1. Georgia and the American Experience
Chapter 15:
Government of the Empire State
Study Presentation
©2005 Clairmont Press

2. Georgia and the American Experience
Section 1: The Executive Branch of State Government
Section 2: The Legislative Branch of State Government
Section 3: The Judicial Branch of State Government
Section 4: Young People and the Law
©2005 Clairmont Press

3. Section 1: The Executive Branch of State Government
ESSENTIAL QUESTION:
What are the powers of Georgia’s governor?

4. Section 1: The Executive Branch of State Government
What words do I need to know?
governor
lieutenant governor

5. The Executive Branch of State Government
Similar structure to federal government
State constitution organizes government structure
Governor elected to four-year term by popular vote of citizens
Two consecutive terms allowed
Qualifications:
30 years of age
citizen of the US for 15 years
resident of Georgia for six years
Lieutenant governor takes over if governor dies or resigns

6. Formal Powers of the Governor
Executive: appoints state officials, makes sure laws are enforced
Legislative: sends requests and messages to legislature, vetos bills or signs them into law as necessary, call special session of legislature
Judicial: pardon convicted criminals, appoint state justices
Have students examine pages 532 and 533 (Tables 61 and 62).

7. Informal Powers of the Governor
appoints people to state boards and executive offices
issuing proclomations
representing the state in various meetings and events
working with legislators to get laws passed
guiding state agencies
communicating personal position on important issues

8. Office of Lieutenant Governor
elected by popular vote at the same time the governor is elected
same qualifications but can serve an unlimited number of consecutive terms
presiding officer in the Senate
controls committee appointments in the state Senate, assigns bills to committees, recognizes Senators who wish to speak

9. Georgia’s Other Elected Officials
Attorney General
Commissioner of Agriculture
Commissioner of Labor
Commissioner of Insurance
Secretary of State
State School Superintendent
Public Service Commissioners
All serve four year term (PSC members serve six year term)

10. Appointed Officials, Boards, and Commissions
statutory officials: jobs are called for by state law
some boards and agencies created by law
Examples:
State Board of Pardons and Paroles
Board of Natural Resources
State Personnel Board
Board of Public Safety
Click to return to Table of Contents.

11. Section 2: The Legislative Branch of State Government
ESSENTIAL QUESTION:
What does the legislative branch of government do in Georgia?

12. Section 2: The Legislative Branch of State Government
What words do I need to know?
public regulation

13. Legislative Branch law-making body in Georgia
officially known as Georgia General Assembly
bicameral (two-houses): House of Representatives and Senate
only House can write spending bills; Senate confirms appointments made by the governor

14. Members of the General Assembly
elected by popular vote
no limit on number of consecutive terms
members’ districts have about the same number of voters
Qualifications
citizen of US and Georgia at least 2 years
legal resident of district at least 1 year
Senators: at least 25 years old
Representatives: at least 21 years old

15. Legislative Sessions 40-day session, January – March
members of house of representatives elect Speaker of the House
lieutenant governor presides over senate but has no vote
Speaker can vote if there is a tie

16. Committees organized like Congress in committees and subcommittees
bills may start in House or Senate
standing committees: permanent part of the General Assembly
interim committee: works on assigned special tasks
conference committee: works out agreements between house and senate on bills
joint committee: has members of House and Senate to work on assigned topic or issue
members serve on several committees

17. Types of Legislation
can pass laws, amend (change) them, or do away with them
some law topics:
taxes
education
property
criminal matters and punishments
public health
regulation of businesses & professions

18. How a Bill Becomes a Law
any senator or representative can propose a bill
bills related to spending must begin in the House
same version of the bill must pass House and Senate
compromise bill may come from conference committee
governor can sign or veto the bill if it passes both the House and Senate

19. Reapportionment Occurs each 10 years following the census
legislature must redraw the voting districts to make them have the equal numbers of people
2001: districts drawn by Democratic legislature ruled unconstitutional
2004: revisions made to district map
gerrymandering: drawing up a election district to support a particular group
Click to return to Table of Contents.

20. Section 3: The Judicial Branch of State Government
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
What is the role of the judicial branch in Georgia government?

21. Section 3: The Judicial Branch of State Government
What words do I need to know?
felony
misdemeanor
Supreme Court
court of appeals
trial courts
jurisdiction
grand jury
trial jury

22. Judicial Branch made up of state’s courts purpose:
interpret state constitution
protect legal rights of citizens
enforce laws of the state
due process of law: courts make sure that everyone is protected from abuse by the government
civil cases: disputes between citizens
criminal cases: involve violation of laws
felony: serious crime with severe punishments allowed
misdemeanor: less serious crime with smaller punishments

23. Georgia Courts Supreme Court is state’s highest court
justices elected by popular vote to six-year term
Chief Justice is chosen by the other justices
appellate: court which reviews cases – no witnesses and juries
court of appeals: second highest court
trial courts: hears criminal and civil cases
examples: magistrate, juvenile, state, superior, probate, municipal (city court)
jurisdicition: range of action over which court can rule

24. Jury System a trial by one’s peers
grand jury: determines if enough evidence exists to indict (officially charge) a person
trial jury: citizens whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence of a person charged with a crime

25. Separation of Powers each branch of government has its own powers
similar to US Constitution
designed so that no branch or person can become too powerful
checks and balances system depends on citizens choosing wisely when they vote
Click to return to Table of Contents.

26. Section 4: Young People and the Law
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
How are young people affected by the law?

27. Section 4: Young People and the Law
What words do I need to know?
truancy
juvenile

28. Young People and the Law
Over 2,500 children in jail in Georgia
juvenile: citizen under the age of 17
truancy: failure to attend school
juveniles must follow state’s laws, but violators may be tried by a juvenile court
Common crimes: smoking, drinking alcohol, loitering (hanging around a public place without permission), violating curfews, running away

29. Juvenile Court System every county has a juvenile court purposes:
help and protect children
ensure protection of children coming under their jurisdiction
provide care for children removed from their home
delinquent act: act that would be a crime if committed by an adult (example: burglary)
status offense: act that would not be a crime if committed by an adult (example: smoking)

30. Steps in Juvenile Justice Process
juvenile “taken into custody”
intake: intake officer evaluates case
detain or release (to parents)
detained juveniles sent to RYDC (regional youth detention center)
probable cause hearing before a juvenile court judge
dismissal, informal adjustment, or formal hearing
if the juvenile committed a serious offense or multiple offenses, a judge has many sentencing options

31. Georgia’s Seven Deadly Sins Act
1994: legislature addressed issue of increasingly violent youth crime
juveniles charged with certain crimes (murder, rape, armed robbery with a firearm) could be treated as adults by the courts
superior courts handle these cases
mandatory 10-year sentences were a part of the new law

32. Rights of Juveniles
juveniles have the right to a fair and speedy trial
no juries in juvenile cases
parents or guardians may be present at hearings
attorney must be provided if child’s parents cannot afford one

33. Students’ Rights Under School Law
sometimes students’ rights have been in conflict with schools’ authority
courts have ruled that students’ civil rights are in effect at school; however, schools have been given broad power to control and manage the school environment

34. Students Responsibilities Under School Law
students have a legal right to a free public education
responsibilities of students:
attend school regularly from ages 6-16
follow reasonable rules and regulations
work with school officials to prevent disruption and violence which keeps students from learning and achieving
Click to return to Table of Contents.

35. Click to return to Table of Contents.