The Illinois General Assembly consists of two bodies: the Senate and the House of Representatives. There are 59 members of the Senate and 118 members of the House (Representatives. Senators are elected every 4 years, while members of the House are elected every two. Each Senator represents approximately 186,000 citizens, and each Representative 93,000.

The census is taken in Illinois every 10 years. At that time the Senate and House districts are redrawn by the legislature. There are 59 Senate districts drawn. Each Senate district contains two House districts. Therefore, Senate District #1 will also contain House District #1 and #2, Senate District #2, House District #3 and #4, etc, up to Senate District #59 which contains House Districts #117 and #118.

Each Senator and Representative is either Republican or Democrat. Whichever party has the majority of seats (30 in the Senate, 60 in the House) has control over that chamber. This majority party not only has more voting members, but it selects the Chair and Vice-Chair of each committee and has the majority of members on each committee. It also picks the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives who control all flow of legislation.

Following each election the new General Assembly takes over and elects its Senate President and House Speaker who in turn set up the various standing committees. The committees are very important because each bill is assigned to a standing committee and must pass through it before a vote can be taken on the full Senate or House floor. Committees can, and usually do, change the wording of the bill it is considering (amending the bill). It is rare that a bill goes through the entire legislative process without being amended at least once.

Thousands of bills are introduced in each legislative session, and only a few hundred will make it through the entire process and be eligible for the governor's signature, thus becoming a law.

Fast Facts:

• We are currently in the 96th General Assembly.
• The 2010 Legislative Calendar runs from January through May 31.
• Senate membership: 37 Democrats, 22 Republicans
• House membership: 69 Democrats, 48 Republicans

Illinois General Assembly