Georgia’s Government: The Legislative Branch

November 10, 2014Standard: SS8CG2

The student will analyze the role of the legislative branch in Georgia state

government.

The Legislative Branch

• ________________ power is granted to the ____________ branch by the state constitution

• The law-making body (legislature) in Georgia is called the __________________

• The Assembly can pass laws on any issue not __________ to it by the ____________________

• It can also _________ state laws or _________ them• Legislation (laws) can be passed on _______, education,

and property• Other subjects dealt with include ____________,

imprisonment, public health, and marriage and divorce

Members of the General Assembly

• The General Assembly is _____________ (divided into two houses or chambers)

• One chamber is the ___________________________, the other is the __________

• There are ______ members of the ________ and ____ members of the __________

• To be a state senator, a person must be at least __________ old, a citizen of the U.S., and a citizen of Georgia for at least ___ years.

• To be a representative, a person must be at least ______________ old, and meet all of the other requirements of senators

Election to the General Assembly

• Members of the General Assembly are elected by popular _____ (by the ________) to ____________

• There is ____ limit on the number of terms they can serve

• Each of these members is elected by voters in a House or Senate __________

• Each district contains about the same _________ of voters

General Assembly Sessions

• The General Assembly meets each year for a ____________ session beginning on the 2nd Monday in __________

• Breaks and recesses do not count towards the 40 days, so they usually finish sometime in mid-March

• Either the House or Senate can _________ and pass bills, and all bills must be _________ by both before being sent to the governor for signing

Leadership in the General Assembly

• The _________________ presides over the state _________

• Members of the ________ elect a ____________________________ as their presiding officer

• The presiding officers determine the order of __________, control _________, enforce ______ of procedure, and order votes

• They also appoint ______________ and assign bills to the committees

The Committee System

• Members of the House and Senate are organized into ______________

• ____ bills must be ______________ by a House or Senate committee before they can be voted on by the entire House or Senate

• ____________ committees are ______________, lasting from one session to the next

• ___________ committees are organized for a special task and only last _____ session

How a Bill becomes a Law

• _____ representative or senator can propose a bill for consideration (a ______ is a proposed ______)

• There are ___ steps for a bill to become a law in Georgia

• For a bill to become a law in Georgia, the _______ version must be passed in ______ chambers of the General Assembly

• If they cannot agree on one version, a committee proposes a _______________ bill which is then sent to be voted on

Steps to becoming a law• 1) a ____________ is written and given a number• 2) it is assigned to a House ____________• 3) It is ___________ by the committee• 4) If passed by the committee, it goes to the _____ House of

Representatives• 5) If __________ by the House, it is sent to the Senate• 6) It is assigned to a Senate _____________• 7) If passed, it goes to the ____ Senate for a vote• 8) If passed in the same form by the Senate, it is then __________

by presiding officers• 9) It is sent to the governor who can _____ or _____ the bill• If signed, the bill becomes a _____. If vetoed, it is sent back. The

General Assembly can override the veto by a _____ vote of ______ chambers and it will become a law

Questions:• 1) Which branch of government has law-making power?• 2) What is the legislature called in Georgia?• 3) What are some examples of subjects that legislation

can be passed on?• 4) What does bi-cameral mean?• 5) What are the two chambers of the General Assembly?• 6) How many members are in each chamber?• 7) What are the qualifications to be a senator in

Georgia? • 8) What are the qualifications to be a representative in

Georgia?• 9) How long is a term for a senator or representative?

Questions:• 1) Which branch of government has law-making power?• 2) What is the legislature called in Georgia?• 3) What are some examples of subjects that legislation

can be passed on?• 4) What does bi-cameral mean?• 5) What are the two chambers of the General Assembly?• 6) How many members are in each chamber?• 7) What are the qualifications to be a senator in

Georgia? • 8) What are the qualifications to be a representative in

Georgia?• 9) How long is a term for a senator or representative?

More Questions:

• 10) When does the General Assembly meet?• 11) Who presides over the state senate?• 12) Who presides over the house of representatives?• 13) Describe the duties of the presiding officers.• 14) What is a standing committee?• 15) What is an interim committee?• 16) What is a bill?• 17) How are bills proposed?• 18) How can a bill become a law in Georgia?• 19) What happens if the senate and house cannot agree

on a version of a bill?

More Questions:

• 10) When does the General Assembly meet?• 11) Who presides over the state senate?• 12) Who presides over the house of representatives?• 13) Describe the duties of the presiding officers.• 14) What is a standing committee?• 15) What is an interim committee?• 16) What is a bill?• 17) How are bills proposed?• 18) How can a bill become a law in Georgia?• 19) What happens if the senate and house cannot agree

on a version of a bill?

More Questions:

• 20) List the steps for a bill to become a law in Georgia

• 21) What happens if the governor vetoes a bill?

• 22) How many votes are needed for a vetoed bill to become a law?

More Questions:

• 20) List the steps for a bill to become a law in Georgia

• 21) What happens if the governor vetoes a bill?

• 22) How many votes are needed for a vetoed bill to become a law?