illinois state senate

since 2009 Minority Leader Christine Radogno, (R)

since 2009 Structure Members 59 Political groups Democratic Party

Republican Party Election Last election November 4, 2008 Meeting place Illinois State Capitol, Springfield, IL, U.S. Web site ilga.gov/senate

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. The Illinois Senate is made up of 59 senators elected from individual legislative districts determined by population. Under the Illinois Constitution of 1970, 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.[1] Depending on the election year, roughly ?, ?, or all of the senate seats may have terms ending. In contrast, the Illinois House of Representatives is made of 118 members with its entire membership elected to two-year terms. House districts are formed by dividing each Senate district in half.[2]

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. The number of negative votes does not matter. Therefore the use of the present vote has the same effect as voting no.

The Democratic Party of Illinois currently holds a veto-proof majority in the Illinois Senate. Contents [hide] 1 Party strength 2 Leadership 2.1 Majority 2.2 Minority 3 Members of the Illinois Senate 4 References 5 External links //

Party strength Affiliation Members

Democratic Party 37 Republican Party 22 Total

59 Majority

15

Leadership

Majority President of the Senate: John Cullerton Majority Leader: James Clayborne, Jr. Assistant Majority Leaders: James DeLeo Rickey Hendon Don Harmon Kimberly A. Lightford Jeffrey Schoenberg Majority Caucus Chair: Antonio Munoz Majority Whips: Ira Silverstein Louis Viverito Terry Link

Minority Minority Leader: Christine Radogno Deputy Minority Leader: Dale Righter Assistant Minority Leaders: J. Bradley Burzynski John O. Jones