G is for Government

In 1818, Illinois became a state and adopted its first constitution. A constitution is a set of rules our government follows. The United States has a constitution that everyone must follow. Each of the 50 states also has a constitution. This allows each state to make up its own laws. People in Illinois have to follow the laws and rules of the United States and the Illinois government. Illinois government is divided into three branches the legislative, the executive and judicial.

Learn more about Illinois government by clicking on the links below or by completing our online activities.

• Learn Illinois - Government: This site explains that Illinois has three branches of government; executive, legislative and judicial.
• State of Illinois: This site has information about the Governor, the governor's mansion, the first lady of Illinois and the different branches of government.
• George Ryan - Governor of Illinois: This site has a biography of the governor, describes his job responsibilities and highlights important issues regarding Illinois.
• Constitution of the State of Illinois: Read the Illinois Constitution at this site.
• Illinois Fact Sheet: This site has information on state officials, Illinois history, population and more.