HR1644 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1644 LRB095 23148 RCE 53787 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Allegations have been raised regarding the conduct of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich; and

WHEREAS, Section 14 of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution provides that the House of Representatives has the sole power to conduct legislative investigations to determine the existence of cause for impeachment and, by the vote of a majority of the members elected, to impeach Executive and Judicial officers; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that a Special Investigative Committee be created for the purpose of (i) investigating allegations of misfeasance, malfeasance, nonfeasance, and other misconduct of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich and (ii) making a recommendation as to whether cause exists for impeachment; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Special Investigative Committee shall consist of 10 legislative members, with 5 members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and 5 members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives shall each designate one appointee to serve as a co-chairperson; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the appointments of the members and the designation of the co-chairpersons of the Special Investigative Committee shall be transmitted by the appointing authority in writing to the Clerk of the House of Representatives; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Special Investigative Committee is empowered to meet, upon the proper appointment of a majority of the members, in accordance with the House Rules; that all meetings shall be public; that advance notice of all meetings shall be given to the public; and that the Special Investigative Committee may gather evidence and hear testimony at any location within the State of Illinois designated by the co-chairpersons; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Special Investigative Committee is empowered to adopt rules to govern the proceedings before it and shall be guided by the rules of evidence of this State in order to ensure a fair hearing, a thorough investigation, and the provision of due process; and that the Special Investigative Committee shall have the power to administer oaths and to compel the attendance and testimony of persons and the production of papers, documents, and other evidence, under oath, by subpoena signed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and attested by the Clerk of the House of Representatives when the testimony, documents, or evidence is necessary for or incident to any inquiry relevant to the business or purposes of the Special Investigative Committee, and to punish any person for the neglect, refusal to appear, or failure to produce papers or documents or provide evidence commanded by subpoena or who, upon appearance, either with or without subpoena, refuses to be sworn or testify or produce papers, documents, or evidence demanded of him or her; and be it further

RESOLVED, That, upon the completion of the investigation, the Special Investigative Committee shall submit a final report and its recommendations to the House of Representatives by filing a copy with the Clerk of the House of Representatives within 30 days after this Resolution is adopted.