ceasing to occupy the office upon an adverse popular vote. An illustration of the recall of public officers is to be found in the commission government act of Illinois.*

Under this act a petition signed by voters equal to 55 per cent. of the entire vote for candidates for the office of mayor at the last preceding general election may require a popular vote upon the continuance in office of any elective state officer except a judicial officer or officer of a court. Upon such petition an election is held to determine whether the officer sought to be recalled shall remain in office; and also, if the vote is opposed to his remaining in office, to elect a successor.

Hurd's Revised Statutes. Ch. 24, Secs. 193 b 42 to 193 b 46.

III. INSTITUTIONS IN ILLINOIS.

The statements made in the preceding chapter indicate in a fairly satisfactory manner the extent to which the institutions of the initiative, referendum and recall have been adopted in the State of Illinois. A further discussion is desirable, however, with respect to the operation of these institutions.

Public Policy Law: The public policy act of 1901 was passed for the purpose of permitting a popular expression upon public measures, without, however, such popular expression having any legal effect. Under this act state-wide public policy questions been submitted in the following cases:

Public Policy Votes.

have

It is probable that the votes upon these public policy questions havé had little influence upon state legislation, although in several

cases the public policy votes have just preceded legislative action. This is true with respect to the public policy vote in 1904 with respect to primary elections; that of 1910 with respect to the extended state civil service law; and that of 1912 with respect to a tax amendment to the constitution. A proposed tax amendment to the constitution was recommended by the general assembly to the voters in 1915, but failed to receive the constitutional majority of the popular vote. The local advisory referendum has also been used to some extent in this state.

State-wide Referenda: All proposed constitutional amendments have, of course, been submitted to a popular vote and all amendments to banking laws. In 1918 there were three cases of state wide referenda :

(1) The one upon the holding of a constitutional convention, (2) the one upon a $60,000,000 bond issue for state highways, and

(3) the one upon amendments to banking legislation.

Since 1870 there have been, in addition to the advisory referenda referred to above, the following state-wide referenda in Illinois in which the popular vote actually determined whether action should or should not be taken: State-wide Referenda other than Public Policy Votes.1

1 Constitutional amendments, acts making appropriations for the statehouse and acts disposing of the Illinois and Michigan canal and canal lands, require a majority of the votes cast at the election: acts providing for increases in state debt (such as that with respect to the state-wide system of highways in 1918) require a majority of votes cast for members of the General Assembly; banking legislation requires a majority of the vote thereon.

Percentage of
affirmative
vote to total
vote at elec-
tion.

vote on propo-
sition to total
vote at elec-
tion.

Percentage of

Proposition.

State-wide Referenda other than Public Policy Votes-Concluded.

Referenda in Chicago: Within the City of Chicago a great deal of use has been made of local referenda either by the municipal council or under state legislation. This use was for a while particularly active with respect to the problem of street railAll ordinances authorizing the issuance of bonds must be submitted to a popular vote not only in Chicago, but also in all other cities of the state as well. Reference has already been made to the constitutional amendment of 1904 under which acts of the legislature relating to the government of the city of Chicago must be submitted to the popular referendum before coming into effect. A table is inserted below giving information about popular referenda in Chicago since 1905.

For city operation of street railways, a three-fifths affirmative vote is required; for annexations, an affirmative majority of those voting on the question in the city, town or village sought to be annexed, as well as in Chicago; other propositions require an affirmative majority of the votes thereon, in the city of Chicago.

Percentage of
affirmative

vote to total

vote at election.

vote on proposition to total

Percentage of

vote at elec

tion.