Georgia Studies Government Unit Lesson 1 Foundations of

Georgia Studies Government Unit Lesson 1 – Foundations of Government Study Presentation

Lesson 1 - Foundations of Government • ESSENTIAL QUESTION – How does the structure of Georgia’s government ensure that its citizens are fairly represented? – How do political parties serve the purpose of voters with different opinions?

Government • Democracy – Government where the power is held by the people (who vote for their leaders). • Government - Social institution set up to promote and protect society through formal rules and services. • Three main levels of government: – Federal – – State – – Local –

U. S. Constitution • Adopted on September 17, 1787, by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. • Ratified by all states. • The Constitution consists of: – (opening paragraph) – 7 original articles • Discuss the 3 branches of the government • – Which powers are given to the states and which are given to the federal government – 27 amendments • – the 1 st 10 Amendments – Changes or additions to a constitution.

GA State Constitution • – A set of laws for a nation or state. The US Constitution established the Federal Government for the United States. The Georgia Constitution established the government for the state of Georgia. • Georgia’s Constitution, contains a preamble and a Bill of Rights (a section containing a list of rights and ). • Georgia’s Preamble – p. 530 – What does this mean to you? – Can you put the Preamble in your own words? – Who remembers what the Governor on p. 530 did?

GA State Constitution • Georgia’s government also has the same 3 branches. • Separation of Powers – p. 522 -523 • – Each of the three branches of government have different jobs: – Legislative – Makes the rules or laws that people must obey. (Think “L” – ) – Executive – Head, or leader, of the government. Enforces the laws. (Think “E” – ) – Judicial – Interprets, or judges, the laws. (Think “J” – )

Figure 70 (p. 546) State Checks and Balances • The Executive Branch can veto bills passed by the legislative branch and can call special sessions of the legislature. It also has some appointment powers when officers of the court resign or die. • The Legislative Branch can impeach officials in the executive or judicial branches. It can override a governor’s veto of bills to make them into laws. It must also confirm appointments made by the governor. It can also propose constitutional changes. • The Judicial Branch determines whether or not laws are constitutional.

GA State Constitution • – System created to ensure that none of the three branches of government become too powerful, or more powerful than any of the other branches.

Rights and Responsibilities • Rights – Standard or law that ensures that governments and other institutions protect people’s freedom and treat people equally in society and politics. • Responsibility – Knowledge that actions have consequences, and that these consequences effect other people. • If people break laws and violate other people’s rights they will face consequences (arrests and court hearings).

Voting Requirements • To register to vote in GA people must: – – – • People who have been convicted of certain crimes may not be allowed to vote. • Every two years Georgians vote for members of the state’s General Assembly. • Every years there are elections to choose the governor and lieutenant governor of the state. • Voters in GA also vote in national elections for the and members of the (House of Representatives and Senate). • A Final Note, page 583

Political Parties • – Political organizations that attempt to gain and maintain power by participating in electoral elections. • The United States is a two-party system ( and ). • This means there are 2 dominant Political Parties. – Who can tell me which party dominated politics in the South until the late 90 s, early 2000 s? – Who was the 1 st Republican Governor elected in Georgia?

Like the pledge to the American flag, we also have a pledge to our State Flag. Pledge of Allegiance to the Georgia Flag "I pledge allegiance to the Georgia flag and to the principles for which it stands; Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation. “ • Approved: March 28, 1935 • – good sense; a wise attitude, belief, or course of action • - the quality of being just, impartial, or fair; the quality of conforming to law • – avoiding extremes of behavior or expression : observing reasonable limits

Georgia State Seal and the Georgia Flag Georgia State Seal Georgia State Flag • The current Georgia state flag (adopted in 2004) features the state seal, surrounded by thirteen stars, which represent the original American colonies, placed on the first national flag of the Confederacy.

Georgia State Flag • Who can tell me when the flag 1 st changed to include the Confederate Flag? (What decade? ) • What Governor was able to get the flag changed to end the controversy? • Who changed the State flag to the current one?

Essential Questions Review – How does the structure of Georgia’s government ensure that its citizens are fairly represented? – How do political parties serve the purpose of voters with different opinions?

Georgia Studies Government Unit Lessons 2, 3, and 4: Three Branches of Government Study Presentation

Legislative Branch • GA’s is known as the General Assembly. – Members of the General Assembly, p. 536 • The General Assembly is bicameral (two houses) – - with 180 representatives – - 56 Senators • Senators must be at least 25 years old and citizens of the US. • Representatives must be at least 21 years old. • Representatives and Senators must be a legal resident of the district they represent and have lived in GA for two years. • Most important are making GA’s laws and passing GA’s budget.

Legislative Branch • General Assembly Leadership: – The presides over (leads) Georgia’s Senate – Members of the House of Representatives elect a representative to lead them, known as the • Maps 51 and 52 – p. 536 & 537

GA House of Representatives

Georgia Senate

Legislative Process • 5 Steps for a Bill to become a Law: – – – – Legislators write the text of the bill (proposed law). – The bill is introduced to either the Senate or House of Representatives for discussion. – The bill is assigned to a committee that studies the bill. The bill may be changed at this time. –If the bill is passed in one house, it goes to the other house for consideration. – Once both houses pass the bill it is sent to the governor. The governor can then sign the bill into law or veto the bill (send it back to the General Assembly to be changed or rewritten). Figure 68, p. 541

Executive Branch • GA’s is made up of many different offices and departments. • The Executive Branch is the of the three branches in Georgia. – Figure 60, p. 531 – this is why it is the largest! • The is the leader of the Executive Branch. • The governor and lieutenant governor both have to be at least 30 years old, US citizens for at least 15 years, and a GA resident for at least 6 years. • The Governor may run for and serve a • There is a lieutenant

Executive Branch • Duties of the : • Serve as the leader of the state’s executive branch • Veto legislation put forward by the General Assembly • Appoint people to lead executive offices. • Duties of the : • Serve as governor if the governor dies or gets too sick to work, or impeached

GA’s Executive Branch GA Governor Nathan Deal Lt. Governor Casey Cagle

Executive Branch • In addition to the governor and lieutenant governor, there a large number of other agencies and leadership officials. Some of these are elected some are appointed. • Examples of Georgia’s Elected Officials: – State Attorney General, Commissioner of Agriculture, Commissioner of Labor, Secretary of State, and State School Superintendent, etc. • Examples of Appointed Officials, Boards, and Commissions: – State Boards of Pardons and Paroles, the Board of Natural Resources, Board of Public Safety, etc.

Judicial Branch • GA’s is made up of two main types of courts – Trial Courts and Appellate Courts. • – People’s actions are judged to see whether or not they have committed a crime. • These judgments are made either by a (group of citizens) or simply by a judge. • Trial courts oversee two types of cases. – : a person claims that another person did something wrong to them – : occurs when a person claims that a crime has been committed against them.

Appellate Procedures • – Look over judgments made by trial courts; there are no juries. • If someone believes that a mistake was made during their trial they make an. The appeal goes to an appellate court who decides if a mistake was made. • Makes sure that trials are and • Georgia has two appellate courts – The (Georgia’s highest court) and the

GA Supreme Court

Georgia Court System Elected by GA Voters 6 Year Terms Elected by GA Voters 4 Year Terms Elected 4 Year Terms Appointed by Judges 4 Year Terms Elected 4 Year Terms

Adult Justice System – Civil Cases • Courts have jurisdiction • – Geographic and legal range over which a court has control and can pass judgment. • is used in – – the person who complains about another person having done something wrong to them • They try to convince a judge that their case has valid evidence against the Defendant – - the person accused of wrong doing

Adult Justice System – Criminal Cases • is used in • In a Criminal Case the government claims that a person or group has committed a crime (breaking the law). • The Government is called the and the person accused of breaking the law is called the • The Prosecutor tries to convince the judge or jury that the Defendant committed a crime. If successful the Defendant can be found guilty and can be punished. • – punishment is less than 1 year • - punishment is one year or more • The punishment for very serious felonies (such as murder) may be death.

Conflict Resolution • • The two sides in a conflict often resolve their issues without lawyers or judges. They may negotiate themselves or use a mediator. • Mediator – A third person who has no interest in the problem.

Georgia Studies Local Governments Lesson 5 – Local Governments Study Presentation

Lesson 5 - Local Governments • ESSENTIAL QUESTION – Why do local governments collect and use taxes? – Why are there different forms of local governments?

County Governments • Introduction, p. 564 • provide services and protections to people who live in particular counties or cities. • Counties serve as ways for people to be represented in state government. • Through the sheriff, counties act to protect people. • – Build and maintain roads, run Georgia’s welfare programs, have court systems, and more. • There are • Each county has a

Municipal Governments • Georgia has approximately 600 cities and towns, also called • Municipalities have and define the municipality’s boundaries and powers. • Municipal governments elect officials and provide services for cities and towns. – Services such as: • police and fire protection • garbage collection and disposal • street and road construction • electric or gas utility services and more!

Forms of Municipal Government • Municipal governments come in different forms. Residents elect members to a city council (the Legislative branch). The difference is found in how the Executive branch is set up. • Forms of Municipal Government: – –Mayor is elected by the voters, but has no special executive powers - no power to veto, choose committee members, etc. – –Mayor is elected by voters in the city and can veto legislation passed by the city council. The mayor can also choose people to run the city’s services. – – The city has a City Manager (head of the Executive Branch). The City Manager decides who is in charge of city services and runs the city’s budget. • The mayor is a member of the Legislative branch like the rest of the city council. – Figures 80 -82, p. 572 -573

Special-Purpose Governments • – Created by city and county governments to accomplish a specific task. The following are some examples. – Development Authorities – Downtown Development Authorities – Maintain and rebuild the downtowns of cities. – Recreation and Parks Authorities – Maintain and develop – Housing Authorities – Manage housing options in counties.

State Revenue • • Ways that Revenue is generated: • – Required payment to a government by a person or business. Taxes are the largest source of revenue for Georgia. • 4 Main Types of Taxes: – – Tax on money earned by people or businesses. – Corporate Tax – Flat rate taxes based on the money a company makes in Georgia. – Sales Tax – Collected by state and local governments. – Property Tax – Tax placed on property such as land,

Other Revenue Sources and the State Budget • There are other types of revenue raised from non-tax revenue sources. • The largest non-tax revenue source for Georgia is the state lottery. • The federal government can also give money to a state. – Grants, preserving historical sites, and improving areas with poor economies. • The governor submits a budget (how state money will be spent) to the state legislature. • The legislators can modify the budget. • Then the governor signs it. At this time he can also veto items. • The budget can be changed later.

Georgia Studies Unit 8 – Judicial Branch in Georgia Lesson 6 – Juvenile Justice Study Presentation

Juvenile Justice • Introduction, p. 547 • Juvenile – Any person, in the state of GA, under the age of 17. • Unruly Behavior – Is considered a status offense when committed by children (would not be a crime if committed by an adult). Examples of unruly behavior: – Child refusing to go to school (Truancy). – Child habitually disobeys parents or caregivers. – Child runs away from home. – Underage possession of alcohol/tobacco. • A child showing unruly behavior may be: – Sent to rehabilitation - if offense involves alcohol or drugs – May be committed to a place of detention ran by GA’s Department of Juvenile Justice.

Juvenile Justice • Delinquent Behavior – When a child commits a crime it is considered delinquent behavior. A child who is less than 13 years old cannot be tried for a crime in GA. A child between 13 and 17 years old will be punished according to the law. This may include spending up to five years in a juvenile detention facility.

Juvenile Justice Process • After a juvenile has been taken into custody, the process begins. • 1 st - Probable Cause Hearing - a judge looks over the case to determine whether the children should be released or detained further. • 2 nd - Adjudicatory Hearing - a judge decides whether the charges are true or not. • 3 rd - Dispositional Hearing - at this hearing the judge decides the course of treatment that the delinquent, unruly, or deprived child should undergo. The judge may decide that probation if necessary. In some serious cases the judge may transfer the case to a superior court where the child will be tried as an adult.

The Seven Delinquent Behaviors • Seven Delinquent Behaviors –Children between the ages of 13 and 17 who are thought to have committed any of these crimes will be tried as an adult: – Murder – Voluntary Manslaughter – Armed Robbery with a firearm – Rape – Aggravated Child Molestation