1. The First Five November 19, 2014
Agenda Message: No homework tonight! Today’s Warm-up: Interpret the meaning

2. Think-Pair-Share
How does Georgia’s Constitution outline the structure for the three branches of government?

3. The First Five November 20, 2014
Agenda Message: Answer the following questions…
1. What is the name of Georgia’s legislative branch of Government?
2. Who presides over the state House of Representatives?
3. Who presides over the state Senate?
4. Where does the state government meet each year?
5. In which building does the state government meet?
Today’s Warm-up:
How many constitutions has the state of Georgia had since 1777?
Why is Georgia’s constitution the highest set of laws for the state?

4. Unit 5 Georgia’s Constitution
Georgia Performance Standards:
SS8CG1: The student will describe the role of citizens under Georgia’s Constitution.

5. State Motto Georgia’s motto is Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation
It is located on the state flag and seal.

6. Georgia State Government: Executive Branch, Legislative Branch, & Judicial Branch
Georgia Performance Standards:
SS8CG2: The student will analyze the role of the legislative branch in Georgia State government.
SS8CG3: The student will analyze the role of the executive branch in Georgia state government.
SS8CG4: The student will analyze the role of the judicial branch in Georgia state government.

7. Branches of Georgia’s Government
Georgia state government is divided into 4 branches:
Executive
Legislative
Judicial
Citizens
This helps to ensure that one branch does not have too much power = Checks and Balances

8. Executive Branch-Governor of Georgia
Nathan Deal was sworn in as Georgia’s 82nd Governor on January 10, 2011.
Qualifications for Governor:
U.S. citizen for 5 years
Resident of Georgia for the 6 years preceding the election
30 years old or older
Role = Enforces Georgia’s laws

9. Lieutenant Governor
On November 7, 2006, Casey Cagle made Georgia history by becoming the 1st Republican ever elected to the state’s 2nd highest office.  
He was re-elected as the 11th Lt. Governor on November 2, 2010.
Qualifications for Lt . Governor are:
Must be a U.S. citizen for 5 years
Lived in Georgia for six years
30 years old or older
The Lt. Governor of Georgia has no restrictions on the number of times he or she can hold the office.
Role = the Lt. Governor's primary job is to serve as President of the Georgia Senate. Takes over as Governor if the Governor dies, resigns, or is impeached.

10. Georgia State Executive Branch: Support Officers
Dr. John Barge
State Superintendent of Education: Oversees Georgia’s public education
Sam Olens
Attorney General: State lawyer
Brian Kemp
Secretary of State: Oversees state elections & official records

11. Georgia’s Legislative Branch
The General Assembly’s role is creating state laws.
It was established by the Georgia Constitution of 1777.
This bicameral (2-houses) legislature is divided into:
House of Representatives has 180 members
2. Senate has 56 members.
Every 2 years, Georgians elect these members.

12. Georgia’s Legislative Branch
The House of Representatives, is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected by the entire membership.
The current Speaker of the House, David Ralston, was selected in 2010.

13. Georgia’s Legislative Branch
The Lieutenant Governor, Casey Cagle, presides over the Georgia Senate.

14. Georgia’s Legislative Branch
The General Assembly meets for 40 days, beginning the 2nd Monday in January.
During this 40-day session, many bills (proposals for laws) are proposed. Some bills are passed into laws by a majority vote from the House of Representatives and the Senate.
These laws will:
Regulate people’s behavior
Provide for local government
Allow the state to raise and spend money
Provide state services

15. Georgia’s Legislative Branch
In the General Assembly, Georgia’s Lieutenant Governor presides over the Senate.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives presides over the House of Representatives
In the event that both the Governor and Lieutenant Governor cannot fulfill their terms, the Speaker of the House of Representatives will become the Governor.
If the Governor does not support a proposed bill, he or she can veto (reject it).
Then, 2/3 majority vote from the House of Representatives and the Senate can override the Governor’s veto (rejection) of a bill.

16. Ticket Out the Door Who is the current Governor of Georgia?
Who is the current Lieutenant Governor of Georgia?
What are the qualifications to serve as the Governor?
What are the qualifications to serve as the Lieutenant Governor?

17. The First Five November 21, 2014
Agenda Message: Have a safe & wonderful break! Today’s Warm-up: Why are courts and judges needed in Georgia? Also, what does it mean to be presumed innocent, until proven guilty in a court of law?

18. Georgia’s Judicial Branch

19. Georgia’s Judicial Branch
Its role is to interpret and apply the laws that the General Assembly creates each year.
State courts handle two classes of disputes:
Civil: The court helps to settle disputes between two or more parties.
Criminal: The state takes legal action against someone who has been arrested for committing a crime (breaking the law).

20. Georgia’s Judicial Branch
The Georgia Supreme Court is the state’s highest court and holds certain powers that no other court in Georgia has. These include:
interpreting laws passed by the Georgia General Assembly
resolving challenges to elections results
reviewing cases where the death penalty was sentenced.
Unlike the U.S. Supreme Court, the seven justices on the State Supreme Court are elected to 6 year terms by Georgia voters.

21. Georgia Supreme Court Justices

22. Georgia’s Judicial Branch
While all courts in the judicial branch play a part in ensuring justice in our legal system, the Supreme Court plays the most important role by interpreting laws enacted by the legislative branch.
If the Georgia Supreme Court rules that the law is unconstitutional (not supported by the Georgia or U.S. Constitution) then the law is struck down.
The power to interpret laws is one of the checks that the judicial branch has over executive and legislative branches and is a way to protect against “bad” laws and ensure justice for all of Georgia’s citizens.

23. Fourth Branch
This additional branch focuses on Georgia’s citizens and their roles.
The roles of the citizens are:
Voting: Must be 18 years old or older
Paying Taxes: Helps to fund & run the government
Being a good citizen: Obey laws & volunteer in your community

24. Ticket Out the Door
What is the role of the Judicial System in Georgia?
Which court is the highest in the state?
Who appoints the seven justices to the Georgia Supreme Court?