List of governors of Illinois
The Governor of Illinois is the head of the executive branch of Illinois's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Illinois Legislature, to convene the legislature, and to grant pardons.[1] Governors and other statewide officials are chosen to four-year terms in the off-year cycle (not in the same year as the presidential elections).
Governors
Governor of the Territory of Illinois
Illinois Territory was formed on March 1, 1809, from Indiana Territory. It had only one governor appointed by the President of the United States before it became a state. From March to June, 1809, Territorial Secretary Nathaniel Pope served as acting governor; Edwards' arrival in Illinois ended Pope's brief administration.[2]
| # | Governor | Term in office | Appointed by | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
|
Ninian Edwards | March 1, 1809 – October 6, 1818 |
James Madison |
Governors of the State of Illinois
Illinois was admitted to the Union on December 3, 1818, consisting of the southern portion of Illinois Territory; the remainder was assigned to Michigan Territory.
The first Illinois Constitution, ratified in 1818, provided that a governor be elected every four years[3] for a term starting on the first Monday in the December following an election.[4] The constitution of 1848 moved the start of the term to the second Monday in January.[5] Governors were not allowed to succeed themselves[6] until the 1870 constitution, which removed this limit.
The office of lieutenant governor was created in the first constitution,[7] to exercise the power of governor if that office becomes vacant.[8] The 1848 constitution changed this to say the power "devolves" upon the lieutenant governor in case of a vacancy.[9] The current constitution of 1970 made it so that, in the event of a vacancy, the lieutenant becomes governor,[10] and the governor and lieutenant governor are now elected on the same ticket.[11]
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Notes
- ^ Based on Jim Edgar being the 38th governor Archived 2007-09-21 at the Wayback Machine, repeat governors are officially only numbered once; subsequent terms are marked with their original number italicized.
- ^ Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
- ^ Reynolds resigned to take elected seat in the United States House of Representatives; as acting lieutenant governor, Ewing acted as governor for the remainder of the term.
- ^ a b c d Represented the Democratic Party.
- ^ The election schedule was shifted after this term, shortening it to two years.
- ^ Bissell died in office; as lieutenant governor, Wood acted as governor for the remainder of the term.
- ^ Oglesby resigned so that Lieutenant Governor Beveridge would appoint him to the United States Senate; as lieutenant governor, Beveridge acted as governor for the remainder of the term.
- ^ Cullom resigned to take elected seat in the United States Senate; as lieutenant governor, Hamilton acted as governor for the remainder of the term.
- ^ Horner died in office; as lieutenant governor, Stelle acted as governor for the remainder of the term.
- ^ Kerner resigned to take seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit; as lieutenant governor, Shapiro acted as governor for the remainder of the term.
- ^ A constitutional amendment came into effect with this term, moving the election schedule to coincide with Congressional midterms and shortening the term by two years.
- ^ Blagojevich was impeached and removed from office on charges of corruption; as lieutenant governor, Quinn succeeded him.
- ^ Governor Rauner's term expires on January 14, 2019.
Living former U.S. governors of Illinois
As of January 2017[update], there are five former U.S. governors of Illinois who are currently living at this time, the oldest U.S. governor of Illinois being George Ryan (served 1999–2003, born 1934). The most recent death of a former U.S. governor of Illinois was that of Dan Walker (served 1973–1977, born 1922), who died on April 29, 2015 at the age of 92. Walker was also the most recently serving U.S. governor of Illinois to die, having left office on January 10, 1977.
| Governor | Gubernatorial term | Date of birth (and age) |
|---|---|---|
| James R. Thompson | 1977–1991 | May 8, 1936 |
| Jim Edgar | 1991–1999 | July 22, 1946 |
| George Ryan | 1999–2003 | February 24, 1934 |
| Rod Blagojevich | 2003–2009 | December 10, 1956 |
| Pat Quinn | 2009–2015 | December 16, 1948 |
References
- ^ IL Const. art. V
- ^ Robert P. Howard (1988), Mostly Good and Competent Men: Illinois Governors, 1818–1988, Illinois Issues and the Illinois State Historical Society, 39–40.
- ^ 1818 Const. art. III, § 2
- ^ 1818 Const. art. III, § 3
- ^ 1848 Const. art. IV, § 3
- ^ 1818 Const. art. III, § 3
- ^ 1818 Const. art. III, § 13
- ^ 1818 Const. art. III, § 18
- ^ 1848 Const. art. IV, § 19
- ^ IL Const. art. V, § 6
- ^ IL Const. art. V, § 4
- Sources
