1. Georgia’s Legislative Branch 2018

2. House of Representatives
1. What power does Georgia’s constitution give the legislative branch?
 law-making power
What is Georgia’s legislative branch called?
Georgia General Assembly
Started in 1777 as a uni-cameral legislature
Reorganized in 1789 as a bi-cameral legislature with a senate and house of representatives
What are the two differences in operations of the Senate v. the House of Representatives?
Senate
House of Representatives
Only the senate can confirm appointments the governor makes to executive offices.
Only the house of representatives can write appropriations (spending) bills

3. House of Representatives
SENATE
House of Representatives
Number of Members
 56
180 
Election
November, even numbered years
Term
 2 years/term—unlimited # of terms
2years/term—unlimited # of terms
Qualifications
Age
25 years
21 years
US Citizenship
YES
GA Citizenship
 2 years
Resident of district
 1 year
Duties
Serving on standing committees
Pass state’s operating budget
Enacting laws
Redistricting- every 10 years members draw legislative district lines to create maps for the Senate and U.S. House of Representative
Vote to place constitutional amendments on the election ballot
Presiding Officer for Each Party
Lieutenant Governor
 Speaker of the House is elected

4. 5. When and for how long does the Georgia General Assembly meet?
The session begins on the second Monday in January for 40 days that usually lasts until mid-March. (Breaks and recesses do not count as part of the 40 days)
Other leaders in the General Assembly:
Majority Leader- responsible for making sure its members vote for the bills and agenda the majority party favors
Minority Leader- Same as majority leader
Floor Leader- promotes interests of the Governor on the house floor

5. Committee System What is the purpose of the committee system?
To study and review bills
Define each type of committee
Standing committees- permanent committees or those that continue for every legislative session. House has 36 and Senate has 26.
Ad hoc- committees created for a special purpose
Joint- a committee made up of members of the Senate and House
Conference- Created when the House and Senate create different versions of a bill. The members of each house must compromise and make one bill for it to become a law.
9. How many committees are the General Assembly members required to serve on?
Each member of the General Assembly is responsible for serving on at least two or three committees.
10. What do these committees have the power to do?
Amend- Change
Engross- Approve
Kill- Dies in the committee

6. How a Bill Becomes a Law

14. 1996 Olympics
Short Term
Long Term
Economic
Population