1. State and Local Government

2. 24:1 State Constitutions

3. Purpose of State Constitution Supreme Law of the State Sets up organization of State’s government Distributes power among branches of State government Supremacy Clause- must not conflict with any form of federal law

4. Basic Principles of State Constitutions 1.Popular sovereignty and limited government – Must act with consent of the people and within defined boundaries – All states have 3 branches with checks and balances 2. Protection of Civil Rights – All have a Bill of Rights 3. Structure – Every state divides power between State and Local

5. Basic Principles of State Constitutions 4.Powers and Processes – Outline powers and duties of each branch 5. Constitutional Change – Details how constitution can be amended

6. Georgia’s Constitution It is the governing document that explains the laws, governmental offices, and citizens rights and responsibilities in the state of Georgia. We’ve had 10 What is the Georgia state constitution?

7. Georgia’s Constitution Structure of the Georgia state constitution: –Preamble (Introduction) –Articles (11 main articles) –Sections –Paragraphs What is the basic structure of the Georgia state constitution?

8. Georgia’s Constitution Article I: Bill of Rights Article II: Voting & Elections Article III: Legislative Branch Article IV: Constitutional Boards & Commissions Article V: Executive Branch Article VI: Judicial Branch Article VII: Taxation & Finance Article VIII: Education Article IX: Counties & Municipal Corporations Article X: Amendments to the Constitution Article XI: Miscellaneous Provisions What is the basic structure of the Georgia state constitution?

9. Structure of U.S. Government

10. Structure of Georgia Government State Capital Governor’s Mansion State Supreme Court General Assembly GovernorLieutenant Governor Notice the similarities between the structure of the national and state governments.

11. 24:2 State Legislatures

12. How are State Legislative Branches Organized? Job: Make Laws 49 are bicameral with a Senate and a lower house Qualifications set by State’s constitution Elected by popular vote Term lengths 2-4 years High turnover 43 meet annually, 6 biannually, CA continuous 2 year session

13. State Legislative Powers Pass new laws, amend old laws, do away with old laws State Law topics: – State Taxes (income, sales) – Education (Common Core? Charters? Governor take over failing schools?) – Property (DOT-eminent domain) – Define crimes, set punishments (death penalty?) – Regulation of business and professions (tax codes, teacher certifications)

14. State Police Powers Power to safeguard the well being of the people of the State Power to protect and promote – Public Health (immunizations, pollution, alcohol) – Public Safety (traffic laws, DUI, weapons) – Public Morals (prostitution) – General Welfare (education, aid to needy)

15. Reapportionment State legislatures responsible for reapportionment every 10 years based on census State and Federal Gerrymandering-drawing election districts to support a particular group

16. How a Bill becomes a Law in GA Must be introduced in either House or Senate – Appropriations bills MUST originate in House Sent to committee Same version of bill must pass both houses Sent to governor for signature/veto

18. Structure of Georgia Government Executive BranchLegislative BranchJudicial Branch Carries out the laws.Makes the laws.Evaluates or reviews the laws. Governor: Nathan Deal (Republican) 82 nd Governor Lieutenant Governor: Casey Cagle (Republican) Also includes the head officials of these departments: Department of Agriculture, Attorney General, GA Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, Public Service Commission, Secretary of State, and State School Superintendent. General Assembly House of Representatives: 180 members representing the citizens of Georgia. Senate: 56 members representing the citizens of Georgia. Courts at the state, county and city levels. Supreme Court Juvenile Courts Court of Appeals Superior Courts Probate Courts Magistrate Courts

19. GA’s 153 rd General Assembly Elected by popular vote No term limits 2 year terms 40 legislative day sessions each year January-March Single voting districts apportioned/reapportioned based on population $17,000 Qualifications – 2 year US and GA citizen – 1 year GA resident – Senators 25 years old – Representatives 21 years old

20. Georgia House of Representatives Richmond Hill 164 th District Ron Stephens

21. Georgia’s Senate RH Senator District 1 Ben Watson

22. GA General Assembly Committees Organized like Congress Bills begin in House or Senate and sent to committee Standing Committees- permanent (26/36) Interim Committees- temporary, special tasks Conference Committee- works on compromise bills of House and Senate Members serve on several committees

23. Committees Ben Watson Senate Committees – Economic Development and Tourism - Vice Chairman Economic Development and Tourism - Vice Chairman – Ethics - Member Ethics - Member – Health and Human Services - Member Health and Human Services - Member – Public Safety - Member Public Safety - Member – State Institutions and Property - Secretary State Institutions and Property - Secretary Ron Stephens House Committees – Appropriations - Member Appropriations - Member – Economic Development & Tourism - Chairman Economic Development & Tourism - Chairman – Rules - Member Rules - Member – Ways & Means - Member Ways & Means - Member

24. 24:3 Governors and State Administration

25. The Governorship State’s Chief Executive State’s Constitution sets formal qualifications and terms Chosen by popular vote in all states – Plurality wins in most states – Majority needed in GA or go to run-off Lt. Governor succeeds in 43 states Can be impeached or recalled

26. Governor’s Executive Powers Appointment and Removals – Appoint cabinet/judges to carry out and interpret law Supervisory Powers – Make sure laws/policies are enforced by state agencies Budget Making – Prepare a yearly budget Military Powers – Commander in Chief National Guard

27. Governor’s Legislative Powers Message Power – Recommend and influence legislation Special Sessions – Call legislature into special session in extraordinary situations Veto Power – Same as President – Some states have line item veto- can strike down part of a bill and it passes w/o going back to H/S

28. Governor’s Judicial Powers Some might be sole power of a governor, or a shared power with a board such as a parole board – Clemency- showing leniency, mercy – Pardon- release one from legal consequences of a crime – Commutation- reducing a court’s punishment – Reprieve- postponing an execution – Parole- early release of a prisoner

29. Other Executive Departments Unlike the President’s cabinet, Governors share their power with other elected executive officers. State Secretary of State – Chief clerk and record keeper State Treasurer – Tax collector, payroll, and bill payer State Attorney General – Legal advisor to stat’s officers, represent State in court, oversee work of local prosecutors

30. Structure of Georgia Government Executive BranchLegislative BranchJudicial Branch Carries out the laws.Makes the laws.Evaluates or reviews the laws. Governor: Nathan Deal (Republican) 82 nd Governor Lieutenant Governor: Casey Cagle (Republican) Also includes the head officials of these departments: Department of Agriculture, Attorney General, GA Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, Public Service Commission, Secretary of State, and State School Superintendent. General Assembly House of Representatives: 180 members representing the citizens of Georgia. Senate: 56 members representing the citizens of Georgia. Courts at the state, county and city levels. Supreme Court Juvenile Courts Court of Appeals Superior Courts Probate Courts Magistrate Courts

31. Georgia Governor Nathan Deal Republican 4 year term, 2 consecutive allowed Elected by popular vote Qualifications – 30 years of age – 15 year US citizen – Resident of GA for 6 years

32. Georgia Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle Succeeds governor if resigns or dies Elected by popular vote SEPARATELY from the Governor 4 year term, unlimited consecutive terms Presides over GA Senate Qualifications-same as Governor

33. Other GA Executive Officers Elected by popular vote 4 year terms – Attorney General-Sam Olens – Commissioner of Agriculture- Gary Black – Commissioner of Labor-Mark Butler – Commissioner of Insurance- Ralph Hudgens – Secretary of State- Brian Kemp – State School Superintendent- Richard Woods 6 Year Terms – 5 Public Service Commissioners – Our area is Doug Everett

34. 24:4 State Courts

35. State Court Laws Constitutional Law – Interpret the state constitution/judicial review/protect citizen’s rights Statutory Law – Enforces the laws of the states Common Law – Unwritten judge-made law that has developed over centuries Criminal Law – Offenses against public order, and punishments Civil Law – Disputes between people or between people and the State Felony – Serious crime punishable by heavy fine, lengthy imprisonment, death Misdemeanor – Less serious crime punishable by light fine, short imprisonment

36. State Juries Grand Juries – 6-23 people – Hear from prosecutor and witnesses, can ask questions – determine whether the evidence against a person charged with a crime is sufficient to justify a trial – Used only in criminal proceedings – Whole thing done in secret Petit Juries – The trial jury – 6-12 people – May/may not have to be unanimous verdict

37. Georgia’s Supreme Court Highest court in GA Elected by popular vote 6 year terms 7 justices Chief Justice chosen by other justices

38. GA Court of Appeals 2 nd highest court in GA 12, Chief Judge rotates every 2 years Reviews cases on appeal from lower courts No jury, witnesses, etc. Determine whether the law was correctly interpreted in the lower court

39. Georgia Trial Courts 5 Trial Level Courts – Magistrate – Juvenile – Probate – State – Superior Municipal Courts – 350 state wide – Traffic, local ordinances, issue warrants

40. Local Government: Bryan County County Commission System County Seat-Pembroke 1 Chairman + 5 County Commissioners Chairman-Jimmy Burnsed County Administrator-Ben Taylor The Board of Commissioners is ultimately responsibility for policy making and executive decisions concerning county government. The Board secures advisory assistance in this policy making role and administrative assistance in an executive role for day to day operations through a County Administrator. The county administrator normally has direct control over department heads and the approved county budget. The board of commissioners has the authority to appoint or remove the county administrator. Meet once/month Elected to 4 year terms which are staggered Bryan County Sheriff- highest elected official in Bryan County – Clyde Smith

41. Local Government: RH Mayor and City Council – Mayor Harold Fowler – 4 City Councilmembers (Mr. Carpenter) – Elected to 4 year terms, staggered City Manager – Chris Lovell – The City Manager is the Administrative head of the city staff. He supervises all departments. He negotiates on behalf of the city and signs contracts. He is involved in all facets of city government. He attends meetings and social functions as a representative of the city. It is his job to see that the Mayor and Council stay informed about issues that affect the city and to make recommendations on a course of action.