§ 4. No elector shall be deemed to have lost his residence in this State by reason of his absence on business of the United States or of this State, or in the military or naval service of the United States. § 5. No soldier, seaman or marine in the army or navy of the United States shall be deemed a resident of this State in consequence of being stationed therein. § 6. No person shall be elected or appointed to any office in this State, civil or military, who is not a citizen of the United States, and who shall not have resided in this State one year next preceding the election or appointment. § 7. The General Assembly shall pass laws excluding from the right of suffrage persons convicted of infamous crimes. ARTICLE VIII-EDUCATION § 1. The General Assembly shall provide a thorough and efficient system of free schools whereby all children of this State may receive a good common school education. § 2. All lands, moneys, or other property, donated, granted or received for school, college, seminary or university purposes, and the proceeds thereof shall be faithfully applied to the objects for which such gifts or grants were made. § 3. Neither the General Assembly nor any county, city, town, township, school district or other public corporation shall ever make any appropriation, or pay from any public fund whatever, anything in aid of any church or sectarian purpose, or to help support or sustain any school, academy, seminary, college, university or other literary or scientific institution, controlled by any church or sectarian denomination whatever; nor shall any grant or donation of land, money or other personal property ever be made by the State or any such public corporation to any church or for any sectarian purpose. § 4. No teacher, State, county, township or district school officer shall be interested in the sale, proceeds or profits of any book, apparatus or furniture, used or to be used in any school in this State, with which such officer or teacher may be connected, under such penalties as may be provided by the General Assembly. § 5. There may be a county superintendent of schools in each county, whose qualifications, powers, duties, compensation and time and manner of election and term of office shall be prescribed by law. ARTICLE XII-MILITIA § 1. The militia of the State of Illinois shall consist of all ablebodied male persons, resident in the State, between the ages of 18 and 45, except such persons as now are or hereafter may be exempted by the laws of the United States or of this State. § 2. The General Assembly, in providing for the organization, equipment and discipline of the militia, shall conform as nearly as practicable to the regulations for the government of the armies of the United States. § 3. All militia officers shall be commissioned by the Governor, and may hold their commissions for such time as the General Assembly may provide. § 4. The militia shall, in all cases except treason, felony or breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at musters and elections, and in going to and returning from the same. § 5. The military records, banners and relics of the State shall be preserved as an enduring memorial of the patriotism and valor of Illinois, and it shall be the duty of the General Assembly to provide by law for the safe-keeping of the same. § 6. No persons having conscientious scruples against bearing arms shall be compelled to do militia duty in the time of peace: Provided, such person shall pay an equivalent for such exemption. |