1. Georgia’s Constitution February 3, 2014

2. Background Georgia became a state after the _______________________________ The first state constitution was adopted in _______ –It was modeled after the ___________________________ There was a unicameral _______________ that had the power to choose the governor –The _________ did not have the power to vote for the governor of the state The actual ________, therefore, was in the hands of the legislature, not the citizens of Georgia After the new U.S. Constitution was ratified, Georgia revised its constitution to match it in _______

3. Georgia’s Constitution In ______, the Georgia government adopted the 10th constitution in Georgia’s history, which is the current one used ________. Georgia’s constitution has ____ articles The first article is a ______________, which sets out the rights of Georgia’s citizens Other articles deal with the 3 branches of ______________, voting and elections, education, _________, county and local governments, and ways to _________ the constitution

4. Separation of Powers Georgia’s constitution divides the responsibilities of government into ___ branches –________________ This is called a ________________________ Each branch has unique powers that the other branches ___________ take over This makes sure that no one part can be too ____________

5. Checks and Balances Each branch of government is given some power to _________ or prevent some actions of the other branches (this is called _______________________) This also ensures that no one branch can become too ___________ The executive branch can ______ (say no to) bills passed by the legislative branch The legislative branch can __________ (remove from office) officials in the executive or judicial branches The judicial branch determines whether or not _____ created by the legislative branch are _________________

6. Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens The constitution gives Georgia citizens their _______ and their ________________ _________, while a right, is the most ____________ responsibility of being a citizen A responsibility is paying _______ (federal, state, and local) Another is upholding the ______ of the country and state, and ___________ the country against its enemies

7. Voting Qualifications The major influence on government decision- making is made by the people who ______ Voters elect their ________________ and decide major questions and issues To register to vote in Georgia, you must be at least ____ years old and be a citizen of the U.S. You must also be a _______ resident of Georgia and the _________ in which you register

8. Elections Voters select the most important state officials in a _________ election that is held in _____________ in at least every ____________________ year Other elections are held as needed to decide __________, such as ________________________________

9. Role of Political Parties ____________ parties are organized groups of people who share __________ ideas and who try to influence the government policies and decisions by electing their members Today, there is a _____________ system in the U.S. and Georgia because there are 2 major political parties – ________________________ There are several _______ ones, but they do not have enough support to _______ their members to political office, but their ____ influence the members of the larger parties

10. Georgia’s State Flag Georgia adopted its current state flag in ______. The flag has three ____________ stripes with the state ______________ in a blue field in the upper left-corner. The _____ symbolizes Georgia’s ____________ and the three _________ represent the 3 branches of _______________. The words of the state motto: ________________________________________ are wrapped around the pillars Thirteen white _______ symbolize Georgia as one of the 13 __________ American colonies.

11. Questions: 1) When was Georgia’s first state constitution adopted? 2) Which version of Georgia’s constitution is in use today? 3) How many articles are in Georgia’s constitution? 4) What do the articles deal with? 5) What are the 3 branches of government? 6) What is separation of powers? 7) What is checks and balances? 8) How can the executive branch “check” the legislative branch? 9) How can the legislative branch “check” the executive branch? 10) How does the judicial branch “check” the legislative branch? 11) What do separation of powers and checks and balances prevent? 12) What is the most important responsibility of being a citizen? 13) What are other responsibilities of citizens?

12. Questions, part 2 14) How old do you have to be to vote in Georgia? 15) What are other requirements to vote in Georgia? 16) When are general elections held? 17) What do voters do in general elections? 18) Why would other elections be held? 19) What are political parties? 20) What are the 2 largest political parties in the U.S.? 21) Why are minor political parties important?

13. Questions: 1) When was Georgia’s first state constitution adopted? 2) Which version of Georgia’s constitution is in use today? 3) How many articles are in Georgia’s constitution? 4) What do the articles deal with? 5) What are the 3 branches of government? 6) What is separation of powers? 7) What is checks and balances? 8) How can the executive branch “check” the legislative branch? 9) How can the legislative branch “check” the executive branch? 10) How does the judicial branch “check” the legislative branch? 11) What do separation of powers and checks and balances prevent? 12) What is the most important responsibility of being a citizen? 13) What are other responsibilities of citizens?

14. Questions, part 2 14) How old do you have to be to vote in Georgia? 15) What are other requirements to vote in Georgia? 16) When are general elections held? 17) What do voters do in general elections? 18) Why would other elections be held? 19) What are political parties? 20) What are the 2 largest political parties in the U.S.? 21) Why are minor political parties important?

15. Questions: 1) When was Georgia’s first state constitution adopted? 2) Which version of Georgia’s constitution is in use today? 3) How many articles are in Georgia’s constitution? 4) What do the articles deal with? 5) What are the 3 branches of government? 6) What is separation of powers? 7) What is checks and balances? 8) How can the executive branch “check” the legislative branch? 9) How can the legislative branch “check” the executive branch? 10) How does the judicial branch “check” the legislative branch? 11) What do separation of powers and checks and balances prevent? 12) What is the most important responsibility of being a citizen? 13) What are other responsibilities of citizens?

16. Questions, part 2 14) How old do you have to be to vote in Georgia? 15) What are other requirements to vote in Georgia? 16) When are general elections held? 17) What do voters do in general elections? 18) Why would other elections be held? 19) What are political parties? 20) What are the 2 largest political parties in the U.S.? 21) Why are minor political parties important?