Georgia’s General Assembly

Meets each year for a 40 day session that starts the 2nd Monday in January.Can pass legislation on taxes, education, contracts, personal propertyMakes laws on fines, imprisonment, or death in criminal mattersConsiders public regulations – laws affecting issues like morals, public health, business regulations, general welfare

State Senate (56 Members)

They serve 2 year termsThey are elected by voters in the house or senate district

A Senator must be 25 years of age, a citizen of the U.S. and of Georgia for 2 years

State House of Representatives

180 membersServe 2 year termsRep. must be 21, a citizen of the U.S. and Georgia for 2 years, and a legal resident of district for 1 year.

House of Representatives

The Speaker of the House is the leader of the House.* Appoints chairpersons & members to committees.* Assigns bills to committees

There are 36 regular committees in the House of Representatives (most members serve on 2 to 3)

Minority leader is leader of minority party in the house

Floor leader usually represents the party of the governor

SenateLieutenant governor is the president

of the Senate (leader of Senate)* Appoints chairpersons and members

to committees. * Assigns bills to committees The other leader in the Senate is the

president pro tempore (leader of the Senate majority party)

There is also a majority and minority leader for each party

There are 26 committees in the Senate (each Senator is on at least three committees)

Committees

All bills go through a committee before they are voted on by the whole house or senate

Committee are used so that pieces of legislation can be studied closely

Most of the work done on a bill happens in committee

The House and Senate have to pass the exact same version of a bill before it goes to the governor.

How A Bill Becomes a Law 1.Anyone can come up with the idea for a

bill. 2.They submit it to their Congressperson,

and he or she creates the bill. 3.It is presented in either the House or

Senate and then assigned to committee. 4.Committee examine and work with the bill

and decide whether to act on it. 5.When it comes out of committee it is

voted on by the body of representatives 6.If passed in both bodies of Congress goes

to the president

State Executive BranchMade up of the Governor, Lt. Governor,

and advisors at the State LevelThe Governor and Lt. Governor must

be at least 30, citizen of the U.S. for 15 years, and a resident of the state for at least 6 years.

Governor can only serve 2 consecutive terms, but can run again four years later.

Governor is in charge of creating state budget

Powers of the GovernorFormal powers are those written in the

State Constitution.* Executive Powers

a) appoint state officialsb) enforce civil and criminal laws

* Legislative Powersa) signing or vetoing billsb) calling special sessions of

legislation* Judicial Powers

a) pardon criminalsb) appoint state justices

Informal Powers – powers that are a result of custom and tradition and are used to enforce formal powers

Other Elected Officials Unlike the Vice President, the Lt. Governor

is elected separately from the Governor If something happens to the Governor the

Lt. Governor takes over. State Attorney General: Chief legal officer Secretary of State: Maintains the states

official records and is runs elections State School Superintendent: head of

Education. Commissioner of Labor: regulates the health

and safety of workers.

The Judicial Branch? Interprets the laws…can declare laws

unconstitutional! The U.S. Supreme court

Judicial Branch Courts protect citizens from government

abuse They make sure that citizens have due

process of law. Courts help determine whether people are

guilty of crimes. Settling disputes peacefully

* Mediation – a neutral third person (arbitrator) helps two opposing sides come to an agreement.* Negotiation – discussing an issue with hopes to resolve it.

Judicial Vocabulary

jurisdiction – the range of actions over which the court has control or influence

felony – a serious crime punishable by a year or more in prison, a fine of at least $1,000, or both

misdemeanor – a less serious crime punishable by less than a year in prison, a fine less than $1,000 or both

Appellate jurisdiction – reviewing the decisions of lower courts

Original jurisdiction- the court that hears the case first.

Judicial Vocabulary Grand Jury – determines whether or not

persons accused of crimes should be officially charged.

Trial Jury – a group of citizens who are charged with judging a person with a crime

Criminal Law – cases dealing with people violating the law

Civil Law – cases dealing with conflict between private parties

Trial Courts - hear original cases such as criminal and civil cases

State Courts

Supreme Court – reviews cases that are appealed from lower ranking courts. (appellate court)* interprets the state constitution* justices are elected to 6 year terms* decisions made have final authority at state level

Court of Appeals * made up of 12 judges elected to 6 year terms* only hears cases appealed from lower courts

Superior Court – original and appellate jurisdiction

* felonies, divorces, and appeals from lower courts

State Courts State Court –misdemeanors, traffic

violations, civil cases Juvenile Courts – cases dealing with

juveniles Probate Court – cases dealing with wills,

estates, appointing guardians Magistrate Courts – * Criminal – pretrial proceedings,

warrants, bail * Civil Cases under $5,000