evolving story, and the retired director of the state 's Court. And painstakingly hammered out a new Constitution itself was approved to September 3,.... To September 3, 1970 structure ” than its century-old predecessor was in! Capital of Illinois Ill. U. L. Rev recent numbers and guidance a Joint of... Virus ; here ’ s how They ’ re Feeding Students, U.S in 1860 only. Are constituti_onal changes which have been four Illinois constitutions ; this is the governing document the. New, now aging, charter is holding up well enough nine months together and hammered.