Illinois State Senate

Illinois State Senate

Summary

The Illinois Senate is the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the State of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818.

Under the Illinois Constitution of 1970, the Illinois Senate is made up of 59 senators elected from individual legislative districts determined by population and redistricted every 10 years; based on the 2010 U.S. census each senator represents approximately 217,468 people. Senators are divided into three groups, each group having a two-year term at a different part of the decade between censuses, with the rest of the decade being taken up by two four-year terms. This ensures that the Senate reflects changes made when the General Assembly redistricts itself after each census.

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Wikipedia

The Illinois Senate is the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the State of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. Under the Illinois Constitution of 1970, the Illinois Senate is made up of 59 senators elected from individual legislative districts determined by population and redistricted every 10 years; based on the 2020 U.S. census each senator represents approximately 213,347 people.[1] Senators are divided into three groups, each group having a two-year term at a different part of the decade between censuses, with the rest of the decade being taken up by two four-year terms. For example, group one elects senators for terms of four years, four years and two years, group two elects senators for terms of four years, two years and four years, and group three elects senators for terms of two years, four years and four years.[2] This ensures that the Senate reflects changes made when the General Assembly redistricts itself after each census.

Usually, depending on the election year, roughly one-third or two-thirds of Senate seats are contested. On rare occasions (usually after a census), all Senate seats are up for election. In contrast, the Illinois House of Representatives is made up of 118 members with its entire membership elected to two-year terms. House districts are formed by dividing each Senate district in half,[3] with each senator having two "associated" representatives.

The Illinois Senate convenes at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois. Its first official working day is the second Wednesday of January each year. Its primary duties are to pass bills into law, approve the state budget, confirm appointments to state departments and agencies, act on federal constitutional amendments and propose constitutional amendments for Illinois. It also has the power to override gubernatorial vetoes through a three-fifths majority vote. The Illinois Senate tries impeachments made by the House of Representatives, and can convict impeached officers by a two-thirds vote.

Voting in the Illinois Senate is done by members pushing one of three buttons. Unlike most states, the Illinois Senate allows members to vote yes, no, or present. It takes 30 affirmative votes to pass legislation during final action.[4][5] The number of negative votes does not matter. Therefore, voting present has the same effect on the tally as voting no.

Party summary

AffiliationParty
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
DemocraticRepublicanVacant
End of previous legislature4118590
January 13, 20234019590
May 31, 2023[6]3919581
July 10, 2023[7]4019590
August 1, 2023[8]3919581
August 16, 2023[9]4019590
Latest voting share67.8%32.2%

Leadership

As of February 6, 2021, the 102nd General Assembly of the Illinois Senate consists of the following leadership:[10]

Majority

Minority

Officers

  • Secretary of the Senate: Tim Anderson
  • Assistant Secretary of the Senate: Scott Kaiser
  • Sergeant-at-Arms: Joe Dominguez
  • Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Dirk R. Eilers

Members

In 1924, Florence Fifer Bohrer became the body's first female member and Adelbert H. Roberts became its first African American member.[11][12] In 1977, Earlean Collins became the first African American woman to serve in the Illinois Senate.[13] Barack Obama, later the first African-American President of the United States, served in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004.[14]

As of May 11, 2024, the 103rd General Assembly of the Illinois Senate consists of the following members:[15][16]

DistrictSenatorPartyResidenceAssumed
office		Next
election
1Javier Cervantes ƗƗDemocraticChicagoNovember 18, 20222024
2Omar Aquino ƗDemocraticChicagoJuly 1, 20162026
3Mattie HunterDemocraticChicagoJanuary 8, 20032026
4Kimberly A. Lightford ƗDemocraticChicagoNovember 20, 19982024
5Lakesia Collins ƗDemocraticChicagoAugust 16, 20232024 (special)
6Sara Feigenholtz ƗDemocraticChicagoJanuary 21, 20202026
7Mike Simmons ƗDemocraticChicagoFebruary 6, 20212024
8Ram Villivalam ƗƗDemocraticChicagoJanuary 5, 20192026
9Laura Fine ƗƗDemocraticGlenviewJanuary 6, 20192026
10Robert Martwick ƗDemocraticChicagoJune 28, 20192024
11Mike PorfirioDemocraticBridgeviewJanuary 11, 20232026
12Celina Villanueva ƗDemocraticChicagoJanuary 7, 20202026
13Robert Peters ƗDemocraticChicagoJanuary 6, 20192024
14Emil Jones IIIDemocraticChicagoJanuary 14, 20092026
15Napoleon HarrisDemocraticHarveyJanuary 9, 20132026
16Willie PrestonDemocraticChicagoJanuary 8, 20032024
17Elgie Sims ƗDemocraticChicagoJanuary 26, 20182026
18William CunninghamDemocraticChicagoJanuary 9, 20132026
19Michael HastingsDemocraticTinley ParkJanuary 9, 20132024
20Natalie Toro ƗDemocraticChicagoJuly 10, 20232024 (special)
21Laura EllmanDemocraticLisleJanuary 9, 20192026
22Cristina CastroDemocraticElginJanuary 11, 20172024
23Suzy GlowiakDemocraticWestern SpringsJanuary 9, 20192026
24Seth LewisRepublicanBartlettJanuary 11, 20232026
25Karina VillaDemocraticWest ChicagoJanuary 13, 20212024
26Dan McConchie ƗRepublicanHawthorn WoodsApril 20, 20162026
27Mark L. Walker ƗDemocraticArlington HeightsMay 11, 20242024 (special)
28Laura Murphy ƗDemocraticDes PlainesOctober 5, 20152024
29Julie MorrisonDemocraticDeerfieldJanuary 9, 20132026
30Adriane Johnson ƗDemocraticBuffalo GroveOctober 11, 20202026
31Mary Edly-AllenDemocraticLibertyvilleJanuary 11, 20232024
32Craig Wilcox ƗRepublicanMcHenryOctober 1, 20182026
33Don DeWitteRepublicanSt. CharlesJanuary 9, 20192026
34Steve StadelmanDemocraticRockfordJanuary 9, 20132024
35Dave SyversonRepublicanRockfordJanuary 13, 19932026
36Michael HalpinDemocraticRock IslandJanuary 11, 20232026
37Win Stoller ƗƗRepublicanMetamoraJanuary 5, 20212024
38Sue Rezin ƗRepublicanMorrisDecember 11, 20102026
39Don HarmonDemocraticOak ParkJanuary 8, 20032026
40Patrick Joyce ƗDemocraticKankakeeNovember 8, 20192024
41John Curran ƗRepublicanWoodridgeJuly 23, 20172026
42Linda HolmesDemocraticAuroraJanuary 10, 20072026
43Rachel VenturaDemocraticJolietJanuary 11, 20232024
44Sally Turner ƗRepublicanBeasonJanuary 25, 20212026
45Andrew Chesney ƗƗRepublicanFreeportDecember 5, 20182026
46Dave Koehler ƗƗDemocraticPeoriaDecember 3, 20062024
47Neil AndersonRepublicanAndalusiaJanuary 15, 20152026
48Doris Turner ƗDemocraticSpringfieldFebruary 6, 20212026
49Meg Loughran Cappel ƗƗDemocraticShorewoodDecember 10, 20202024
50Jil TracyRepublicanQuincyJanuary 11, 20172026
51Chapin RoseRepublicanMahometJanuary 9, 20132026
52Paul Faraci ƗDemocraticChampaignJanuary 11, 20232024
53Thomas M. Bennett ƗRepublicanGibson CityJanuary 11, 20232024 (special)
54Steve McClureRepublicanSpringfieldJanuary 9, 20192026
55Jason PlummerRepublicanEdwardsvilleJanuary 9, 20192024
56Erica HarrissRepublicanGlen CarbonJanuary 11, 20232026
57Christopher BeltDemocraticCahokia HeightsJanuary 9, 20192026
58Terri BryantRepublicanMurphysboroJanuary 13, 20212024
59Dale FowlerRepublicanHarrisburgJanuary 11, 20172026
  • Ɨ Legislator was appointed to the Illinois Senate prior to initial election.
  • ƗƗ Legislator was appointed to the Illinois Senate after being elected, but prior to inauguration day of the General Assembly to which they were elected.

Past composition of the Senate

Main article: Political party strength in Illinois

References

  1. ^ State Populations from U.S Census 2020 U.S Census Website
  2. ^ Illinois Constitution Article IV, Section 2(a) http://www.ilga.gov/commission/lrb/con4.htm
  3. ^ Illinois Constitution Article IV, Section 2(b) http://www.ilga.gov/commission/lrb/con4.htm
  4. ^ Gonzales, Nathan (February 13, 2007). "The Ever-'Present' Obama". The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
  5. ^ Burnett, Sara (February 14, 2013). "Illinois Senate votes to legalize gay marriage". Associated Press. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
  6. ^ "Senator Pacione-Zayas readies to resign to officially work in Mayor Johnson's inner circle". Nadig Newspapers. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  7. ^ "Dems appoint Natalie Toro to fill state Senate seat vacated by Cristina Pacione-Zayas". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  8. ^ "Illinois State Sen. Patricia Van Pelt announces retirement". Chicago Tribune. July 26, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  9. ^ Kapos, Shia (August 16, 2023). "Dems' thrill of victory, agony of defeat". POLITICO. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  10. ^ "102ND GA SENATE LEADERSHIP" (PDF). Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  11. ^ Thomas, Whitney Freund (April 1998). "Florence Fifer Bohrer: A Woman Before Her Time". Illinois History: A Magazine for Young People. 51 (3): 59–60. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  12. ^ Gherardini, Caroline, ed. (February 1984). "Honors". Illinois Issues. Vol. 9, no. 2. Springfield, Illinois: Sangamon State University. p. 41. ISSN 0738-9663. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
  13. ^ Musser, Ashley; Dutton, Julie (February 11, 2016). "Illinois Women in Congress and General Assembly" (PDF). Springfield, Illinois: Illinois Legislative Research Unit. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
  14. ^ Miller, David R. (ed.). "A Former New Member: Barack Obama (D-13, Chicago) (From First Reading, December 1996)" (PDF). First Reading. Springfield, Illinois: Illinois Legislative Research Unit. p. 4.
  15. ^ Barlow, Sarah E. (ed.). "Biographies of New House Members" (PDF). First Reading. 36 (1). Illinois General Assembly: 2. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  16. ^ Barichello, Derek (January 7, 2023). "Tom Bennett Named Barickman Successor". Shaw Local. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Senate

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