Illinois Secretary of State Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Secretary of State of Illinois
Great Seal of the State of Illinois
Incumbent Alexi Giannoulias since January 9, 2023
Term length	4 years, unlimited term
Inaugural holder	Elias Kane
Formation	1818; 207 years ago (1818)
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 chosen by the people of Illinois. The Secretary of State handles many important jobs for the state. They keep official records, manage state laws, oversee the state library, and run the state archives. They are also in charge of registering businesses, vehicles, and issuing driver's licenses. The current Secretary of State is Alexi Giannoulias, who started his job in 2023.

What the Secretary of State Does
Police Forces
- Secretary of State Police
- Illinois State Capitol Police
Office Locations
Who Can Be Secretary of State
- Recent Secretaries
Seal of Illinois
Images for kids
See also

What the Secretary of State Does

The Secretary of State has many important duties, as set by the state's constitution. These jobs have been the same since Illinois became a state in 1818.

Keeping Records and Laws

The Secretary of State is like the state's main record keeper. They hold all the official documents from the General Assembly (which makes laws). They also keep the official records of the state's executive branch (the part of government that carries out laws). Plus, they are the keeper of the Great Seal of Illinois, which is a special symbol of the state.

Business and Other Important Tasks

This office also helps businesses get started by registering them. They register people who try to influence laws (called lobbyists). They also give special permission to notaries public, who are people allowed to witness signatures on important documents. The Secretary of State also helps make sure the buying and selling of stocks and bonds (called the securities industry) is fair and follows rules.

Libraries and Archives

The Secretary of State oversees the state's archives and library. The State Archives keeps old government records that are important for history or for legal reasons. The State Library has millions of books and other information. It also connects many other libraries across Illinois.

Vehicle and Driver Services

One of the most well-known jobs of the Secretary of State is handling driver's licenses and vehicle registrations. This means if you want to drive or own a car in Illinois, you'll deal with this office! Illinois is one of only three states where the Secretary of State handles these tasks. The other two are Maine and Michigan.

Line of Succession

The Secretary of State is also third in line to become Governor of Illinois. This means if the Governor and Lieutenant Governor can't do their jobs, the Secretary of State would step in.

Police Forces

The Secretary of State's office has its own police forces.

Secretary of State Police

The Secretary of State Police started in 1913. This police force works all over Illinois. Their main job is to make sure businesses that sell cars and car parts follow the rules. This helps protect people from fraud. They also investigate identity theft and car thefts. They check school buses for safety and help with traffic rules around state buildings.

Illinois State Capitol Police

The Secretary of State Police also manages the Illinois State Capitol Police. These officers protect the Illinois State Capitol Complex in Springfield. This includes the Capitol building itself and 16 other state buildings nearby. There are about 60 officers in this force.

Office Locations

The Secretary of State's office uses three buildings in the Illinois State Capitol Complex in Springfield. Many workers who handle vehicle and licensing duties work in the Howlett Building. This building is named after a former Secretary of State, Michael Howlett. The State Archives are kept in the Norton Building. The Illinois State Library is in the Brooks Library, named after Gwendolyn Brooks, a famous Illinois poet.

The office also has 136 Driver Services facilities across the state. These are the places where people go to get their driver's licenses.

Who Can Be Secretary of State

To become the 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 before the election.

Recent Secretaries

Jesse White was the 37th Secretary of State. He was a Democrat and served for six terms, from 1999 to 2023. He was the first African-American to hold this job. He was also the longest-serving Secretary of State in Illinois history. Before this job, Jesse White had been an elected official in Chicago since 1974. He retired at age 88.

Alexi Giannoulias became the 38th Secretary of State in 2023. He won the election in 2022. Before Jesse White, George Ryan was the Secretary of State. He was a Republican and served from 1991 to 1999. He later became the Governor of Illinois.

Seal of Illinois

The official saying, or motto, of Illinois is "State Sovereignty - National Union." In 1867, the Secretary of State at the time, Sharon Tyndale, changed the design of the Great Seal of Illinois. He had the word "sovereignty" engraved upside down. This design from 1867 is still used today. You can see it on the flag of Illinois.