Article XI, Illinois Constitution

Illinois Constitution
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Article XI of the Illinois Constitution is entitled Environment and consists of two sections. The Environment Article, new in the 1970 Constitution, attempts to guarantee both the state and its residents powers to protect the environment. Its potential for individual enforcement has been neglected, perhaps due to state enforcement and the practical difficulties facing individuals seeking to fight pollution.

Section 1

	Text of Section 1: Public Policy - Legislative Responsibility The public policy of the State and the duty of each person is to provide and maintain a healthful environment for the benefit of this and future generations. The General Assembly shall provide by law for the implementation and enforcement of this public policy.

Section 2

	Text of Section 2: Rights of Individuals Each person has the right to a healthful environment. Each person may enforce this right against any party, governmental or private, through appropriate legal proceedings subject to reasonable limitation and regulation as the General Assembly may provide by law.

See also

• State constitution
• Constitutional article
• Constitutional amendment
• Constitutional revision
• Constitutional convention
• Amendments
  • Initiated constitutional amendment
  • Legislatively-referred constitutional amendment
  • Publication requirements for proposed state constitutional amendments
  • Rules about constitutional conventions in state constitutions
  • State constitutional articles governing state legislatures

External links

Suggest a link

• Illinois General Assembly, "Illinois Constitution"
• YouTube, "The Illinois Constitution"
• Illinois Courts Learning Center, "Lesson 2 - The Illinois Constitution"
• Tripod.com, "Illinois Constitution of 1818"

Additional reading

• Illinois State Bar Association, "Understanding the Illinois Constitution"
• Chicago Tribune, "Articles about the Illinois Constitution"