Governor of Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Governor of Illinois |
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| Government of Illinois | |
| Residence | Illinois Governor's Mansion |
| Term length | Four years, no term limits |
| Inaugural holder | Shadrach Bond |
| Formation | October 6, 1818 |
| Succession | Line of succession |
| Deputy | Lieutenant Governor of Illinois |
| Salary | $177,412 (2015) |
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The Governor of Illinois is the top leader of the state government in Illinois. Think of them as the "chief executive" who makes sure the state's laws are followed. They are in charge of many different state agencies and departments.
People in Illinois vote directly to choose their governor. The governor has important jobs like approving or rejecting laws passed by the Illinois General Assembly (which is like the state's parliament). They can also grant pardons or reduce sentences for people who have broken state laws. The governor is also the commander-in-chief of Illinois's own military forces, like the Illinois National Guard, when they are working for the state.
Illinois is one of 13 states where a governor can serve as many terms as they are elected for. There is no limit on how long they can be in office.
The 43rd and current governor is JB Pritzker. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Governor Pritzker started his term on January 14, 2019, and was re-elected in 2022.
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Becoming Governor
To become the Governor of Illinois, a person needs to meet a few requirements. The governor serves a term of four years. There is no limit to how many terms a person can serve. The new governor officially starts their job on the second Monday in January after the election in November.
What You Need to Be Governor
Here are the main things a person must be to qualify:
- They must be at least 25 years old.
- They must be a citizen of the United States.
- They must have lived in Illinois for at least three years before the election.
Who Takes Over?
If the governor can no longer do their job, another official steps in. This is called the "line of succession." It means there's a clear order of who takes over next.
| # | Position | Current office holder | Party | |
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Lieutenant Governor | Juliana Stratton | Democratic |
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Attorney General of Illinois | Kwame Raoul | Democratic |
| 3 |
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Secretary of State of Illinois | Alexi Giannoulias | Democratic |
Governor's Homes
The governor gets to live in the Illinois Governor's Mansion in Springfield. Springfield is the capital city of Illinois. The first governor to live in this mansion was Governor Joel Aldrich Matteson in 1855. It is one of the oldest governor's homes in the United States that has been used continuously.
The governor also has access to two other official homes. These are located on the state fair grounds in Springfield and DuQuoin. The home in DuQuoin is called Hayes House. Governors have traditionally used these homes for part of the year.
However, some governors have chosen not to use these homes as their main residence. For example, Rod Blagojevich traveled to Springfield from his home city. Many governors who live in Chicago also do a lot of their work from the governor's office there. This office is in the James R. Thompson Center, a state-owned building named after former governor James R. Thompson. He was Illinois's longest-serving governor, from 1977 to 1991.
Timeline of Illinois Governors
This timeline shows when different people served as governor of Illinois.
| Timeline of Illinois governors |
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