Georgia Government

Georgia Government The Constitution of 1777 was too weak to actually run a state, just like the Articles of Confederation were too weak to run a country. Georgia wrote a new Constitution in 1789, modeled on the US Constitution. Georgia’s Constitution is amended so often that it becomes cumbersome and confusing. Georgia has had 10 Constitutions adopted in: 1777, 1789, 1791, 1861, 1865, 1868, 1877, 1945, 1976, 1983

Georgia Government Georgia’s Government is set up almost the same as the US Government: Three Branches: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Sovereignty rests with the people Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances are set up to prevent one branch from becoming too powerful

Rights & Responsibilities of Citizens Rights of Citizens Responsibilities of Citizens All of the rights of US Citizens Life, Liberty, & Property Freedom of conscience Fishing & Hunting Banishment & Whipping not allowed as punishment Paying Taxes Serving in Juries Volunteering Voting

Executive Branch Georgia’s Executive Branch includes many elected officials: Governor Lieutenant Governor Other Elected Officials: Attorney General Secretary of State Commissioner of Agriculture Commissioner of Labor Commissioner of Insurance Public Service Commissioners State School Superintendent

Governor In your Textbook, turn to page 530- 534 and answer the following questions: What are the qualifications for Governor? How is the Governor elected, how long is the term, and how many terms can each one serve? What are the formal powers of the Governor? What are the informal powers of the Governor?

Lieutenant Governor In your Textbook, turn to page 534 and answer the following questions: What are the qualifications for Lieutenant Governor? How is the Lt. Governor elected, how long is the term, and how many terms can each one serve? What are the duties of the Lt. Governor?

Other Executive Departments Department of Education – Directed by the State Superintendent of Schools Department of Public Safety – Includes Highway Patrol, Capital Police, and other law enforcement agencies Department of Transportation – Supervises roads and highways, along with rail, air, and sea transportation in Georgia Department of Economic Development – Helps bring new businesses to Georgia Department of Natural Resources – Supervises rivers & lakes, hunting, fishing, and boating, and Georgia’s historical sites.

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Legislative Branch The Legislative Branch is the Georgia General Assembly It is modeled on the United States Congress Bicameral (Two houses) State Senate House of Representatives Meets once a year for 40-day session, beginning in January Legislators work in committees and hearings the rest of the year

Legislative Branch Turn to Pages 536-540 of your Textbook and answer the following questions: How many Senators and Representatives are there? What are the qualifications for Senators and Representatives? What are the terms of office for Senators and Representatives? How many terms may they serve? Who presides over the Senate? Who presides over the House of Representatives? Who makes assignments for committee chairmen and members in each house? List the 4 types of committees and describe what each does. What types of laws can the General Assembly pass? What are Public Regulations?

Political Parties in Georgia The two main political parties in Georgia (and the United States) are the Democrats and the Republicans Democrats completely dominated Georgia politics from 1860 for more than 100 years Parties offer a way for people with common beliefs to get together to elect representatives who think the same way. Georgia does not require voters to register with their party affiliation.

Parties in the Legislative Branch The two parties influence the leadership and committee assignments in the General Assembly The majority party usually elects the leaders of each house and the leader of the committees The minority party will do their best to work with the majority to get bills passed

Leadership in the General Assembly In addition to the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate (the Lt. Governor), there are other leaders in the General Assembly Majority and Minority Leaders President Pro Tempore of the Senate Governor’s Floor Leaders

Committee System of the General Assembly Legislators will serve on several committees Assignments are made according to the interest of the district they are representing There are 43 Committees listed for the State House dealing with issues such as Transportation, Agriculture, Public Safety, Education, and many others The committees make it possible for legislators to study proposed laws more closely than if every person had to learn about every bill

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Georgia’s Legislative Process How a Bill Becomes a Law

Legislative Process The process for bills in the General Assembly are almost identical to those in the US Congress. All bills start as an idea proposed and submitted by one of the Legislators. Only a member may submit bills. Most bills do not become law. They usually “die in committee”, that is, the committee that first looks at the bill decides that it should not be sent on. Both houses of the General Assembly must pass identical bills in order for it to become a law.

Legislative Process Watch the video “The Green Tree Frog: How a bill becomes a law” – Write down the steps needed to pass a new law Refer to your Textbook pages 541 & 541. Copy the flow chart on the next page in your notebook and complete the steps describing the process for legislation in the Georgia General Assembly.

HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW Bill is Introduced Second House of the General Assembly Law Takes Effect on January 1 First House of the General Assembly

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