| ILLINOIS
CONSTITUTION Acknowledgment of God
Preamble. We, the People of the State of Illinois–grateful
to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberty which He has permitted
us to enjoy and seeking His blessing upon our endeavors–in order to provide for
the health, safety and welfare of the people; maintain a representative and orderly
government; eliminate poverty and inequality; assure legal, social and economic
justice; provide opportunity for the fullest development of the individual; insure
domestic tranquility; provide for the common defense; and secure the blessings
of freedom and liberty to ourselves and our posterity–do ordain and establish
this Constitution for the State of Illinois.
Religion
Clauses Article I, section 3. The free exercise
and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination, shall
forever be guaranteed, and no person shall be denied any civil or political right,
privilege or capacity, on account of his religious opinions; but the liberty of
conscience hereby secured shall not be construed to dispense with oaths or affirmations,
excuse acts of licentiousness, or justify practices inconsistent with the peace
or safety of the State. No person shall be required to attend or support any ministry
or place of worship against his consent, nor shall any preference be given by
law to any religious denomination or mode of worship.
Article
I, section 17. All persons shall have the right to be free
from discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, national ancestry and
sex in the hiring and promotion practices of any employer or in the sale or rental
of property. These rights are enforceable without action by the General Assembly,
but the General Assembly by law may establish reasonable exemptions relating to
these rights and provide additional remedies for their violation.
Article
I, section 20. To promote individual dignity, communications
that portray criminality, depravity or lack of virtue in, or that incite violence,
hatred, abuse or hostility toward, a person or group of persons by reason of or
by reference to religious, racial, ethnic, national or regional affiliation are
condemned.
Education Article X, section
3. Neither the General Assembly nor any county, city, town,
township, school district, or other public corporation, shall ever make any appropriation
or pay from any public fund whatever, anything in aid of any church or sectarian
purpose, or to help support or sustain any school, academy, seminary, college,
university, or other literary or scientific institution, controlled by any church
or sectarian denomination whatever; nor shall any grant or donation of land, money,
or other personal property ever be made by the State, or any such public corporation,
to any church, or for any sectarian purpose.
Finance/Property
Tax Article IX, section 6. The General Assembly
by law may exempt from taxation only the property of the State, units of local
government and school districts and property used exclusively for agricultural
and horticultural societies, and for school, religious, cemetery and charitable
purposes. The General Assembly by law may grant homestead exemptions or rent credits.
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Copyright
© 2002-2008 by Rothgerber Johnson & Lyons LLP. All rights reserved.
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