HC0043 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
HC0043

Introduced , by Rep. Jim Durkin

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

ILCON Art. IV, Sec. 4

ILCON Art. IV, Sec. 5

ILCON Art. IV, Sec. 6

ILCON Art. V, Sec. 2

Proposes to amend the Legislature Article of the Illinois Constitution to provide that (i) the proclamation of results of each election of members of the General Assembly must take place as soon as practical after the general election, but in no case later than seven days prior to the date the General Assembly first convenes, (ii) the General Assembly shall convene each year on the second Wednesday of December, and (iii) the General Assembly may not be in session in any general election year from the date of the general election until the second Wednesday of December, except upon a joint proclamation stating the purpose of the session. Proposes to amend the Executive Article of the Illinois Constitution to provide that (i) the proclamation of results of each election of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor must take place as soon as practical after the general election, but in no case later than seven days prior to the date the General Assembly first convenes in accordance with specified provisions and (ii) the Governor and Lieutenant Governor shall hold office for four years beginning on the second Wednesday of December. Effective upon being declared adopted.

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH 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 Sections 4, 5, and 6 of Article IV and Section 2 of Article V of the Illinois Constitution as follows:

ARTICLE IV

THE LEGISLATURE

(ILCON Art. IV, Sec. 4)

SECTION 4. ELECTION

(a) Members of the General Assembly shall be elected at the general election in even-numbered years.

(b) The proclamation of results of each election of members of the General Assembly must take place as soon as practical after the general election, but in no case later than seven days prior to the date the General Assembly first convenes under subsection (b) of Section 6 of this Article.

(Source: Illinois Constitution.)

(ILCON Art. IV, Sec. 5)

SECTION 5. SESSIONS

(a) The General Assembly shall convene each year on the second Wednesday of December January.

The General Assembly shall be a continuous body during the term for which members of the House of Representatives are elected.

(b) The Governor may convene the General Assembly or the Senate alone in special session by a proclamation stating the purpose of the session; and only business encompassed by such purpose, together with any impeachments or confirmation of appointments shall be transacted. Special sessions of the General Assembly may also be convened by joint proclamation of the presiding officers of both houses, issued as provided by law.

(c) Sessions of each house of the General Assembly and meetings of committees, joint committees and legislative commissions shall be open to the public. Sessions and committee meetings of a house may be closed to the public if two-thirds of the members elected to that house determine that the public interest so requires; and meetings of joint committees and legislative commissions may be so closed if two-thirds of the members elected to each house so determine.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, the General Assembly may not be in session in any general election year from the date of the general election until the second Wednesday of December, except upon a joint proclamation stating the purpose of the session signed by the Speaker and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, the President and the Minority Leader of the Senate, and the Governor; and only business encompassed by such purpose shall be transacted.

(Source: Illinois Constitution.)

(ILCON Art. IV, Sec. 6)

SECTION 6. ORGANIZATION

(a) A majority of the members elected to each house constitutes a quorum.

(b) On the second Wednesday first day of December following a general election the January session of the General Assembly in odd-numbered years, the Secretary of State shall convene the House of Representatives to elect from its membership a Speaker of the House of Representatives as presiding officer, and the Governor shall convene the Senate to elect from its membership a President of the Senate as presiding officer.

(c) For purposes of powers of appointment conferred by this Constitution, the Minority Leader of either house is a member of the numerically strongest political party other than the party to which the Speaker or the President belongs, as the case may be.

(d) Each house shall determine the rules of its proceedings, judge the elections, returns and qualifications of its members and choose its officers. No member shall be expelled by either house, except by a vote of two-thirds of the members elected to that house. A member may be expelled only once for the same offense. Each house may punish by imprisonment any person, not a member, guilty of disrespect to the house by disorderly or contemptuous behavior in its presence. Imprisonment shall not extend beyond twenty-four hours at one time unless the person persists in disorderly or contemptuous behavior.

(Source: Illinois Constitution.)

ARTICLE V

THE EXECUTIVE

(ILCON Art. V, Sec. 2)

SECTION 2. TERMS

(a) The Attorney General, the Secretary of State, the Comptroller, and the Treasurer 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. The Governor shall hold office for four years beginning on the second Wednesday of December after his or her election and until his or her successor is qualified. The Lieutenant Governor shall hold office for four years beginning on the second Wednesday of December after his or her election.

All of the elected officers of the executive branch They shall be elected at the general election in 1978 and every four years thereafter.

(b) The proclamation of results of each election of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor must take place as soon as practical after the general election, but in no case later than seven days prior to the date the General Assembly first convenes under subsection (b) of Section 6 of Article IV.

(Source: Illinois Constitution.)

SCHEDULE

This Constitutional Amendment takes effect upon being declared adopted in accordance with Section 7 of the Illinois Constitutional Amendment Act.