IL Constitution Test Exam Questions
and Answers
When was the Illinois state constitution ratified? - answer-December 15, 1970
How many constitutions has Illinois had? - answer-4 constitutions
What is the introduction to the Illinois constitution called? - answer-The Preamble
How many articles are in the constitution of the state of Illinois? - answer-14 articles
Is the Illinois constitution more or less detailed than the federal constitution? Why? -
answer-More detailed and expands further into specifics; it also has more
amendments
List 8 reasons why the Illinois constitution was written. - answer-Health, safety and
welfare of the people/maintain representative's orderly government/eliminate poverty
and inequality/provide for the common defense/secure the blessings of freedom and
liberty to ourselves and our posterity
How do the location and length of the Illinois Bill of Rights differ from the U.S. Bill of
Rights? - answer-Comes directly after the Preamble and is much longer than our
original ten amendments
List some of the provisions of the Illinois Bill of Rights. - answer-Inalienable
rights/due process and equal protection/religious freedom/indictment/rights after
indictment/crime victims' rights/bail and habeas corpus/self incrimination and double
jeopardy/imprisonment for debt/eminent domain/ex post facto and imposing
contracts/discrimination/individual dignity/quartering of soldiers/right to
arms/fundamental principles/rights retained
Does Illinois have an ERA provision? - answer-Section 2 No discrimination based on
sex
When can bail be denied in Illinois courts? - answer-Capital offenses and life
imprisonment
What kind of rights do victims of crime have? - answer-Fairness respect and dignity
How are the powers of Illinois state government divided? - answer-Legislative,
executive, and judicial
Who may and who may NOT vote in Illinois? - answer-Vote at age 18 as long as you
have been a permanent resident for 30 days prior to the election/convicted felonies
cannot vote
, What are the roles of the General Assembly and the Board of Elections regarding
elections? - answer-State Board of Electors will supervise registration and election
laws, and the general assembly will determine size, and manner of selection and
composition of the board.
What is the name of the Illinois legislature? Is it bicameral or unicameral? - answer-
General Assembly/Bicameral
How many senators are elected from each district? How many total? - answer-1
senator per district 59 total
How many representatives are elected from each district? How many total? -
answer-118 representatives based on population
How long is the term of office for a state senator? For a representative? - answer-
Senator (terms of 2 or 4 years)/Representatives (2 years)
What are the qualifications for the office of senator and representative? - answer-US
citizens, at least 21 years old, and reside in the district being represented for at least
2 years
What is required for a bill to become a law in Illinois? - answer-Introduced in either
hours-1st reading (introduction)/2nd reading (allows for amendments)/3rd reading
(debate and vote)/same process occurs in the second chamber/if passes, governor
vote/if there is an amendment in second chamber, returns to first for approval. If
approved, governor vote.
What are the governor's veto powers and how may a veto be overridden? - answer-
Governor may sign bill into law, veto it with recommendations for changes/veto it
absolutely/or pocket veto/Congress may override with a 3/5 majority
Governor - answer-Pat Quinn (D) chief executive of the state, responsible for the
administration of all areas of the Executive Branch
Lt. Governor - answer-Shelia Simon (D) first in line for the governorship; office
handles a variety of responsibilities delegated by statute and assigned by the
Governor
Attorney General - answer-Lisa Madigan (D) lawyer for the state and the people of
IL; acts as an advocate to protect consumers, safeguard children, and communities,
preserve the environment, uphold IL's open government laws, and defend IL's most
vulnerable
Secretary of State - answer-Jesse White (D) largest and most diverse office of its
kind in the nation, providing more direct services to IL citizens than any other public
agency
Comptroller - answer-Judy Baar Topinka (R) the chief fiscal control officer for IL
government charged with maintain the state's central fiscal accounts and ordering
payments into and out of apprioate funds
and Answers
When was the Illinois state constitution ratified? - answer-December 15, 1970
How many constitutions has Illinois had? - answer-4 constitutions
What is the introduction to the Illinois constitution called? - answer-The Preamble
How many articles are in the constitution of the state of Illinois? - answer-14 articles
Is the Illinois constitution more or less detailed than the federal constitution? Why? -
answer-More detailed and expands further into specifics; it also has more
amendments
List 8 reasons why the Illinois constitution was written. - answer-Health, safety and
welfare of the people/maintain representative's orderly government/eliminate poverty
and inequality/provide for the common defense/secure the blessings of freedom and
liberty to ourselves and our posterity
How do the location and length of the Illinois Bill of Rights differ from the U.S. Bill of
Rights? - answer-Comes directly after the Preamble and is much longer than our
original ten amendments
List some of the provisions of the Illinois Bill of Rights. - answer-Inalienable
rights/due process and equal protection/religious freedom/indictment/rights after
indictment/crime victims' rights/bail and habeas corpus/self incrimination and double
jeopardy/imprisonment for debt/eminent domain/ex post facto and imposing
contracts/discrimination/individual dignity/quartering of soldiers/right to
arms/fundamental principles/rights retained
Does Illinois have an ERA provision? - answer-Section 2 No discrimination based on
sex
When can bail be denied in Illinois courts? - answer-Capital offenses and life
imprisonment
What kind of rights do victims of crime have? - answer-Fairness respect and dignity
How are the powers of Illinois state government divided? - answer-Legislative,
executive, and judicial
Who may and who may NOT vote in Illinois? - answer-Vote at age 18 as long as you
have been a permanent resident for 30 days prior to the election/convicted felonies
cannot vote
, What are the roles of the General Assembly and the Board of Elections regarding
elections? - answer-State Board of Electors will supervise registration and election
laws, and the general assembly will determine size, and manner of selection and
composition of the board.
What is the name of the Illinois legislature? Is it bicameral or unicameral? - answer-
General Assembly/Bicameral
How many senators are elected from each district? How many total? - answer-1
senator per district 59 total
How many representatives are elected from each district? How many total? -
answer-118 representatives based on population
How long is the term of office for a state senator? For a representative? - answer-
Senator (terms of 2 or 4 years)/Representatives (2 years)
What are the qualifications for the office of senator and representative? - answer-US
citizens, at least 21 years old, and reside in the district being represented for at least
2 years
What is required for a bill to become a law in Illinois? - answer-Introduced in either
hours-1st reading (introduction)/2nd reading (allows for amendments)/3rd reading
(debate and vote)/same process occurs in the second chamber/if passes, governor
vote/if there is an amendment in second chamber, returns to first for approval. If
approved, governor vote.
What are the governor's veto powers and how may a veto be overridden? - answer-
Governor may sign bill into law, veto it with recommendations for changes/veto it
absolutely/or pocket veto/Congress may override with a 3/5 majority
Governor - answer-Pat Quinn (D) chief executive of the state, responsible for the
administration of all areas of the Executive Branch
Lt. Governor - answer-Shelia Simon (D) first in line for the governorship; office
handles a variety of responsibilities delegated by statute and assigned by the
Governor
Attorney General - answer-Lisa Madigan (D) lawyer for the state and the people of
IL; acts as an advocate to protect consumers, safeguard children, and communities,
preserve the environment, uphold IL's open government laws, and defend IL's most
vulnerable
Secretary of State - answer-Jesse White (D) largest and most diverse office of its
kind in the nation, providing more direct services to IL citizens than any other public
agency
Comptroller - answer-Judy Baar Topinka (R) the chief fiscal control officer for IL
government charged with maintain the state's central fiscal accounts and ordering
payments into and out of apprioate funds
