Sixth Illinois Constitutional Convention

The Sixth Illinois Constitutional Convention, popularly known as Con-Con, convened on December 8, 1969 and concluded on September 3, 1970.^[1] The convention produced the 1970 Illinois Constitution, the state's first new constitution in 100 years, which the voters of Illinois approved in a special election in December 1970.

The 116 delegates to the convention were elected in nonpartisan elections in the fall of 1969. Interest from candidates was high: over 500 petitions for candidacy were filed.^[2]

On September 23, a primary election was held, with turnout of 18%.^[2] The top four vote-getters in each of the state's 58 legislative districts advanced to the general election. The general election was held on November 18, 1969, with turnout of 27%.^[2] The top two vote-getters in each district in the general election became delegates. Candidates for delegate had to meet the same criteria as candidates for state senate, including being at least 25 years old.^[3]

The elected delegates included 13 women, 15 African Americans (two of whom were women), and 34 people under age 40.^[4] Fifty-six of the delegates were lawyers; there were also eleven educators, five farmers, and five bankers, among many other occupations represented.^[2] Ninety-six had college degrees.^[2]

The delegate elections were not without controversy. Some Chicago-area districts saw sharp battles between "independent" candidates backed by the Independent Voters of Illinois and candidates backed by the "regular Democratic party". In the 24th district on Chicago's south side, after coming in fourth in the primary, independent candidate Michael Shakman filed a lawsuit in federal court. He sought an injunction to prevent the city from requiring its workers to campaign for his opponents as a condition of their patronage hiring. The lawsuit was dismissed, but eventually reinstated, and gave rise to the Shakman Decrees.^[5]

The president of the convention was Samuel W. Witwer, an attorney from Kenilworth, who for that reason has sometimes been called "the father of the Illinois constitution".^[6] Odas Nicholson, an attorney from Chicago, was elected as secretary. Nicholson, an African American woman, was the convention's only officer who was not a white man.^[4]

The vice presidents of the convention were Elbert S. Smith of Decatur, Thomas G. Lyons of Chicago, and John Alexander of Virden. Alexander, who was 27 years old and had never held elective office, was the only officer to face opposition. However, he prevailed by a strong margin over his sole opponent, Betty Howard of St. Charles, who received only 29 votes from the floor.^[7]

Lyons and Nicholson were described in the press as representing "organization Democrats", while Alexander was described as representing the delegates who were under age 40.^[7]

Over the 1969-1970 holiday break, Witwer assigned the delegates to committees and appointed a chair of each committee. There were nine substantive committees and three procedural committees.^[4] Witwer himself was an ex officio member of all the committees, and the vice presidents were ex officio members of the committees to which he assigned them.^[8]

The voters of Illinois approved the convention's new constitution in a special election held on December 15, 1970.^[11] The constitution was approved by a 55.5% majority, with 37% turnout.^[12] Seventy-two downstate counties voted against the constitution, but strong majorities in the Chicago area allowed it to pass.^[12]