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2010 Judicial Retention Watch

This November, three of Illinois’ seven Supreme Court justices will ask voters to give them new 10-year terms in office. Although these non-partisan retention elections traditionally have been quiet affairs where voters have sent judges back to the bench for another term in office, this year may be quite different.



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Voter's Guide

VOTER'S GUIDE

Let's be honest; voting can be exhausting.

Each ballot requires dozens of decisions about candidates and issues critical to our federal, state and local units of government. Even the most diligent, well-informed and opinionated voters have a hard time developing perspectives on every single candidate and issue. They might have specific opinions about candidates for federal and statewide offices, however their views get fuzzier as they move down the ballot and consider candidates for lower-profile offices.



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Statements of Economic Interest

STATEMENTS OF ECONOMIC INTEREST

Delegates to Illinois' 1970 constitutional convention were very concerned that the financial affairs of elected officials and high-ranking public servants might have dangerous consequences for the honest administration of the affairs of the state.



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Redistricting

REDISTRICTING

Redistricting – the once-in-a-decade process of drawing state legislative and congressional district boundaries -- has a substantial impact on our democracy. How Illinois residents are grouped into districts can have a profound effect on who will represent the district, and what those elected officials will do.



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Public Financing

PUBLIC FINANCING

One of the harshest realities of modern American politics is that a candidate's fundraising prowess is often represented as an important predictor of electoral success -- more so than than his or her experience, intelligence or commitment to public service. As each new political cycle begins, party bosses, campaign strategists and newspaper reporters are more interested in potential candidates' abilities to raise significant sums of cash than their qualifications for elected office.



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Lobbyist Registration & Regulation

LOBBYIST REGISTRATION & REGULATION

The Illinois Constitution ensures that the state's 12.9 million citizens have the right to make their views known to their elected representatives. Each day citizens exercise this right in small ways. They talk to their lawmakers during community meetings, write letters, make phone calls, sign petitions, vote in elections and contribute funds to political campaigns.  



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Judicial Reform

JUDICIAL REFORM

As Thomas Jefferson considered the qualities required of judges, he said this new nation should seek citizens of the highest intellect and personal character for the duty. Equally important, he believed judges should be independent of any economic or political influences that might interfere with the broader goal of justice.



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Ethics Reform

ETHICS REFORM

Beginning in 1998, the Justice Department's "Operation Safe Road" investigation revealed an embarrassing laundry list of misdeeds by dozens of employees of the Office of the Illinois Secretary of State. The misconduct included schemes in which state workers sold raffle tickets to raise campaign cash for their boss George Ryan. Others engaged in campaign duties on behalf of Ryan during work hours. Perhaps the most egregious conduct involved the sale of commercial drivers' licenses to unqualified applicants.



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Disclosure & Transparency

DISCLOSURE & TRANSPARENCY

Disclosure
The Late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis once famously wrote, "Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants." And while it may not be the best, it's certainly one of the most necessary. Transparency and disclosure are critical to our campaign and political system because they empowers the public with information needed to make informed decisions while also discouraging wrongdoing.

Campaign Finance



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Citizens United, and the Decision's Impact on Campaign Finance in Illinois

A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning a federal ban on political campaign spending by corporations independent of candidate campaigns has prompted some questions about the impact of the ruling on state and local elections in Illinois.  Although that decision has no immediate effect on the contribution limits legislation passed last year by the Illinois General Assembly, it could create an extremely hostile atmosphere with respect to any kind of contribution limits. It will certainly have an effect on Illinois campaigns for the U. S.



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