1. The Executive Branch
SS8CG3 The students will analyze the role of the executive branch in Georgia state government
Explain the qualifications, term, election and duties of the governor and lieutenant governor.
Describe the organization of the executive branch, with emphasis on major policy areas of state programs.

2. >The Executive Branch of the federal and
state government is run by the chief executive officer which is the President or the Governor.

3. Georgia’s Governor Governor: leader of the state’s executive branch
Qualifications:
30 years old or more
U.S. citizen for at least 15 years
GA resident for at least 6 years
Terms of Office:
4 years
May run for a second term

4. Milledgeville, GA
Photo by Catherine Hackney

5. Governor Election: Elected by the citizens
Does not run on the same ticket
or need to be in the same party
as Lieutenant Governor.

6. depositing their ballots 4/30/38

7. Duties:
Head of state/leader of Executive Branch
Commander in chief of GA’s military
Can veto legislation by the state legislature
Signs bills into law
Can use the floor leader of the House to suggest new legislation

8. Duties Continued:
Appoints people to lead many executive offices
Addresses the GA legislature in a “State of the State” speech
Director of the state budget
Reports to the GA legislature with suggestions on how to spend state money

9. (above)Current Governor’s
Mansion, Atlanta. (right) Entrance to the
Old Executive Mansion in Milledgeville, GA.

10. Formal powers of the Governor
Managing the states budget (receiving/spending money)
Directing the attorney general to act as a representative in lower court cases involving state law
“State of the State” address
Preparing budget bills for the House of Representatives
Commander in Chief for GA National Guard
Heads GA’s defense units
Sending GA Highway patrol and GBI into communities in times of danger
Formal powers of the Governor

11. Governor Sonny Perdue with Georgia’s
National Guard.

12. Informal powers of the Governor
Communicating to the public a personal position on issues of interest to all Georgians
Acting as honorary head of the political party
Issuing proclamations to honor individuals, holidays, or special events
Representing the state in meetings with state officials
Meet with business leaders to expand their business in GA
Working with legislators to get laws passed
Guiding state agencies
Informal powers of the Governor

13. Lieutenant Governor Qualifications: same as Governor
30 years old or more
U.S. citizen for at least 15 years
GA resident for at least 6 years
Term of Office:
4 years
No limit on the number of terms

14. Even though the Lt. Governor is part of the
Executive Branch he is the presiding officer
Of the Georgia Senate.

15. Lieutenant Governor Election: Elected by the citizens of the state
Does not run on the same ticket or need to be in the same party as the governor

16. Lieutenant Governor Duties:
Serves as governor if current governor dies or gets too sick to work
As the President of the Senate, decides committee memberships and committee chairs

17. Executive Branch Officials
Within the Executive Branch of Georgia there are officials other than the Governor and Lt. Governor:
7 departments with elected Chairmen or Commissioners most with 4 year terms
other departments with appointed officials (set up by the state’s constitution)
more departments not spelled out in the constitution that are run by appointed statutory officials

18. Organization of Executive Branch
Departments with Elected Commissioners:
Department of Law: State Attorney General is the head of this dept., chief legal officer of the state
Department of Agriculture: farming, matters relating to food/animals, Commissioner of Agriculture is chair
Office of the Commissioner of Insurance: health, safety, and life insurance regulations,

19. elected officials continued…
Organizations with
elected officials continued…
Labor Department: services for jobs, taxes, wages, unemployment benefits, and job training, Commissioner of Labor is chair
Department of State: maintains state records, supervises elections, regulates securities, stocks and bonds, Secretary of State is head of this dept.
Department of Education: licenses teachers, approves textbooks, directs statewide education programs, administers funds, State School Superintendent
Public Service Commissioners: regulates utility and transportation companies, (6 year term)

20. The elected Commissioners
all serve a 4 year terms except for the 5 members of the Public Service
Commission which these commissioners
rotate 6 year terms.

21. Organizations of Executive Branch
Departments with Appointed Commissioners:
Department of Corrections: prisons
Department of Defense: state National Guard
Department of Education: oversees GA’s public school system/funding/programs
Department of Natural Resources: protects GA’s beaches, mountains, forests, and other natural resources
Department of Transportation: repair for roads, bridges; traffic/transportation information
Organizations of Executive Branch

22. Election Memorabilia

23. Election Day,
November 1, 1868

24. Title: HARDWICK, THOMAS WILLIAM, REP
Title: HARDWICK, THOMAS WILLIAM, REP. FROM GEORGIA, ; SENATOR, ; GOVERNOR, GROUP: HARDWICK, DR. M.L. BRITTAIN, GA. COMMR. ED.; N.A. HARRIS, GOVERNOR OF GEORGIA; SEN. HOKE SMITH

25. Review The executive branch operates at the federal and state level.
Governor of Georgia election, duties, qualifications, and terms
Georgia’s Lt. Governor duties, qualifications and terms
Other departments of the executive branch
Review