Page images
PDF
EPUB

Third District-The counties of Sangamon, Macon, Logan, De Witt, Piatt, Douglas, Champaign, Vermillion, McLean, Livingston, Ford, Iroquois, Coles, Edgar, Moultrie and Tazewell.

Fourth District-The counties of Fulton, McDonough, Hancock, Schuyler, Brown, Adams, Pike, Mason, Menard, Morgan, Cass and Scott.

Fifth District--The counties of Knox, Warren, Henderson, Mercer, Henry, Stark, Peoria, Marshall, Putnam, Bureau, La Salle, Grundy and Woodford.

Sixth District-The counties of Whiteside, Carroll, Jo Daviess, Stephenson, Winnebago, Boone, McHenry, Kane, Kendall, De Kalb, Lee, Ogle and Rock Island. Seventh District-The counties of Lake, Cook, Will, Kankakee and Du Page.

APPELLATE COURT DISTRICTS.

First District-Cook county.

Second District-It includes the counties embraced in the northern grand division of the supreme court, except Cook county.

Third District-It includes the counties embraced within the central grand division of the supreme court. Fourth District-It includes the counties embraced within the southern grand division of the supreme

court.

CIRCUIT COURTS.

First Circuit-The counties of Franklin, Saline, Williamson, Jackson, Union, Johnson, Pope, Hardin, Massac, Pulaski and Alexander.

Second Circuit-The counties of Cumberland, Effingham, Clay, Jasper, Richland, Lawrence, Crawford, Jefferson, Wayne, Edwards, Wabash, White, Hamilton and Gallatin.

Third Circuit-The counties of Bond, Madison, St. Clair, Marion, Clinton, Washington, Randolph, Monroe and Perry.

Fourth Circuit-The counties of Vermilion, Edgar, Clark, Coles, Douglas, Champaign, Piatt, Moultrie and Macon.

Fifth Circuit-The counties of Sangamon, Macoupin, Christian, Montgomery, Fayette and Shelby.

Sixth Circuit-The counties of Hancock, Adams, Fulton, McDonough, Schuyler, Brown and Pike.

Seventh Circuit-The counties of De Witt, Logan, Menard, Mason, Cass, Morgan, Scott, Greene, Jersey and Calhoun

Eighth Circuit-The counties of Putnam, Marshall, Woodford, Tazewell, Peoria and Stark.

Ninth Circuit-The counties of Bureau, La Salle, Will and Grundy.

Tenth Circuit-The counties of Rock Island, Mercer, Henry, Henderson, Warren and Knox.

Eleventh Circuit-The counties of McLean, Ford, Kankakee, Iroquois and Livingston.

Twelfth Circuit-The counties of Boone, De Kalb. McHenry, Lake, Kane, Du Page and Kendall.

Thirteenth Circuit-The counties of Jo Daviess, Stephenson, Winnebago, Carroll, Whiteside, Ogle and Lee.

Cook county alone constitutes another circuit.

[blocks in formation]

CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

I. BOUNDARIES OF THE STATE.. II. BILL OF RIGHTS......

67

..... 68 §1. Inherent and Inalienable Rights; §2. Due Process of Law: §3. Liberty of Conscience Guaranteed; §4. Freedom of the Press-Libel; §5. Right of Trial by Jury; §6. Unreasonable Searches and Seizures; §7. Bail Allowed-Writ of Habeas Corpus; §8. Indictment required-Grand Jury Abolished; $9. Rights of Persons Accused of Crime; §10. Self Crimination-Former trial; §11. Penalties proportionate-Corruption-Forfeiture; §12. Imprisonment for debt; $13. Compensation for Property taken; §14. Ex post facto laws-Irrevocable Grants; $15. Military Power Subordinate; §16. Quartering of Soldiers; $17. Right of Assembly and Petition; §18. Elections to be Free and Equal; $19. What Laws ought to be; §20. Fundamental Principles.

III. DISTRIBUTION OF POWERS.......

....

...

69

69

IV. LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT..... §1. General Assembly elective; §2. Time of Election-Vacancies; §3. Who are eligible; $4. Disqualification by Crime; §5. Oath taken by members; §6. Senatorial Apportionments; §7. & 8. Minority Representation; §9. time of meeting-General Rules: $10. Secrecy - Adjournment-Journals-Protests; §11. Style of laws; §12. Origin and passage of Bills; §13. Reading-Printing-Title -Amendments; §14. Privileges of members; $15. Disabilities of members; §16. Bills making Appropriations; §17. Payment of money-Statement of Expenses; $18. Ordinary Expenses-Casual Deficits-Appropriations limited; $19. Extra Compensation or Allowance; $20. Public Credit not loaned; $21. Pay and mileage of members; $22. Special Legislation prohibited; $23. Against Release from Liability; $24. Proceedings on Impeachment; §25. Fuel, Stationery and Printing; $26. State not to be sued; 27. Lotteries and Gift Enterprises; §28. Terms of office not Extended; §29. Protection of operative miners; $30. Concerning roads-public and private; §31. Draining and ditching; $32. Homestead and Exemption Laws; §33. Completion of the State

House.

V. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.

74 §1. Officers of this Department; §2. Of the State Treasurer; §3. Time of Electing State Officers; §4. Returns-Tie-Contested Election; §5. Eligibility for Office; $6. Governor-Power and Duty; 87. His Message and Statement; §8. Convening the General Assembly; §9. Proroguing the General Assembly; §10. Nominations by the Governor; §11. Vacancies may be filled; §12. Removals by the Governor; §13. Reprieves-Commutations-Pardons; $14. Governor as Commander-in-Chief; $15. Impeachment for Misdemeanor; §16. Veto of the Governor; §17. Lieutenant Governor as Governor; §18. As President of the Senate; §19. Vacancy in Governor's Office; $20. Vacancy in other State Offices; §21. Reports of State Officers; $22. Great Seal of State; $23. Fees and Salaries; 24. Definition of "Office;" $25. Oath of Civil Officers.

VI. JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT...

77 §1. Judicial Powers of Courts; §2. Seven Supreme Judges-Four Decide; $3. Qualifications of a Supreme Judge; §4. Terms of the Supreme Court; $5. Three Grand Divisions-Seven Districts; §6. Election of Supreme Judges; §7. Salaries of the Supreme Judges; §8. Appeals and Writs of Error; $9. Appointment of Reporter; §10. Clerks of the Supreme Court; §11. Appellate Courts Authorized; $12. Jurisdiction of Circuit Courts; §13. Formation of Judicial Circuits; §14. Time of holding Circuit Courts; $15. Circuits containing Four Judges; $16. Salaries of the Circuit Judges: 17. Qualification of Judges or Commissioners: $18. County Judges-County Clerks; §19. Appeals from County Courts; $20. Probate Courts Authorized; §21. Justices of the Peace and Constables; $22. State's Attorney in each County; $23. Cook County Courts of Record; §24. Chief Justice-Power of Judges; §25. Salaries of the Judges; §26. Criminal Court of Cook County: $27. Clerks of Cook County Court; $28. Justices in Chicago; §29, Uniformity in the Courts; $30. Removal of any Judge; §31. Judges to make Written Reports; $32. Terms of Office-Filling Vacancies; §33. Process-Prosecutions-Population.

VII. SUFFRAGE...

82

§1. Who are Entitled to Vote; §2. All Voting to be by Ballot; §3. Privileges of Electors; §4. Absence on Public Business; §5. Soldier not Deemed a Resident: §6. Qualifications for Office; §7. Persons Convicted of Crime.

VIII. EDUCATION

83

§1. Free Schools Established; §2. Gifts or Grants in Aid of Schools; $3. Public Schools not to be Sectarian; §4 School Officers not Interested; §5, County Superintendents of Schools.

IX. REVENUE....

83

§1. Principle of Taxation Stated; §2. Other and Further Taxation; §3. Property Exempt from Taxation; §4. Sale of Real Property for Taxes; §5. Right of Redemption Therefrom: §6. Release from Taxation Forbidden; §7. Taxes Paid into State Treasury; §8. Limitation on County Taxes; §9. Local Municipal Improvements; $10. Taxation of Municipal Corporations; §11. Defaulter not to be Eligible; §12. Limitation on Municipal Indebtedness,

X. COUNTIES..

84

§1. Formation of New Counties; §2. Division of any County; §3. Territory Stricken from a County; §4. Removal of a County Seat; §5. Methods of County Government; §6. Board of County Commissioners; $7. County Affairs in Cook County; §8. County Officers-Terms of Office; $9. Salaries and Fees in Cook County; $10, Salaries Fixed by County Board; §11. Township Officers-Special Laws; 12. All Future Fees Uniform; §13. Sworn Report of All Fees. XI. CORPORATIONS

86 $1. Established only by General Laws; §2. Existing Charters-How Forfeited; §3. Election of Directors or Managers; §4. Construction of Street Railroads; $5. State Bank Forbidden-General Law; §6. Liability of Bank Stockholder; $7. Suspension of Specie Payment; §8. Of a General Banking Law; §9. Railroad Office-Books and Records; $10. Personal Property of Railroads: $11. Consolidations Forbidden; $12. Railroads Deemed Highways-Rates Fixed: 13. Stocks, Bonds and Dividends; $14. Power Over Existing Companies; $15. Freight and Passenger Tariffs Regulated.

XII. MILITIA

89

§1. Persons Composing the Militia; §2. Organization-Equipment-Discipline; §3. Commissions of Officers; §4. Privilege from Arrest; 5. Records, Banners and Relics; §6. Exemption froin Militia Duty.

XIII. WAREHOUSES

88 §1. What Deemed Public Warehouses; §2. Sworn Weekly Statements Required; §3. Examination of Property Stored. §4. Carriers to Deliver Full Weight; §5, Delivery of Grain by Railroads; §6. Power and Duty of the Legislature; §7. Grain Inspection-Protection of Dealers.

XIV. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.....

§1. By a Constitutional Convention; §2. Proposed by the Legislature.

XV. SCHEDULE....

88

91

§1. Laws in Force Remain Valid; §2. Fines, Penalties and Forfeitures; §3. Recognizances, Bonds, Obligations; §4. Present County Courts Continued; §5. All Existing Courts Continued; §6. Persons now in Office Continued.

PREAMBLE.

We, the people of the State of Illinois--grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and · looking to Him for a blessing upon our endeavors to secure and transmit the same unimpaired to succeeding generations-in order to form a more perfect government, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity; do ordain and establish this constitution for the State of Illinois.

ARTICLE I.-BOUNDARIES.

The boundaries and jurisdiction of the State shall be as follows, to-wit: Beginning at the mouth of the Wabash river; thence up the same, and with the line of Indiana, to the northwest corner of said State; thence east, with the line of the

same State, to the middle of Lake Michigan; thence north, along the middle of said lake, to north latitude 42 degrees and 30 minutes; thence west to the middle of the Mississippi river, and thence down along the middle of that river to its confluence with the Ohio river, and thence up the latter river, along its northwestern shore, to the place of beginning: Provided, that this State shall exercise such jurisdiction upon the Ohio river as she is now entitled to, or such as may hereafter be agreed upon by this State and the State of Kentucky.

ARTICLE II.-BILL OF RIGHTS.

§ 1. All men are by nature free and independent, and have certain inherent and inalienable rights-among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. To secure these rights and the protection of property, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

§ 2. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property, without due process of law.

3. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship. without discrimination, shall forever be guaranteed; and no person shall be denied any civil or political right, privilege or capacity, on account of his religious opinions; but the liberty of conscience hereby secured shall not be construed to dispense with oaths or affirmations, excuse acts of licentiousness, or justify practices inconsistent with the peace or safety of the State. No person shall be required to attend or support any ministry or place of worship against his consent, nor shall any preference be given by law to any religious denomination or mode of worship. § 4. Every person may freely speak, write and publish on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty; and in all trials for libel, both civil and criminal. the truth, when published with good motives and for justifiable ends, shall be a sufficient defense.

§ 5. The right of trial by jury as heretofore enjoyed, shall remain inviolate; but the trial of civil cases before justices of the peace by a jury of less than twelve men, may be authorized by law.

§ 6. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated; and no warrant shall issue without probable cause, supported by affidavit, particularly describing the place to be searched, and the person or things to be seized.

§ 7. All persons shall be bailable by sufficient sureties, except for capital offenses, where the proof is evident or the presumption great; and the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it.

§ 8. No person shall be held to answer for a criminal offense unless on indictment of a grand jury, except in cases in which the punishment is by fine, or imprisonment otherwise than in the penitentiary, in cases of impeachment, and in cases arising in the army and navy or in the militia when in actual service in time of war or public danger: Provided, that the grand jury may be abolished by law in all

cases.

9. In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall have the right to appear and defend in person and by counsel; to demand the nature and cause of the accusation. and to have a copy thereof; to meet the witnesses face to face, and to have process to compel the attendance of witnesses in his behalf, and a speedy public trial by an impartial jury of the county or district in which the offense is alleged to have been committed.

§ 10. No person shall be compelled in any criminal case to give evidence against himself, or be twice put in jeopardy for the saine offense.

§ 11. All penalties shall be proportioned to the nature of the offense and no conviction shall work corruption of blood or forfeiture of estate; nor shall any person be transported out of the State for any offense committed within the same.

12. No person shall be imprisoned for debt, unless upon refusal to deliver up

« PreviousContinue »