1. Georgia’s Government: The Legislative Branch
November 10, 2014
Standard: SS8CG2
The student will analyze the role of the legislative branch in Georgia state government.

2. The Legislative Branch
Law-making power is granted to the legislative branch by the state constitution
The law-making body (legislature) in Georgia is called the General Assembly
The Assembly can pass laws on any issue not denied to it by the U.S. Constitution
It can also amend state laws or repeal them
Legislation (laws) can be passed on taxes, education, and property
Other subjects dealt with include mortgages, imprisonment, public health, and marriage and divorce

3. Members of the General Assembly
The General Assembly is bi-cameral (divided into two houses or chambers)
One chamber is the House of Representatives, the other is the Senate
There are 180 members of the House and 56 members of the Senate
To be a state senator, a person must be at least 25-years old, a citizen of the U.S., and a citizen of Georgia for at least 2 years.
To be a representative, a person must be at least 21-years old, and meet all of the other requirements of senators

4. Election to the General Assembly
Members of the General Assembly are elected by popular vote (by the people) to 2-year terms
There is no limit on the number of terms they can serve
Each of these members is elected by voters in a House or Senate district
Each district contains about the same number of voters

5. General Assembly Sessions
The General Assembly meets each year for a forty-day session beginning on the 2nd Monday in January
Breaks and recesses do not count towards the 40 days, so they usually finish sometime in mid-March
Either the House or Senate can propose and pass bills, and all bills must be approved by both before being sent to the governor for signing

6. Leadership in the General Assembly
The Lieutenant Governor presides over the state senate
Members of the House elect a Speaker of the House as their presiding officer
The presiding officers determine the order of business, control debates, enforce rules of procedure, and order votes
They also appoint committees and assign bills to the committees

7. The Committee System
Members of the House and Senate are organized into committees
All bills must be reviewed by a House or Senate committee before they can be voted on by the entire House or Senate
Standing committees are permanent, lasting from one session to the next
Interim committees are organized for a special task and only last one session

8. How a Bill becomes a Law
Any representative or senator can propose a bill for consideration (a bill is a proposed law)
There are 9 steps for a bill to become a law in Georgia
For a bill to become a law in Georgia, the same version must be passed in both chambers of the General Assembly
If they cannot agree on one version, a committee proposes a compromise bill which is then sent to be voted on

9. Steps to becoming a law 1) a proposal is written and given a number
2) it is assigned to a House committee
3) It is studied by the committee
4) If passed by the committee, it goes to the full House of Representatives
5) If passed by the House, it is sent to the Senate
6) It is assigned to a Senate committee
7) If passed, it goes to the full Senate for a vote
8) If passed in the same form by the Senate, it is then signed by presiding officers
9) It is sent to the governor who can sign or veto the bill
If signed, the bill becomes a law. If vetoed, it is sent back. The General Assembly can override the veto by a 2/3 vote of both chambers and it will become a law

10. Questions: 1) Which branch of government has law-making power?
2) What is the legislature called in Georgia?
3) What are some examples of subjects that legislation can be passed on?
4) What does bi-cameral mean?
5) What are the two chambers of the General Assembly?
6) How many members are in each chamber?
7) What are the qualifications to be a senator in Georgia?
8) What are the qualifications to be a representative in Georgia?
9) How long is a term for a senator or representative?

11. More Questions: 10) When does the General Assembly meet?
11) Who presides over the state senate?
12) Who presides over the house of representatives?
13) Describe the duties of the presiding officers.
14) What is a standing committee?
15) What is an interim committee?
16) What is a bill?
17) How are bills proposed?
18) How can a bill become a law in Georgia?
19) What happens if the senate and house cannot agree on a version of a bill?

12. More Questions:
20) List the steps for a bill to become a law in Georgia
21) What happens if the governor vetoes a bill?
22) How many votes are needed for a vetoed bill to become a law?