LibGuides: Paralegal Studies: Laws and Legislation

State of Illinois Laws and Legislation

Bills
A bill is legislation drafted in the form of an Act for introduction into the Senate or the House of Representatives and identified with a bill number. If the bill is passed by both houses and signed by the Governor or otherwise becomes law, it becomes an Act.
Source: Illinois Legislative Glossary
Resolutions
A resolution is an action, in the form of a formal legislative document, taken by the Senate alone, the House of Representatives alone, or both the Senate and House acting jointly. A resolution does not change statutory or constitutional law and is not approved or otherwise acted upon by the Governor (and thus is not a law). The effect of a typical resolution is merely to express an opinion or to take some action short of enacting a law. Source: Illinois Legislative Glossary
Illinois Compiled Statutes (ILCS)
The Illinois Compiled Statutes (ILCS) are a cumulative organization of Public Acts into a coherent framework. Most, but not all, Public Acts are incorporated into the Illinois Compiled Statutes. The version of the Illinois Compiled Statutes that appears on this site is updated on an ongoing basis. Recent Public Acts may not yet be incorporated into the version of the Illinois Compiled Statutes that appears on this site. Source: Illinois Legislative Glossary
Public Acts
A public act is a bill that has been passed by the General Assembly and signed by the Governor (or otherwise has become law). The Secretary of State then assigns the bill a Public Act number, which is subsequently used to refer to the measure rather than the bill number. Source: Illinois Legislative Glossary
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The Public Act number consists of the number of the General Assembly followed by a dash and then a number showing the order in which the law was filed with the Secretary of State. Public Acts for a particular year are bound into volumes referred to as the Session Laws of Illinois.
Legislative Reports

Legislative History Research

Legislative history refers to the documents and discussions generated as a bill passes through the legislative process on its way to becoming a statutory law.

Legislative history includes earlier, similar bills introduced but not passed by the legislature, legislative and executive reports and studies, transcripts from legislative committee hearings and reports from the committees, and the House and Senate floor debates.

Researching Legislative History
By Richard C. Edwards, Executive Director, Legislative Reference Bureau, 2008.
How to Research an Illinois Legislative History
Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts.
Illinois General Assembly
For legislative histories of more recent Illinois legislation.
Legislation FAQ
Legislative information from the Illinois State Bar Association.
How a Bill Becomes a Law in Illinois
The Illinois General Assembly Legislative Research Unit, September 2010.

Cook County Law Library

Legal News Sources | Cook County
This guide provides a list of legal news outlets, legal technology updates and general news sources online.
Bridgeview Virtual Legal Advice Desk (VLAD)
The Virtual Legal Advice Desk (VLAD) within the Bridgeview branch of the Cook County Law Library is a cooperative effort of the Cook County Law Library and the Chicago Legal Clinic (CLC). VLAD provides free legal assistance to people representing themselves in cases pending in the Fifth Municipal District Courthouse. Generally, the legal assistance will consist of an interview and limited legal advice. Referrals to other programs or services will also be made when available. In certain circumstances representation by the participating organizations may be available. VLAD is available on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays from 9 a.m. – noon.
Branch Law Library Locations
Branch law libraries offer on site public access to electronic resources like Westlaw, Lexis, and HeinOnline, expanding access to Illinois practice materials, law reviews and journals, and out-of-state primary law resources. Free public Wi-Fi is also available at all branch locations: Criminal Court, Skokie Courthouse (2nd District), Maywood Courthouse (4th District), Bridgeview Courthouse (5th District), and Markham Courthouse (6th District).

Illinois Supreme Court Library - Ask a Reference Question

Illinois Supreme Court Library - Ask a Reference Question
The Supreme Court Library accepts Reference Questions online. Law librarians are available to help library users locate information, identify relevant resources, and develop search strategy. Library staff are unable to give legal advice or interpret the law. Information provided by the law library should not be substituted for legal advice. We recommend you contact an attorney for advice specific to the facts of your situation.