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48-663: The secretary of state, in accordance with the state constitution, is keeper of the official acts of the General Assembly, the official records of the executive branch, and the Great Seal of Illinois . These duties have remained unchanged since Illinois became a U.S. state in 1818. The secretary also registers corporations and lobbyists , commissions notaries public , and regulates the securities industry , among connected responsibilities. The secretary of state performs other duties prescribed by law. For instance,

96-505: A breath alcohol ignition interlock device (BAIID) on their vehicles. MADD called this one of the most important pieces of DUI legislation passed in Illinois in several years. Since taking office White has worked to improve truck safety and the CDL licensing process. In his first year in office, White initiated a comprehensive highway safety package to tighten up the rules and regulations of

144-663: A certificate of appointment for any appointee named by the governor, Blagojevich, who was arrested in part for trying to sell this very same senate seat. Burris then filed for mandamus in the Illinois Supreme Court to compel White to certify the appointment as part of his routine administrative duties. On January 9, the Supreme Court ruled that White did not have to sign his name to any appointment made by Governor Rod Blagojevich . The Court further ruled that White had fulfilled his legal obligations regarding

192-583: A code of conduct for employees; setting strict fundraising policies that prohibit employee contributions; hiring Jim Burns, former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, as Inspector General and strengthened the Inspector General's office; and initiated legislation to make the position of Inspector General permanent with broad powers to root out corruption. The Secretary of State's office administers library grants throughout

240-408: A contest to design an Illinois state flag, with the winner receiving a prize of $ 25, equivalent to $ 760 in 2023. Thirty-five designs were submitted in response to this contest. The contest was judged by a panel chaired by Lewis Stevenson , Illinois Secretary of State . They selected the design of Lucy Derwent. The flag became the official state banner on July 6, 1915, following its passage in

288-462: A major automobile accident in Wisconsin that killed six children, investigators discovered that unqualified truck drivers were receiving drivers licenses in exchange for bribes. Ryan chose not to run for re-election in 2002, and in 2006, he was convicted of fraud, including using his authority as secretary of state to end his office's internal investigation after it discovered the scheme. This

336-542: A new design for the state flag. By May 2023, the Illinois House passed the same bill. Lawmakers stated that the General Assembly ) could decide on the new flag within the coming years. In August 2024, it was announced that a contest to redesign the flag would begin, with submissions opening on September 3, 2024 and closing October 18, 2024. The Commission will shortlist 10 designs, which will be put to

384-584: A public vote in January 2025. In addition to the new designs, the public will also have the option to vote for three historic Illinois flags—the Centennial flag, the Sesquicentennial flag, and the current state flag. The state’s General Assembly will make the final decision regardless of the results of the public vote. Jesse White (politician) Jesse Clark White (born June 23, 1934)

432-474: A shield, with a banner in its beak and sunrise over water in the background. It replaced an earlier seal that was almost the same as the Great Seal of the United States , adopted when Illinois became a state in 1818. The flag of the state of Illinois bearing the central elements of the seal on a white field was adopted in 1915, and the word Illinois was added to the flag in 1970. In a 2001 survey by

480-684: A teacher and administrator. White became a political protégé of longtime Cook County Board President and 42nd Ward Democratic Committeeman George Dunne . White was elected to the Illinois General Assembly in 1974 and served for 16 years. He was elected Cook County Recorder of Deeds , in 1992 and re-elected in 1996 . White was elected Secretary of State of Illinois in 1998 , was re-elected in 2002 , 2006 , 2010 , 2014 , and 2018 . In recent years he has also served as Democratic Committeeman of Chicago's 27th Ward. First elected to Secretary of State of Illinois in 1998, White

528-494: Is a list of all the people who have served as Illinois Territorial Secretary and people who have served as Illinois Secretary of State. The official motto of the state of Illinois is "State Sovereignty - National Union". The Illinois secretary of state in 1867, Sharon Tyndale , as the keeper of the Great Seal of Illinois , had it re-engraved so that the word "sovereignty" was upside down. This 1867 seal redesign continues in use to this day, and can be seen, among other places, as

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576-618: Is an American educator, politician and former athlete from the State of Illinois . A member of the Democratic Party , he served as the 37th Secretary of State of Illinois from 1999 to 2023. He was the longest-serving American to hold this office. A popular office holder, White declined to seek reelection in 2022 for a seventh term. Previously, he served as the Cook County Recorder of Deeds from 1993 to 1999 and in

624-482: Is one of nine U.S. state flags to feature an eagle, alongside those of Iowa , Michigan , Missouri , New York , North Dakota , Oregon , Pennsylvania and Wyoming . The first Great Seal of the State of Illinois was adopted in 1819 by the first Illinois General Assembly . The first law authorizing the Great Seal required the secretary of state of Illinois to procure and keep the seal. The first seal engraved

672-677: The Chicago Public Schools . White was born in Alton , Illinois. He attended Alabama State University (then called Alabama State College), where he played baseball and basketball, and he graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1957. While there, he got to know then local minister, Martin Luther King Jr . He served in the 101st Airborne Division of the United States Army from 1957 to 1959. In May 1995, White

720-648: The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in 1912, Ella Park Lawrence began a campaign to have Illinois adopt a state flag . She was unsuccessful during her time as state regent, but continued to lobby members of the Illinois General Assembly to adopt a state flag as a member of the Rockford chapter of the DAR. On April 1, 1914, Lawrence sent a letter to every Illinois chapter of the DAR announcing

768-408: The Great Seal of the United States . In the eagle's beak there is a banner with the state motto, "State Sovereignty, National Union." The dates on the seal, 1818 and 1868, represent the year Illinois became a state and the year in which the Great Seal was redesigned by Sharon Tyndale. Although "State Sovereignty" comes first in the motto, "State" is at the bottom and "Sovereignty" is upside-down. It

816-560: The Illinois House of Representatives from 1975 to 1993. Raised in Chicago, White attended Alabama State University on a sports scholarship. He was a minor league baseball player in the 1950s and 1960s. During that time, he also formed a youth sports and community organization, the Jesse White Tumbling Team , which has continued throughout his several careers. White went on to become a teacher and administrator in

864-826: The Illinois State Capitol Police , responsible for policing the Illinois State Capitol Complex in Springfield , including both the Capitol and 16 surrounding state buildings. The force was created following a 2004 incident in which an unarmed security guard was shot and killed. The force has an authorised strength of 60 officers. The secretary of state's office occupies three buildings of the Illinois State Capitol Complex in Springfield . Many of

912-564: The Jesse White Tumbling Team to serve as a positive alternative for children residing in the Chicago area. Since its inception, more than 18,500 young men and women have performed with the team. White served as a paratrooper in the United States Army ’s 101st Airborne Division and as a member of the Illinois National Guard . He played minor league professional baseball with the Chicago Cubs organization. In

960-555: The North American Vexillological Association , the flag of Illinois was ranked 49th out of 72 different flags of states and territories, mainly in the US and Canada. For flags, easily recognizable, simpler, bold-shape designs did better in the survey than flags that copied the jurisdiction's seal. The current flag depicts the Great Seal of Illinois, which was originally designed in 1819 and emulated

1008-580: The Pulitzer Prize in 1950. In addition, the secretary of state operates 136 Driver Services license-issuing facilities statewide and maintains its own police force. Established in 1913, their duties include enforcement of the Illinois Vehicle Code on businesses regulated by the secretary of state and maintaining public safety, traffic control and assisting other law enforcement agencies. The secretary of state, to be eligible to take

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1056-761: The line of succession to the office of Governor of Illinois . The Secretary of State Police of Illinois is a statewide police force, established in 1913; it is responsible for enforcing the laws of the Illinois Vehicle Code such as regulating businesses involved with the sale of motor vehicles and vehicle parts. Its main purpose is to protect consumers against fraud through adherence to state statutes. The Secretary of State Police also investigates identity theft, maintains statewide vehicle inspection stations, investigates statewide vehicle thefts, provides statewide school bus regulation, enforces traffic and parking violations and provides law enforcement to all secretary of state facilities. The Secretary of State Police also maintains

1104-402: The 1960s, a Cubs' official told him he was on a shortlist to be brought up to the majors , but was dropped when he was seen at a restaurant with a white woman (who, it turns out, was interviewing him as a reporter). The Cubs honored him in 2021 by giving him a one day majors contract, making him a "Cub for life." Also in the 1960s, White began a 33-year career with the Chicago Public Schools as

1152-607: The CDL licensing process. Most recently, White implemented a key policy change beginning May 1, 2008 in which out-of-state Commercial driver's license holders moving to Illinois must take and pass the written and road tests before they are issued an Illinois CDL. Illinois was the first state in the nation to require these tests for licensed CDL holders moving from another state. The policy change has received praise from law enforcement and trucking industry representatives. White has improved customer services through streamlined operations and

1200-545: The First Person Consent Organ/Tissue Donor Registry, which makes a person's decision to donate legally binding. Since 2006, more than 5 million people have signed up for the registry. In 1999, White inherited an office under a cloud of corruption from George H. Ryan . White immediately pledged to restore integrity and eliminate all forms of institutionalized corruption and wrongdoing. Some key efforts included: establishing

1248-562: The Illinois State House and Senate. Governor Edward F. Dunne did not sign the bill, but he did not veto it. In the 1960s, Chief Petty Officer Bruce McDaniel petitioned to have the name of the state added to the flag. He noted that many of the people with whom he served during the Vietnam War did not recognize the banner. Governor Richard B. Ogilvie signed the addition to the flag into law on September 17, 1969, and

1296-576: The appointment of Burris to the U.S. Senate by registering the appointment in accordance with state law. The document registered did not include White's signature or the State Seal. On January 12, the U.S. Senate officially seated Burris as Illinois’ junior senator. In 1999, White was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame as a Friend of the Community. In 2015, he received

1344-404: The center, which was surrounded by a circle of twenty white five-pointed stars, with an additional twenty-first star (larger than the others) set outside the circle to the upper-right. There was no bicentennial flag. However, on January 12, 2017, the state unveiled a logo in preparation for the state's bicentennial the following year. The logo, designed by Ben Olsen, features a blue silhouette of

1392-490: The correct order on the banner, but the banner twists , so the word "Sovereignty" is upside down, arguably making it less readable. Tyndale's seal features a bald eagle pitched on a rock carrying a shield in its talons and a banner with the state motto in its beak. Thirteen stars and thirteen stripes on the shield represent the original thirteen states of the Union. The date August 26, 1818, when Illinois's first constitution

1440-416: The end of his sixth term at the age of 88, was succeeded by Alexi Giannoulias , who won the 2022 election and became the 38th secretary. The secretary of state before White was George Ryan , a Republican from Kankakee, Illinois . He held the office from 1991 to 1999, when he became Governor of Illinois . Ryan's tenure as secretary of state led to his downfall in the "licenses for bribes" scandal: after

1488-478: The innovative use of technology. This has resulted in shorter than ever wait times at driver licensing facilities as more customers take advantage of new, technology-based transactions that the office has developed to better serve the public. In 2006, Internet transactions accounted for over $ 41 million. In 2008, these transactions accounted for over $ 73 million. White continues to be an advocate for organ and tissue donation. He initiated legislation creating

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1536-406: The lower white band, representing the 10 northern and 10 southern states at the time of Illinois' statehood in 1818. The center blue band had one large, white star for the state of Illinois itself. To mark Illinois' 150th anniversary of statehood in 1968, a sesquicentennial flag was designed for the state. The flag was dark blue, with a stylised white letter "I" defaced with a red map of Illinois in

1584-718: The middle of the state outline portrays the impact Illinois has made on the country and the world over the past two centuries and the bright future we aspire to for the next 200 years." The "Illinois Bicentennial Flag Raising Ceremony" took place on December 4, 2017 at the Skokie Village Hall in Cook County . In March 2023, the Illinois Senate approved the creation of the Illinois Flag Commission, tasked with exploring and developing

1632-428: The new flag, designed by Sanford (Florence) Hutchinson, became official on July 1, 1970. For Illinois's first 100 years of statehood in 1918, Wallace Rice , who designed Chicago's flag , designed a centennial flag for the state. It had three horizontal bands of equal width alternating white, blue, white. It was charged with 21 stars along the edge of the hoist. There were 10 blue stars in the upper white band and 10 in

1680-580: The oath of office, must be a United States citizen of at least 25 years of age, and a resident of Illinois for at least three years preceding the election. On January 9, 2023, Jesse White , a Democrat , completed his sixth term as the 37th secretary of state, the first African-American in the position and by far longest-serving secretary in Illinois history. Before being elected Secretary of State in November 1998, White had been an elected office-holder from Chicago since 1974. White, who decided to retire at

1728-424: The principal device on the flag of Illinois . Great Seal of Illinois The Great Seal of the State of Illinois is the official emblem of the U.S. state of Illinois , and signifies the official nature of a document produced by the state. The present seal was designed and proposed in 1868 and officially adopted in 1869. It depicts in profile a bald eagle perched on a rock with wings spread and holding

1776-481: The secretary is the custodian of the Illinois State Capitol and all state buildings. By statute, the secretary of state is also tasked with issuing licenses to Illinois drivers and registering motor vehicles operated in the state, effectively making the secretary of state's office the department of motor vehicles , though that phrase is not used in Illinois. Enforcement of these duties has made

1824-411: The secretary of state's office a key bureau in the enforcement of laws against driving under the influence . Illinois is one of only three states to put the secretary of state in charge of motor vehicle registration , the other two being Maine and Michigan . Aside from routine responsiblilities, the secretary of state is third (behind the lieutenant governor and attorney general , respectively) in

1872-650: The secretary of state's workers assigned to motor vehicle and licensing duties work in the Howlett Building, south of the Capitol. The Howlett Building is named after former secretary of state Michael Howlett . The State Archives are housed in the Norton Building, southwest of the Capitol. The Illinois State Library is located in the Brooks Library, east of the Capitol, which is named for longtime state Poet Laureate Gwendolyn Brooks , winner of

1920-401: The secretary oversees the state archives and the state library. The State Archives serves as the official depository of state agency and local government records that possess administrative, legal, or historic research value. The State Library houses more than 5,000,000 items, and other informational resources, and oversees a consortium of academic and regional libraries in the state. In addition,

1968-501: The state with the word ILLINOIS above. In the center of the silhouette, is a sunburst effect with the number 200 in gold. Along the right side is the word Bicentennial also in gold from bottom to top and beneath are the dates 1818 and 2018. This is all surrounded by 21 gold stars denoting Illinois position as the twenty-first state. Executive Director of the Bicentennial Office, Stewart Layne, added, "The sunburst in

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2016-614: The state. In 2010, White re-directed federal funds from the Illinois State Library so that local libraries throughout Illinois could maintain a revenue flow from the state despite the state's fiscal crisis. In January 2009, White gained national attention for his decision to not certify Roland Burris 's nomination to the United States Senate following corruption charges against former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich . White steadfastly refused to co-sign

2064-428: The top-ranked graduated driver licensing (GDL) programs in the country. In the first full year of the new law, teen fatal crashes in Illinois dropped by over 40 percent. White has also worked to crack down on DUI . He partnered with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) on key DUI legislation. Effective January 1, 2009, the new law requires all first-time DUI offenders who wish to obtain driving relief to install

2112-411: The words of the state motto be reversed, from "State Sovereignty, National Union", to "National Union, State Sovereignty". However, the bill passed by the legislature on March 7, 1867, kept the original wording. Despite declining his suggestion, the legislature nonetheless entrusted Tyndale with designing the new seal. And Tyndale managed to (literally) twist the legislature's intent; he kept the words in

2160-463: Was adopted in Kaskaskia , appears along the bottom arc of the circle, and 1818, the year of statehood, displays on the seal below 1868, the year the current seal was adopted. This basic design has survived through several minor modifications since it was first conceived. The Illinois secretary of state is still the keeper of the Great Seal of the State of Illinois. During her time as state regent of

2208-472: Was essentially a copy of the Great Seal of the United States . It was used until 1839, when it was recut. The seal designed in 1839 became the Second Great Seal. Illinois Secretary of State Sharon Tyndale spearheaded the drive to create a third state seal for Illinois. In 1867, he asked State Senator Allen C. Fuller to introduce legislation requiring a new seal, and suggested to Fuller that

2256-757: Was inducted into the Southwestern Athletic Conference Hall of Fame. He was an all-city baseball and basketball player at Chicago's Waller High School (now Lincoln Park High School ) and was inducted into the Chicago Public League Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in June 1995. In 1999, he was inducted into the Alabama State University Sports Hall of Fame. In 1959, White founded

2304-516: Was re-elected in 2002 by winning all 102 counties and garnering more than 2.3 million votes, the largest vote total by any candidate for Illinois statewide office in a quarter of a century. In 2006, White was re-elected to a third term, having received 63 percent of the vote statewide. White was elected to a fourth term in 2010, the leading vote-getter in the entire state. White has been an advocate on traffic safety issues. In 2007, he initiated teen driver safety legislation giving Illinois one of

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