Branches of

Georgia’s Govern-

ment

Legislative

Executive

Judicial

Branches

• Georgia’s government consists of 3 branches.

• Legislative

• Executive

• Judicial

Legislative Branch• Georgia’s Legislative Branch is responsible for

introducing bills and making the laws for the state.• It is called the General Assembly.• It is made up of two houses (bicameral).• The smaller of the two is the Senate. It is made up

of 56 members, 1 per voting district• The Larger of the two is the House of

Representatives. It is made up of a 180 members. It is based on the population of the voting district.

Georgia’s Voting Districts

Senate• 56 members, 1 per district

• Must be 25 years old to serve

• Must be a resident of Georgia and a U.S. citizen for at least 2 years.

• Must live in the district you represent.

• Serves a 2 year term

• Led by the Lieutenant Governor

House of Representatives• 180 members, based on the

district’s population

• Must be 21 years old to serve

• Must be a resident of Georgia and a U.S. citizen for at least 2 years

• Must live in the district you represent.

• Serves a 2 year term

• Led by the Speaker of the House

Organization• Both the Senate and House are divided

into committees. • Their work is divided into a committee

system.• Committees are responsible for

reviewing/amending or rejecting bills before they are voted on.

Copy the following chart LH 174Georgia’s Lawmaking Process

Lawmaking Process• Proposal

– Idea is introduced to the legislature• Committee Action

– Idea is assigned to be evaluated by appropriate committee

• Floor Action– Idea is open for discussion with all members

• Conference– Idea goes back to the committee for acceptance

• Passage– Idea is voted on by all member of legislature

• Action by Governor – Signed into Law or Vetoed

Executive Branch

• Georgia’s Executive Branch is responsible for enforcing the laws of the state.

• Led by the Governor who is elected by the people.

• The Lieutenant Governor is also elected into office by the people; he serves as the president of the senate.

Qualification for the Executive Branch

• You must be 30 years old.

• A U.S. citizen for 15 years.

• A resident of Georgia for 6 years.

• Governor serves a term of 4 years with a maximum of 2 consecutive terms.

• Lieutenant Governor serve for 4 years with an unlimited number of terms they may serve.

Governor of Georgia’s Powers

Can Veto a Bill

Appoints leaders of

the executive

departments

Leader of the

Executive BranchCommander

in Chief of Georgia’s National Guard

Can Sign A bill into a

Law

Writes the budget for the state

Powers of Lieutenant Governor

• Serves as Governor if the current governor dies or is too sick to continue as Governor.

• Serves as the President of the State Senate

• Appoints Senate members to committees.

Important Executive Departments

1. Education- oversees public schools.

2. Public Safety- State police protect citizens

3. Transportation- maintains Georgia’s 4 major transportation systems.

4. Economic Development- promotes Georgia’s products and businesses.

5. Natural Resources: enforces laws on hunting and fishing and maintains state parks.

Left Hand page 176Complete a tree map over Georgia’s executive branch

Georgia’s Executive Branch

Governor

Qualifications

Duties

Lieutenant Governor Executive Departments

Judicial Branch

• The job of the Judicial Branch is to Interpret how the law applies.

• Georgia’s Judicial Branch is divided into two court systems.

Georgia’s Court Systems

• Trial Court: criminal actions and lawsuits.

• Court of Appeals: reviews decisions made in trial courts.

• Supreme Court is the highest court in Georgia.

Criminal Law

• Criminal laws are created to protect society from wrong-doers.

• Covers serious crimes that will to lead to fines, community service or prison.

In Georgia there are two types of crime

1. Felonies- serious crimes (murder, rape, robbery) with a minimum sentence of 1 year in prison.

2. Misdemeanors- less serious (shoplifting, trespassing) with a sentence of less than 1 year in jail.

Civil Law

• Civil Law covers grievances or problems between individuals or groups of people.

• Usually based on injuries or wrong doings and ends with compensation or payment.

Criminal Court Processuse to draw on LH 166

Arrest and Booking Preliminary hearing

Plea bargain Grand jury

Jury selection Present evidence

Jury deliberation Cross examine

Sentencing Appeal

Georgia’s Juvenile Justice System

1. Juveniles are citizens under the age of 17

2. must follow the same local, state, and federal laws that all citizens follow

*plus some that adults don’t- attend school, cannot run away from home and no alcoholic beverages or tobacco****curfew***

Some Terms To Know• Delinquent Act- an act that would be considered

a crime if committed by an adult.

Examples: Burglary and car theft

If this act is serious enough, the juvenile may be charged as an adult.

• Unruly Act- an act that would NOT be considered a crime if committed by an adult.

Examples: running away from home, breaking curfew & skipping school.

If a child commits these acts, they may be placed in a juvenile detention center.

YOU HAVE RIGHTS

• “taken into custody” rather than “under arrest”

1.The right to have a parent present when questioned

2.Right not to have their names or pics public

3.The right to two phone calls

4.Not self-incriminate

5.Not to be placed with adults

Juvenile Court System

• The juvenile court has three main purposes:

1.To help and protect the well-being of children

2.To make sure that any child under the jurisdiction of the court receives the care, guidance, and control needed

3.To provide care for children who have been removed from their homes

Steps in the Juvenile Justice Process

Step 1- intake- decide if there is enough evidence- release or charge

- Release to parent or detained in the state’s Regional Youth Detention Center

Step 2- detention- hearing to decide

1. dismiss the case

2. informal adjustment (first offenders)

3. formal hearing Say your sorry

Step 3-formal hearing-

• Trial for the judge to hear the case

• Judge decide

NOT GUILTY- released

GUILTY- Another hearing for sentencing

Step 4-sentencing-

1.Release

2.Probation

3.Youth development center 90 days

4. Special programs- boot camp

5. Assign fines/restitutions or probation

The Seven Most Serious Delinquent Behaviors

• There are seven offences that, if a child 13-17 commits they will not be protected under the juvenile court.

• Murder, voluntary manslaughter, rape, aggravated sodomy, aggravated child molestation, aggravated sexual battery, & armed robbery with a firearm.

County and city government

*Georgia has the 2nd most counties in the U.S.(Texas 1st).

*Georgia has 159 counties, each of these counties has a government.

*In addition to these counties, there are almost 600 cities in Georgia. Each city has a government.

County Government

Counties- are subdivisions of the state set up to carry out certain government functions.

-providing courts of law

-building & repairing roads

-holding elections

-police & fire protection

Ran by the board of commissioners

City Government

-Over 500 cities and towns in Georgia

*Some city services are

police & fire protection, schools, taxes, and street & water services.

Forms of City Government

There are three types of government a city has weak mayor, strong mayor & council manager.

Weak mayor-The mayor has limited power, appoints few officials and has little veto power.