Foundations of GA Government

Foundations of Georgia's Government

Georgia Constitution

Georgia has had ten state constitutions since 1777. Each of these constitutions set the guidelines for those who governed the state and outlined the rights and responsibilities of Georgia’s citizens. Key concepts concerning Georgia’s present constitution include the constitution’s basic structure, the separation of powers and checks and balances, the rights and responsibilities of citizens, and voting qualifications and elections in Georgia.

Legislators began writing Georgia’s current constitution in 1977, and it was approved by the state’s citizens in 1983. This was the largest re-write of Georgia’s constitution since 1877. The goal was to create a brief, clear, and flexible constitution. The basic structure of the constitution includes the preamble, bill of rights, 11 articles, and amendments.

​•GA Longer than US
• Georgia voters must approve any amendments .
• Georgia’s Constitution requires that the state maintain a balanced budget . • Georgia elects almost all of its judges
• Legislators (both Senators and Representatives) in Georgia serve two-year terms while at the national level, Representatives serve two-year terms and Senators serve six-year terms.
• Governor and LT Governor do not run on same election ticket
• US Constitution does not mention local governments

Similarities

​Differences

• Both have 3 branches of government, separation of powers and checks and balances
* Both have a Bill of Rights
• Executive leaders have power to appoint officials and veto bills.
• The legislative branches (the U.S. Congress and the Georgia General Assembly) are bicameral and each calls its two chambers the Senate and the House of Representatives.
• Both governments allow judicial review (the power of the courts to declare acts
unconstitutional.)

GA and US Constitutions Similarities and Differences

Multiple Choice

Name one difference between the US and GA Constitutions.

• US Constitutions do not mention local governments

• Only GA has bill of rights

• Only the US can be amended

• They are both the exact same

Multiple Choice

The GA Constitution is similar to the US because they both

• They both are the same length

• Include a bill of rights

• All legislators have the same term limits

• They were written the same years

Governor and Lt. Governor

​General Assembly

Multiple Choice

Both GA and US government have a bicameral legislature

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

All are included in the structure of GA EXCEPT

• Preamble

• Articles

• Amendments

• History

​Separation of powers allows our state government to maintain separate branches of government in order to keep any one branch from doing the job of another. A simple way to describe these powers is that the legislative branch (the Georgia General Assembly) makes the laws, the executive branch (headed by the Governor) carries out and enforces the laws, and the judicial branch (headed by the Georgia Supreme Court) interprets and determines the constitutionality of the laws.

​Separation of Powers

Checks and Balances is a system to make sure one branch does not overpower the others.
Each branch needs to stay balanced.​

Multiple Choice

The Legislative Branch cannot execute laws or judge them because of __________

• the 15th amendment

• jurisdiction

• checks and balances

• separation of powers

Rights and Responsibilities

Both the Georgia and U.S. Constitutions include a Bill of Rights outlining the rights of every citizen. For the most part, both documents have similar rights and freedoms, such as freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and the freedom of the press. However, Georgia’s Bill of Rights has several differences as compared to the U.S. Bill of Rights.

Some civic responsibilities include:
• Paying taxes
• Serving on juries
• Volunteering
• Voting

​

​Rights of Citizens

​Responsibilities of Citizens

​Specific GA Citizens rights

Paragraph I. Life, liberty, and property-no one can take away your rights without due process

• Paragraph III. Freedom of conscience.-you have the right to worship God or not

• Paragraph XXI. Banishment and whipping as punishment for crime. -No whippings or put out of GA for any crime committed

• Paragraph XXVIII. Fishing and hunting-You can fish and hunt as long as you obey the rules and protect wildlife

Multiple Choice

Which is NOT a Responsibility of Citizens?

• Paying taxes

• Voting

• Serving on juries

• Fishing and Hunting

​•Must be a citizen the United States
• Be 18 years old by election day
• Voters must be a legal resident of Georgia and the county in which a person wants to vote


You CANNOT currently be serving time in jail for a felony offense or ruled to be mentally incompetent.

Voting Qualifications in GA

​There are 3 major elections:
Primary
General
Special

Multiple Select

Which person cannot vote in GA?

• Someone who is 25

• A 70 year old female

• A convicted felon

• An 16 year old black male

“I pledge allegiance to the Georgia flag and to the principles for which it stands; Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation.”


Though never formally adopted as an official motto for the state, wisdom, justice and moderation became a part of the state seal in 1799.


Wisdom - applies to the Legislative branch and its making of state laws Justice - applies to the just and fair decisions made by the Judicial branch Moderation - applies to the use of moderation in administering laws by the Executive branch

Georgia's Pledge and Motto

Multiple Choice

Which are included in GA's motto?

• the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments

• Wisdom, Justice, Moderation

• the Bill of Rights

• The state flag