Illinois House of Representatives explained

Illinois House of Representatives
Legislature:	Illinois General Assembly
Coa Pic:	Seal of Illinois.svg
Session Room:	Illinois House of Representatives.jpg
House Type:	Lower house
Term Limits:	None
New Session:	January 11, 2023
Leader1 Type:	Speaker
Leader1:	Chris Welch (D)
Election1:	January 13, 2021
Leader2 Type:	Speaker Pro Tempore
Leader2:	Jehan Gordon-Booth (D)
Election2:	January 21, 2021
Leader3 Type:	Majority Leader
Leader3:	Robyn Gabel (D)
Election3:	January 12, 2023
Leader4 Type:	Minority Leader
Leader4:	Tony McCombie (R)
Election4:	January 11, 2023
Members:	118
Structure1:	Illinois House 2024.svg
Structure1 Res:	250px
Political Groups1:	Majority Minority
Term Length:	2 years
Authority:	Article IV, Illinois Constitution
Salary:	$67,836/year + per diem
Last Election1:	November 8, 2022
Next Election1:	November 5, 2024
Redistricting:	Legislative Control
Meeting Place:	House of Representatives Chamber Illinois State Capitol Springfield, Illinois
Website:	Illinois House of Representatives
Rules:	Rules of the House of Representatives of the 103rd General Assembly

The Illinois House of Representatives is the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly. The body was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The House under the current constitution as amended in 1980 consists of 118 representatives elected from individual legislative districts for two-year terms with no limits; redistricted every 10 years, based on the 2010 U.S. census each representative represents approximately 108,734 people.^[1]

The house has the power to pass bills and impeach Illinois officeholders. Lawmakers must be at least 21 years of age and a resident of the district in which they serve for at least two years.

President Abraham Lincoln began his career in politics in the Illinois House of Representatives.

History

The Illinois General Assembly was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The candidates for office split into political parties in the 1830s, initially as the Democratic and Whig parties, until the Whig candidates reorganized as Republicans in the 1850s.

Abraham Lincoln began his political career in the Illinois House of Representatives as a member of the Whig party in 1834.^[2] He served there until 1842. Although Republicans held the majority of seats in the Illinois House after 1860, in the next election it returned to the Democrats.^[3] The Democratic Party-led legislature worked to frame a new state constitution that was ultimately rejected by voters^[3] After the 1862 election, the Democratic-led Illinois House of Representatives passed resolutions denouncing the federal government's conduct of the war and urging an immediate armistice and peace convention, leading the Republican governor to suspend the legislature for the first time in the state's history.^[3] In 1864, Republicans swept the state legislature and at the time of Lincoln's assassination at Ford's Theater, Illinois stood as a solidly Republican state.^[3]

State House of Representatives elected through Cumulative voting from 1870 to 1980. The use of that system was meant to secure a degree of representation for minority blacks and the non-dominant party through use of multi-member districts and special type of multiple voting.^[4]

From 1870 to 1980, Illinois's lower house had several unique features:

• The House comprised 177 members. The state was divided into 59 legislative districts, each of which elected one senator and three representatives.
• Elections for the state house were conducted using cumulative voting; each individual voter was given three votes to cast for House seats, and they could distribute them to three candidates (one vote each), one candidate (receiving three votes—this was called a bullet vote) or two candidates (each receiving 1½ votes).
• Though not constitutionally mandated, the two parties had an informal agreement that they would only run two candidates per district. Thus, in most districts, only four candidates were running for three seats. This not only all but guaranteed that the district's minority party would win a seat (particularly outside Chicago), but usually assured that each party would have significant representation—a minimum of one-third of the seats (59 out of 177)—in the House. (The only historic exception to the minimum 59 seat rule was in 1875 and during WWI.)

Cutback Amendment of 1980

The Cutback Amendment was proposed to abolish Illinois's use of Cumulative Voting and multi-member districts.

Since its passage in 1980, representatives have been elected from 118 single-member districts formed by dividing the 59 Senate districts in half, a method known as nesting. Each senator is "associated" with two representatives.

Since the adoption of the Cutback Amendment, there have been proposals by some major political figures in Illinois to bring back multi-member districts. A task force led by former governor Jim Edgar and former federal judge Abner Mikva issued a report in 2001 calling for the revival of cumulative voting,^[5] in part because it appears that such a system increases the representation of racial minorities in elected office.^[6] The Chicago Tribune editorialized in 1995 that the multi-member districts elected with cumulative voting produced better legislators.^[7] Others have argued that the now-abandoned system provided for greater stability in the lower house.^[8]

The Democratic Party won a majority of House seats in 1982. Except for a brief two-year period of Republican control from 1995 to 1997, the Democrats have held the majority since then.

Firsts

The first two African-American legislators in Illinois were John W. E. Thomas, first elected in 1876, and George French Ecton, elected in 1886.^[9] In 1922, Lottie Holman O'Neill became the first woman elected to the Illinois House of Representatives (she was elected in the first election in which women could vote or run for election).^[10] In 1958, Floy Clements became the first African American woman to serve as state Representative.^[11] In 1982, Joseph Berrios became the first Hispanic American state representative.^[12] Theresa Mah became the first Asian American to serve in the Illinois House when she was sworn into office January 10, 2017.^[13]

Powers

The Illinois House of Representatives meets at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois. It is required to convene on the second Wednesday of January each year. Along with the Illinois Senate and governor, it is vested with the power to make laws, come up with a state budget, act on federal constitutional amendments, and propose constitutional amendments to the state constitution.^[14] The Illinois House of Representatives also holds the power to impeach executive and judicial officials.^[14]

Qualifications

A person must be a U.S. citizen and two-year resident of an electoral district of at least 21 years of age to serve in the Illinois House of Representatives.^[14] Members of the House cannot hold other public offices or receive appointments by the governor while in office.^[14]

Composition of the House

Affiliation	Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)		Total
	Democratic	Republican		Vacant
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	End of previous legislature		67	51	118	0
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	2019-2021		74	44	118	0
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	January 13, 2021		73	45	118	0
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	February 18, 2021^[15]		72		117	1
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	February 21, 2021^[16]		73		118	0
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	February 24, 2021^[17]		72		117	1
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	End of previous legislature		73		118	0
nowrap style="font-size:80%"	Current		78	40	118	0
Latest voting share

Leadership

The current Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives is Emanuel Chris Welch, a Democrat from Hillside, who represents the 7th district. The Democratic Party of Illinois currently holds a super-majority of seats in the House. Under the Constitution of Illinois, the office of minority leader is recognized for the purpose of making certain appointments. Tony McCombie, of Savanna, who represents the 89th district, currently holds that post. Both leaders appointed their leadership teams shortly after the start of the 103rd General Assembly.^{[18] [19]}

Majority

• Speaker of the House: Emanuel Chris Welch
• Majority Leader: Robyn Gabel
• Speaker pro tempore: Jehan Gordon-Booth
• Deputy Majority Leaders:
  • Mary E. Flowers (until May 31, 2023)^[20]
  • Elizabeth Hernandez
• Assistant Majority Leaders:
  • Marcus C. Evans Jr.
  • Jay Hoffman
  • Natalie Manley
  • Aaron Ortiz
  • Kam Buckner
  • Barbara Hernandez
  • Kelly Burke
  • Robert Rita
• Majority Conference Chairperson: Theresa Mah
• Majority Officer & Sergeant at Arms: Nick Smith

Minority

• Minority Leader: Tony McCombie
• Deputy Minority Leaders:
  • Norine Hammond
  • Ryan Spain
• Assistant Minority Leaders:
  • John Cabello
  • Charles Meier
  • Mike Marron
  • C. D. Davidsmeyer
  • Jackie Haas
• Minority Conference Chairperson: Jeff Keicher
• Minority Floor Leader: Patrick Windhorst

Officers

• Clerk of the House: John W. Hollman
• Chief Doorkeeper: Lee A. Crawford
• Parliamentarian: James Hartmann
• Assistant Clerk of the House: Bradley S. Bolin

Members

, the 103rd General Assembly of the Illinois House of Representatives consists of the following members:^[21]

District	Representative	Party	Start	Residence
1			Democratic	January 9, 2019	Chicago
2			Democratic	January 10, 2007	Cicero
3	Ɨ		Democratic	November 15, 2019	Chicago
4	ƗƗ		Democratic	December 15, 2022	Chicago
5	Ɨ		Democratic	May 15, 2023^[22]	Chicago
6	Ɨ		Democratic	October 20, 2015	Chicago
7			Democratic	January 9, 2013	Hillside
8			Democratic	January 10, 2007	Chicago
9	Ɨ		Democratic	September 12, 2023^[23]	Chicago
10	Ɨ		Democratic	May 1, 2019	Chicago
11			Democratic	January 12, 2011	Chicago
12	ƗƗ		Democratic	January 2, 2021	Chicago
13			Democratic	January 11, 2023	Chicago
14	Ɨ		Democratic	April 12, 2011	Chicago
15	Ɨ		Democratic	November 23, 2021	Chicago
16			Democratic	January 11, 2023	Skokie
17	ƗƗ		Democratic	December 21, 2018	Glenview
18	Ɨ		Democratic	April 19, 2010	Evanston
19	Ɨ		Democratic	July 24, 2019	Chicago
20	Ɨ		Republican	June 29, 2019	Rosemont
21			Democratic	January 11, 2023	Justice
22	Ɨ		Democratic	February 25, 2021	Chicago
23	Ɨ		Democratic	January 10, 2020	Chicago
24			Democratic	January 11, 2017	Chicago
25			Democratic	January 9, 2019	Chicago
26	Ɨ		Democratic	January 18, 2019	Chicago
27	Ɨ		Democratic	January 5, 2017	Chicago
28			Democratic	January 8, 2003	Blue Island
29			Democratic	January 12, 2011	Calumet City
30			Democratic	January 8, 2003	Homewood
31			Democratic	January 8, 1985	Chicago
32	Ɨ		Democratic	April 8, 2021	Chicago
33	Ɨ		Democratic	April 13, 2012	Chicago
34	Ɨ		Democratic	February 4, 2018	Chicago
35	Ɨ		Democratic	March 28, 2023^[24]	Chicago
36			Democratic	January 12, 2011	Evergreen Park
37	Ɨ		Republican	April 13, 2024	Lockport
38			Democratic	January 9, 2019	Olympia Fields
39			Democratic	January 14, 2015	Chicago
40	Ɨ		Democratic	August 12, 2013	Chicago
41			Democratic	January 13, 2021	Naperville
42			Democratic	January 9, 2019	Glen Ellyn
43	Ɨ		Democratic	March 30, 2014	Elgin
44			Democratic	January 10, 2007	Hoffman Estates
45			Democratic	January 11, 2023	Elmhurst
46	ƗƗ		Democratic	December 7, 2022	Villa Park
47			Republican	January 9, 2019	Wheaton
48			Republican	January 11, 2023	Hanover Park
49			Democratic	January 13, 2021	Batavia
50	Ɨ		Democratic	March 7, 2019	Aurora
51			Democratic	January 11, 2023	Inverness
52			Republican	January 13, 2021	Barrington Hills
53	Ɨ		Democratic	June 5, 2024^[25]	Arlington Heights
54			Democratic	January 11, 2023	Arlington Heights
55			Democratic	January 9, 2013	Des Plaines
56			Democratic	January 12, 2011	Schaumburg
57	Ɨ		Democratic	January 11, 2024^[26]	Northbrook
58			Democratic	January 9, 2019	Deerfield
59			Democratic	January 9, 2019	Buffalo Grove
60	Ɨ		Democratic	July 6, 2010	Waukegan
61			Democratic	January 9, 2019	Gurnee
62			Democratic	January 11, 2023	Grayslake
63			Republican	January 11, 2017	Woodstock
64			Republican	January 9, 2019	Lake Villa
65			Republican	January 9, 2019	Geneva
66			Democratic	January 13, 2021	Crystal Lake
67			Democratic	January 9, 2019	Rockford
68			Democratic	January 13, 2021	Rockford
69			Republican	January 12, 2011	Rockford
70	Ɨ		Republican	July 5, 2018	DeKalb
71			Republican	January 11, 2017	Woodhull
72			Democratic	January 11, 2023	East Moline
73			Republican	January 11, 2017	Peoria
74			Republican	January 11, 2023	Dixon
75			Republican	January 11, 2023	Newark
76			Democratic	January 9, 2019	Ottawa
77			Democratic	January 11, 2023	Melrose Park
78	Ɨ		Democratic	April 27, 2010	Chicago
79	ƗƗ		Republican	December 8, 2020	Bourbonnais
80	Ɨ		Democratic	March 6, 2009	Chicago Heights
81			Democratic	January 9, 2019	Downers Grove
82	Nicole La Ha Ɨ		Republican	December 20, 2023^[27]	Homer Glen
83			Democratic	January 11, 2023	Aurora
84			Democratic	January 9, 2013	Oswego
85			Democratic	January 13, 2021	Bolingbrook
86	Ɨ		Democratic	April 30, 2012	Elwood
87	ƗƗ		Republican	January 1, 2023	Morton
88			Republican	January 9, 2019	Decatur
89			Republican	January 11, 2017	Savanna
90			Republican	January 11, 2023	Rockford
91			Democratic	January 11, 2023	Bloomington
92			Democratic	January 14, 2009	Peoria
93			Republican	January 11, 2023	Edwards
94	Ɨ		Republican	December 14, 2010	Macomb
95	Michael Coffey Ɨ		Republican	January 11, 2023^[28]	Springfield
96			Democratic	January 9, 2013	Decatur
97			Democratic	January 11, 2023	Plainfield
98			Democratic	January 9, 2013	Joliet
99			Republican	January 14, 2015	Paloma
100	Ɨ		Republican	December 12, 2012	Jacksonville
101			Republican	January 9, 2019	Charleston
102			Republican	January 13, 2021	Dieterich
103			Democratic	January 14, 2015	Urbana
104	Ɨ		Republican	December 21, 2023^[29]	Danville
105			Republican	January 11, 2023	Eureka
106	Ɨ		Republican	February 4, 2023^[30]	Emington
107			Republican	January 11, 2017	Shelbyville
108			Republican	January 11, 2023	Morrisonville
109			Republican	January 9, 2013	Okawville
110			Republican	January 9, 2019	Beecher City
111			Republican	January 13, 2021	Fosterburg
112			Democratic	January 11, 2017	Edwardsville
113			Democratic	January 9, 2013	Swansea
114			Republican	January 11, 2023	Millstadt
115			Republican	January 13, 2021	Red Bud
116			Republican	January 11, 2017	Benton
117			Republican	January 9, 2019	Metropolis
118			Republican	January 13, 2021	Pomona

• Ɨ Legislator was appointed to the Illinois House of Representatives during session.
• ƗƗ Legislator was appointed to the Illinois House of Representatives after being elected, but prior to inauguration day of the General Assembly to which they were elected.

Past composition of the House of Representatives

See main article: Political party strength in Illinois.

External links

• Illinois General Assembly - House official government website
• Illinois House Republicans official party website
• Illinois House Democrats official party website
• Legislature of Illinois at Project Vote Smart
• Illinois campaign financing at FollowTheMoney.org

Notes and References

1. Web site: Archived copy . 2010.census.gov . 11 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121007180439/http://2010.census.gov/news/pdf/apport2010_table4.pdf . 7 October 2012 . dead.
2. White Jr., Ronald C. (2009). A. Lincoln: A Biography. Random House, Inc., p. 59.
3. VandeCreek, Drew E. Politics in Illinois and the Union During the Civil War (accessed May 28, 2013)
4. Web site: Cumulative Voting – Illinois . November 26, 2008 .
5. Web site: FairVote - Illinois' Drive to Revive Cumulative Voting . Archive.fairvote.org . January 31, 2011.
6. Web site: FairVote - Black Representation Under Cumulative Voting in Illinois . Archive.fairvote.org . January 31, 2011.
7. Web site: Cumulative Voting - Illinois | The New Rules Project . Newrules.org . January 12, 2005 . January 31, 2011 . January 5, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110105213856/http://www.newrules.org/governance/rules/proportional-representation/cumulative-voting-illinois . dead .
8. HeinOnline . Illinois Law Review . 32 . 12 . HeinOnline . January 31, 2011. Hyneman . Charles S. . Morgan . Julian D. . https://web.archive.org/web/20150606124311/heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?collection=journals&handle=hein.journals/illlr32&div=13&id=&page=. June 6, 2015. dead.
9. Joens, David A. From Slave to State Legislator: John WE Thomas, Illinois' First African American Lawmaker. SIU Press, 2012.
10. Web site: Illinois Women in Congress and General Assembly. February 11, 2016. Illinois General Assembly Legislative Research Unit. Springfield, Illinois. August 21, 2017.
11. Web site: Bone. Jan. Commission on the Status of Women. Report and Recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly. 26. June 1974. Illinois Commission on the Status of Women. Springfield, Illinois. August 21, 2017.
12. Fremon. David K.. How first Hispanic congressional district remaps Chicago politics. December 1991. Illinois Issues. 22–24. Springfield, Illinois. Sangamon State University. August 21, 2017.
13. How the South Side elected the state's first Asian-American lawmaker. Miller, Rich. Crain's Chicago Business. April 29, 2016. November 8, 2016.
14. http://www.ilga.gov/commission/lrb/con4.htm Constitution of the State of Illinois, Article IV, The Legislature
15. Democrat and former Speaker Michael Madigan (District 22) resigned.
16. Democrat Edward Guerra Kodatt selected to succeed Madigan. https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-politics/edward-guerra-kodatt-selected-to-replace-former-state-rep-madigan/2443684/
17. Democrat Edward Guerra Kodatt (District 22) resigned. https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-mike-madigan-replcement-edward-guerra-kodatt-calls-to-resign-20210224-fuuuverponcspglgyxs7eynsdu-story.html
18. Emmanuel Chris . Welch. John W. Hollman (Clerk of the Illinois House of Representatives). Appointments to the House Majority Leadership for the 103rd General Assembly. English. January 12, 2023. https://ilga.gov/House/journals/103/2023/HJ103002R.pdf. Springfield, Illinois. Journal of the Illinois House of Representatives. 103 (2) 4. October 23, 2023.
19. Tony . McCombie. John W. Hollman (Clerk of the Illinois House of Representatives). Appointments to the House Minority Leadership for the 103rd General Assembly. English. January 12, 2023. https://ilga.gov/House/journals/103/2023/HJ103002R.pdf. Springfield, Illinois. Journal of the Illinois House of Representatives. 103 (2) 3. October 23, 2023.
20. News: Degman. Alex. Rep. Mary Flowers removed from leadership after saying staff member resembled Hitler. May 9, 2023. NPR Illinois. October 23, 2023.
21. Barlow. Sarah E.. Biographies of New House Members. First Reading. 36. 1. 2. Illinois General Assembly. December 4, 2022.
22. News: Liptrot. Michael. Monaghan. Marc. Neely Du Buclet appointed state representative for 5th District. May 15, 2023. Hyde Park Herald. June 12, 2023.
23. Web site: Kapos . Shia . 2023-09-13 . Political divide rears its head . 2023-09-13 . POLITICO . en.
24. Hollman. John W.. Certificate of Appointment to Fill Vacancy in the Office of Representative in the General Assembly. March 30, 2023. House Journal. 103. 30. Illinois House of Representatives. 9–11. June 12, 2023.
25. News: Zalusky. Steve. Arlington Heights trustee tapped for 53rd District House seat. June 5, 2024. Daily Herald. June 6, 2024.
26. News: Pfingsten. Patrick. Katz Muhl Appointed to House. January 14, 2024. The Illinoize. January 17, 2024.
27. News:
    • • • UPDATED x3 *** Isabel's afternoon roundup
    . Isabel. Miller. Capitol Fax. December 20, 2023. December 21, 2023.
28. News: Reeder. Scott. Mike Coffey to fill Butler's House seat. January 5, 2022. Illinois Times. January 5, 2022.
29. News: Brandy. Steve. Brandun Schweizer Sworn In as New 104th District Illinois State Representative. December 21, 2023 . Vermillion County First. December 24, 2023.
30. Hollman. John W.. Resignations and Appointments. February 7, 2023. House Journal. 103. 5. Illinois House of Representatives. 4–8. June 12, 2023.