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 per office)
Article I, sections 1-9 of the US Constitution spells out the powers and procedures of Congress

3. Federal Government Congress is bicameral or two houses
Senate
2 from each state
100 total
6 year terms
VP is presiding officer, votes if there is a tie

4. Congress 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

5. 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

6. 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, Article I, section 8 of our constitution
Bill – proposed legislation
Veto – refusal to sign

7. Capitol dome finished in the 1860’s

8. Georgia’s Legislative Branch
Georgia’s legislature is called the Georgia General Assembly
1789: became bi-cameral (two house)
House of Representatives: can write appropriations (spending bills), they must start here
Senate: only the Senate can confirm appointments the governor makes to executive offices

9. Georgia’s Capitol dome
Completed in 1889
Contains marble mined in Georgia
Gold for the dome was also mined in Georgia
The Georgia General Assembly meets here

10. Georgia General Assembly (meets for 40 days)
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

11. 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

12. 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

13. Legislative Sessions
Starts the second Monday in January and goes 40 days until mid-March (breaks don’t count)
Lieutenant Governor: presides over the Senate and does not have a vote (really part of the Executive Branch)
Speaker of the House: presides over the House (elected) Speaker of the House has a vote only if there is a tie

14. 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

15. Georgia’s Congressional Districts
The Georgia General Assembly

16. Committees
Members of both the House and Senate are organized into Committees to review and proposed new laws
Committees: 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
Interim
Conference
joint

17. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. COMMITTEES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. COMMITTEES. SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON THE INVESTIGATION OF THE U.S. STEEL CORP., JANUARY 12, 1912

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

19. Special Committees
Interim – work on certain issues between session of the legislature
Conference – 3 senators and 3 representative work together, take their two versions and tries to write one bill that they both can agree upon
Joint – members from both houses that work on assigned topic.

20. How does a bill become a law?

21. Steps: Proposal is submitted
Copies of the bill are given to Gen. Assembly/ Congress
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
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
Governor/President can sign it, take no action (automatic law), or veto it (General Assembly can over ride veto with 2/3)

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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 taxes

25. Review
What is the function and make up of the legislative branch at the state and federal level?
What are the qualifications to run for the Georgia General Assembly?
What is the process to create legislation?
How is government funded?