HJ0068 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0068 LRB100 13049 MST 27408 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Illinois has debated and adopted four state constitutions since its founding, the original 1818 document, one in 1848, one in 1870, and one in 1970; and

WHEREAS, Illinois citizens and elected officials have come together to discuss the future of the Land of Lincoln in six constitutional conventions in 1818, 1846, 1860, 1868, 1918, and 1968; and

WHEREAS, Forty-nine years have passed since the last constitutional convention was called, resulting in the current, 1970 Illinois Constitution; and

WHEREAS, Subsection (b) of Section 1 of Article XIV of the Illinois Constitution provides that if the question of whether a State Constitutional Convention should be called is not submitted ruing any 20-year period, the Secretary of State shall submit that question at the general election in the 20th year following the last submission; and

WHEREAS, The question of whether a State Constitutional Convention should be called was placed before the voters on the general election ballot on November 4, 2008; and

WHEREAS, Since November 4, 2008, more than 400 resolutions have been submitted by Illinois legislators to amend the Illinois Constitution; and

WHEREAS, Members of the General Assembly who represent a cross section of Illinois geography and Illinois politics have sought to amend the Illinois Constitution to address challenges including taxes and revenue; term limits and recall of elected officials; voting and elections; home rule governance and unfunded mandates; education funding and public pension reform; and, consolidation of constitutional officers and legislative redistricting; and

WHEREAS, The upcoming Illinois Bicentennial year of 2018 provides the appropriate opportunity for Illinois citizens and elected officials to reflect upon the condition and contemplate the future of our Great State; and

WHEREAS, Ten years will have passed since Illinois voters have been asked to approve a State Constitutional Convention; and

WHEREAS, Subsection (a) of Section 1 of Article XIV of the Illinois Constitution states: "Whenever three-fifths of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly so direct, the question of whether a Constitutional Convention should be called shall be submitted to the electors at the general election next occurring at least six months after such legislative direction"; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the proposition on whether a State Constitutional Convention should be called be submitted to the electors of this State at the general election next occurring at least six months after the adoption of this resolution, as provided in Article XIV, Section 1, of the Illinois Constitution; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the Secretary of State and the State Board of Elections.