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.
Illinois Senate | |
|---|---|
| Illinois General Assembly | |
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
Term limits | None |
| History | |
New session started | January 11, 2023 |
| Leadership | |
President Pro Tempore | |
Majority Leader | |
Minority Leader | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 59 |
 | |
Political groups | Majority
Minority
|
Length of term | 4 years (with one two-year term each decade) |
| Authority | Illinois Constitution Article IV |
| Salary | $85,000/year per diem |
| Elections | |
Last election | November 8, 2022 |
Next election | November 5, 2024 |
| Redistricting | Legislative Control |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| State Senate Chamber Illinois State Capitol Springfield, Illinois | |
| Website | |
| Illinois Senate | |
| Rules | |
| Rules of the Senate of the 103rd General Assembly | |
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
edit| Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Republican | Vacant | |||
| End of previous legislature | 41 | 18 | 59 | 0 | |
| January 13, 2023 | 40 | 19 | 59 | 0 | |
| May 31, 2023[6] | 39 | 19 | 58 | 1 | |
| July 10, 2023[7] | 40 | 19 | 59 | 0 | |
| August 1, 2023[8] | 39 | 19 | 58 | 1 | |
| August 16, 2023[9] | 40 | 19 | 59 | 0 | |
| Latest voting share | 67.8% | 32.2% | |||
Leadership
editAs of February 6, 2021[update], the 102nd General Assembly of the Illinois Senate consists of the following leadership:[10]
Majority
edit- President of the Senate: Don Harmon
- Majority Leader: Kimberly A. Lightford
- Assistant Majority Leader/President Pro Tempore: Bill Cunningham
- Deputy Majority Leaders:
- Assistant Majority Leaders:
- Majority Caucus Chair: Mattie Hunter
- Majority Caucus Whips:
Minority
edit- Minority Leader: John Curran
- Deputy Minority Leader: Sue Rezin
- Assistant Minority Leaders:
- Minority Caucus Chair: Neil Anderson
- Minority Caucus Whips:
Officers
edit- 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
editIn 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[update], the 103rd General Assembly of the Illinois Senate consists of the following members:[15][16]
| District | Senator | Party | Residence | Assumed office |
Next election |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Javier Cervantes ƗƗ | Democratic | Chicago | November 18, 2022 | 2024 |
| 2 | Omar Aquino Ɨ | Democratic | Chicago | July 1, 2016 | 2026 |
| 3 | Mattie Hunter | Democratic | Chicago | January 8, 2003 | 2026 |
| 4 | Kimberly A. Lightford Ɨ | Democratic | Chicago | November 20, 1998 | 2024 |
| 5 | Lakesia Collins Ɨ | Democratic | Chicago | August 16, 2023 | 2024 (special) |
| 6 | Sara Feigenholtz Ɨ | Democratic | Chicago | January 21, 2020 | 2026 |
| 7 | Mike Simmons Ɨ | Democratic | Chicago | February 6, 2021 | 2024 |
| 8 | Ram Villivalam ƗƗ | Democratic | Chicago | January 5, 2019 | 2026 |
| 9 | Laura Fine ƗƗ | Democratic | Glenview | January 6, 2019 | 2026 |
| 10 | Robert Martwick Ɨ | Democratic | Chicago | June 28, 2019 | 2024 |
| 11 | Mike Porfirio | Democratic | Bridgeview | January 11, 2023 | 2026 |
| 12 | Celina Villanueva Ɨ | Democratic | Chicago | January 7, 2020 | 2026 |
| 13 | Robert Peters Ɨ | Democratic | Chicago | January 6, 2019 | 2024 |
| 14 | Emil Jones III | Democratic | Chicago | January 14, 2009 | 2026 |
| 15 | Napoleon Harris | Democratic | Harvey | January 9, 2013 | 2026 |
| 16 | Willie Preston | Democratic | Chicago | January 8, 2003 | 2024 |
| 17 | Elgie Sims Ɨ | Democratic | Chicago | January 26, 2018 | 2026 |
| 18 | William Cunningham | Democratic | Chicago | January 9, 2013 | 2026 |
| 19 | Michael Hastings | Democratic | Tinley Park | January 9, 2013 | 2024 |
| 20 | Natalie Toro Ɨ | Democratic | Chicago | July 10, 2023 | 2024 (special) |
| 21 | Laura Ellman | Democratic | Lisle | January 9, 2019 | 2026 |
| 22 | Cristina Castro | Democratic | Elgin | January 11, 2017 | 2024 |
| 23 | Suzy Glowiak | Democratic | Western Springs | January 9, 2019 | 2026 |
| 24 | Seth Lewis | Republican | Bartlett | January 11, 2023 | 2026 |
| 25 | Karina Villa | Democratic | West Chicago | January 13, 2021 | 2024 |
| 26 | Dan McConchie Ɨ | Republican | Hawthorn Woods | April 20, 2016 | 2026 |
| 27 | Mark L. Walker Ɨ | Democratic | Arlington Heights | May 11, 2024 | 2024 (special) |
| 28 | Laura Murphy Ɨ | Democratic | Des Plaines | October 5, 2015 | 2024 |
| 29 | Julie Morrison | Democratic | Deerfield | January 9, 2013 | 2026 |
| 30 | Adriane Johnson Ɨ | Democratic | Buffalo Grove | October 11, 2020 | 2026 |
| 31 | Mary Edly-Allen | Democratic | Libertyville | January 11, 2023 | 2024 |
| 32 | Craig Wilcox Ɨ | Republican | McHenry | October 1, 2018 | 2026 |
| 33 | Don DeWitte | Republican | St. Charles | January 9, 2019 | 2026 |
| 34 | Steve Stadelman | Democratic | Rockford | January 9, 2013 | 2024 |
| 35 | Dave Syverson | Republican | Rockford | January 13, 1993 | 2026 |
| 36 | Michael Halpin | Democratic | Rock Island | January 11, 2023 | 2026 |
| 37 | Win Stoller ƗƗ | Republican | Metamora | January 5, 2021 | 2024 |
| 38 | Sue Rezin Ɨ | Republican | Morris | December 11, 2010 | 2026 |
| 39 | Don Harmon | Democratic | Oak Park | January 8, 2003 | 2026 |
| 40 | Patrick Joyce Ɨ | Democratic | Kankakee | November 8, 2019 | 2024 |
| 41 | John Curran Ɨ | Republican | Woodridge | July 23, 2017 | 2026 |
| 42 | Linda Holmes | Democratic | Aurora | January 10, 2007 | 2026 |
| 43 | Rachel Ventura | Democratic | Joliet | January 11, 2023 | 2024 |
| 44 | Sally Turner Ɨ | Republican | Beason | January 25, 2021 | 2026 |
| 45 | Andrew Chesney ƗƗ | Republican | Freeport | December 5, 2018 | 2026 |
| 46 | Dave Koehler ƗƗ | Democratic | Peoria | December 3, 2006 | 2024 |
| 47 | Neil Anderson | Republican | Andalusia | January 15, 2015 | 2026 |
| 48 | Doris Turner Ɨ | Democratic | Springfield | February 6, 2021 | 2026 |
| 49 | Meg Loughran Cappel ƗƗ | Democratic | Shorewood | December 10, 2020 | 2024 |
| 50 | Jil Tracy | Republican | Quincy | January 11, 2017 | 2026 |
| 51 | Chapin Rose | Republican | Mahomet | January 9, 2013 | 2026 |
| 52 | Paul Faraci Ɨ | Democratic | Champaign | January 11, 2023 | 2024 |
| 53 | Thomas M. Bennett Ɨ | Republican | Gibson City | January 11, 2023 | 2024 (special) |
| 54 | Steve McClure | Republican | Springfield | January 9, 2019 | 2026 |
| 55 | Jason Plummer | Republican | Edwardsville | January 9, 2019 | 2024 |
| 56 | Erica Harriss | Republican | Glen Carbon | January 11, 2023 | 2026 |
| 57 | Christopher Belt | Democratic | Cahokia Heights | January 9, 2019 | 2026 |
| 58 | Terri Bryant | Republican | Murphysboro | January 13, 2021 | 2024 |
| 59 | Dale Fowler | Republican | Harrisburg | January 11, 2017 | 2026 |
- 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
editReferences
edit- ^ State Populations from U.S Census 2020 U.S Census Website
- ^ Illinois Constitution Article IV, Section 2(a) http://www.ilga.gov/commission/lrb/con4.htm
- ^ Illinois Constitution Article IV, Section 2(b) http://www.ilga.gov/commission/lrb/con4.htm
- ^ Gonzales, Nathan (February 13, 2007). "The Ever-'Present' Obama". The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
- ^ Burnett, Sara (February 14, 2013). "Illinois Senate votes to legalize gay marriage". Associated Press. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
- ^ "Senator Pacione-Zayas readies to resign to officially work in Mayor Johnson's inner circle". Nadig Newspapers. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
- ^ "Dems appoint Natalie Toro to fill state Senate seat vacated by Cristina Pacione-Zayas". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
- ^ "Illinois State Sen. Patricia Van Pelt announces retirement". Chicago Tribune. July 26, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
- ^ Kapos, Shia (August 16, 2023). "Dems' thrill of victory, agony of defeat". POLITICO. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
- ^ "102ND GA SENATE LEADERSHIP" (PDF). Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Barlow, Sarah E. (ed.). "Biographies of New House Members" (PDF). First Reading. 36 (1). Illinois General Assembly: 2. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
- ^ Barichello, Derek (January 7, 2023). "Tom Bennett Named Barickman Successor". Shaw Local. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
External links
edit- Illinois General Assembly – Senate official government website
- Illinois Senate Republicans official party website
- Illinois Senate Democrats official party website
- Legislature of Illinois at Project Vote Smart
- Illinois Senate at Ballotpedia