Who has the power to legislate in Illinois?

The General Assembly holds the power to legislate in Illinois, as it is the state's legislative body. This bicameral assembly consists of two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Together, they are responsible for creating, amending, and repealing laws within the state. The structure and authority of the General Assembly are defined in the Illinois Constitution, which grants it the exclusive responsibility to make laws.

The Governor, while an important figure in the legislative process, primarily has the role of executing laws and may influence legislation through veto power or by proposing bills, but does not have the authority to legislate independently. The Supreme Court, on the other hand, is the judicial branch that interprets laws and ensures they are applied correctly but does not create legislation. Mayors operate at a local level and have authority over city governance, but they do not possess the broader legislative powers held by the General Assembly.