1. 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 Assembly
b. Describe the organizations of the General Assembly, with emphasis on leadership and the committee system
c. Trace the steps in the legislative process for a bill to become a law in Georgia

2. To understand how our state legislative branch runs you also need to understand the federal level of the legislative branch
The legislative branch makes laws.
All representatives are elected. (Terms vary.)
Article I, sections 1-9 of the US Constitution spells out the powers and procedures of Congress

3. US / Federal Government Congress is bicameral or two houses
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
Speaker = Paul Ryan ®
Senate
2 from each state
100 total
6 year terms
VP is presiding officer, votes if there is a tie
VP = Mike Pence ®

4. Powers of Congress Regulating Commerce Levying and collection taxes
Creating laws
Issuing Money
Issuing copyrights and Patents
Regulation of weights and measures (i.e. miles, oz., gallons)
Declaring War

5. Key terms 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
Bill – proposed legislation
Law – passed legislation
Veto – refusal to sign

6. Georgia’s Legislative Branch
Georgia’s legislature is the General Assembly
1789: became bi-cameral (two houses) under Royal Governor Reynolds
House of Representatives (money): only house to propose and write appropriations (spending bills)
Senate (people): only house to confirm appointments the governor makes to executive offices

7. Power & Legislation General Assembly addresses these topics:
Can pass, amend, or remove laws to GA Constitution
State spending and budgets
Taxes, education, contracts, property
Personal / Family (ex: inheritance, marriage, companies)
Fines, imprisonment, death (criminal matters)
Public Good: morals, health, regulations, welfare

8. Georgia General Assembly (meets for 40 days – Jan thru March)
Senate
56 members
Voted/elected by the people
2 year terms
House
180 members of the house
Voted/elected by the people
2 year terms
No limit on the number of terms

9. Qualifications to run for Georgia’s General Assembly
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

10. 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

11. Georgia’s Congressional Districts
The Georgia General Assembly Representation

12. Legislative Workings
Starts the second Monday in January and goes 40 days until mid-March (with breaks or “recess”)
Lieutenant Governor (elected by the people): presides over the Senate and does not have a vote (part of the Executive Branch)
LT Gov of GA = Casey Cagle ®
Speaker of the House (elected by the House): presides over the House (elected from control party) Speaker of the House has a vote only if there is a tie
Speaker of the GA House = David Ralston ®
Other Leaders: Majority Leader, Minority Leader, Floor Leader

13. Duties of the Presiding Officers
Both the Speaker of the House and Lieutenant Governor:
appoint members to committees,
assign bills to committees,
appoint chairpersons of the committees

14. Committees
Members of both the House and Senate are organized into Committees to review and propose new laws
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 (permanent in either House or Senate)
Interim (for a specific purpose in either House or Senate)
Conference (with both House & Senate to review a bill)
Joint (from both House & Senate for a task / purpose)

15. Special Committees
Interim – special task group to work on certain issues between session of the legislature (one house or other)
Conference – 3 senators and 3 representatives work together, take their two versions and try to write one bill that they both can agree upon
Joint – members from both houses that work on assigned topic or issue.

16. Georgia’s legislature Standing Committees (permanent)
Ways and Means 
Handles taxes
Appropriations 
Works on the budget
Judiciary 
State laws and court system

17. Funding Georgia’s Government
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

18. Three types of budget Original budget: first (fiscal year)
Amended budget: changes made to balance the budget
Supplementary budget: when additional funds are available
90 % revenue comes from personal, property, corp. taxes

19. How does a bill become a law?

20. How a bill becomes a law Idea
Senate Committee holds hearings to review bill
House Committee holds hearings to review bill
Draft is created
House floor votes on bill
Senate floor votes on bill
Sent to Executive branch (governor or president) to be signed or vetoed

21. HOW DOES A BILL BECOME A LAW
Proposal is submitted
Copies of the bill are given to Gen. Assembly
Bill is assigned to a committee in the House, there it is discussed
Committee can hold, vote out, make changes, or pass/not pass it (“Kill” a bill)
Bill is sent to the full house (50% + 1 vote to pass)
When bill is certified (passed) then sent to the other chamber, the Senate
Bill is assigned to a Senate committee (same as 4)
If both chambers pass it in the same form, it is sent to the governor/President
If differences exist in two versions, then back to committee! Then a repeat vote is held!
Governor can sign it, take no action (automatic law), or veto it (General Assembly can over ride veto with 2/3)