Georgias Legislative Branch 1 What power does Georgias

Georgia’s Legislative Branch

1. What power does Georgia’s constitution give the legislative branch? • law-making power 2. What is Georgia’s legislative branch called? • Georgia General Assembly • Started in 1777 as a uni-cameral legislature • Reorganized in 1789 as a bi-cameral legislature with a senate and house of representatives 3. What are the two differences in operations of the Senate v. the House of Representatives? Senate House of Representatives • Only the senate can confirm appointments the governor makes to executive offices. • Only the house of representatives can write appropriations (spending) bills

Number of Members How are they elected? Term SENATE House of Representatives 56 180 Popular vote 2 2 Qualifications Age 25 years US Citizenship YES 2 years GA Citizenship 1 year Resident of district Lieutenant Governor Duties of Presiding Officer 21 years Appoints committees Assigns Bills DOES NOT HAVE A VOTE Presiding Officer Speaker of the House is elected Appoints committees Assigns Bills VOTES TO BREAK A TIE

5. When and for how long does the Georgia General Assembly meet? • The session begins on the second Monday in January for 40 days that usually lasts until mid-March. (Breaks and recesses do not count as part of the 40 days) 6. Other leaders in the General Assembly: • Majority Leader- responsible for making sure its members vote for the bills and agenda the majority party favors • Minority Leader- Same as majority leader • Floor Leader- promotes interests of the Governor on the house floor

Committee System 7. What is the purpose of the committee system? • To study and review bills 8. Define each type of committee • Standing committees- permanent committees or those that continue for every legislative session. House has 36 and Senate has 26. • Ad hoc- committees created for a special purpose • Joint- a committee made up of members of the Senate and House • Conference- Created when the House and Senate create different versions of a bill. The members of each house must compromise and make one bill for it to become a law. 9. How many committees are the General Assembly members required to serve on? • Each member of the General Assembly is responsible for serving on at least two or three committees. 10. What do these committees have the power to do? • Amend- Change • Engross- Approve • Kill- Dies in the committee

How a Bill Becomes a Law

1. Legislator introduces an idea for a law or change to an existing law. 4. The bill is considered by the committee and can be Engrossed (approved) Killed Amended 7. Bill is sent to the Governor for approval. The Governor may: -sign the bill into law - veto it -do nothing (after 40 days the bill becomes law) 2. After the legislator goes to the Office of Legal Counsel to remedy legal issues, the bill is submitted to the clerk of its chamber and is assigned a number Ex: SB 4 or HR 12 3. The Bill is formally introduced (1 st reading) and assigned to a standing committee. 5. The bill is read and is up for voting. If approved it is sent to the other chamber. 6. If second chamber passes the bill, it is returned to the chamber of origin