Illinois Democracy Project Overview

By citizens initiative, we shall amend the Constitution of Illinois to require a minimum of twenty-one days for public review of any non-emergency bill before it is enacted by the Illinois General Assembly. We know this project's success will result in:

• Higher quality state policy. Knowing the public is watching, legislators are sure to post for review bills that are consistent with the wisdom and compassion of the electorate.

• An end to the "shell game" and the practice of enacting law that affect us the most in just a day or two in the final hours of each legislative session.

• An end to legislative abuses, halting the growth of debt and the flow of public funds to questionable "pork" projects and political payoffs to election campaign contributors.

• A reopened door to proposals such as school funding reform and governmental ethics reform, long supported by the public but ignored in favor of the easy fix.

• Renewed engagement of citizens in an annual statewide "civics lesson," as the media report, in detail, the state policy agenda - and the people respond.

• A national model for legislative accountability and democracy - starting here in Illinois

Overview

Mission

Board

History

Rationale

Stages

Principles

Supporters