1. Unit 13 – the Executive Branch
Georgia Studies
Unit 13 – the Executive Branch

2. Executive Branch in Georgia
SS8CG3 The student will analyze the role of the executive branch in Georgia state government.
a. Explain the qualifications, term, election, and duties of the governor and lieutenant governor.
b. Describe the organization of the executive branch, with emphasis on major policy areas of state programs; include education, human resources, public safety, transportation, economic development, and natural resources.
c. Evaluate how the executive branch fulfills its role through state agencies that administer programs and enforce laws.
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
How does the governor and the agencies of the executive branch protect the citizens of the state?
This is an essential question for this section of the chapter.

3. Federal System
The Federal government is divided into three branches – Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.
The State government of Georgia is also divided into three branches – Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.
The United States Executive Branch is led by the President and Vice President.
GA’s Executive Branch is led by the Governor and Lieutenant Governor.

4. Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Qualifications –
• 30 years old
U.S. citizen for fifteen years
Citizen of Georgia for six years
Term – The term of office for the Governor and Lieutenant Governor is 4 years. The Governor may run for and serve a second term. For the Lieutenant Governor there is no limit on the number of terms.

5. Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Election – Both the Governor and Lieutenant Governor are elected by the citizens of Georgia.
Unlike the President and Vice President of the United States the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Georgia do not run on the same ticket or need to be in the same party.

6. Duties of the Governor
• Elected by a popular vote of all eligible Georgia voters
Serves four-year terms
May propose new programs or laws
Is limited to two consecutive terms
May call special legislative sessions or veto bills
May propose and direct the state budget
May appoint members of state boards

7. Governor
Brian Kemp – Republican that took office in 2019

8. Duties of the Lieutenant Governor
If the office of governor becomes vacant, the Lt. Governor takes over until the next election…THEREFORE…
The qualifications for office are identical to the Governor’s
Unlike the Governor, the Lt. Governor has no terms limits

9. Duties of the Lieutenant Governor
Unlike President and Vice President of the U.S., the Governor and Lt. Governor do not run on the same ticket. It is possible, then, for them to be in different political parties!!!
The Lt. Governor is President of the Senate and is, therefore, the only officer who is a member of two branches of government!!!

10. Lieutenant Governor
Geoff Duncan – Republican elected in 2019

11. Other Members of the Executive Branch
According to the Georgia Constitution, there are six other elected members of the Executive Branch: 1. Attorney General – serves as the state’s chief legal officer (deals with contracts and legal concerns for the state) 2. Secretary of State – keeper of GA’s Great Seal and the custodian of the state flag and other state symbols; supervises all elections; handles registration of corporations and organizations; oversees 30 state boards

12. Other Members of the Executive Branch
3. State School Superintendent – heads the Department of Education; CEO of the state’s Board of Education (14 members); made up of 5 offices 4. Agriculture Commissioner – oversees and regulates the state’s agriculture industry; regulates, monitors, and assists convenience stores, food processing and bottling plants, pest eradication programs, nurseries and garden businesses and state farmers’ markets

13. Other Members of the Executive Branch
5. Insurance Commissioner – regulates insurance businesses and protects consumers; investigates concerns of insurance fraud; also handles fire safety 6. Labor Commissioner – handles unemployment issues, rehabilitation programs, provides workforce education to the public and monitors workforce conditions, safety on the job and child labor issues

14. What do you remember?
___ 1. Represents GA in a murder case A. Attorney General ___ 2. Investigates new company selling B. Secretary of State life insurance in Georgia C. State School Superintendant ___ 3. Sets salaries for state teachers D. Agricultural Commissioner ___ 4. Calls for volunteers to help at E. Insurance Commissioner Polling places on election day F. Labor Commissioner ___ 5. Promotes 4-H programs to Interest young people in agriculture ___ 6. Investigates charges of unsafe work conditions in a chemical plant

15. Organization of the Executive Branch
Examples of Departments with Appointed Commissioners:
Office
Purpose
Department of Corrections
Runs the state’s prisons; supervises people on probation
Department of Revenue
Administers the State tax laws
Department of Public Safety
Georgia State Patrol and the Capitol Police
Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Runs programs to protect GA beaches, mountains, forests, and natural resources
Department of Transportation (GDOT)
Oversees work on bridges, roads, and provides traffic and transportation information; issues drivers licenses