§ 1.

ARTICLE XIV.

AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION.

Whenever two-thirds of the members of each house of the General Assembly, shall, by a vote entered upon the journals thereof, concur that a convention is necessary to revise, alter or amend the constitution, the question shall be submitted to the electors at the next general election. If a majority voting at the election vote for a convention, the General Assembly shall, at the next session, provide for a convention, to consist of double the number of members of the Senate to be elected in the same manner, at the same places and in the same districts. The General Assembly shall, in the act calling the convention, designate the day, hour and place of its meeting, fix the pay of its members and officers, and provide for the payment of the same, together with expenses necessarily incurred by the convention in the performance of its duties. Before proceeding, the members shall take an oath to support the constitution of the United States and of the State of Illinois, and to faithfully discharge their duties as members of the convention. The qualification of members shall be the same as that of members of the Senate, and vacancies occurring shall be filled in the manner provided for filling vacancies in the General Assembly. Said convention shall meet within three months after such election and prepare such revision, alteration or amendments, of the constitution as shall be deemed necessary, which shall be submitted to the electors for their ratification or rejection at an election appointed by the convention for that purpose, not less than two or more than six months after the adjournment thereof; and unless so submitted and approved by a majority of the electors voting at the election, no such revision, alterations or amendments shall take effect.

§ 2. Amendments to this constitution may be proposed in either house of the General Assembly, and if the same shall be voted for by two-thirds of all the members elected to each of the two houses, such proposed amendments, together with the yeas and nays of each house thereon, shall be entered in full on their respective journals, and said amendments shall be submitted to the electors of this State for adoption or rejection, at the next election of members of the General Assembly, in such manner as may be prescribed by law. The proposed amendments shall be published in full at least three months preceding the election, and if a majority of the electors voting at said election shall vote for the proposed amendments, they shall become a part of this constitution. But the General Assembly shall have no power to propose amendments to more than one article of this constitution at the same session nor to the same article oftener than once in four years.

SEPARATE SECTIONS.

ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAD.

No contract, obligation or liability whatever, of the Illinois Central Railroad Company to pay any money into the State treasury, nor any lien of the State upon, or right to tax property of said company, in accordance with the provisions of the charter of said company, approved February tenth, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, shall ever be released, suspended, modified, altered, remitted or in any manner diminished or impaired by legislative or other authority; and all moneys derived from said company, after the payment of the State debt, shall be appropriated and set apart for the payment of the ordinary expenses of the State government, and for no other purposes whatever.

MUNICIPAL SUBSCIPTIONS TO RAILROADS OR PRIVATE CORPORATIONS.

No county, city, town, township or other municipality shall ever become subscriber to the capital stock of any railroad or private corporation, or make donation to or loan its credit in aid of such corporation: Provided, however, that the adoption of this article shall not be construed as affecting the right of any such municipality to make such subscriptions where the same have been authorized. under existing laws, by a vote of the people of such municipalities prior to such adoption.

CANAL.

The Illinois and Michigan Canal, or other canal or waterway owned by the State, shall never be sold or leased until the specific proposition for the sale or lease thereof shall first have been submitted to a vote of the people of the State at a general election, and have been approved by a majority of all the votes polled at such election. The General Assembly shall never loan the credit of the State or make appropriations from the treasury thereof, in aid of railroads or canals;

Provided, that any surplus earnings of any canal, waterway or water power, may be appropriated or pledged for its enlargement, maintenance or extension; and, Provided, further, that the General Assembly may, by suitable legislation, provide for the construction of a deep waterway or canal from the present water power plant of the Sanitary District of Chicago, at or near Lockport, in the township of Lockport, in the county of Will, to a point in the Illinois River at or near Utica, which may be practical for a general plan and scheme of deep waterway along a route, which may be deemed most advantageous for such plan of deep waterway; and for the erection, equipment and maintenance of power plants, locks, bridges, dams and appliances sufficient and suitable for the development and utilization of the water power thereof; and authorize the issue, from time to time, of bonds of this State in a total amount not to exceed twenty million dollars, which

shall draw interest, payable semi-annually, at a rate not to exceed four per cent per annum, the proceeds whereof may be applied as the General Assembly may provide, in the construction of said waterway and in the erection, equipment and maintenance of said power plants, locks, bridges, dams and appliances.

All power developed from said waterway may be leased in part or in whole, as the General Assembly may by law provide; but in the event of any lease being so executed, the rental specified therein for water power shall be subject to a re-valuation each ten years of the term created, and the income therefrom shall be paid into the treasury of the State.

(This section as amended was proposed by the General Assembly in 1907, ratified by a vote of the people November 3, 1908; proclaimed adopted by the Governor November 24, 1908.)

CONVICT LABOR.

Hereafter it shall be unlawful for the commissioners of any penitentiary or other reformatory institution in the State of Illinois, to let by contract to any person or persons, or corporation, the labor of any convict confined within said institution.

(This section was submitted to the voters at the election in November, 1886, as an amendment, was adopted, and became a part of this constitution.)

SCHEDULE.

That no inconvenience may arise from the alterations and amendments made in the constitution of this State, and to carry the same into complete effect, it is hereby ordained and declared: § 1. That all laws in force at the adoption of this constitution, not inconsistent therewith, and all rights, actions, prosecutions, claims and contracts of this State, individuals or bodies corporate, shall continue to be as valid as if this constitution had not been adopted.

§ 2. That all fines, taxes, penalties and forfeitures, due and owing to the State of Illinois under the present constitution and laws, shall inure to the use of the people of the State of Illinois, under this constitution.

§ 3. Recognizances, bonds, obligations and all other instruments entered into or executed before the adoption of this constitution, to the people of the State of Illinois, to any State or county officer, or public body, shall remain binding and valid; and rights and liabilities upon the same shall continue, and all crimes and misdemeanors shall be tried and punished as though no change had been made in the constitution of this State.

§ 4. County courts for the transaction of county business in counties not having adopted township organization shall continue in existence, and exercise their present jurisdiction until the board of county commissioners provided in this constitution is organized in pursuance of an Act of the General Assembly; and the. County Courts in all other counties shall have the same power and jurisdiction they now possess until otherwise provided by general law.

§ 5.

All existing courts which are not in this constitution specifically enumerated shall continue in existence and exercise their present jurisdiction until otherwise provided by law. § 6. All person now filling any office or appointment shall continue in the exercise of the duties thereof according to their respective commissions or appointments, unless by this constitution it is otherwise directed.

(Sections 7 to 17, both inclusive, providing for the submission of this constitution and voting thereon by the people, became inoperative by the adoption of this constitution.) § 7. On the day this constitution is submitted to the people for ratification an election shall be held for judges of the Supreme Court in the second, third, sixth and seventh judicial election districts, designated in this constitution, and for the election of three judges of the Circuit Court in the county of Cook, as provided for in the article of this constitution relating to the judiciary, at which election every person entitled to vote according to the terms of this constitution, shall be allowed to vote, and the election shall be otherwise conducted, returns made and certificates issued, in accordance with existing laws, except that no registry shall be required at said election: Provided, that at said election in the county of Cook no elector shall vote for more than two candidates for circuit judge. If, upon canvassing the votes for and against the adoption of this constitution, it shall appear that there has been polled a greater number of votes against than for it, then no certificates of election shall be issued for any of said supreme or circuit judges.

§ 8. This constitution shall be submitted to the people of the State of Illinois for adoption or rejection at an election to be held on the first Saturday in July, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy, and there shall be separately submitted at the same time, for adoption or rejection, sections nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen and fifteen relating to railroads, in the article entitled "Corporations," the article entitled "Counties," the article entitled "Warehouses," the question of requiring a three-fifths vote to remove a county seat, the section relating to the Illinois Central Railroad, the section in relation to the minority representation, the section relating to municipal subscriptions to railroads or private corporations and the section relating to the canal. Every person entitled to vote under the provisions of this constitution, as defined in the article in relation to suffrage, shall be entitled to vote for the adoption or rejection of this constitution, and for or against the articles, sections and questions aforesaid, separately submitted, and the said qualified electors shall vote at the usual places of voting unless otherwise provided; and the said election shall be conducted, and returns thereof made, according to the laws now in force regulating general elections,

except that no registry shall be required at said election: Provided, however, that the polls shall be kept open for the reception of ballots until sunset of said day of election.

§ 9. The Secretary of State shall, at least twenty days before said election, cause to be delivered to the county clerk of each county, blank poll books. tally sheets and forms of return, and twice the number of properly prepared printed ballots for the said election that there are voters in such county, the expense whereof shall be audited and paid as other public printing ordered by the Secretary of State is, by law, required to be audited and paid, and the several county clerks shall at least five days before said election, cause to be distributed to the board of election, in each election district in their respective counties, said blank poll books, tally list, forms of return and tickets.

§ 10. At the said election the ballots shall be in the following form: NEW CONSTITUTION TICKET.

For all the propositions on this ticket which are not cancelled with ink or pencil, and against all propositions which are so cancelled.

For the new constitution.

For the sections relating to railroads in the article entitled "Corporations." For the article entitled "Counties."

For the article entitled "Warehouses."

For a three-fifths vote to remove county seats.

For the section relating to the Illinois Central Railroad.

For the section relating to minority representation.

For the section relating to municipal subscriptions to railroads or private corporations.

For the section relating to the canal.

Each of said tickets shall be counted as a vote cast for each proposition thereon not cancelled with ink or pencil, and against each proposition so cancelled, and returns thereof shall be made accordingly by the judges of election. § 11.

The returns of the whole vote cast, and of the votes for the adoption or rejection of this constitution, and for or against the articles and sections respectively submitted, shall be made by the several county clerks, as is now provided by law, to the Secretary of State, within twenty days after the election, and the returns of said votes shall, within five days thereafter, be examined and canvassed by the Auditor, Treasurer and Secretary of State or any two of them, in the presence of the Governor, and proclamation shall be made by the Governor forthwith of the result of the canvass.

$ 12. If it shall appear that a majority of the votes polled are "for the new constitution," then so much of this constitution as was not separately submitted to be voted on by articles and sections, shall be the supreme law of the State of Illinois on and after Monday, the eighth day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy; but if it shall appear that a majority of the votes polled were "against the new constitution" then so much thereof as was not separately submitted to be voted on by articles and sections, shall be null and void.

If it shall appear that a majority of the votes polled are "for the sections relating to railroads in the article entitled 'Corporations,' sections nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen and fifteen, relating to railroads in the said article shall be a part of the constitution of this State; but if a majority of said votes are against said sections, they shall be null and void. If a majority of the votes polled are "for the article entitled 'Counties,'" such article shall be part of the constitution of this State, and shall be substituted for article seven, in the present constitution, entitled, "Counties"; but if a majority of said votes are against such article the same shall be null and void. If a majority of the votes polled are "for the article entitled 'Warehouses,' "such article shall be part of the constitution of this State; but if a majority of the votes are against said article, the same shall be null and void. If a majority of the votes polled are for either of the sections separately submitted, relating respectively to the "Illinois Central Railroad," "minority representation," "municipal subscriptions to railroads or private corporations," and the "canal," then such of said sections as shall receive a majority shall be a part of the constitution of this State; but each of said sections so separately submitted against which respectively there shall be a majority of the votes polled, shall be null and void: Provided, that the section relating to "minority representation" shall not be declared adopted unless the portion of the constitution not separately submitted to be voted on by articles and sections shall be adopted and in case said section relating to "minority representation" shall become a portion of the constitution, it shall be submitted for sections seven and eight of the legislative article. If a majority of the votes cast at such election shall be for a three-fifths vote to remove a county seat, then the words “a majority" shall be stricken out of section four of the article on "Counties," and the words "three-fifths" shall be inserted in lieu thereof, and the following words shall be added to said section, to-wit: "but when an attempt is made to remove a county seat to a point nearer to the center of a county, then a majority vote only shall be necessary." If the foregoing proposition shall not receive a majority of the votes as aforesaid, then the same shall have no effect whatever.

§ 13. Immediately after the adoption of this constitution, the Governor and Secretary of State shall proceed to ascertain and fix the apportionment of the State for members of the first House of Representatives under this constitution. The apportionment shall be based upon the federal census of the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy, of the State of Illinois, and shall be made

strictly in accordance with the rules and principles announced in the article on the legislative department of this constitution. Provided, that in case the federal census aforesaid cannot be ascertained prior to Friday, the twenty-third day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy, then the said apportionment shall be based on the State census of the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in accordance with the rules and principles aforesaid. The Governor shall, on or before Wednesday, the twenty-eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy, make official announcement of said apportionment, under the great seal of the State; and 100 copies thereof duly certified, shall be forthwith transmitted by the Secretary of State to each county clerk for distribution.

§ 14. The districts shall be regularly numbered by the Secretary of State, commencing with Alexander County as number one, and proceeding then northwardly through the State, and terminating with the county of Cook, but no county shall be numbered as more than one district, except in the county of Cook which shall constitute three districts, each embracing the territory contained in the now existing representative districts of said county. And on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy, the members of the first House of Representatives under this constitution shall be elected according to the apportionment fixed and announced as aforesaid and shall hold their offices for two years, and until their successors shall be elected and qualified.

$ 15. The Senate, at its first session under this constitution, shall consist of fifty members, to be chosen as follows: At the general election held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy, two Senators shall be elected in districts where the term of senators expires on the first Monday of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, or where there shall be a vacancy, and in the remaining districts one Senator shall be elected. Senators so elected shall hold their office two years.

§ 16. The General Assembly, at its first session held after the adoption of this constitution, shall proceed to apportion the State for members of the Senate and House of Representatives, in accordance with the provisions of the article on the legislative department. § 17. When this constitution shall be ratified by the people, the Governor shall, forthwith, after having ascertained the fact, issue writs of election to the sheriffs of the several counties of the State, or in case of vacancies, to the coroners, for the election of all the officers the time of whose election is fixed by this constitution or schedule, and it shall be the duty of said sheriffs or coroners to give such notice of the time and place of said election as is now prescribed by law. § 18. All laws of the State of Illinois and all official writings, and the executive, legislative and judicial proceedings shall be conducted, preserved and published in no other than the English language.

§ 19. The General Assembly shall pass all laws necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this constitution.

§ 20. The circuit clerks of the different counties having a population over 60,000 shall continue to be recorders ex-officio for their respective counties, under this constitution, until the expiration of their respective terms. $ 21. The judges of all courts of record in Cook County shall, in lieu of any salary provided for in this constitution, receive the compensation now provided by law until the adjournment of the first session of the General Assembly after the adoption of this constitution.

§ 22.

The present judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County shall continue to hold the Circuit Court of Lake County until otherwise provided by law.

§ 23. When this constitution shall be adopted and take effect as the supreme law of the State of Illinois, the two mill tax provided to be annually assessed and collected upon each dollar's worth of taxable property, in addition to all other taxes, as set forth in article fifteen of the now existing constitution, shall cease to be assessed after the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy. $ 24. Nothing contained in this constitution shall be so construed as to deprive the General Assembly of power to authorize the city of Quincy to create any indebtedness for railroad or municipal purposes for which the people of said city shall have voted and to which they shall have given, by such vote, their assent, prior to the thirteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine: Provided, that no such indebtedness so created shall, in any part thereof, be paid by the State or from any State revenue tax or fund, but the same shall be paid, if at all, by the said city of Quincy alone, and by taxes to be levied upon the taxable property thereof: And provided further, that the General Assembly shall have no power in the premises that it could not exercise under the present constitution of this State.

§ 25. In case this constitution, and the articles and sections submitted separately be adopted, the existing constitution shall cease in all its provisions; and in case this constitution be adopted, and any one or more of the articles or sections submitted separately be defeated, the provisions of the existing constitution, if any, on the same subject shall remain in force.

§ 26.

The provisions of this constitution required to be executed prior to the adoption or rejection thereof, shall take effect and be in force immediately.

MEN WHO FRAMED CONSTITUTIONS.

CONVENTION OF 1818.

Assembled at Kaskaskia, August 3, 1818. Adjourned August 26, 1818. Thirty-three delegates. One member from Washington County died during the sitting of the convention. Constitution adopted in convention without being submitted to a vote of the people. Approved by Congress December 3, 1818.

Convened at Springfield, June 7, 1847. Adjourned August 31, 1847. One hundred and sixty-two delegates.

6, 1848, in force April 1, 1848.

President, pro tem.

President.

Secretary.

Sergeant-at-arms.

Constitution ratified by the people March

Zadok Casey Newton Cloud

.Henry W. Moore

.John A. Wilson