Constitution of the State of Illinois, 1818, Page 2

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river; and thence up the latter river, along its northwestern shore, to the beginning.

Article I.

Concerning the distribution of the powers of Government

Section 1.

The powers of the government of the state of Illinois, shall be divided into three distinct departments, and each of them be confided to a separate body of Magistracy, to wit: Those which are Legislative, to one; those which are Executive, to another; and those which are Judiciary, to another.

Sect. 2.

No person or collection of persons being one of those departments, shall exercise any power properly belonging to either of the others, except as hereinafter expressly directed or permitted.

Article II.

Sect. 1.

The legislative authority of this state shall be vested in a General Assembly which shall consist of a senate and house of representatives, both to be elected by the people.

Sect. 2.

The first election for senators and representatives shall commence on the third Thursday of September next, and continue for that and the two succeeding days; and the next election shall be held on the first Monday in August, 1820; and forever after, elections shall be held once in two years, on the first Monday of August, in each and every county, at such places therein as may be provided by law.

Sect. 3.

No person shall be a representative who shall not have attained the age of 21 years, who shall not be a citizen of the United States, and an inhabitant of this state; who shall

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To view the source text, see the digitized copy of the work found below. The work was made available by the Illinois State Archives.