Public policy and new legislation is made at the local, state and federal level.  The Illinois state house in Springfield is currently led by two Democrats, Emil Jones in the State Senate and Michael Madigan in the State House of Representatives.  On the Federal level in Washington DC,  the House of Representative's Speaker of the House is Nancy Pelosi, Democrat from California, and Harry Reid is the leader of the Senate.

The Illinois Congressional delegation includes:

U.S. Senators:
Richard J. Durbin (D)            Barack Obama (D)

U.S. Representatives:
1.  Bobby Rush (D)                 11.  Jerry Weller (R)
2.  Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D)        12.  Jerry Costello (D)
3.  Daniel Lipinski (D)              13.  Judy Biggert (R)
4.  Luis Gutierrez (D)              14.  Dennis Hastert (R)
5.  Rahm Emanuel (D)             15.  Timothy V. Johnson (R)
6.  Peter Roskam (R)              16.  Donald Manzullo (R)
7.  Danny Davis (D)                17.  Phil Hare (D)
8.  Melissa Bean (D)               18.  Ray LaHood (R)
9.  Janice Schakowsky (D)       19.  John Shimkus (R)
10.  Mark Kirk (R)