Township government is one of the oldest forms of government in Illinois. While the viability of the continued role of township government has been questioned recently, those who work with townships and receive services from them have no doubt about their importance. Townships perform three mandatory functions: administering a general assistance program to qualifying residents, maintaining township road district highways and bridges, and appraising property values in all counties other than Cook County. Townships also are given a variety of statutory responsibilities which are somewhat lesser known, but equally important. For example, they may, among other services, provide senior services, conduct youth programs, appoint fire district trustees, and maintain cemeteries; additionally, township trustees serve as the township’s official “fence viewers.”

Townships have been given various powers which they may exercise depending upon the needs of their constituents and the activism of their officials. Each township has the corporate capacity to exercise the powers expressly granted to it, pr those necessary implied from these express grants, and no others. 60 ILCS 1/85-10. See also Grassini v. DuPage Tp., 279 Ill. App. 3d 614, 665 N.E.2d 860 (3d Dist. 1996) (holding that a township may exercise only those powers conferred upon it by statute). This limitation is called the “Dillon’s Rule” and affects all Illinois governments except home rule municipalities and counties. Like other non-home rule units, townships have no inherent powers, but only those granted to them by the constitution or authorized by statute. Diversified Computer Services, Inc. v. Town of York, 104 Ill. App. 3d 852, 433 N.E.2d 726 (2d Dist. 1982). Prior to engaging in any act, therefore, a township must make sure that it possesses the authority to engage in such an act. Townships are conferred their powers through the Illinois Township Code (60 ILCS 1/1 et. seq.), the 1970 Illinois Constitution and through various other statutory and common laws. Special statutory sections govern the powers and the functions of township officers.

Townships exercise their various powers through either the corporate authorities of the township (the electors) or the township board.