1. Unit 6: State and Local Government
American Government and Citizenship

2. State Constitutions State constitutions:
create state governments and establish the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
establish local governments.
regulate how state and local governments can raise and spend money.
establish independent state agencies, boards, and commissions.

3. Georgia’s Constitution
Newest version: 1983
Shorter than earlier versions
Basic framework of Georgia’s government.
Supreme state law in Georgia (takes precedence over all other local laws and ordinances)
89 pages in length (as opposed to 6 pages)

4. Amending the Constitution
Amendment proposed by the General Assembly or constitutional convention
House of Representativ es and Senate must approve with 2/3s vote
People vote in the next general election; if the majority favors the amendment becomes a part of the Constitution
The ratified amendment takes effect the following
January 1
As of 2008 there were 70 amendments in the Georgia’s Constitution

5. Comparing Constitutions
Georgia’s Constitution
U.S. Constitution
Article I
Bill of Rights
Legislative Branch
Article II
Voting and Elections
Executive Branch
Article III
Legislative Power
Judicial Branch
Article IV
Constitutional Boards and Commissions
State Boundaries and Protection
Article V
Amending the Constitution
Article VI
National Supremacy
Article VII
Taxation and Finance
Ratification of the Constitution
Article VIII
Education
Amendments 1-10
Article IX
County and Municiple Organizations
Amendments 11-20
Other Amendments
Article X
Amendments to the Constitution
Article XI
Miscellaneous Provisions

6. Methods of the Amendment Process
1st Method: Amendment must be proposed by 2/3 of each house and ratified by ¾ of the state legislatures (38 states)
2nd Method: Amendment may be proposed by Congress and ratified by convention in ¾ of the States
3rd Method: Amendment may be proposed by a national convention, called by Congress by the request of 2/3 (34 states) of the State legislatures
4th Method: Amendment my be proposed by a national convention and ratified by conventions in ¾ of the States

8. Summary
How is Georgia’s Constitution different from/ similar to the U.S. Constitution?

9. How is the state government of Georgia organized?

10. State Legislatures
Members are elected from districts. Qualifications for members are outlined in state constitutions.
Many work part-time in other fields.
Most state legislatures:
are bicameral
hold annual sessions
conduct business through committees
Georgia’s Legislature is called the Georgia General Assembly.

11. General Assembly Senate Districts Douglas County has 4 Representatives
House of Representatives Districts
Senate Districts
Douglas County has 4 Representatives
DC has 2 Senate seats

12. Representatives of Douglas County
District 64- Kimberly Alexander District 67 Micah Gravley

13. Representatives of Douglas County
District 61- Roger Bruce
District 62- LaDawn Jones

14. Representatives of Douglas County
District 65 Sharon Beasley-Teague District 66 Dustin Hightower

15. Senators Senate District 35 Senate District 30 Donzilla James
Bill Hamrick

16. Primary Functions Pass state budget
Establish spending priorities (education)
Setting tax rates
Create laws
Consider proposed amendments
Reapportionment of legislative lines (State and Federal)

17. House of Representatives
180 Districts (1 rep. for each 30,000 voters)
Qualifications:
Must be 21 years old
lived for a least 1 year in the district
lived for a least 2 years in Georgia.
36 standing committees
Speaker of the House rules the House.
Elected by the majority party.
Appoints all committee chairs.
Schedules debates and votes
Other Key offices
Floor Leader
Majority/ Minority Leader

18. Senate 56 Districts Qualifications: Must be 25 years old
lived for a least 1 year in the district
lived for a least 2 years in Georgia.
26 Standing Committees
Lieutenant Governor
Elected by the people

19. The Executive Branch The governor vetoes or signs passed bills.
The governor heads the executive branch of the state government.
State constitutions outline qualifications of the governor.
A governor generally must be nominated by a political party and win the general election.
Most governors serve four-year terms. In 18 states, governors and other officials can be removed from office by a recall.

20. The Executive Branch
The governor signs laws, represents the state to foreign businesses, is his or her party’s state leader, and works to obtain federal grants.
Most governors prepare the state budget and are commander in chief of the state National Guard.
Most states elect other members of the executive branch, such as the Lieutenant Governor.

21. The Executive Branch Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue. Two term Governor.
Former State Senator and Veterinarian.
Republican.
63 years old.

22. The Executive Branch Georgia Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle
Presides over the
State Senate.
First Republican Lieutenant Governor in state history.
Former businessman.

23. The Judicial Branch
State courts interpret and apply state and local laws to civil and criminal cases.
The justice court performs marriages and handles minor civil and criminal cases.
State and local governments are responsible for protecting life and property, and for establishing a criminal code and a system of punishment.
State courts handle the majority of all criminal cases in the United States.

24. State Regulation of Business
Business corporations must have a charter issued by a state government.
Federal and state governments regulate giant corporations.
State governments provide workers’ compensation.
State governments try to attract new business and industry.

25. Providing Education, Health, and Welfare
State governments provide about 45 percent of revenues for local public schools. They set the standards for educational achievement.
States set the standards for marriage laws.
The state licenses doctors and dentists, regulates the sale of medicines, and requires vaccinations for schoolchildren.
State agencies provide programs of public welfare, health and human services.
With federal assistance, states help people with special needs.
With Medicaid assistance, states help low-income people pay medical bills.

26. State Tax Revenue
State constitutions limit state taxing powers, as does the Constitution of the U.S.
Today, most state governments have some type of sales tax, which accounts for about half of the total tax revenue of state governments.
Most states now also have individual income taxes and corporate income taxes, which account for more than 30% of all state tax revenues.

27. State Tax Revenues
States require license fees for various businesses and professions, as well as for operating motor vehicles.
States impose taxes for removing natural resources from state land or water. Many states also have less well-known taxes, such as a state property tax and estate taxes.

28. Other Sources of Revenue
Nearly three-fourths of the states run public lotteries to raise revenue.
The federal government provides about 20% of all state revenues, much in the form of grants, and stipulates how they may be used.

29. Georgia Information Atlanta is Georgia’s Capital.
The State bird is the Brown Thrasher.
The State flower is the Cherokee Rose.
13th British Colony, 4th State to join the Union
Known as the “Peach State.”
State Moto: “Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation.”