1. Executive Branch of Georgia’s Government
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2. Let’s Review… 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.
Today we will focus on the executive branch

3. Georgia’s Executive Branch
Georgia’s executive branch is headed up by the Governor.
His “second-in-command” is called the Lieutenant Governor.
This is very similar to the roles of the President and Vice-President at the national level
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4. Executive Branch Elections
The Governor serves a four-year term.
Maximum of TWO terms
This keeps governors from serving too long/keeping power for too long
The Lt. Governor serves a four-year term
UNLIMITED amount of terms.
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5. How to Become Governor OR Lt. Governor
Qualifications
30 years old
U.S. citizen for 15 years
GA citizen for 6 years
U.S. citizen for 15 years
Term of Office
4 years
May run for and serve a second term
Unlimited terms
Election
Elected by the citizens
Runs separately with Lt. Gov.
Can be from different political party
Runs separately with Gov.

6. What does the Governor have the power to do?
Leader of the executive branch
Commander-in-Chief of Georgia’s military
forces.
Signs bills into laws
Can veto legislation from the General Assembly
Appoints people to lead executive departments
Writes the first draft of the state budget.
Has to make a “State of the State” speech every year.
Speaks before both houses of the General Assembly
Can “pardon” criminals.

7. Duties of the Governor: Where do these powers come from?
Formal Powers—these are powers given to the Governor according to the state constitution
Executive (appoint state officials and enforce laws, commander-in-chief, State of State speech)
Legislative (sign or veto bills, recommend bills and budgets, calls special session of Assembly)
Judicial (pardon offenders, appoint fill-in judges)
Informal Powers—these are powers that the Governor has just by the nature of his job
Communicate with public
Represent state in meetings/events with other states or the federal govt.

8. What does the Lt. Governor have the power to do?
Formal Powers—these are powers given to the Lieutenant Governor according to the state constitution
Executive (serves as governor if current governor dies or becomes too sick to perform his duties)
Legislative (presides over the Georgia Senate as the President of the Senate)
Decides on committee memberships
Chooses committee chairpersons

9. How does the office of the Governor compare to the office of the President?
Similarities
Appoints government/state officials
Elected to four year term (no more than two consecutive)
Commander-in-chief
Calls extra legislative sessions
Recommends bills and budget
Vetoes or sign bills into law
Pardons offenders
“State of Union/State” Address
Honorary head of political party

10. Other (Elected) Members of the Executive Branch
The Governor and Lt. Governor aren’t the only members of the executive branch at the state level
The executive branch includes many executive departments such as the Departments of Agriculture, Education, and Labor which all help to run the state
Elected positions to these Departments include:
State Attorney General
Commissioner of Agriculture
Commissioner of Labor
Commissioner of Insurance
Public Service Commissioner
Secretary of State
State School Superintendent

11. What do these elected officials do?
State Attorney General – This person is the Chief Lawyer for the state.
Commissioner of Agriculture – This person is Head of the Agriculture department. He/she helps maintain farmer’s markets, attract Farming-Related businesses to the state and inspects farms and farming related products.
Commissioner of Labor – This person is head of the Labor department. They regulate the health and safety of workers and enforce state labor laws.
Commissioner of Insurance – This person regulates the insurance companies and says which ones can operate in Georgia.

12. Public Service Commissioners – These are people who regulate utilities in Georgia, such as phone, cable, electricity and water.
Secretary of State – This person’s department maintains official records, supervises elections, appoints examining boards, grants corporate charters, and regulates stocks and bonds in Georgia.
State School Superintendent - this is the head of the schools for our state.

13. Other (Appointed) Members of the Executive Branch
The executive branch also includes departments that have officials who have been appointed by the Governor:
Department of Human Resources
Department of Natural Resources
Department of Juvenile Justice
Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI)
Department of Corrections
Board of Regents—which helps to run colleges including UGA
Board of Public Safety