The Legislative Branch of State Government 10th Amendment to Constitution: “Powers not delegated to the United States, by the Constitution, nor prohibited to it by the States, are reserved to the States, respectively, or to the people.”

Legislative Branch Law-making body in Georgia Officially known as Georgia General Assembly Became bicameral (two-houses) in 1789: House of Representatives and Senate Legislative Session - 40 days long Starts 2nd Monday in January and lasts until middle of March

Differences Between Houses House of Reps Senate Only the House of Reps can write appropriation (spending) bills 180 members Must be 21 years old, U.S. citizen, Ga citizen 2 years, resident of district 1 year Presiding officer: Speaker of the House Only the Senate can confirm appointments by the governor 56 members Must be 25 years old, U.S. citizen, Ga citizen 2 years, resident of district 1 year Presiding Officer: Lieutenant Governor

Both Houses… Are elected by popular vote Serve 2 year terms Have no limit to the number of terms they can serve Represent an equal number of people per district Are organized into committees

Powers of a Presiding Officer Determine order of business Control debate Rule out proposed amendments to bills Enforce rules of procedure for General Assembly Control meeting times and recesses of the Gen Assembly Order a roll call vote on any issues

Legislative Committees Organized like Congress in committees and subcommittees to study bills – proposed laws Bills may start in House or Senate (except for appropriation/spending bills that have to start in House) Standing committees: permanent part of the General Assembly Special Committees: organized for special task – last only until work is done Members serve on several committees

Standing Committees Ways & Means – handles bills involving taxes Appropriations – works on the budget Judiciary – deals with bills concerning the state’s laws and court systems

Special Committees Interim - works on assigned issues and concerns between sessions Conference – appointed when House and Senate pass different versions of a bill – create a compromise bill Joint – made up of members from both houses and works on an assigned issue

Committee Actions on a Bill Hold the bill and not release it to the house Vote the bill out of committee and recommend that it be passed Vote the bill out of committee and recommend that it NOT be passed Make changes and vote new version out In House only, vote bill out of committee with no recommendation Once a bill goes to the floor for a vote, a majority of votes are required to pass it.