Georgia Georgia State State

GovernmGovernmentent

Question:Question:What is a Constitution?What is a Constitution?

• Answer: A Constitution is a Answer: A Constitution is a written plan for how a written plan for how a government is supposed to government is supposed to operate or work…operate or work…

• Both the United States and Each Both the United States and Each Individual States have a Individual States have a constitution…constitution…

Georgia’s ConstitutionGeorgia’s Constitution • Georgia adopted its first Georgia adopted its first

state constitution in 1777 just state constitution in 1777 just after the Colonies declared after the Colonies declared themselves free from Great themselves free from Great Britain. Britain.

• Georgia has had 10 State Georgia has had 10 State ConstitutionsConstitutions

• The Current one was created The Current one was created in 1983.in 1983.

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Georgia’s ConstitutionGeorgia’s Constitution• The Preamble to the State The Preamble to the State

Constitution reads… Constitution reads… “To perpetuate “To perpetuate the principles of free government, the principles of free government, insure justice for all, preserve insure justice for all, preserve peace, promote the interest and peace, promote the interest and happiness of the Citizens and of the happiness of the Citizens and of the family, and to transmit to posterity family, and to transmit to posterity the enjoyment of liberty, we the the enjoyment of liberty, we the people of Georgia, relying on the people of Georgia, relying on the protection and guidance of protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution”establish this Constitution”

Georgia’s ConstitutionGeorgia’s Constitution • Georgia’s Constitution states Georgia’s Constitution states

that “All Government, of that “All Government, of Right, Originates with the Right, Originates with the people, is founded upon their people, is founded upon their will only, and is instituted for will only, and is instituted for the good of the whole. Public the good of the whole. Public officers are the trustees and officers are the trustees and servants of the people and servants of the people and are at all times amenable to are at all times amenable to them.” them.”

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Georgia’s ConstitutionGeorgia’s Constitution• This means that the Government is This means that the Government is

founded by Permission of the founded by Permission of the people, and those officials in people, and those officials in government are accountable to government are accountable to serve us and our needs as state serve us and our needs as state citizens. citizens.

• This concept is called “This concept is called “popular popular sovereigntysovereignty.”.”

- The fact that true governmental - The fact that true governmental power is derived from the people…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

Separation of PowersSeparation of Powers• There are Three Main powers of There are Three Main powers of

Government…Government…--LegislativeLegislative – Making the Laws – Making the Laws--ExecutiveExecutive – Enforcing or Carrying – Enforcing or Carrying out the Lawsout the Laws--JudicialJudicial – Interpreting the law and – Interpreting the law and judging criminals according to it.judging criminals according to it.

• It used to be that Kings and other It used to be that Kings and other types of Dictatorships would do all types of Dictatorships would do all three of these powers by three of these powers by themselves. themselves.

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Separation of PowersSeparation of Powers• The United States (and The United States (and

Georgia) was one of the few Georgia) was one of the few Societies in history to start a Societies in history to start a government with these powers government with these powers separated.separated.

• Now many nations use this Now many nations use this system because it works.system because it works.

• Separation of Powers helps Separation of Powers helps governments from infringing governments from infringing on the people’s rights.on the people’s rights.

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SeparatioSeparation of n of

PowersPowers• Georgia’s State Government Georgia’s State Government Works similar to the Works similar to the Federal/National GovernmentFederal/National Government

• The Legislative Branch is called The Legislative Branch is called the the General AssemblyGeneral Assembly. It is . It is BicameralBicameral with a… with a… -State Senate (56 members) and a -State Senate (56 members) and a -State House of Representatives -State House of Representatives (180 members). (180 members).

• Each member has a 2 year term.Each member has a 2 year term.

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PowersPowers• The Executive Branch is The Executive Branch is headed by the headed by the GovernorGovernor who serves a 4 year term.who serves a 4 year term.

• The Judicial Branch is The Judicial Branch is headed by the Supreme headed by the Supreme Court of Georgia, Justices Court of Georgia, Justices are elected. are elected.

Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances

• In Both the state and federal In Both the state and federal governments, there is a concept governments, there is a concept of “of “Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances” ”

• This means that each branch of This means that each branch of government has some power government has some power over another branch of over another branch of government too keep each government too keep each branch from becoming too branch from becoming too powerful.powerful.

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Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances• For Example…For Example… (In the Georgia State Government)(In the Georgia State Government)

--The Executive Branch can Veto bills The Executive Branch can Veto bills sent to it by the Legislative branch. It sent to it by the Legislative branch. It can also appoint court justices when can also appoint court justices when they resign or die. they resign or die. -The Legislative branch Can Impeach -The Legislative branch Can Impeach officials, It can override a veto, it can officials, It can override a veto, it can confirm those people appointed to confirm those people appointed to office by the governor, and it can office by the governor, and it can propose constitutional changes.propose constitutional changes.-The Judicial branch can rule actions of -The Judicial branch can rule actions of the governor or Laws made by the the governor or Laws made by the general Assembly Unconstitutionalgeneral Assembly Unconstitutional

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Roles of Citizens under Georgia’s Roles of Citizens under Georgia’s GovernmentGovernment

• Citizens have rights… These Rights are Citizens have rights… These Rights are given to you by the U.S. and State given to you by the U.S. and State Constitutions. Among them are…Constitutions. Among them are…- Free Speech- Free Speech- Freedom of Religion- Freedom of Religion- Freedom of the Press- Freedom of the Press- Right to keep and bare arms- Right to keep and bare arms- Right to a speedy, fair, and public - Right to a speedy, fair, and public trial.trial.

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Roles of Citizens under Roles of Citizens under Georgia’s GovernmentGeorgia’s Government

• With Rights comes Responsibilities…With Rights comes Responsibilities…- Voting – Though it is a right, it is also the - Voting – Though it is a right, it is also the responsibility of a free citizen. It is the responsibility of a free citizen. It is the responsibility to research every office and responsibility to research every office and issue you vote for. issue you vote for. -Paying Taxes- It is every citizens Duty to -Paying Taxes- It is every citizens Duty to pay taxes to the Federal, State, and Local pay taxes to the Federal, State, and Local government. government. -Jury Duty- For our court systems to be fair, -Jury Duty- For our court systems to be fair, you may be called to participate on a juryyou may be called to participate on a jury-Draft- All young men at the age of 18 must -Draft- All young men at the age of 18 must register for the draft for military serviceregister for the draft for military service

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Roles of Citizens under Georgia’s Roles of Citizens under Georgia’s GovernmentGovernment

• To vote in Georgia, one must To vote in Georgia, one must be…be…-18 years Old-18 years Old-A Citizen of the United States-A Citizen of the United States- a Legal resident of the county - a Legal resident of the county in which you residein which you reside

• Voters May join a Voters May join a Political Party, Political Party, which is a group of voters who which is a group of voters who have like minded issues. have like minded issues.

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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 • 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"