Girish Mahajan (Editor)

Illinois Senate

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Type
  
New session started
  
January 11, 2017

Term limits
  
None

Illinois Senate

President of the Senate
  
John Cullerton (D)Since Jan 14, 2009

Majority Leader
  
James Clayborne (D)Since Nov 20, 2008

Minority Leader
  
Christine Radogno (R)Since Nov 19, 2008

The Illinois Senate is the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the state of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. The Illinois Senate is made up of 59 senators elected from individual legislative districts determined by population; redistricted every 10 years, based on the 2010 U.S. census each senator represents approximately 217,468 people. Under the Illinois Constitution of 1970, senators are divided into three groups, each group having a two-year term at a different part of the decade between censuses, with the rest of the decade being taken up by two four-year terms. Depending on the election year, roughly one-third, two-thirds, or all Senate seats may be contested. In contrast, the Illinois House of Representatives is made up of 118 members with its entire membership elected to two-year terms. House districts are formed by dividing each Senate district in half.

Contents

Map of Illinois, USA

The Illinois Senate convenes at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois. Its first official working day is the second Wednesday of January each year. Its primary duties are to pass bills into law, approve the state budget, confirm appointments to state departments and agencies, act on federal constitutional amendments and propose constitutional amendments for Illinois. It also has the power to override gubernatorial vetoes through a three-fifths majority vote. The Illinois Senate tries impeachments made by the House of Representatives, and can convict impeached officers by a two-thirds vote.

Voting in the Illinois Senate is done by members pushing one of three buttons. Unlike most states, the Illinois Senate allows members to vote yes, no, or present. It takes 30 affirmative votes to pass legislation during final action. The number of negative votes does not matter. Therefore, voting present has the same effect on the tally as voting no.

The Democratic Party of Illinois currently holds a majority in the Illinois Senate.

Majority

  • President of the Senate: John Cullerton
  • Majority Leader: James Clayborne, Jr.
  • Assistant Majority Leaders:
  • Kimberly A. Lightford
  • Terry Link
  • Antonio Munoz
  • Donne Trotter
  • President Pro Tempore: Don Harmon
  • Majority Caucus Chair: Ira Silverstein
  • Majority Caucus Whips:
  • Mattie Hunter
  • William R. Haine
  • Iris Martinez
  • Minority

  • Minority Leader: Christine Radogno
  • Deputy Minority Leader: Bill Brady
  • Assistant Minority Leaders:
  • Dave Syverson
  • Sue Rezin
  • Chapin Rose
  • Jason Barickman
  • Minority Caucus Chair: Pamela Althoff
  • Minority Caucus Whip:
  • Karen McConnaughay
  • Officers

  • Secretary of the Senate: Tim Anderson
  • Assistant Secretary of the Senate: Scott Kaiser
  • Sergeant-at-Arms: Joe Dominguez
  • Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Dirk R. Eilers
  • Members

    Ɨ Appointed before elected

    References

    Illinois Senate Wikipedia


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