Download Georgia-State Government

Georgia
State
Government
Question:
What is a Constitution?
• Answer: A Constitution is a
written plan for how a
government is supposed to
operate or work…
• Both the United States and Each
Individual States have a
constitution…
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Georgia’s Constitution
• Georgia adopted its first
state constitution in 1777 just
after the Colonies declared
themselves free from Great
Britain.
• Georgia has had 10 State
Constitutions
• The Current one was created
in 1983.
Georgia’s Constitution
• The Preamble to the State
Constitution reads… “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, and to transmit to posterity
the enjoyment of liberty, we the
people of Georgia, relying on the
protection and guidance of
Almighty God, do ordain and
establish this Constitution”
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Georgia’s Constitution
• Georgia’s Constitution states
that “All Government, of
Right, Originates with the
people, is founded upon their
will only, and is instituted for
the good of the whole. Public
officers are the trustees and
servants of the people and
are at all times amenable to
them.”
Georgia’s Constitution
• This means that the Government is
founded by Permission of the
people, and those officials in
government are accountable to
serve us and our needs as state
citizens.
• This concept is called “popular
sovereignty.”
- The fact that true governmental
power is derived from the people…
Georgia State Constitution
• Article I – Bill of Rights – your rights
• Article II – Voting and Elections: voter
requirements and rules for elections
• Article III – Legislative Branch: structure
and powers to the Gen. Assembly
• Article IV – Constitution Boards &
Commissions: Set up gov’t bodies
(Public Service Commission, State
Transportation, Board of
Pardons/Paroles)
Georgia State Constitution
• Article V – Executive Branch: establishes
offices of governor and lieutenant
governor
• Article VI – Judicial Branch: court system
• Article VII – Taxation and Finance: power
to tax, and purposes methods of taxation
• Article VIII – Education: Public education,
and Board of Education
Georgia State Constitution
• Article IX – Counties and Municipalities:
powers and structure of county
government
• Article X – Amendments to the
Constitution: describes process to amend
the constitution
• Article XI – Miscellaneous Provisions
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Separation of Powers
• There are Three Main powers of
Government…
-Legislative – Making the Laws
-Executive – Enforcing or Carrying
out the Laws
-Judicial – Interpreting the law and
judging criminals according to it.
• It used to be that Kings and other
types of Dictatorships would do all
three of these powers by
themselves.
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Separation of Powers
• The United States (and
Georgia) was one of the few
Societies in history to start a
government with these powers
separated.
• Now many nations use this
system because it works.
• Separation of Powers helps
governments from infringing
on the people’s rights.
Separation of
Powers
• Georgia’s State Government
Works similar to the
Federal/National Government
• The Legislative Branch is called
the General Assembly. It is
Bicameral with a…
-State Senate (56 members) and a
-State House of Representatives
(180 members).
• Each member has a 2 year term.
Separation of
Powers
• The Executive Branch is
headed by the Governor
who serves a 4 year term.
• The Judicial Branch is
headed by the Supreme
Court of Georgia, Justices
are elected.
Checks and Balances
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• In Both the state and federal
governments, there is a concept
of “Checks and Balances”
• This means that each branch of
government has some power
over another branch of
government too keep each
branch from becoming too
powerful.
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Checks and Balances
• For Example… (In the Georgia State Government)
-The Executive Branch can Veto bills
sent to it by the Legislative branch. It
can also appoint court justices when
they resign or die.
-The Legislative branch Can Impeach
officials, It can override a veto, it can
confirm those people appointed to
office by the governor, and it can
propose constitutional changes.
-The Judicial branch can rule actions of
the governor or Laws made by the
general Assembly Unconstitutional
Roles of Citizens under Georgia’s
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Government
• Citizens have rights… These Rights are
given to you by the U.S. and State
Constitutions. Among them are…
- Free Speech
- Freedom of Religion
- Freedom of the Press
- Right to keep and bare arms
- Right to a speedy, fair, and public
trial.
Roles of Citizens under
Georgia’s Government
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• With Rights comes Responsibilities…
- Voting – Though it is a right, it is also the
responsibility of a free citizen. It is the
responsibility to research every office and
issue you vote for.
-Paying Taxes- It is every citizens Duty to
pay taxes to the Federal, State, and Local
government.
-Jury Duty- For our court systems to be fair,
you may be called to participate on a jury
-Draft- All young men at the age of 18 must
register for the draft for military service
Roles of Citizens under Georgia’s
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Government
• To vote in Georgia, one must
be…
-18 years Old
-A Citizen of the United States
- a Legal resident of the county
in which you reside
• Voters May join a Political Party,
which is a group of voters who
have like minded issues.
What DO Political Parties Do?
• Parties are a way people with similar ideas can
join with others to express their opinions.
Factions and parties form because not all people
think alike; conflict and differences of opinion
seem to be natural to humanity.
• Suppressing disagreement, or prohibiting
peaceful forms of conflict, can often lead to a
loss of liberty. If differing views are denied the
right to be heard, violence can be the
alternative.
• The genius of the American model
of democracy allows people to
freely express what they think,
thus working out conflicts with
words instead of weapons. By
necessity, consensus and
compromise are embedded into
the American system.
• No one side will always win, and
some people will disagree with the
majority. But, if everyone has had
a say, and the rights of the
minority are respected, then most
people are willing to accept the
decisions made, using peaceful
means to express any differences
that may remain.
The Role of Third Parties
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In America, third parties have traditionally held the role of protest vehicles.
Third parties arise when a group of people believe that the major two parties have
become unresponsive to their needs. Many independent candidacies and third parties
fulfill the important role of bringing an issue to the public eye that has been neglected
by the major players.
However, before the issue can be resolved, it usually has to be "adopted" by one of
the major parties. Over time, third parties and their ideas tend to be reabsorbed into
whichever major party is willing to listen to their issues.
For example, in the 1890s, the Populist Party was one of the best known third parties
in America. By the early 1900s, some ideas of the Populist Party were absorbed into
the major parties, which then enacted many Populist ideas into law (including the
direct election of US Senators and the Federal Income Tax).
There has been only one third party in US history that succeeded in rising to become
a major party and winning the Presidency: The Republican party, which reached
major party status in 1860 with the election of Abraham Lincoln.
Georgia Motto -"Wisdom, Justice, and
Moderation"