Georgia Georgia State GovernmentState Government

©2005 Clairmont Press

The Executive Branch of State The Executive Branch of State GovernmentGovernment

• Similar structure to federal government

• State constitution organizes government structure– Separation of powers– Bill of Rights– Bicameral (all except Nebraska)

Georgia Constitution • Designated as

• The Constitution of the State of Georgia• CONSTITUTION• OF THE• STATE OF GEORGIA• TABLE OF CONTENTS• ARTICLE I. Bill of Rights .................................... 1• ARTICLE II. Voting and Elections ......................... 7• ARTICLE III. Legislative Branch ........................... 11• ARTICLE IV. Constitutional Boards and Commissions . 26• ARTICLE V. Executive Branch ............................. 30• ARTICLE VI. Judicial Branch ............................... 34• ARTICLE VII. Taxation and Finance ...................... 43• ARTICLE VIII. Education ................................... 54• ARTICLE IX. Counties and Municipal Corporations .... 61• ARTICLE X. Amendments to the Constitution ........... 76• ARTICLE XI. Miscellaneous Provisions ................... 78

Executive Leader

• Governor– four-year term by popular vote of citizens

• Current Gov: Nathan Deal (R) • 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– vetoes bills or signs them into law as necessary– call special session of legislature

• Judicial: – pardon convicted criminals– appoint state justices

Office of Lieutenant GovernorOffice of Lieutenant Governor

• elected by popular vote

• 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

• current Lt. Gov: Casey Cagle

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)

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• 56 Senators• elected by popular vote• 2 year terms for House and Senate members• Unlimited consecutive terms• 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

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

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

Georgia CourtsGeorgia Courts• Supreme Court is state’s highest court

– elected 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)• Jurisdiction

– range of action over which court can rule