HC0005 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 03992 RJF 49000 e

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
HC0005

Introduced 1/10/2019, by Rep. David McSweeney

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

ILCON Art. V, Sec. 1

ILCON Art. V, Sec. 2

ILCON Art. V, Sec. 3

ILCON Art. V, Sec. 4

ILCON Art. V, Sec. 6

ILCON Art. V, Sec. 7

ILCON Art. V, Sec. 14

Proposes to amend the Executive Article of the Illinois Constitution. Eliminates the Office of Lieutenant Governor, beginning with the term of office otherwise commencing in 2023, and modifies the order of succession to the Office of the Governor. Effective upon being declared adopted.

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the State for adoption or rejection at the general election next occurring at least 6 months after the adoption of this resolution a proposition to amend Article V of the Illinois Constitution by changing Sections 1, 2, 3, 6, and 7 and by repealing Sections 4 and 14 as follows:

ARTICLE V

THE EXECUTIVE

(ILCON Art. V, Sec. 1)

SECTION 1. OFFICERS

The Executive Branch shall include a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller and Treasurer elected by the electors of the State. They shall keep the public records and maintain a residence at the seat of government during their terms of office.

(Source: Illinois Constitution.)

(ILCON Art. V, Sec. 2)

SECTION 2. TERMS

These elected officers of the Executive Branch shall hold office for four years beginning on the second Monday of January after their election and, except in the case of the Lieutenant Governor, until their successors are qualified. They shall be elected at the general election in 1978 and every four years thereafter.

(Source: Illinois Constitution.)

(ILCON Art. V, Sec. 3)

SECTION 3. ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible to hold the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller or Treasurer, a person must be a United States citizen, at least 25 years old, and a resident of this State for the three years preceding his or her election.

(Source: Illinois Constitution.)

(ILCON Art. V, Sec. 4)

SECTION 4. JOINT ELECTION (REPEALED)

In the general election for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, one vote shall be cast jointly for the candidates nominated by the same political party or petition. The General Assembly may provide by law for the joint nomination of candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor.

(Source: Illinois Constitution.)

(ILCON Art. V, Sec. 6)

SECTION 6. GUBERNATORIAL SUCCESSION

(a) In the event of a vacancy, the order of succession to the office of Governor or to the position of Acting Governor shall be the Lieutenant Governor, the elected Attorney General, the elected Secretary of State, the elected Comptroller, the elected Treasurer, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the Senate, and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. If an officer next in the line of succession is of a different political party than the Governor he or she is replacing, then that officer, and each officer thereafter, shall be skipped in the line of succession until an officer of the same political party may succeed the Governor. If there is no officer in the line of succession of the same political party as the Governor to be replaced, then succession shall proceed according to the order of succession provided in this subsection (a), regardless of the political party of the succeeding officer and then as provided by law.

(b) If the Governor is unable to serve because of death, conviction on impeachment, failure to qualify, resignation or other disability, the office of Governor shall be filled by the officer next in line of succession for the remainder of the term or until the disability is removed.

(c) Whenever the Governor determines that he may be seriously impeded in the exercise of his or her powers, he or she shall so notify the Secretary of State and the officer next in line of succession. The latter shall thereafter become Acting Governor with the duties and powers of Governor. When the Governor is prepared to resume office, he or she shall do so by notifying the Secretary of State and the Acting Governor.

(d) The General Assembly by law shall specify by whom and by what procedures the ability of the Governor to serve or to resume office may be questioned and determined. The Supreme Court shall have original and exclusive jurisdiction to review such a law and any such determination and, in the absence of such a law, shall make the determination under such rules as it may adopt.

(Source: Illinois Constitution.)

(ILCON Art. V, Sec. 7)

SECTION 7. VACANCIES IN OTHER ELECTIVE OFFICES

If the Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller or Treasurer fails to qualify or if his or her office becomes vacant, the Governor shall fill the office by appointment. The appointee shall hold office until the elected officer qualifies or until a successor is elected and qualified as may be provided by law and shall not be subject to removal by the Governor. If the Lieutenant Governor fails to qualify or if his office becomes vacant, it shall remain vacant until the end of the term.

(Source: Illinois Constitution.)

(ILCON Art. V, Sec. 14)

SECTION 14. LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR - DUTIES (REPEALED)

The Lieutenant Governor shall perform the duties and exercise the powers in the Executive Branch that may be delegated to him by the Governor and that may be prescribed by law.

(Source: Illinois Constitution.)

SCHEDULE

This Constitutional Amendment takes effect upon being declared adopted in accordance with Section 7 of the Illinois Constitutional Amendment Act and applies beginning with the term of office otherwise commencing in 2023.