when was il state attorney general position made

by Matt Macejkovic DVM 8 min read

What is the history of the Illinois Attorney General?

Const. 1818, Schedule, ß10.) Illinois' first Attorney General was Daniel Pope Cook, who served for 11 days beginning on March 5, 1819. Attorney General Cook went on to represent Illinois in the U.S. Congress; and Cook County, created in 1831, was named in his honor.

What are the responsibilities of the Illinois Attorney General?

Attorney General Kwame Raoul (Democrat) was sworn in as the 42nd Attorney General of Illinois in January 2019. Born in Chicago to Haitian immigrants, Raoul brings a lifetime of legal and policy experience, advocacy and public service to the Office of the Attorney General. As the state’s chief legal and law enforcement officer, Attorney General Raoul has demonstrated a commitment to …

Who is the legal officer of the state of Illinois?

Nov 19, 2018 · The current attorney general of Illinois is Lisa Madigan. She has served in that position since 2003 and is the first woman to hold this office. Following the November 2018 election, Kwame Raoul is the attorney general-elect of Illinois. Like Madigan, he is a Democrat. He will assume office on January 14, 2019.

What are the qualifications to be an Illinois Attorney General?

Attorneys general are the top legal officers of their state or territory. They advise and represent their legislature and state agencies and act as the “People’s Lawyer” for the citizens. Most are elected, though a few are appointed by the governor. Select your state to connect to your state attorney general's website.

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How does the Illinois state Attorney General get their job?

Originally an appointed office, it is now an office filled by election through universal suffrage. Based in Chicago and Springfield, he or she is responsible for providing legal counsel for the various state agencies including the Governor of Illinois and Illinois General Assembly.

Is the Illinois attorney general appointed or elected?

Incumbent. Kwame Raoul The Illinois Attorney General is the highest legal officer of the state of Illinois in the United States. Originally an appointed office, it is now an office filled by statewide election.

Who is the Attorney General in the state of Illinois?

Kwame Raoul (Democratic Party)Illinois / Attorney generalKwame 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. Raoul represented the 13th district in the Illinois Senate from 2004 to 2019. Wikipedia

Who is the top legal officer in the state?

Attorneys generalAttorneys general are the top legal officers of their state or territory. They advise and represent their legislature and state agencies and act as the “People's Lawyer” for the citizens. Most are elected, though a few are appointed by the governor.

Does Illinois have a solicitor general?

From the Illinois Attorney General's website: Attorney General Lisa Madigan today announced that she has appointed Carolyn Shapiro to serve as the new Solicitor General in the Office of the Attorney General.

Who was the first Attorney General?

Edmund Jennings RandolphOn September 26, 1789, Edmund Jennings Randolph was appointed the first Attorney General of the United States by President George Washington.

Who is the district attorney in Chicago?

Kim FoxxKim Foxx. Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Kimberly M. Foxx (née Anderson; born April 4, 1972) is an American politician, who is currently the State's Attorney (district attorney) for Cook County, Illinois.

Who is the chief executive officer in Illinois?

J. B. PritzkerThe governor is commander-in-chief of the state's land, air and sea forces when they are in state service. The 43rd and current governor is J. B....Governor of IllinoisSeal of the State of IllinoisIncumbent J. B. Pritzker since January 14, 2019ResidenceExecutive MansionTerm lengthFour years, no term limits4 more rows

How many assistant attorney generals are there in Illinois?

450 Assistant Attorneys GeneralMore than 450 Assistant Attorneys General and over 300 employees serve in the Office of the Attorney General in offices in Chicago, Springfield and Carbondale as well as regional offices in Rockford, Quincy, Champaign-Urbana and Belleville.

Does each state have an attorney general?

All 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, have an attorney general who serves as the chief legal officer in their jurisdiction, counsels its government agencies and legislatures, and is a representative of the public ...

How is a US attorney general hired?

A U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE: BASIC FACTS U.S. Attorneys are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, and they serve terms of four years or at the President's discretion.

Are district attorneys elected?

In most U.S. state and local jurisdictions, prosecutors are elected to office. On the federal level, district attorneys are, in effect, members of the executive branch of the government; they are usually replaced when a new administration comes into office.

What is the highest office in Illinois?

The Illinois Attorney General is the highest legal officer of the state of Illinois in the United States. Originally an appointed office, it is now an office filled by statewide election.

What is the role of the Attorney General of Illinois?

Role. Under the Constitution of Illinois, the Attorney General is the state's chief legal officer, and has the powers and duties prescribed by law. The Attorney General's duties include advocating for the people of Illinois, working with the General Assembly to push for new legislation, and litigating to ensure that state laws are followed.

What happens if the Illinois Attorney General becomes vacant?

If the attorney general's office becomes vacant, the governor will appoint a replacement to serve until a successor is duly elected.

How are Illinois executive salaries determined?

The salaries of elected executives in Illinois are determined by the Illinois State Legislature as mandated in the state constitution. Article V, Section 21 of the Illinois Constitution also notes that executives cannot receive additional compensation beyond their salaries nor can their salaries be changed during current terms:

Who is the attorney general of Illinois?

The current attorney general is Democrat Kwame Raoul. Raoul was first elected to the office in 2018 and was sworn in January 14, 2019. Raoul previously represented District 13 in the Illinois State Senate from 2004 to 2019.

Who is the Executive Branch?

Officers: The Executive Branch shall include a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller and Treasurer elected by the electors of the State. They shall keep the public records and maintain a residence at the seat of government during their terms of office.

Who is the legal officer of the state of Illinois?

As per the Illinois Constitution, "the attorney general shall be the legal officer of the State, and shall have the duties and powers that may be prescribed by law." ( Illinois Constitution, Article V § 15)

Who is responsible for prosecuting campaign finance complaints?

The Attorney General of Illinois is responsible for prosecuting campaign finance complaints on a case-by-case basis. Campaign finance reports can be referred to the attorney general at any time regardless if it involves criminal or civil law from the Illinois State Board of Elections.

Do executive branch officers get paid?

Officers of the Executive Branch shall be paid salaries established by law and shall receive no other compensation for their services. Changes in the salaries of these officers elected or appointed for stated terms shall not take effect during the stated terms.

What is the Open Meetings Act?

Open Meetings Act. The methamphetamine crisis. When necessary, the attorney general’s office also works with state and local law enforcement agencies on investigating these issues. 1 Illinois Attorney General’s Office, About the Office of the Attorney General. Back to table of contents ⤴.

Is Kwame Raoul a Democrat?

Following the November 2018 election, Kwame Raoul is the attorney general-elect of Illinois. Like Madigan, he is a Democrat. He will assume office on January 14, 2019. Back to table of contents ⤴.

What does "defending" mean in the law?

3. To defend any state officer acting in his or her official capacity in a proceeding or acting brought against them. The attorney general does not have a duty to represent a state officer who was acting in his or her personal capacity.

What is the office of the Attorney General?

The attorney general’s office generally focuses on crimes in which the state itself a victim or a defendant or in which a state officer acting in his or her official capacity is the defendant. 1. There are situations in which both the attorney general and the state's attorney have jurisdiction over a case.

What is the Criminal Prosecutions Bureau?

The Criminal Prosecutions Bureau is divided into several divisions including Felony Trial, Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence, Municipal, Traffic, Conviction Integrity, Community Justice as well as the nationally recognized Victim Witness Assistance Unit that provides specialized services to victims of crime and their families

What is the Narcotics Bureau?

The Narcotics Bureau handles tens of thousands of cases each year and focuses most of its efforts on long-term investigations that target major dealers operating often with violent street gangs. The bureau seeks treatment programs, such as a successful Drug School, for low-level users.

What is the administrative services bureau?

The Administrative Services Bureau, which consists of all office support personnel, handles all administrative tasks of the State's Attorney's Office. This includes providing administrative support in the form of data entry, administrative assistants, clerks, receptionists, mailroom/supply clerks, warehouse facility clerks, law librarians, ...

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Current Officeholder

  • The current attorney general is Democrat Kwame Raoul. Raoul was first elected to the office in 2018 and was sworn in January 14, 2019. Raoul previously represented District 13 in the Illinois State Senatefrom 2004 to 2019.
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Authority

  • The attorney general's office is authorized by Article V, Section 1 of the Illinois Constitution. Article V, Section 1
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Qualifications

  • To be eligible to hold the office of attorney general, a person must be: 1. 1.1. a United States citizen, at least 25 years old 1.2. an Illinois resident for the three years preceding his or her election (Illinois Constitution, Article V § 3) Note: These standard qualifications apply to all of Illinois' constitutional executive offices, including governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general…
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Elections

  • Under Article V, Section 2 of the state constitution, the attorney general shall hold office for four years beginning on the second Monday of January after their election and until their successors are qualified. They shall be elected at the general election in 1978 and every four years thereafter.
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Vacancies

  • Article V, Section 7 of the Illinois Constitutionaddresses vacancies in the office of attorney general. If the attorney general's office becomes vacant, the governor will appoint a replacement to serve until a successor is duly elected.
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Duties

  • As per the Illinois Constitution, "the attorney general shall be the legal officer of the State, and shall have the duties and powers that may be prescribed by law."(Illinois Constitution, Article V § 15) The attorney general serves as the state's chief legal officer and the office provides a broad range of services including consumer protection, community engagement and outreach, victim …
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Divisions

  • As of January 7, 2021, the Illinois Attorney General's Office has 11 division areas of service: 1. Protecting Consumers 2. Advocating for Women 3. Keeping Communities Safe 4. Advocating for Older Citizens 5. Safeguarding Children 6. Defending Your Rights 7. Preserving the Environment 8. Helping Crime Victims 9. Enduring Open and Honest Government 10. Building Better Charities 1…
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Recent News

  • The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Illinois Attorney General.These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
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Contact Info

  • Capitol Address: Office of Attorney General 100 West Randolph Street Chicago, IL 60601 Phone: (312) 814-3000 Toll Free Phone:(800) 964-3013
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