The Legislative Branch

S8CG2 The student will analyze the role of the legislative branch in Georgia state government. a. Explain the qualifications, term, election, and duties of members of the General Assemblyb. Describe the organizations of the General Assembly, with emphasis on leadership and the committee systemc. Trace the steps in the legislative process for a bill to become a law in Georgia

The legislative branch makes laws.

All representatives are elected. (Terms vary per office)

Article I, sections 1-9 of the US Constitution spells out the powers and procedures of Congress

To understand how our state legislative branch runs you also need to understand the federal level of the legislative branch

Federal Government Congress is bicameral or two

houses

Senate

• 2 from each state

• 100 total• 6 year terms• VP is presiding

officer, votes if there is a tie

House of Representatives

Number is based on the state’s population

Currently 435 representatives

2 year terms “Speaker of the House”

which is voted on by the majority party, is the presiding officer

Congress

Powers of Congress

Regulating CommerceLevying and collection taxesCreating lawsIssuing MoneyIssuing copyrights and PatentsRegulation of weights and measures (i.e. miles, oz., gallons)Declaring War

Expressed powers -powers stated in the

constitution Implied powers – are powers needed to

carryout the expressed powers Elastic clause – the clause that

stretches Congress’ powers, Article I, section 8 of our constitution

Bill – proposed legislation Veto – refusal to sign

Key terms

Capitol dome finished in the 1860’s

Georgia’s legislature is called the Georgia

General Assembly 1789: became bi-cameral (two house)

House of Representatives: can write appropriations (spending bills), they must start here

Senate: only the Senate can confirm appointments the governor makes to executive offices

Georgia’s Legislative Branch

Completed in

1889 Contains

marble mined in Georgia

Gold for the dome was also mined in Georgia

The Georgia General Assembly meets here

Georgia’s Capitol dome

Georgia General Assembly(meets for 40 days)

House• 180 members

of the house• Voted/elected

by the people• 2 year terms• No limit on the

number of terms

Senate• 56 members• Voted/elected by

the people • 2 year terms

Senate

At least 25 years old

Citizens of the US Citizens of GA for

at least 2 years Legal resident of

their district for 1 year

Qualifications to run for Georgia’s General

Assembly

House

At least 21 years old

Citizen of US Citizen of GA for

at least 2 years Legal resident of

their district for 1 year

Qualifications to run for Georgia’s General

Assembly

Starts the second Monday in January and goes

40 days until mid-March (breaks don’t count) Lieutenant Governor: presides over the Senate

and does not have a vote (really part of the Executive Branch)

Speaker of the House: presides over the House (elected) Speaker of the House has a vote only if there is a tie

Legislative Sessions

Both the Speaker of the House and

Lieutenant Governor appoint members to committees, assign bills to committees, appoint chairpersons of the

committees

Duties of the Presiding Officers

The Georgia General Assemblyhttp://www.legis.state.ga.us/

Georgia’s Congressional Districts

Members of both the House and Senate are

organized into Committees to review and proposed new laws

Committees: all bills must be reviewed by Committees before they can be brought to a vote by the General Assembly or Congress

Different types of committees: Standing Interim Conference joint

Committees

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. COMMITTEES. SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON THE INVESTIGATION OF THE U.S.

STEEL CORP., JANUARY 12, 1912

Ways and Means

Appropriations

Judiciary

Handles taxes

Works on the budget

State laws and court system

Georgia’s legislature Standing Committees (permanent)

Interim – work on certain issues

between session of the legislature Conference – 3 senators and 3

representative work together, take their two versions and tries to write one bill that they both can agree upon

Joint – members from both houses that work on assigned topic.

Special Committees

How does a bill become a law?

Steps:1) Proposal is submitted2) Copies of the bill are given to Gen.

Assembly/ Congress3) Bill is assigned to a committee in the House,

there it is discussed4) Committee can hold, vote out, make

changes, or pass/not pass it5) Bill is sent to the full house (50% + 1 vote to

pass)6) When bill is certified (passed) then sent to

the other chamber, the Senate7) Bill is assigned to a Senate committee

(same as 4)8) If both chambers pass it in the same form, it

is sent to the governor/President9) Governor/President can sign it, take no

action (automatic law), or veto it (General Assembly can over ride veto with 2/3)

How a bill becomes a law

Draft is created

Senate Committee

holds hearings to review bill

House Committee

holds hearings to review bill

Senate floor votes on bill

House floor votes on bill

Sent to Executive branch (governor or president) to

be signed or vetoed

Idea

Revenues: sources of income for the

state State funds-(taxes) Federal funds Special fees

Expenditures: plans for spending the funds

Georgia’s budget must be balanced, state constitution requires it

Funding Georgia’s Government

Original budget: first (fiscal year) Amended budget: changes made to balance

the budget Supplementary budget: when additional funds

are available 90 % revenue comes from taxes

Three types of budget

What is the function and make up of the

legislative branch at the state and federal level?

What are the qualifications to run for the Georgia General Assembly?

What is the process to create legislation? How is government funded?

Review