The Illinois Senate is the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly,the legislative branch of the government of the State of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. Under the Illinois Constitution of 1970,the Illinois Senate is made up of 59 senators elected from individual legislative districts determined by population and redistricted every 10 years;based on the 2020 U.S. census each senator represents approximately 213,347 people. Senators are divided into three groups,each group having a two-year term at a different part of the decade between censuses,with the rest of the decade being taken up by two four-year terms. For example,group one elects senators for terms of four years,four years and two years,group two elects senators for terms of four years,two years and four years,and group three elects senators for terms of two years,four years and four years. This ensures that the Senate reflects changes made when the General Assembly redistricts itself after each census.
Kwame Raoul is an American lawyer and politician who has been the 42nd Attorney General of Illinois since 2019. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
Kirk W. Dillard is an American politician and the current Chairman of the Regional Transportation Authority Board of Directors. Previously,he served as a Republican member of the Illinois State Senate,representing the 24th District from 1993 until his resignation in August 2014.
J. Bradley Burzynski is a former Republican member of the Illinois General Assembly serving in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1990 to 1993 and the Illinois Senate from 1993 to 2011.
Vince Demuzio was a Democratic member of the Illinois Senate from January 1975 until his death in April 2004. During his time in the Senate,he represented various portions of southwestern Illinois. At the time of his death,he was the most senior member of the Illinois Senate.
Terry Link is an American politician who represented the 30th district in the Illinois Senate from 1997 until his resignation in 2020. The 30th district includes all or part of the municipalities of Beach Park,Buffalo Grove,Green Oaks,Lincolnshire,Mundelein,North Chicago,Riverwoods,Wheeling,Vernon Hills and Waukegan.
Don Harmon is an American attorney serving as a Democratic member of the Illinois Senate,representing the 39th District since 2003. His district includes Chicago's Austin neighborhood and the suburbs of Oak Park,Addison,Bensenville,Elmwood Park,Franklin Park,Melrose Park,Northlake,River Grove,Rosemont,Schiller Park,and Stone Park.
James Peyton "Pate" Philip was an American politician. A longtime Republican member of the Illinois General Assembly,Philip served both the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate including a decade as the President of the Illinois Senate. He was known as a highly influential politician,both for the projects that he passed and blocked in state government and for his often blunt comments.
William B. Black was an American politician who was a Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives,representing the 104th district from 1986 until 2011. He was the Deputy Republican Leader.
Gwenn Klingler is a former Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 100th district from 1995 until 2003.
Karen Hasara is a Republican member of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees and a past member of the Illinois General Assembly (1986-1995) as well as the Mayor of Springfield,Illinois for two terms from 1995-2003.
Douglas Kane is an American politician,economist,and author who served as a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1975 to 1983.
Jason Barickman,is a Republican former member of the Illinois Senate,who represented the 53rd district from January 2013 until January 2023. Before being elected to the Illinois Senate,he served in the Illinois House of Representatives,representing the 105th district from 2011 to 2013.
Michael E. Hastings is a Democratic member of the Illinois Senate from the 19th Legislative District. The district includes all or parts of Lockport,New Lenox,Mokena,Orland Park,Tinley Park,Frankfort,Frankfort Square,Homer Glen,Joliet,Richton Park,Matteson,Olympia Fields,Country Club Hills,Hazel Crest,and Oak Forest.
Elgie R. Sims Jr. is the Illinois state Senator for the 17th district. The 17th district includes the Chatham neighborhoods of Chicago along with the all or parts of Burnham,Calumet City,Lansing,Ford Heights,Lynwood,Sauk Village,Beecher,Manteno,and Grant Park.
Jerome J. Joyce was an American farmer,businessman and politician who served as a Democratic member of the Illinois Senate from the 43rd district from 1975 until his retirement in 1992.
The 2018 elections for the Illinois Senate took place on November 6,2018,to elect senators from 39 of the state's 59 Senate districts to serve in the 101st General Assembly,with seats apportioned among the states based on the 2010 United States census. Under the Illinois Constitution of 1970,senators are divided into three groups,each group having a two-year term at a different part of the decade between censuses,with the rest of the decade being taken up by two four-year terms. The Democratic Party has held a majority in the Senate since 2003,and gained a net of 3 seats.
Steve McClure is an American Republican politician who is currently a member of the Illinois Senate. He represents the 54th district and serves as the Floor Leader and as an Assistant Leader for the Senate Republican Caucus. The 54th district,located in Central Illinois,includes all or parts of Christian,Cumberland,Effingham,Macon,Macoupin,Menard,Montgomery,Moultrie,Sangamon,and Shelby counties.
Larry Ray Stuffle was an American politician and lobbyist who served as a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the east-central area of the state from 1977 to 1985.
The 49th Illinois General Assembly met from 1915 to 1917. The first session convened on January 6,1915 and adjourned sine die on June 30,1915. The first special session convened on November 22,1915 and adjourned sine die on May 10,1916. The second special session convened on January 11,1916 and adjourned sine die on February 14,1916.
