1. Georgia’s General Assembly

2. Georgia’s General Assembly
Georgia’s Constitution mandates that there shall be 180 members of the House of Representatives (each speaking for 30,000 citizens), and such membership shall be proportioned among the representative districts provided for in Chapter 2 of this title.
There shall be 56 members of the Senate (each speaking for 146,000 citizens), and such membership shall be apportioned among the senatorial districts provided for in Chapter 2 of this title

3. Georgia’s General Assembly
The General Assembly meets for a 40-day session starting the second week of January each year.
The Senate and House convene daily at 10:00 a.m. at the state capital unless otherwise ordered and meet in separate chambers on opposite sides of the 3rd floor of the Capital.

4. Qualifications to Serve
State Senate -
Must be 25 years old
Citizen of the U.S.
Citizen of Georgia for two years
Legal resident of the territory embraced within the district from which elected for at least one year.

5. Qualifications to Serve
State House of Representatives
Must be 21 years old
Citizen of the U.S.
Citizen of Georgia for two years
Legal resident of the territory embraced within the district from which elected for at least one year.

6. Unlike other government officials who are elected full-time to public service, the legislature is composed of part-time member who are occupied in another business or profession when they are not carrying out legislative duties.
Some are attorneys
Business Owners
Farming
Education
Variety of other occupations

7. The are paid for their services
Reimbursed for travel expenses
Encouraged to take classes relevant to their positions at taxpayer expense.

8. Presiding Officers
State Speaker of the House – Presides over the House of Representatives
Elected every two years by the membership
Senate
The Lieutenant Governor acts as president over senate
Both the Speaker of the House and the Lieutenant Governor can appoint committee members
Assign bills to committees
Recognize members who want to speak on the chamber floor

9. How a Bill Becomes a Law
Bills can be introduced in either the Senate or the House
With the exception of revenue and appropriations bills, which must originate in the House
A member of House or Senate can initiate a bill
File with clerk of House
File with Secretary of Senate
Not later than one hour before adjournment.

10. How a Bill Becomes a Law
The Bill is read in chambers the next day and each member has a printed copy on his or her desk to study.
When bill is read, it is referred to the appropriate committee by the Speaker
Referral to one of the standing committees depends on topic of bill.

11. How a Bill Becomes a Law
On 2nd legislative day, in the House only, the bill is read for the second time so it will be ready for action by the House when it is reported on by the committee
In Senate, the 2nd reading comes after a favorable committee report

12. How a Bill Becomes a Law If bill survives debate, a vote is taken
If the measure receives a majority (91) votes of yes, it is passed and sent to the second house for consideration
The second house can either pass the bill or defeat it.
If passed unamended, the bill is sent to the governor who can sign it into law or veto it.
If legislation is amended in either House or Senate, it is returned for consideration.

13. How a Bill Becomes a Law
When House and Senate disagree about amended portions, the presiding officers of each body appoint members to a conference committee to negotiate compromise
This compromise must be then approved by a majority of both the house and Senate
After the bill is final, it is sent to the governor

14. How a Bill Becomes a Law
If the governor signs the bill or does nothing, the bill becomes law
All bills vetoed by the governor are sent back to the presiding officer of the branch of the General Assembly where it originated.
List of reasons vetoed included
Veto of governor can be overridden by a two-thirds majority vote in the House and the Senate
When this happens, the bill becomes law

15. How a Bill Becomes a Law
All bills – those passed and approved by the governor
Those on which the veto of the governor is overridden
Those on which no final action is taken
Become permanent records in the office of the Secretary of State.
New Laws generally become effective the following July 1

16. Amending the Constitution
Two-thirds of both the House of Representatives and Senate Chambers must vote in favor of the proposed amendment
Then passed on to the voters in the next general election
If a majority of the people vote in favor of the amendment, it will be ratified.