SLG - Constitutional Government of Georgia Lesson
Constitutional Government of Georgia
Georgia's Constitution
Georgia's very first constitution was executed in 1777 by colonial legislators. Since 1777, Georgia's constitution has been revised and re-executed a total of ten times. Each of the ten variations of the state constitution shows a direct reflection of the social, economic, and political changes of the state throughout its history. Georgia's present day constitution was officially ratified on November 2, 1982 and enacted in 1983.
Georgia's Constitution of 1983
The Georgia constitution was revised four times between 1868 and 1976. Georgia's general assembly revised the constitution in full in 1977. A few members of the committee that redrafted the constitution included the governor of Georgia, the lieutenant governor of Georgia, the speaker of the state house of representatives, the attorney general, and several representatives from the state legislature. The committee met and organized and revised much of the language in the constitution to make it easier to read in modern English, meaning that much of the language in the original constitution came from the 19th century.
It took approximately six years to re-draft and approve the new changes to the constitution. The committee spent many hours mixing new articles in with old articles from the original constitution. This made the new constitution approximately one-half the size of the original. In 1981, the changes to the new constitution were approved by the General Assembly, and in 1982, the changes were placed on the ballot for voters throughout the state. Georgia voters approved the changes by an overwhelming majority, and on July 1, 1983, the new constitution went into effect.
The Georgia State Capital, located in Atlanta, Georgia, is an architecturally and historically significant building. The Georgia State Capital is designed to look like the architectural style of the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. It is the main office of Georgia's state government. The offices of the governor and secretary of state are located on the second floor, and the General Assembly meets on the third floor.
Organization and Powers of the Georgia Constitution
Just like the United States federal government, the Georgia constitution is divided into three branches of government, the legislative, the executive, and the judicial. This system divides the power between the three branches of government. Georgia's executive branch of government is responsible for carrying out the law, Georgia's legislative branch is responsible for passing laws, and Georgia's judicial branch is responsible for interpreting the law.
Georgia's Executive Branch of Government
Members of Georgia's executive branch of government include The governor, the lieutenant governor, and other elected officials of the state that work under the governor. The Governor of Georgia serves as the head of state. The governor serves a four-year term that is limited to two terms in office. The governor does not select a running mate; the lieutenant governor runs separately and can serve multiple terms in office. Like the president, the governor appoints government officials to head the cabinet. However, some of these are elected positions.
Governor Brian Kemp was elected to office in 2018. Governor Kemp is only the third governor of Georgia from the Republican Party since the Reconstruction era.
Georgia's Legislative Branch of Government
Georgia's General Assembly is older than Congress and was unicameral until 1789. It then followed the federal government format and became bi-cameral with a House of Representatives and a Senate. Presently, there are fifty-six members of the Senate and one hundred eighty members of the House of Representatives. Members of the Georgia legislator serve a two-year term in office. There are no limits to the number of terms a legislator can have in office.
Legislators pass and propose bills along with resolutions that directly affect all citizens within the state of Georgia. The legislature is also responsible for passing the state's budget for the next fiscal year. The governor then must sign the bill before it can become a law.
Georgia's House of Representatives vs. Senate
| House of Representatives | Senate |
|---|---|
| 180 Members | 56 Members |
| Serve a two year term in office | Serve a two year term in office |
| All appropriations (distribution of revenues) bills start in the House of Representatives | Confirms governor's appointments |
Georgia's Judiciary Branch
Text from Image: Georgia's state courts with original jurisdiction include: Magistrate Courts, Probate Courts. State Courts of Counties, and Juvenile Courts. Georgia's state courts with general jurisdiction include: Cases involving State Law, All felonies. Georgia's state courts with appellate jurisdiction include: Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court.
Georgia's constitution was amended in 1835 to allow for a state supreme court. However, the enactment of the Supreme Court was not official until 1858. Georgia has a total of seven Supreme Court justices that includes one chief justice.
Similarities Between the Federal Government and Georgia's Government
| Similarities | Differences |
|---|---|
| Both have three branches of government: The legislative, judicial, and executive branches | State has more responsibility in education, criminal justice, and welfare |
| Both have constitutions | State provides corporate charters and workers compensation |
| Both have certain requirements for elected officials | The federal government has control over interstate and international issues; including defense. |
| Both have term limits for executives | |
| Both have the power to regulate business | |
| Both protect the environment, provide for healthcare, and education | |
| Both have the power to tax |
Federalism and Georgia
Federalism is a concept that is based on the idea that the power and authority of a state is divided by a governing head (federal government) and constituent political units (states). Georgia is part of this federal system within the United States and functions as a political unit under the federal government.
Although Georgia is allowed to have its own power and authority over its citizens, it must follow the laws and policies of the federal government. Remember, the federal government is considered the supreme law of the land, and the supremacy clause ensures that state governments may not simply ignore federal laws by passing their own laws and policies.
The federal government's relationship with Georgia is only a small part of the federal government's influence and power on a state. Georgia must also network with other states in the United States. Guidelines for this type of interaction is outlined in the U.S. Constitution. The full faith and credit clause, Article IV, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution, requires that each state recognize the laws and authorities of other states.
How Are State Governments Funded?
Georgia Taxation
Georgians, like all Americans, pay taxes that are the sources of funding for government services, such as paying for schools, parks, roads, museums, teachers, and firefighters, etc. Some taxes are paid to the federal government; whereas, others are paid to or shared by state and local governments.
Explore each section in the tabs below to learn more.
Other Sources of Government Funding
- Borrowing and selling bonds
- Lotteries
- Inter-government revenues (Federal Grants)
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