Georgia Georgia and the American Experienceand the American Experience

Chapter 15: Chapter 15:

Government of the Government of the Empire StateEmpire State

Study Presentation Study Presentation

©2005 Clairmont Press

Georgia Georgia and the American Experienceand the American Experience

Section 1: Section 1: The Executive Branch of State Government

Section 2: Section 2: The Legislative Branch of State Government

Section 3: Section 3: The Judicial Branch of State Government

Section 4: Section 4: Young People and the Law

©2005 Clairmont Press

Section 1: The Executive Section 1: The Executive Branch of State GovernmentBranch of State Government

• ESSENTIAL QUESTION:– What are the powers of Georgia’s

governor?

Section 1: The Executive Section 1: The Executive Branch of State GovernmentBranch of State Government

• What words do I need to know?– governor– lieutenant governor

The Executive Branch of State The Executive Branch of State GovernmentGovernment

• Similar structure to federal government• State constitution organizes government

structure• Governor elected to four-year term by

popular vote of citizens• Two consecutive terms allowed• Qualifications:

– 30 years of age– citizen of the US for 15 years– resident of Georgia for six years

• Lieutenant governor takes over if governor dies or resigns

Formal Powers of the GovernorFormal Powers of the Governor

• Executive: appoints state officials, makes sure laws are enforced

• Legislative: sends requests and messages to legislature, vetos bills or signs them into law as necessary, call special session of legislature

• Judicial: pardon convicted criminals, appoint state justices

Informal Powers of the GovernorInformal Powers of the Governor

• appoints people to state boards and executive offices

• issuing proclomations

• representing the state in various meetings and events

• working with legislators to get laws passed

• guiding state agencies

• communicating personal position on important issues

Office of Lieutenant GovernorOffice of Lieutenant Governor

• elected by popular vote at the same time the governor is elected

• same qualifications but can serve an unlimited number of consecutive terms

• presiding officer in the Senate

• controls committee appointments in the state Senate, assigns bills to committees, recognizes Senators who wish to speak

Georgia’s Other Elected OfficialsGeorgia’s Other Elected Officials

• Attorney General• Commissioner of Agriculture• Commissioner of Labor• Commissioner of Insurance• Secretary of State• State School Superintendent• Public Service Commissioners• All serve four year term (PSC members

serve six year term)

Appointed Officials, Boards, and Appointed Officials, Boards, and CommissionsCommissions

• statutory officials: jobs are called for by state law

• some boards and agencies created by law

• Examples:– State Board of Pardons and Paroles– Board of Natural Resources– State Personnel Board– Board of Public Safety

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Section 2: The Legislative Section 2: The Legislative Branch of State Branch of State

GovernmentGovernment

• ESSENTIAL QUESTION:–What does the legislative branch

of government do in Georgia?

Section 2: The Legislative Section 2: The Legislative Branch of State GovernmentBranch of State Government

• What words do I need to know?– public regulation

Legislative BranchLegislative Branch

• law-making body in Georgia

• officially known as Georgia General Assembly

• bicameral (two-houses): House of Representatives and Senate

• only House can write spending bills; Senate confirms appointments made by the governor

Members of the General Members of the General AssemblyAssembly

• 180 members• elected by popular vote• no limit on number of consecutive terms• members’ districts have about the same

number of voters• Qualifications

– citizen of US and Georgia at least 2 years– legal resident of district at least 1 year– Senators: at least 25 years old– Representatives: at least 21 years old

Legislative SessionsLegislative Sessions

• 40-day session, January – March• members of house of representatives elect

Speaker of the House• lieutenant governor presides over senate but

has no vote• Speaker can vote if there is a tie

Committees

• organized like Congress in committees and subcommittees• bills may start in House or Senate• standing committees: permanent part of the General

Assembly• interim committee: works on assigned special tasks• conference committee: works out agreements between

house and senate on bills• joint committee: has members of House and Senate to

work on assigned topic or issue• members serve on several committees

Types of Legislation

• can pass laws, amend (change) them, or do away with them

• some law topics:– taxes– education– property– criminal matters and punishments– public health– regulation of businesses & professions

How a Bill Becomes a Law

• any senator or representative can propose a bill

• bills related to spending must begin in the House

• same version of the bill must pass House and Senate

• compromise bill may come from conference committee

• governor can sign or veto the bill if it passes both the House and Senate

Reapportionment• Occurs each 10 years following the

census• legislature must redraw the voting

districts to make them have the equal numbers of people

• 2001: districts drawn by Democratic legislature ruled unconstitutional

• 2004: revisions made to district map• gerrymandering: drawing up a election

district to support a particular groupClick to return to Table of Contents.

Section 3: Section 3: The Judicial Branch of The Judicial Branch of

State GovernmentState Government

• ESSENTIAL QUESTION– What is the role of the judicial branch

in Georgia government?

Section 3: Section 3: The Judicial Branch of State The Judicial Branch of State

GovernmentGovernment• What words do I need to know?

– felony– misdemeanor– Supreme Court– court of appeals– trial courts– jurisdiction– grand jury– trial jury

Judicial BranchJudicial Branch• made up of state’s courts• purpose:

– interpret state constitution– protect legal rights of citizens– enforce laws of the state

• due process of law: courts make sure that everyone is protected from abuse by the government

• civil cases: disputes between citizens• criminal cases: involve violation of laws• felony: serious crime with severe punishments

allowed• misdemeanor: less serious crime with smaller

punishments

Georgia CourtsGeorgia Courts• Supreme Court is state’s highest court• justices elected by popular vote to six-year term• Chief Justice is chosen by the other justices• appellate: court which reviews cases – no

witnesses and juries• court of appeals: second highest court• trial courts: hears criminal and civil cases

– examples: magistrate, juvenile, state, superior, probate, municipal (city court)

• jurisdicition: range of action over which court can rule

Jury SystemJury System

• a trial by one’s peers

• grand jury: determines if enough evidence exists to indict (officially charge) a person

• trial jury: citizens whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence of a person charged with a crime

Separation of PowersSeparation of Powers• each branch of government has its own

powers

• similar to US Constitution

• designed so that no branch or person can become too powerful

• checks and balances system depends on citizens choosing wisely when they vote

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Section 4: Young People Section 4: Young People and the Lawand the Law

• ESSENTIAL QUESTION– How are young people affected by the

law?

Section 4: Young People Section 4: Young People and the Lawand the Law

• What words do I need to know?– truancy– juvenile

Young People and the LawYoung People and the Law

• Over 2,500 children in jail in Georgia

• juvenile: citizen under the age of 17

• truancy: failure to attend school

• juveniles must follow state’s laws, but violators may be tried by a juvenile court

• Common crimes: smoking, drinking alcohol, loitering (hanging around a public place without permission), violating curfews, running away

Juvenile Court SystemJuvenile Court System• every county has a juvenile court• purposes:

– help and protect children– ensure protection of children coming under

their jurisdiction– provide care for children removed from their

home

• delinquent act: act that would be a crime if committed by an adult (example: burglary)

• status offense: act that would not be a crime if committed by an adult (example: smoking)

Steps in Juvenile Justice Steps in Juvenile Justice ProcessProcess

1. juvenile “taken into custody”2. intake: intake officer evaluates case3. detain or release (to parents)4. detained juveniles sent to RYDC (regional youth

detention center)5. probable cause hearing before a juvenile court

judge6. dismissal, informal adjustment, or formal hearing7. if the juvenile committed a serious offense or

multiple offenses, a judge has many sentencing options

Georgia’s Seven Deadly Sins Georgia’s Seven Deadly Sins ActAct

• 1994: legislature addressed issue of increasingly violent youth crime

• juveniles charged with certain crimes (murder, rape, armed robbery with a firearm) could be treated as adults by the courts

• superior courts handle these cases

• mandatory 10-year sentences were a part of the new law

Rights of JuvenilesRights of Juveniles

• juveniles have the right to a fair and speedy trial

• no juries in juvenile cases

• parents or guardians may be present at hearings

• attorney must be provided if child’s parents cannot afford one

Students’ Rights Students’ Rights Under School LawUnder School Law

• sometimes students’ rights have been in conflict with schools’ authority

• courts have ruled that students’ civil rights are in effect at school; however, schools have been given broad power to control and manage the school environment

Students Responsibilities Students Responsibilities Under School LawUnder School Law

• students have a legal right to a free public education

• responsibilities of students:– attend school regularly from ages 6-16– follow reasonable rules and regulations– work with school officials to prevent disruption

and violence which keeps students from learning and achieving

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Click to return to Table of Contents.