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 Blagojevich will be looking for candidates who will:
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Support the president-elect's agenda for the people.
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Effectively represent the interests of the state of Illinois in
the U.S. Congress.
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Work with the governor's administration to achieve shared goals
of ensuring access to affordable health care, rebuilding Illinois'
infrastructure, improving the economic security and livelihoods of
Illinois workers, and caring for the most vulnerable.
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Prioritize the average Illinoisan who is too burdened by taxes
and economic hardship.
The U.S. Constitution, 17th Amendment, provides that a state
legislature may empower the executive of the state to make the
appointment, giving the governor the authority to fill a vacancy in
a Senate seat.
See text below:
United States Constitution: Amendment XVII
The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators
from each state, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and
each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each state shall
have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous
branch of the state legislatures.
When vacancies happen in the representation of any state in the
Senate, the executive authority of such state shall issue writs of
election to fill such vacancies: Provided, that the legislature of
any state may empower the executive thereof to make temporary
appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the
legislature may direct.
This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the
election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as
part of the Constitution.
[Text from file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
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