94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
HC0021


 
Introduced 9/12/2005, by Rep. Ron Stephens
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 		




















ILCON Art. IV, Sec. 3








    Proposes to amend the Legislature Article of the Illinois Constitution.  Requires that Legislative and Representative Districts be substantially equal in population of citizens (now, substantially equal in population).  Effective with the 2011 redistricting.
















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A BILL FOR









 











HC0021

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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION



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CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT



 

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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE 
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SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that there shall be submitted to the 
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electors of the State for adoption or rejection at the general 
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election next occurring at least 6 months after the adoption of 
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this resolution a proposition to amend the Illinois 
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Constitution by changing Section 3 of Article IV as follows:

 

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ARTICLE IV 


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THE LEGISLATURE






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    (ILCON Art. IV, Sec. 3)



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SECTION 3. LEGISLATIVE REDISTRICTING 

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    (a) Legislative Districts shall be compact, contiguous and

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substantially equal in population of citizens. Representative 
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Districts shall be compact,
contiguous, and substantially 
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equal in population of citizens.

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    (b) In the year following each Federal decennial census 
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year, the
General Assembly by law shall redistrict the 
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Legislative Districts and the
Representative Districts.

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    If no redistricting plan becomes effective by June 30 of 
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that year, a
Legislative Redistricting Commission shall be 
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constituted not later than
July 10. The Commission shall 
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consist of eight members, no more than
four of whom shall be 
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members of the same political party.

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    The Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of 
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Representatives shall
each appoint to the Commission one 
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Representative and one person who is
not a member of the 
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General Assembly. The President and Minority Leader
of the 
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Senate shall each appoint to the Commission one Senator and one

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person who is not a member of the General Assembly.

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    The members shall be certified to the Secretary of State by 
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the
appointing authorities. A vacancy on the Commission shall 
 


 






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be filled
within five days by the authority that made the 
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original appointment. A
Chairman and Vice Chairman shall be 
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chosen by a majority of all members
of the Commission.

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    Not later than August 10, the Commission shall file with 
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the
Secretary of State a redistricting plan approved by at 
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least five
members.

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    If the Commission fails to file an approved redistricting 
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plan, the
Supreme Court shall submit the names of two persons, 
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not of the same
political party, to the Secretary of State not 
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later than September 1.

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    Not later than September 5, the Secretary of State publicly 
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shall
draw by random selection the name of one of the two 
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persons to serve as
the ninth member of the Commission.

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    Not later than October 5, the Commission shall file with 
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the
Secretary of State a redistricting plan approved by at 
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least five
members.

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    An approved redistricting plan filed with the Secretary of 
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State
shall be presumed valid, shall have the force and effect 
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of law and
shall be published promptly by the Secretary of 
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State.

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    The Supreme Court shall have original and exclusive 
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jurisdiction over
actions concerning redistricting the House 
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and Senate, which shall be
initiated in the name of the People 
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of the State by the Attorney
General.

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(Source: Amendment adopted at general election November 4, 
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1980.)

 

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SCHEDULE


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    This Constitutional Amendment takes effect beginning with 
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redistricting in 2011.