Lawmaking in Illinois: Legislative Politics, People, and Processes

How much power does the Illinois General Assembly have? What are the constitutional and practical limits of that power? Who are its members? How well is it staffed? How does the legislative process really work? How does the lobbying process work? What is the role of the governor in lawmaking? Does Illinois' legislative system reflect the diversity of the state itself? How does the General Assembly stack up against other legislatures? This carefully organized and clearly written book addresses these and many other important questions about the Illinois legislature. It was written for those individuals - students, interns, lobbyists, journalists, political scientists and interested citizens - who need a good working knowledge of the General Assembly, its formal functions and processes and its traditions and mores. Special emphasis is given to its members and staff. Based upon both exacting research and direct observation and interaction with members and longtime observer s, lawmaking in Illinois is a sharply etched portrait of Illinois' dynamic legislative branch. JACK R. VAN DER SLIK is the director of the Illinois Legislative Studies Center at Sangamon State University. He has degrees from Calvin College and Western Michigan University in addition to an M.A. and Ph.D. in political science from Michigan State University. KENT D. REDFIELD is the associate director of the Illinois Legislative Studies Center at Sangamon State University. After completing his undergraduate degree at the University of Utah he received an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Washington. From 1972 to 1979 he was a legislative analyst on the staff of the speaker of the House in the Illinois General Assembly, assisting several legislative committees. As the program coordinator for the Illinois Legislative Staff Internship Program, he works closely with the legislative leader of both the House and Senate and the Legislative Research Unit.