Illinois Secretary of State facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Secretary of State of Illinois |
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Great Seal of the State of Illinois
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.jpg) Alexi Giannoulias since January 9, 2023 |
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| Term length | 4 years, unlimited term |
| Inaugural holder | Elias Kane |
| Formation | 1818 |
| Succession | Third |
| Website | Official Website: http://www.ilsos.gov/ |
The Secretary of State of Illinois is an important elected official in the government of Illinois. This person is one of six main leaders in the state's executive branch. The Secretary of State handles many key tasks for the people of Illinois.
The office keeps official state records, laws, and important historical documents. It also manages the state library. A big part of the job is registering businesses and vehicles. The Secretary of State also issues driver's licenses to people in Illinois. The current Secretary of State is Alexi Giannoulias. He is a Democrat and started his term in 2023.
Contents
What the Secretary of State Does
The Secretary of State has many important jobs. These duties have been mostly the same since Illinois became a state in 1818. The state constitution says the Secretary of State must keep all official records. This includes laws passed by the General Assembly. It also includes records from the governor's office. The Secretary of State is also in charge of the Great Seal of Illinois.
Managing State Records and Information
The Secretary of State oversees the state's official archives. These archives store important government records. These records have historical value. They are kept safe for future research. The Secretary of State also runs the state library. This library has millions of items. It helps connect many other libraries across Illinois.
Vehicle and Driver Services
One of the most well-known jobs is handling driver's licenses. The office issues licenses to all Illinois drivers. It also registers all motor vehicles in the state. This means the Secretary of State's office acts like a "Department of Motor Vehicles." Illinois is one of only three states where this office handles vehicle registration. The others are Maine and Michigan.
Caring for State Buildings
The Secretary of State is also responsible for the Illinois State Capitol building. This includes all state buildings around it. They make sure these important public places are well-maintained.
Role in State Leadership
The Secretary of State is third in line to become Governor of Illinois. This means if the Governor and Lieutenant Governor cannot serve, the Secretary of State would take over. This shows how important the role is in state leadership.
Police Forces of the Secretary of State
The Secretary of State's office has its own police forces. These officers help enforce state laws. They also protect state property and people.
Secretary of State Police
This police force started in 1913. They make sure businesses that sell cars and car parts follow the law. Their main goal is to protect people from fraud. They also investigate identity theft. They check vehicles at inspection stations. They look into stolen cars across the state. They also regulate school buses. These officers help keep traffic safe. They also provide security at all Secretary of State offices.
Illinois State Capitol Police
This police force protects the Illinois State Capitol Complex. This includes the Capitol building itself. It also covers 16 other state buildings in Springfield. This force was created after a security incident in 2004. It has about 60 officers. They help keep everyone safe at the Capitol.
Buildings and Locations
The Secretary of State's office uses several buildings. These are located in the Illinois State Capitol Complex in Springfield.
Many workers who handle vehicle and licensing duties are in the Howlett Building. This building is south of the Capitol. It is named after Michael Howlett. He was a former Secretary of State. The State Archives are in the Norton Building. This building is southwest of the Capitol. The Illinois State Library is in the Brooks Library. This library is east of the Capitol. It is named after Gwendolyn Brooks. She was a famous state Poet Laureate.
The office also runs 136 Driver Services facilities. These are located all over Illinois. People go there to get their driver's licenses.
Who Has Been Secretary of State
To become Secretary of State, a person must be a U.S. citizen. They must be at least 25 years old. They also need to have lived in Illinois for at least three years.
Jesse White was the 37th Secretary of State. He was a Democrat. He served for six terms, which is a very long time. He was the first African-American in this position. He retired in 2023 at age 88. Alexi Giannoulias became the 38th Secretary of State. He won the election in 2022.
Before Jesse White, George Ryan was Secretary of State. He was a Republican. He served from 1991 to 1999. He later became Governor of Illinois.
Here is a list of people who have served as Illinois Secretary of State:
| # | Image | Name | Term | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Nathaniel Pope | 1809-1816 | Democratic-Republican |
| 2 | Joseph Phillips | 1816–1818 | Democratic-Republican | |
| 3 |  |
Elias Kane | 1818–1822 | Democratic-Republican |
| 4 |  |
Samuel D. Lockwood | 1822–1823 | Democratic-Republican |
| 5 | David Blackwell | 1823–1824 | Democratic-Republican | |
| 6 | Morris Birkbeck | 1824–1825 | Democratic-Republican | |
| 7 | George Forquer | 1825–1828 | Democratic-Republican | |
| 8 | Alexander Pope Field | 1829–1840 | Democratic | |
| 9 |  |
Stephen A. Douglas | 1840–1841 | Democratic |
| 10 |  |
Lyman Trumbull | 1841–1843 | Democratic |
| 11 |  |
Thompson Campbell | 1843–1846 | Democratic |
| 12 | Horace S. Cooley | 1846–1850 | Democratic | |
| 13 |  |
David L. Gregg | 1850–1853 | Democratic |
| 14 | Alexander Starne | 1853–1857 | Democratic | |
| 15 |  |
Ozias M. Hatch | 1857–1865 | Republican |
| 16 | Sharon Tyndale | 1865–1869 | Republican | |
| 17 | Edward Rummel | 1869–1873 | Republican | |
| 18 | George H. Harlow | 1873–1881 | Republican | |
| 19 | Henry D. Dement | 1881–1889 | Republican | |
| 20 |  |
Isaac N. Pearson | 1889–1893 | Republican |
| 21 | .jpg) |
William H. Hinrichsen | 1893–1897 | Democratic |
| 22 | .png) |
James A. Rose | 1897–1912 | Republican |
| 23 | Cornelius J. Doyle | 1912–1913 | Republican | |
| 24 |  |
Harry Woods | 1913–1914 | Democratic |
| 25 |  |
Lewis Stevenson | 1914–1917 | Democratic |
| 26 | .jpg) |
Louis Lincoln Emmerson | 1917–1929 | Republican |
| 27 | .jpg) |
William J. Stratton | 1929–1933 | Republican |
| 28 | .jpg) |
Edward J. Hughes | 1933–1944 | Democratic |
| 29 | .jpg) |
Richard Yates Rowe | 1944–1945 | Republican |
| 30 | .jpg) |
Edward J. Barrett | 1945–1953 | Democratic |
| 31 | .jpg) |
Charles F. Carpentier | 1953–1964 | Republican |
| 32 | William H. Chamberlain | 1964–1965 | Democratic | |
| 33 | .jpg) |
Paul Powell | 1965–1970 | Democratic |
| 34 |  |
John W. Lewis Jr. | 1970–1973 | Republican |
| 35 |  |
Michael Howlett | 1973–1977 | Democratic |
| 36 |  |
Alan J. Dixon | 1977–1981 | Democratic |
| 37 | .jpg) |
Jim Edgar | 1981–1991 | Republican |
| 38 | .jpg) |
George Ryan | 1991–1999 | Republican |
| 39 | .jpg) |
Jesse White | 1999–2023 | Democratic |
| 40 | |
Alexi Giannoulias | 2023–present | Democratic |
The Great Seal of Illinois
The official motto of Illinois is "State Sovereignty - National Union." The Secretary of State is the keeper of the Great Seal of Illinois. In 1867, the Secretary of State at the time, Sharon Tyndale, had the seal redesigned. He made the word "sovereignty" appear upside down. This design from 1867 is still used today. You can see it on the flag of Illinois.
See also
- Governor of Illinois
- Lieutenant Governor of Illinois
- Illinois Attorney General
- Comptroller of Illinois
- Treasurer of Illinois
