1. 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.”

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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.