GEORGIA STATE GOVERNMENT

CRCT PREP BOOK

CH 12

Georgia’s Constitution, Executive & Judicial Branch, County & City Government,

Spending & Revenue

GEORGIA STATE CONSTITUTION

Georgia’s Highest Body of Laws.

Georgia’s First Constitution was in 1777.

Has been rewritten 10 times.

Most recent 1983.

4 PRINCIPLES OF GA CONSTITUTION Limited Government: Government has

limited power

Popular Sovereignty: The power of the government rests on the will of the people.

Separation of Powers: Each branch of

government has their own job.

Checks and Balances: Each branch of government has a “check” on the other branches.

SEPARATION OF POWERS The framers wanted to strengthen

the government but prevent the concentration of power in the hands of a small group.

Created 3 BranchesLegislative- Makes LawsExecutive- Enforces Laws Judicial- Interprets the Laws and

makes judgments in legal disputes.

CHECKS AND BALANCES One branch has the ability to

prevent the other branch from becoming to powerful.

Example: The executive branch can veto a bill from the legislative branch.

PREAMBLE OF THE GA CONSTITUTION Explains why the document was written.

REASONS FOR THE CONSTITUTION To Perpetuate the principles of free

government Insure justice for all Preserve Peace Promote the interest and happiness of

the citizens and of the family Transmit to posterity the enjoyment of

liberty

ARTICLES OF THE CONSTITUTION

11 Total Articles

They address the different branches of government & duties of the government.

Article I is the GA Bill of Rights.

Article X tells how the Constitution can be changed or amended.

TWO WAYS TO CHANGE THE GA CONSTITUTION First: through

proposals by the General Assembly A lawmaker must

introduce the amendment.

2/3 of lawmakers must approve it.

Voters have to vote to ratify the amendment.

Second: Constitutional Convention Delegates to the

convention will meet to discuss and vote on possible changes to the constitution.

Voters have to vote to ratify the amendment.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - GA STATE

FLAG:

Approved March 28,

1935.

"I pledge

allegiance to

the Georgia flag

and to the

principles for

which it stands:

Wisdom,

Justice, and

Moderation."

  

12

THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH Made up by the General Assembly. 2 Houses – Senate and House of

Representatives. 236 Members General Assembly members meet for a

40 day session beginning on the second Monday in January.

2 year term in office

13

THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH Responsible for making laws for

the state of Georgia. Responsible for appropriating

funds for the State to spend. Leadership:

-- Speaker of the House (Majority party)

-- President of Senate (Lt. Gov.)

14

THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH Committee System in the General Assembly

A Standing committee is a group of legislators organized by subject area that continues from session to session. Each committee is organized into two or more subcommittees to allow greater specialization of expertise.

15

THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS – HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW Bill is introduced Committee

recommends Bill The Bill Goes to

the Entire House to Vote

The Bill Goes to the Senate

Bill Goes to the Governor

16

THE EXECUTIVE Governor: Nathan Deal

Lieutenant Governor: Casey Cagle

Qualifications:• US Citizen for

15 years• GA Citizen for 6

years• 30 Years Old

Term In Office:• 4 Years

Elected In:• November

General Election

Takes Office In:• January

FORMAL POWERS OF THE GOVERNOR Managing the state’s

budget. Direct the Attorney

General to represent the state in legal matters.

‘State of the State’ address.

Prepare budget bills for the House of Reps.

Commander in Chief of GA National Guard.

Heading states civil defense units.

INFORMAL POWERS OF THE GOVERNOR

Communicating their position on key issues.

Honorary head of the party that got him elected.

Honor individuals, add new state symbols.

Represent GA domestically and internationally

Bring business to GA

EXECUTIVE BRANCH There are other elected

officials in the Executive Branch:

State Attorney GeneralCommissioner of AgricultureCommissioner of LaborCommissioner of InsuranceSecretary of StateState School Superintendant

20

THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH - AGENCIES Government Agency: A unit of

government such as a department, board, commission or office. They are a part of the executive branch.

All executive branch activities fit into seven major policy categories: Education, Human Services, Public Safety, Transportation, General Government, Economic Development, and Natural Resources.

JUDICIAL BRANCHCourts of Georgia

22

Supreme Court 7 Justices 1 Court Court of Appeals 12 Judges 1 Court Superior Court 159 Courts (49 circuits) State Court 70 CourtsJuvenile Court 159 CourtsProbate Court 159 Courts

Magistrate Court 159 CourtsMunicipal “City” Court- approximately 400 Courts

23

Supreme Court

Appellate jurisdiction

Exclusive in cases

involving constitutional issues, contested elections, capital felonies, titles to land, wills, and divorces.

Appellate jurisdiction in cases not reserved to the Supreme Court.

Appellate Court

24

Superior CourtTrial Courts

159 Courts (49 circuits)

General jurisdiction Exclusive in cases of

felonies, divorces, titles to land. Appellate jurisdiction: over probate, magistrate, and municipal courts.

Limited jurisdiction Misdemeanors,

traffic offenses, and most civil cases.

State Court 70 Courts

25

Magistrate Court

159 Courts

Limited Jurisdiction: Criminal: pretrial

proceedings, warrants, and bail.

County ordinance, traffic, and bad check violations.

Civil Claims under $5,000.

Limited jurisdiction Traffic violations,

ordinance violations, and criminal preliminaries (such as warrants).

Municipal “City” Court approximately

400 Courts

26

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS – THREE TYPES

CountiesCities

Special Districts

27

COUNTY GOVERNMENT A County Seat is

the center of a county’s government.

Canton is Cherokee County’s central seat of government.

The governing body of a county is its county commission, whose members are elected by the county voters.

County commissioners can pass ordinances (law about property & affairs) and resolutions (informal statement on the commission's opinion).

28

SERVICES COUNTIES PROVIDE

Fire Protection

Police Protection

Sewer System

Parks & Recreation FacilitiesPublic Health Facilities

Public Transportation

29

CITY GOVERNMENTWeak Mayor

CouncilStrong Mayor

CouncilCouncil

ManagerMayor recommends ordinances and appoints department heads with council approval. Council decides on policies and makes laws.

Mayor has strong executive power, an administrative assistant, can veto council legislation, etc. Council has limits on their power.

Mayor can preside over council meetings, but has no administrative power. Council decides on laws and policy. City Manager appointed to run admin items.

30

SPECIAL DISTRICTS A unit set up by the legislature or

by a city or county ordinance for a special purpose.

Hospitals Grady Hospital

Public Transportation

MARTA – CCT

Industrial Development

To advertise to get business to come to the community.

31

THE BIG 8 LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICESPublic Safety Police, Firefighters, Inspectors, etc.

Public Works Roads, streets, water & sewer lines, storm drainage

Public Utilities Waterworks, sewage treatment plants, electric companies

Community Development

Divide the community into zones. Each zone has a designated use – residential, commercial, industrial, or agricultural.

Human Services

Hearing & Eye tests. Spraying for mosquitoes, and community immunization

Leisure Services

Parks & Recreation facilities.

Judicial Services

Running all county courts and the sheriff’s department

Record Keeping

Keeps internal records for the county. Land lots, births, death, marriages, taxes on real and personal property.

32

HOW DOES THE GOVERNMENT GET MONEY? Expenditure is

the amount of money the government spends on something.

Revenue is money that the government gets to pay for expenditures.

33

LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVENUE

Taxes

•Property Taxes

•Real & Personal Property

Revenue

•Alcohol tax, Hotel tax

•Tax on Insurance

Services

•Public Safety, Public Works, Public Utilities, Community Development, Human Services, Leisure Services, Judicial Services, Record Keeping.

34

COUNTY & CITY REVENUE The COUNTY

gets the most revenue from Property Taxes.

The COUNTY gets the least revenue from licenses and permits.

The CITY gets the most revenue from Public Utilities.

The CITY gets the least revenue from licenses and permits.

35

HOW DOES THE STATE GOVERNMENT GET MONEY?

Income Tax

Other Taxes

Fuel Tax

Sales Tax