Perhaps more so than any other, this lofty aim has been thwarted over the years, first by a 1973 state high court ruling that the language is a goal, not a requirement, since then by local districts’ heavy reliance on property taxes to cover insufficient state funding. J.B. Pritzker has extended the state’s stay-at-home order through the month of May. According to our 1970 Illinois Constitution, every twenty years the state is required to ask voters whether or not they want to call for a constitutional convention to rewrite or amend the Illinois Constitution. We recommend checking the Coronavirus Information Center for the most recent numbers and guidance. While hardly an unbiased observer—covering Con-Con was this writer’s first major assignment as a fledgling reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times—I believe the document has fared well, albeit with a handful of needed tweaks and a couple still pending. •  Legislators meet in annual sessions, rather than for six months in odd-numbered years, as was the case under the old charter. Share Tweet Email. The voters of Illinois approved the call for a constitutional convention by an impressive 600,000 vote plurality.The victory for "Con-Con" in the November 1968 election was a tribute to the well-organized "good government" campaign conducted by bipartisan … Is the Constitution of 1970 relevant to the problems of our state at this time? Perhaps more so than any other, this lofty aim has been thwarted over the years, first by a 1973 state high court ruling that the language is a goal, not a requirement, since then by local districts’ heavy reliance on property taxes to cover insufficient state funding. So far, the consensus seems to be that the once new, now aging, charter is holding up well enough. Charlie Wheeler is an emeritus professor at the University of Illinois Springfield, and the retired director of the Public Affairs Reporting program. The state’s share of K-12 costs peaked at roughly 48 percent in the 1975-76 school year; since then, it’s fallen to roughly 37 percent in the 2018-19 school year, according to the state education board’s most recent report. In the past, the duties had been combined in a single office, permitting Orville Hodge to embezzle more than $6 million in the 1950s. 1970 constitutional convention, is in “Introduction to the 1970 Illinois Constitution” in the Record of Proceedings of the Sixth Illinois Constitutional Convention, volume I, pages vii to x. The organization Illinois, Constitutional Convention, (1969-1970) represents an institution, an association, or corporate body that is associated with resources found in Evanston Public Library. But the language certainly holds out the aspirations: *  “The state has the primary responsibility” for funding “an efficient system of high quality public educational institutions and services,” according to Article X—Education. JB Pritzker and state lawmakers. II 31 [hereinafter cited as RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS]. The delegates to the 1970 Illinois Constitutional Convention recognized these problems. Three-quarters of voters rejected the automatic call in 1988; two-thirds turned thumbs down in 2008, with approval requiring either three-fifths of those voting on the question or a majority of those voting in the election. The proposal fell far short of approval last month. Explanation and Commentary Rather than revamp certain provisions, suppose citizens want to rewrite the entire document? How did Illinois do it? From the description of Constitutional convention of 1970 journal, 1969-1970. 1970 ILLINOIS CONSTITUTION HISTORY & HIGHLIGHTS Illinois’ sixth Constitutional Convention convened in Springfield on Dec. 8, 1969. The Comptroller shall, in accordance with law, maintain the state's central fiscal accounts, order payments into the treasury, and issue warrants against any funds held by the treasurer. Citizens of Illinois, I believe, should measure the product of our efforts by these tests: Is the Constitution of 1970 superior to the Constitution of 1870? Remembering Illinois’ 1970 Constitutional Convention 50 Years Later. TAGS: 1970 Constitutional Convention, Illinois constitution, Illinois history. Donate today >>, For health questions about COVID-19, call the Illinois Department of Public Health hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov. J.B. Pritzker has ordered the closing of every school in the state until March 30 amid concerns over the spread of coronavirus. That introduction was written by Samuel W. Witwer, a lawyer who for many years advocated the calling of a constitutional convention, and served with distinction as the President of the 1970 convention. Clearly, the 1970 Constitution provides “a more efficient and economical government structure” than its century-old predecessor. Here, too, delegates’ best intentions ran into Springfield politicians comfortable with traditional mores; what passes for disclosure is pretty vague, as anyone who’s checked the annual filings will tell you. Currently, for example, clean energy bills pending in the Legislature envision a carbon-free future for Illinois, something the framers of the 1870 constitution never would have imagined. Section 17. The foregoing is not exhaustive, of course; many other examples of efficiency and economy in government structure can be found in the 1970 charter, although one should note that not all the relevant opportunities have been seized over the last five decades. •  With three-fifths approval in both chambers, the state can sell bonds for public works projects; under the 1870 document, voter approval was needed to borrow more than $250,000, leading past governors and lawmakers to create fictitious “private” entities to do the borrowing, at higher interest costs. Further, the 1970 constitution created the office of comptroller to keep the state’s books and write the checks, in tandem with the treasurer, who’s responsible for the safe-keeping and investment of the state’s receipts. Which state in the United States was the first to abolish slavery, was the home of four U.S. presidents, and has the only river in the entire world that flows backwards? The question is especially timely now, as the citizens he cited ratified the delegates’ work 50 years ago this month, on December 15, 1970. Is the Constitution of 1970 relevant to the problems of our state at this time? December 8, 1969 - September 3, 1970. •¨  The Legislature chooses an auditor general to review the fiscal operations and policies of all state government, giving lawmakers oversight of their budget and policy decisions, in place of the former popularly-elected auditor of public accounts. The document is still referred to as the "Constitution of Illinois of 1970" even though … Samuel Witwer, an attorney from Kenilworth, was chosen as president of the Constitutional Convention. Here, too, delegates’ best intentions ran into Springfield politicians comfortable with traditional mores; what passes for disclosure is pretty vague, as anyone who’s checked the annual filings will tell you. ; The Illinois Constitution is the governing document of the state of Illinois. The proposal fell far short of approval last month. Illinois then adopted its fourth, and current, Constitution on December 15, 1970. In fact, only 55.5% of those who cast votes that day voted to approve the document. In 1860, only 12 years after the 1848 Illinois Constitution, voters approved holding a constitutional convention. Comptroller-Duties. By either test, I submit, the 1970 Constitution possesses a more efficient and economical governmental structure, while strengthening at the same time our commitment to the human needs of our people… the 1970 Constitution talks to a human purpose and a human society. In yet another “back to the future” moment, the CTA, commuter rail and suburban buses are now facing equally dire fiscal challenges, as ridership has crashed due to pandemic-motivated work-at-home orders. Voters have said no to nine others, the most recent being the so-called “Fair Tax” amendment to permit a graduated income tax, with different rates for different income levels. Still, constitutions are living documents, in the sense they can be amended to meet the needs of changing times, particularly at the state level. A total of 116 members — two elected from each senatorial district — met at a nonpar-tisan convention to revise, alter or amend the 1870 Illinois Constitution. L’Illinois a eu quatre constitutions, la première a été adoptée en 1818 lors de l’admission de l’État dans l’Union. A December 15 special election was held in which the proposed 1970 Constitution of Illinois itself was up for election, as were several constitutional convention referral items. Currently, for example, clean energy bills pending in the Legislature envision a carbon-free future for Illinois, something the framers of the 1870 constitution never would have imagined. Additionally, there were Constitutional Conventions in 1862 and 1922, but the constitutions from these two conventions were not ratified by the voters. The constitution was adopted as part of the process Illinois had to follow to be admit- By either test, I submit, the 1970 Constitution possesses a more efficient and economical governmental structure, while strengthening at the same time our commitment to the human needs of our people… the 1970 Constitution talks to a human purpose and a human society. •  In its General Provisions Article, the 1970 document declares, “Public transportation is an essential public purpose for which public funds may be expended,” a declaration that 50 years later seems a no-brainer. Equalizing school funding and the 1970 Constitutional Convention. Illinois 2008 ballot measures 116 delegates were chosen from the 58 state senatorial districts of Illinois. That Convention was tasked with rewriting the Illinois State Constitution, and the Bill of Rights Committee was formed to propose a Bill of Rights as part of that new Constitution. 1870 was the last year a constitutional convention was held in Illinois prior to 1970, leaving that constitution in place for 100 years. For background on the constitution, see the following--This excerpt on the constitution is from Illinois Constitutions [click here for more information] by Emil Verlie. The ISBE calculations, though, include the $4.7 billion state contribution that year to teachers’ pension systems, which local educators note can’t be used for ongoing costs; factor out pensions, and the state’s share of total costs falls to 28 percent, one of the lowest in the country. How well have the efforts of Samuel Witwer and his 117 fellow delegates met the tests he laid out in the convention’s closing moments in the half century that’s passed since the convention’s final adjournment? Copyright 2020 NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS. The question is especially timely now, as the citizens he cited ratified the delegates’ work 50 years ago this month, on December 15, 1970. It proposed to approve the new 1970 constitution. (There were to be three readings in all.) The new constitution, drafted by the convention, was adopted on December 15, 1970. To see more, visit, Abraham Lincoln Presidential LIbrary and Museum. Further, the 1970 constitution created the office of comptroller to keep the state’s books and write the checks, in tandem with the treasurer, who’s responsible for the safe-keeping and investment of the state’s receipts. 572 1987-1988 Citizens of Illinois, I believe, should measure the product of our efforts by these tests: Is the Constitution of 1970 superior to the Constitution … But shortly after the constitutional convention was authorized by voters, the Illinois legislature went on to adopt an income tax rate of 2.5 percent for individuals and 4 percent for businesses in 1969. 8 HeinOnline -- 8 N. Ill. U. L. Rev. 1818 Constitution The first Illinois Constitution was written during the summer of 1818 at a convention in Kaskaskia on the banks of the Mississippi River. Known as 'The Land of Lincoln,' the state of Illinois has a rich history dating back to the early 1800s. Get this from a library! Join with thousands of others to keep this important public media-based resource available to all. Is the Constitution of 1970 relevant to the problems of our state at this time? WILL and the Illinois Newsroom are committed to bringing you in-depth, relevant coverage that keeps you informed and engages you with our community and state. Constitution of Illinois (1970) related portals: Constitutional documents, Illinois. Constitutional Convention; Illinois. But Mayor Diane. IDPH has also compiled a list of, WASHINGTON  — Democrat Joe Biden has defeated President Donald Trump to become the 46th president of the United States. In this time a total of 117 sessions were held. For example, consider these improvements clarifying the separation of powers among the state’s three branches: The 1970 Convention had widespread cooperative bipartisan support. The new constitution also created a two-step disciplinary framework for judges, after two Supreme Court justices resigned following 1969 revelations they had  received bank stock from a party to a case before them. .grecaptcha-badge { And unlike the 1870 Constitution, our new constitution, balanced and practical, holds out hope to the people of Illinois that their government can, indeed, be responsive to their needs and their problems in this twentieth century. Schools Closed Because of Virus; Here’s How They’re Feeding Students, U.S. Constitutional Conventions in Illinois 2d ed. Three-quarters of voters rejected the automatic call in 1988; two-thirds turned thumbs down in 2008, with approval requiring either three-fifths of those voting on the question or a majority of those voting in the election. The 1870 Constitution expanded the powers of the executive and judicial branches. So far, the consensus seems to be that the once new, now aging, charter is holding up well enough. carries forward the work of George D. Braden and Rubin G. Cohn in The Illinois Constitution: An Annotated and Comparative Analysis (1969), which served as a comprehensive guide for delegates at the 1970 constitutional convention. 1970 CONSTITUTION HISTORY & HIGHLIGHTS Illinois’ sixth Constitutional Convention convened in Springfield on Dec. 8, 1969. Rather than revamp certain provisions, suppose citizens want to rewrite the entire document? Listen to Sean Crawford’s interview with Charlie Wheeler here. The new constitution also created a two-step disciplinary framework for judges, after two Supreme Court justices resigned following 1969 revelations they had  received bank stock from a party to a case before them. Rings In New Year With Subdued Celebrations, Pandemic, Social Unrest, Statehouse Scandals Top 2020 Stories, Urbana Extension Proposed For Kickapoo Rail Trail. Illinois has had four constitutions since becoming a state in 1818: the first state constitution was in effect from 1818 until 1848; the second (1848-1870); the third (1870-1970) and the fourth (1970- ). ... 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. How Illinois' power brokers barred a progessive tax in 1970. Proposed Constitutional Conventions Article 14 of the 1970 Illinois State Constitution mandates that voters be given the oppor-tunity to call a constitutional convention every 20 years unless the General Assembly calls for one before that. The newest Illinois Constitution — drawn up at the Constitutional Convention of 1970 — requires a flat-rate structure for income taxes. To bring you the most up-to-date information Public Affairs Reporting program working hard to bring you most! 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