So You Wanna Be a Fly on the Wall in Illinois Politics? How Many Ears Are You Listening With?
Ever wondered who makes the laws in the lovely state of Illinois? Well, wonder no more, my friend, and prepare to have your mind mildly boggled by the glorious inner workings of the Illinois General Assembly!
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| How Many Members Are In The Illinois General Assembly |
The Big Two: A Tale of Two Chambers
The Illinois General Assembly isn't some lonely echo chamber, no sir. It's a two-for-one deal, with a fancy upper house called the Senate and a bustling lower house known as the House of Representatives. Think of it like a legislative big brother and little brother situation.
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The Senate: Picture 59 important folks who get to weigh in on the state's big decisions. That's right, 59. Not too shabby, but not exactly a crowd either.
The House of Representatives: Here's where things get a little more crowded. With a whopping 118 members, this house is like a legislative party – though hopefully a more productive one than your cousin's post-graduation bash.
Fun Fact: Cutbacks and Chill
Believe it or not, the Illinois House of Representatives used to be an even bigger party. Back in the day (well, the 1980s), there were a cool 177 members. But then came the Cutback Amendment, which was basically like someone saying, "Hey, maybe a slightly smaller party wouldn't be so bad?" So they trimmed down the guest list, and here we are.
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So, How Many Lawmakers in Total?
Now for the big reveal! If you add up the Senate's 59 members and the House of Representatives' 118 members, you get a grand total of... 177! Wait, what? Didn't we just say there was a cutback? Well, yes and no. See, history is fun!
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But Seriously, Folks...
Okay, okay, so adding the numbers from the good ol' days might have been a bit of a trick question. The real answer is 177 members total, but that's divided up between the 59 Senators and the 118 Representatives.
Reminder: Short breaks can improve focus.
How To Get Engaged with Your Illinois Lawmakers
Feeling inspired to get involved in Illinois politics? Here are some quick tips:
- How to Find Your Representative: Head over to Illinois State Board of Elections [invalid URL removed] and type in your address. Easy peasy!
- How to Contact Your Representative: Most legislators have websites or social media pages where you can send them a message.
- How to Attend Legislative Sessions: Both the House and Senate sessions are open to the public (when in session, of course).
- How to Testify Before a Committee: If you have a strong opinion on a bill, you can request to speak before a relevant committee.
- How to Run for Office: Hey, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em, right? Check out the Illinois State Board of Elections website for information on how to become a candidate.
So there you have it! Now you're officially a mini-expert on the Illinois General Assembly. Go forth and spread your knowledge (or use it to impress your friends at trivia night).
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