In Your State - Illinois
WASHINGTON, December 13, 2001 — The Center interviewed ethics agency officials, scoured ethics agency Web sites and combed through pages of state statutes to conduct this survey of state ethics agencies. Below is a snapshot of answers for this state. See how this state ethics agency compares on staff and budget, oversight and enforcement power, among other topics surveyed. Find out what other type of ethics oversight this state has. Go to the methodology for an explanation of how the survey was conducted and what exact questions were asked.
Oversight Summary
Oversight Survey
Illinois is one of 27 states in which no outside agency oversees ethical conduct of state legislators. It is one of 18 of those states where no ethics agency oversees any aspect of disclosure. Illinois is among seven of those states — including Indiana, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio and South Carolina — in which an outside agency is setup to oversee other divisions of government.
More Info
What, if any, ethics agency exists in the state?
Illinois has the State of Illinois Board of Ethics, which is authorized under
Executive Order 77-3 (ie, not in statute). The board administers a personal
economic disclosure program covering 10,000 appointees and employees.
Jurisdiction does not extend to legislators, members of the judicial branch or
people holding elective office in Executive Branch.
http://www.state.il.us/ethics/
If the above agency does not oversee legislators, is legislative oversight
defined in statute?
No.
Are there state statutes that address ethical conduct for legislators?
Yes. It is the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act - 5 ILCS 420/1-101. In regard to
legislators, the act contains "Restricted Activities," "Rules of
Conduct for Legislators" and "Ethical Principles for Legislators."
http://www.legis.state.il.us/ilcs/ch5/ch5act420articles/ch5act420artstoc.htm
When were the ethics statutes enacted?
1967
Where do legislators file outside interest disclosures?
Illinois Secretary of State. See Info Resources.
http://www.sos.state.il.us/departments/index/econ_interest.html
Where do legislators file campaign finance disclosures?
Illinois State Board of Elections
http://www.elections.state.il.us/
Where are lobbying disclosures filed?
Illinois Secretary of State, Lobbyist Division
http://www.sos.state.il.us/depts/index/division.html
Note: Some information provided by the Council on Governmental Ethics Laws' "Ethics Update" 2000. For more information or to purchase the reference, visit www.cogel.org.