1. OFFICIAL NAME: GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING THE LAWS OF GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

2. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY Georgia’s Legislative Branch BICAMERAL BODY (MADE UP OF TWO HOUSES) UPPER HOUSE  SENATE LOWER HOUSE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Members are elected for two-year terms with no limit on the number of terms they can serve Members are elected by voters in either a House District or Senate District

3. SENATE 56 MEMBERS Qualifications for Senate  Must be at least 25 years of age  Must be a U.S. citizen  Must be a citizen of Georgia for at least two years prior to election  Must be legal resident of the Senate District from which they are being elected for at least one year prior to election You live in the 4 th Senate District and are represented by Senator Jack Hill

4. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 180 MEMBERS Qualifications for House of Representatives  Must be at least 21 years of age  Must be a U.S. citizen  Must be a Georgia citizen for at least two years prior to election  Must be a legal resident of the House District from which they are elected for at least one year prior to election You live in the 147 th House District and are represented by Representative Ann Purcell

5. General Assembly What Does It Do? Makes laws for the citizens of Georgia  Meets for 40-day business session beginning the second Monday in January each year

6. General Assembly How Do They Do It?  Each branch meets separately to conduct business  House of Representatives is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is chosen by the House members (David Ralston)  Senate is presided over by the Lt. Governor of Georgia (Casey Cagle)

7. General Assembly How Do They Do It? Speaker of House and Senate Leader (Lt. Governor) preside over proceedings  Appoint members to committees and choose committee chairpersons  Assign bills to committees  Lead full-floor debate of bills

8. General Assembly How Do They Do It? Committees  Review bills  Hold hearings  Decide if bills should go to floor for debate or “held in committee”

9. General Assembly How Do They Do It? House and Senate Members  Represent constituents  Propose bills  Take part in floor debates  Vote on bills