The operation of townships in Illinois is established primarily by the . Each county has the option to adopt or discontinue the township form of government. Each township name is chosen by "in accordance with the express wish of the inhabitants"; but if "there is not a degree of unanimity as to the name", then the name may be chosen by the commissioners that are dividing the county into townships. In addition, if the
county board is petitioned by a majority of the township's voters, the board may change the township's name. There are special provisions for automatic creation of a township in any city or village where township organization has been chosen for the county but some of the municipality's territory does not yet have an organized township; for consolidating the territory of a city across multiple townships into a single township for the city at the voters' request; and for creating an optional "coterminous" township that follow the borders of a city in most circumstances and allows the
city council to act as the township board.
Powers enumerates general services that townships are allowed to spend money on: • Public safety (including law enforcement, fire protection, and building code enforcement). • Environmental protection (including sewage disposal, sanitation, and pollution abatement). • Public transportation (including transit systems, paratransit systems, and streets and roads). • Health. • Recreation. • Libraries. • Social services for the poor and aged. • Development and retention of business, industrial, manufacturing, and tourist facilities within the township. Other parts of authorize townships to provide cemeteries,
comfort stations,
community buildings, hospitals, monuments, open spaces, parks, facilities for the
developmentally disabled, and disposal of brush and leaves. After approval by a referendum, a township may also provide
water and
sewer services and general
waste collection. ==Townships==