The Illinois House of Representatives is the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly. The body was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The House under the constitution as amended in 1980 consists of 118 representatives elected from individual legislative districts for two-year terms with no limits; redistricted every 10 years, based on the 2010 U.S. census each representative represents approximately 108,734 people.
The house has the power to pass bills and impeach Illinois officeholders. Lawmakers must be at least 21 years of age and a resident of the district in which they serve for at least two years.
History
The Illinois General Assembly was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The candidates for office split into political parties in the 1830s, initially as the Democratic and Whig parties, until the Whig candidates reorganized as Republicans in the 1850s.
Abraham Lincoln began his political career in the Illinois House of Representatives as a member of the Whig party in 1834. He served there until 1842. Although Republicans held the majority of seats in the Illinois House after 1860, in the next election it returned to the Democrats. The Democratic Party-led legislature worked to frame a new state constitution that was ultimately rejected by voters In 1980 Illinois was divided into 118 single-member districts. Since then each has used the first-past-the-post voting election system.
From 1870 to 1980, Illinois's lower house had several unique features:
- The House had 153, later 177 members. The state was divided into 51, then later 59 legislative districts, each of which elected one senator and three representatives.
- Elections for the state house were conducted using cumulative voting; each individual voter was given three votes to cast for House seats, and they could distribute them to three candidates (one vote each), one candidate (receiving three votes—this was called a bullet vote) or two candidates (each receiving 1½ votes). (The only historic exception to the universal use of cumulative voting 1870-1980 was the 1964 state-wide at-large election.)
- Though not constitutionally mandated, the two parties had an informal agreement that they would only run two candidates per district. Thus, in most districts, only four candidates were running for three seats. This not only all but guaranteed that the district's minority party would win a seat (particularly outside Chicago), but usually assured that each party would have significant representation—a minimum of one-third of the seats (59 out of 177)—in the House. (The only historic exception to the minimum 59 seat rule was in 1875 and during WWI.)
Cutback Amendment of 1980
The Cutback Amendment was proposed to abolish Illinois's use of Cumulative Voting and multi-member districts.
Since its passage in 1980, representatives have been elected from 118 single-member districts formed by dividing the 59 Senate districts in half, a method known as nesting. Each senator is "associated" with two representatives.
Since the adoption of the Cutback Amendment, there have been proposals by some major political figures in Illinois to bring back multi-member districts. A task force led by former governor Jim Edgar and former federal judge Abner Mikva issued a report in 2001 calling for the revival of cumulative voting, in part because it appears that such a system increases the representation of racial minorities in elected office. The Chicago Tribune editorialized in 1995 that the multi-member districts elected with cumulative voting produced better legislators. Others said the now-abandoned system produced greater stability in the lower house.
The Democratic Party won a majority of House seats in 1982. Except for a brief two-year period of Republican control from 1995 to 1997, the Democrats have held the majority since then.
Firsts
The first two African-American legislators in Illinois were John W. E. Thomas, first elected in 1876, and George French Ecton, elected in 1886. In 1922, Lottie Holman O'Neill became the first woman elected to the Illinois House of Representatives (she was elected in the first election in which women could vote or run for election). In 1958, Floy Clements became the first African American woman to serve as state Representative. In 1982, Joseph Berrios became the first Hispanic American state representative. Theresa Mah became the first Asian American to serve in the Illinois House when she was sworn into office January 10, 2017. On January 11, 2023, Abdelnasser Rashid and Nabeela Syed became the first representatives in the Illinois General Assembly of Muslim faith, with Rashid becoming the first Palestinian-American representative to serve in the Illinois legislative body.
Powers
The Illinois House of Representatives meets at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois. It is required to convene on the second Wednesday of January each year. Along with the Illinois Senate and governor, it is vested with the power to make laws, come up with a state budget, act on federal constitutional amendments, and propose constitutional amendments to the state constitution. The Illinois House of Representatives also holds the power to impeach executive and judicial officials.
Majority
- Speaker of the House: Emanuel Chris Welch
- Majority Leader: Robyn Gabel
- Speaker pro tempore: Kam Buckner
- Deputy Majority Leaders:
- Mary E. Flowers (until May 31, 2023)
- Elizabeth Hernandez
- Assistant Majority Leaders:
- Marcus C. Evans Jr.
- Jay Hoffman
- Natalie Manley
- Aaron Ortiz
- Kam Buckner
- Barbara Hernandez
- Kelly Burke
- Robert Rita
- Majority Conference Chairperson: Theresa Mah
- Majority Officer & Sergeant at Arms: Nick Smith
Minority
- Minority Leader: Tony McCombie
- Deputy Minority Leaders:
- Norine Hammond
- Ryan Spain
- Assistant Minority Leaders:
- John Cabello
- Charles Meier
- Mike Marron
- C. D. Davidsmeyer
- Jackie Haas
- Minority Conference Chairperson: Jeff Keicher
- Minority Floor Leader: Patrick Windhorst
Officers
- Clerk of the House: John W. Hollman
- Chief Doorkeeper: Nicole Hill
- Parliamentarian: Kat Bray
- Assistant Clerk of the House: Bradley S. Bolin
Members
, the 104th General Assembly of the Illinois House of Representatives consists of the following members:
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!District
!Representative
!Party
!Start
!Residence
|-
|1
|
| |Democratic
|January 9, 2019
|Chicago
|-
|2
|
| |Democratic
|January 10, 2007
|Cicero
|-
|3
|
| |Democratic
|November 15, 2019
|Chicago
|-
|4
|
| |Democratic
|December 15, 2022
|Chicago
|-
|5
|
| |Democratic
|May 15, 2023
|Chicago
|-
|6
|
| |Democratic
|October 20, 2015
|Chicago
|-
|7
|
| |Democratic
|January 9, 2013
|Hillside
|-
|8
|
| |Democratic
|January 10, 2007
|Chicago
|-
|9
|
| |Democratic
|September 12, 2023
|Chicago
|-
|10
|
| |Democratic
|May 1, 2019
|Chicago
|-
|11
|
| |Democratic
|January 12, 2011
|Chicago
|-
|12
|
| |Democratic
|January 2, 2021
|Chicago
|-
|13
|
| |Democratic
|January 11, 2023
|Chicago
|-
|14
|
| |Democratic
|April 12, 2011
|Chicago
|-
|15
|
| |Democratic
|November 23, 2021
|Chicago
|-
|16
|
| |Democratic
|January 11, 2023
|Skokie
|-
|17
|
| |Democratic
|December 21, 2018
|Glenview
|-
|18
|
| |Democratic
|April 19, 2010
|Evanston
|-
|19
|
| |Democratic
|July 24, 2019
|Chicago
|-
|20
|
| |Republican
|June 29, 2019
|Rosemont
|-
|21
|
| |Democratic
|January 11, 2023
|Justice
|-
|22
|
| |Democratic
|February 25, 2021
|Chicago
|-
|23
|
| |Democratic
|January 10, 2020
|Chicago
|-
|24
|
| |Democratic
|January 11, 2017
|Chicago
|-
|25
|
| |Democratic
|January 9, 2019
|Chicago
|-
|26
|
| |Democratic
|January 18, 2019
|Chicago
|-
|27
|
| |Democratic
|January 5, 2017
|Chicago
|-
|28
|
| |Democratic
|January 8, 2003
|Blue Island
|-
|29
|
| |Democratic
|January 12, 2011
|Calumet City
|-
|30
|
| |Democratic
|January 8, 2003
|Homewood
|-
|31
|
| |Democratic
|January 8, 2025
|Chicago
|-
|32
|
| |Democratic
|January 8, 2025
|Chicago
|-
|33
|
| |Democratic
|April 13, 2012
|Chicago
|-
|34
|
| |Democratic
|February 4, 2018
|Chicago
|-
|35
|
| |Democratic
|March 28, 2023
|Chicago
|-
|36
|
| |Democratic
|January 8, 2025
|Evergreen Park
|-
|37
|
| |Republican
|April 13, 2024
|Lockport
|-
|38
|
| |Democratic
|January 9, 2019
|Olympia Fields
|-
|39
|
| |Democratic
|January 14, 2015
|Chicago
|-
|40
|
| |Democratic
|August 12, 2013
|Chicago
|-
|41
|
| |Democratic
|January 13, 2021
|Naperville
|-
|42
|
| |Democratic
|October 12, 2025
|Glen Ellyn
|-
|43
|
| |Democratic
|March 30, 2014
|Elgin
|-
|44
|
| |Democratic
|January 10, 2007
|Hoffman Estates
|-
|45
|
| |Democratic
|January 8, 2025
|Westmont
|-
|46
|
| |Democratic
|December 7, 2022
|Villa Park
|-
|47
|
| |Republican
|January 9, 2019
|Wheaton
|-
|48
|
| |Republican
|January 11, 2023
|Hanover Park
|-
|49
|
| |Democratic
|January 13, 2021
|Batavia
|-
|50
|
| |Democratic
|March 7, 2019
|Aurora
|-
|51
|
| |Democratic
|January 11, 2023
|Inverness
|-
|52
|
| |Republican
|January 13, 2021
|Barrington Hills
|-
|53
|
| |Democratic
|June 5, 2024
|Arlington Heights
|-
|54
|
| |Democratic
|January 11, 2023
|Arlington Heights
|-
|55
|
| |Democratic
|December 30, 2025
|Des Plaines
|-
|56
|
| |Democratic
|January 12, 2011
|Schaumburg
|-
|57
|
| |Democratic
|January 11, 2024
|Northbrook
|-
|58
|
| |Democratic
|January 9, 2019
|Deerfield
|-
|59
|
| |Democratic
|January 9, 2019
|Buffalo Grove
|-
|60
|
| |Democratic
|July 6, 2010
|Waukegan
|-
|61
|
| |Democratic
|January 9, 2019
|Gurnee
|-
|62
|
| |Democratic
|January 11, 2023
|Grayslake
|-
|63
|
| |Republican
|January 11, 2017
|Woodstock
|-
|64
|
| |Republican
|January 9, 2019
|Lake Villa
|-
|65
|
| |Republican
|January 9, 2019
|Geneva
|-
|66
|
| |Democratic
|January 13, 2021
|Crystal Lake
|-
|67
|
| |Democratic
|January 9, 2019
|Rockford
|-
|68
|
| |Democratic
|January 13, 2021
|Rockford
|-
|69
|
| |Republican
|January 12, 2011
|Rockford
|-
|70
|
| |Republican
|July 5, 2018
|DeKalb
|-
|71
|
| |Republican
|January 11, 2017
|Woodhull
|-
|72
|
| |Democratic
|January 11, 2023
|East Moline
|-
|73
|
| |Republican
|January 11, 2017
|Peoria
|-
|74
|
| |Republican
|January 11, 2023
|Dixon
|-
|75
|
| |Republican
|January 11, 2023
|Newark
|-
|76
|
| |Democratic
|January 8, 2025
|Ottawa
|-
|77
|
| |Democratic
|January 11, 2023
|Melrose Park
|-
|78
|
| |Democratic
|April 27, 2010
|Chicago
|-
|79
|
| |Republican
|December 8, 2020
|Bourbonnais
|-
|80
|
| |Democratic
|March 6, 2009
|Chicago Heights
|-
|81
|
| |Democratic
|January 9, 2019
|Downers Grove
|-
|82
|
| |Republican
|December 20, 2023
|Homer Glen
|-
|83
|
| |Democratic
|January 11, 2023
|Aurora
|-
|84
|
| |Democratic
|January 9, 2013
|Oswego
|-
|85
|
| |Democratic
|January 13, 2021
|Bolingbrook
|-
|86
|
| |Democratic
|April 30, 2012
|Elwood
|-
|87
|
| |Republican
|January 1, 2023
|Morton
|-
|88
|
| |Republican
|January 8, 2025
|Decatur
|-
|89
|
| |Republican
|January 11, 2017
|Savanna
|-
|90
|
| |Republican
|January 11, 2023
|Rockford
|-
|91
|
| |Democratic
|January 11, 2023
|Bloomington
|-
|92
|
| |Democratic
|January 14, 2009
|Peoria
|-
|93
|
| |Republican
|January 11, 2023
|Edwards
|-
|94
|
| |Republican
|December 14, 2010
|Macomb
|-
|95
|
| |Republican
|January 11, 2023
|Springfield
|-
|96
|
| |Democratic
|January 9, 2013
|Decatur
|-
|97
|
| |Democratic
|January 11, 2023
|Plainfield
|-
|98
|
| |Democratic
|January 9, 2013
|Joliet
|-
|99
|
| |Republican
|January 8, 2025
|Quincy
|-
|100
|
| |Republican
|December 12, 2012
|Jacksonville
|-
|101
|
| |Republican
|January 9, 2019
|Charleston
|-
|102
|
| |Republican
|January 13, 2021
|Dieterich
|-
|103
|
| |Democratic
|January 14, 2015
|Urbana
|-
|104
|
| |Republican
|December 21, 2023
|Danville
|-
|105
|
| |Republican
|January 11, 2023
|Eureka
|-
|106
|
| |Republican
|February 4, 2023
|Emington
|-
|107
|
| |Republican
|January 11, 2017
|Shelbyville
|-
|108
|
| |Republican
|January 11, 2023
|Morrisonville
|-
|109
|
| |Republican
|January 9, 2013
|Okawville
|-
|110
|
| |Republican
|January 9, 2019
|Beecher City
|-
|111
|
| |Republican
|January 13, 2021
|Fosterburg
|-
|112
|
| |Democratic
|January 11, 2017
|Edwardsville
|-
|113
|
| |Democratic
|January 9, 2013
|Swansea
|-
|114
|
| |Republican
|January 11, 2023
|Millstadt
|-
|115
|
| |Republican
|January 13, 2021
|Red Bud
|-
|116
|
| |Republican
|January 11, 2017
|Benton
|-
|117
|
| |Republican
|January 9, 2019
|Metropolis
|-
|118
|
| |Republican
|January 13, 2021
|Pomona
|}