1. Georgia’s State Government

2. Terms to know Pg. 210 &211 1.Slander11. County 2.Libel12. County Seat 3.Search Warrant13. Consolidated 4.Probable Cause Government 5.Precinct14. Special Purpose 6.Non Partisan District 7.Majority15. Ordinance 8.Referendum16. Charter 9.Political Party17. Home rule 10. Political Ideology18. Incorporated

3. Georgia’s Constitution Purpose is to protect and benefit the people of Georgia Contains 11 articles that establish the way government is structured and how it operates Covers laws and rules that apply to Georgia Outlines government powers and their functions First article is the Bill of Rights.

4. Articles of Georgia’s Constitution (no notes) I.Bill of Rights II.Voting and Elections III.Legislative Branch IV.Constitutional Boards and Commissions V.Executive Branch VI.Judicial Branch VII.Taxation and Finance VIII.Education IX.Counties and Municipal Corporations X.Amendments to the Constitution XI.Miscellaneous Provisions Georgia has had 10 Constitutions. The current one was adopted in 1983.

5. Three Branches of Georgia’s Government Legislative: Makes Laws Executive: Carries out and enforces Laws Judicial: Interprets how the law applies Each branch has separate powers to carry out their functions The division of specific powers among the three is known as Separation of Power and each uses its power to check and balance the actions of the others.

6. Checks and Balances Example – The General Assembly (Legislative branch) can pass laws. – The governor (Executive branch) can veto them.veto – General Assembly can override the governors veto with enough votes. (2/3 majority vote) – The Supreme Court (Judicial Branch) can declare a law approved by the General Assembly and the governor as unconstitutional. – The governor can appoint judges to the Supreme Court, but the General Assembly must approve them.

7. Citizen’s Rights The Bill of Rights outlines the basic rights of all citizens including life, liberty, property, and freedom of conscience.

8. Citizen’s Responsibilities Includes paying taxes, serving on juries and volunteering...also…. Voting: Must be a citizen of U.S. and a legal resident of Georgia. Must be 18 or older. Be a legal resident of Georgia and the county where you want to vote.

9. Citizen’s Responsibilities In Addition to the 3 requirements: The voter cannot currently be serving time in jail for a felony offense. Cannot be ruled to be mentally incompetent.

10. Elections in Georgia 3 Types of Elections in Georgia: 1. Primary – Members of the Republican and Democratic party vote for candidates to run for specific offices. These are open elections and held in July or August in even numbered years. 2. General – Winners of the Primaries compete for political office. Also held in even numbered years. 3. Special – used to present a special issue or fill a vacancy.

11. Role of Political Parties To offer groups of people who share similar ideas a chance to work together to elect their members to political office. Two major parties (Republican & Democratic) with many smaller parties often called third parties.

12. 1.Why is Georgia’s constitution important? 2. What is the division of power among the three branches of government known as? 3. How does each branch control the actions of the others? Left Hand Assignment

13. Legislative Branch  Introduces bills and makes laws  Georgia’s legislative branch is called the General Assembly  The General Assembly is Bicameral.  The Senate is made up of 56 members  The House of Representatives has 180 members.

14. Legislative Branch House of Representatives  Leader – Speaker of the House  Elected by the members of the House of Representatives  Schedules debates, voting, assigns members to committees. Senate  Leader – Lieutenant Governor  Elected by the people of the state  Promotes committee chairs. Committees – 4 types  Standing Committees – Permanent for every legislative session  Ad Hoc – Committees created for a special purpose (Sibley Commission)  Joint – Committees made up of members from House and Senate  Conference - Committees when House and Senate come up with different version of a bill.

15. Qualifications for General Assembly Georgia State Senate Georgia State House of Representatives Qualifications25 Years Old Resident of Ga. 2 years Resident of the district 1 year U.S. Citizen 21 Years Old Resident of Ga. For 2 years Resident of the district for 1 year U.S. Citizen Term2 years ElectionNovember – even number years

16. Executive Branch  Enforces Laws  Led by the Governor and Lieutenant Governor Governors Duties 1. Commander in Chief of the Georgia National Guard 2. Sign bills into law or veto them 3. Appoints people to lead in executive departments 4. Writes the State budget Lieutenant Governor Duties 1. Serves as Governor if current Governor dies or is too sick to carry out their duties. 2. Appoints committee members as President of Senate

17. Qualifications for Governor and Lieutenant Governor GovernorLieutenant Governor Qualifications30 Years Old Resident of Ga. 6 years U.S. Citizen 15 years 30 Years Old Resident of Ga. For 6 years U.S. Citizen 15 years Term4 years No more than 2 consecutive terms 4 years Unlimited Terms Electioneven number years

18. Judicial Branch  Interprets the law and ensures justice  Divided into 2 court systems 1. Trial Court: criminal actions & lawsuits 2.Court of Appeals: Reviews decisions made in trial courts  Criminal Law  Laws that are created to protect society from wrong doers  Crimes are serious offenses that are punishable with fines, community service, prison, and sometimes death.  Civil Law  Laws that are created to deal with relationships amongst individuals.  Usually involve compensation from one individual or group to another based on injury or wrong doing.  A civil wrong doing against an individual is called a tort.

19. CourtHow Judges are Selected Number of Courts JurisdictionResponsibilities StateElected 4yr term70Limited 1 County Misdemeanors Preliminary criminal cases Civil Cases Search warrants JuvenileAppointed by Superior Court Judge 4 yr term 159Limited 1 County Delinquent/unruly under 17 Deprived/neglected under 18 ProbateElected 4 yr term159Limited 1 County Wills, estates, marriage license, firearms MagistrateEither elected or appointed 159Limited 1 County Issue warrants Minor criminal cases SuperiorElected 4yr terms49 CircuitsOriginalCivil, Criminal, divorce Court of Appeals12 Judges Elected 6yr terms 4 DivisionsAppellateReviews civil and criminal cases Supreme6 Justices 1 Chief Elected 6yr terms 1AppellateReviews decisions made by trial courts or court of appeals.

20. NO WARM UP TODAY. Turn to page 216 in your notebook and complete the following: 1. Mary is 22 years old and has lived in Effingham for 2 years and Georgia for 5 years. She was born in South Carolina. What political office/offices can she hold in Georgia 2.John is 35 years old and was born in Spain but moved to the United States when he was 4. He has lived in Effingham for 7 years and lived in Georgia for 17 years. What political office/offices can he hold. 3.Morgan is 45 years old and was born and raised in Effingham county and still lives their today. What political office/offices in Georgia can she hold? 4.How many counties are in Georgia? 5.What Superior court Circuit is Effingham in?

21. Local Governments

22. How Local Governments Work Operate below the state level. Manage local laws and services (home rule).

23. County Governments (159 counties) Each has a probate, magistrate and juvenile court. Build and maintain roads and bridges. Maintain public health facilities, schools, parks and libraries. Collect county taxes to cover costs. Elect judges, commissioners and sheriffs.

24. Municipal (City) Governments Granted a charter by the state legislature. Area becomes “incorporated” (min. pop. 200 ). Must be separated from an existing town and have most of its land divided for purposeful use. All elect a city or town council (legislative).

25. Special Purpose Districts Act as an independent governing authority. Created for a single job or group of tasks. Example: Georgia’s Ports Authority, Public School Systems.

26. (No Notes) Consolidated Governments (No Notes) Some County and city governments are combined to avoid duplicating services like water, sanitation and law enforcement.

27. Services offered by Municipal Governments Most of the revenue to pay for the following services are collected through property taxes. 1.Police and fire protection 2.Garbage collection 3.Water and sewage treatment 4.Public Health facilities 5.Parks and Recreation 6.Building Codes 7.Planning and zoning

28. Council-Manager Government Council members establish laws and policies. A city manager is hired, runs the budget and the daily management of the city. Mayors are chosen or elected but are only a member of the council (legislature). Savannah has a council- manager government.

29. Strong Mayor-Council The Mayor is elected by voters and has the most power. The Mayor can veto legislation and prepares the budget.

30. Weak Mayor- Council The Mayor is elected by voters. The Mayor has little power and no veto power. The Council runs the government.

31. Commission Government Voters elect commissioners. Each is head of a department of government. The Commission elects a mayor from among themselves.

32. March 28, 1935 Pledge of Allegiance to Georgia Flag Legislation Gov. Eugene Talmadge signed a joint resolution of the General Assembly adopting a pledge of allegiance to the Georgia state flag, which at the time consisted of three bars - red, white, and red - with a vertical blue band on which was centered the state seal. The new pledge stated: “I pledge allegiance to the Georgia flag and to the principles for which it stands; Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation.”Eugene Talmadge