Republicans leaders in both the House and Senate Tuesday announced the introduced of three proposed changes to the Illinois Constitution that they say would give voters direct power over their representatives in the Legislature and the laws they pass. 

House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Burr Ridge) and Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie (R-Lake Zurich) outlined the legislation, which would expand the ability of citizens to put constitutional amendments on the ballot, allow citizens to repeal a Legislature-approved law by referendum, and allow citizens to recall any elected officials in the state, excluding judges but including the Senate President, Speaker of the House, and Auditor General. 

“At all levels, my constituents feel powerless in what they can do, because they feel that the system stacked against them. These voter empowerment initiatives and constitutional amendments are designed to empower our constituents around the state of Illinois, and to ensure that our government is effective, efficient, and that the people who represent Illinois, are accountable to [the people],” said Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield), who is the sponsor of HC4, HC5, and HC6 in the House. 

McConchie is the sponsor of the sister legislation SC1, SC2, and SC3 in the Senate. 

Under HC5 and SC1, a petition to place a constitutional amendment on the statewide ballot would need to be signed by 8 percent of voters from most recent gubernatorial election. 

The recall amendments, SC3 and HC4, would also make allow to recall of executive branch officers beyond the governor, and would bar those individuals from holding that office for 10 years if recalled. Recall initiatives would be specific to the voting districts to which the officer pertains, except for statewide offices, and would take place during the next regularly scheduled election. 

The leaders said they were hopeful they could work with their Democratic counterparts to negotiate around these issues, whether through the legislation or through the chamber’s rules process. 

Allison Richard

Legislative Consultant