Georgias State Government Georgias Constitution Purpose to protect

Georgia’s State Government

Georgia’s Constitution • Purpose: to protect and benefit the people of Georgia. • Contains 11 articles that establish the way the state’s government should be structured and how it operates. • Covers: laws and rules that apply to Georgia. • Explains: the powers and the functions of the government. • First article is the Bill of Rights.

Articles of Georgia’s Constitution (no notes) Geo r Con gia has st h curr itutions ad 10 ado ent one. The pted w in 1 as 983. I. Bill of Rights II. Voting and Elections III. Legislative Branch IV. Constitutional Boards and Commissions V. Executive Branch VI. Judicial Branch VII. Taxation and Finance VIII. Education IX. Counties and Municipal Corporations X. Amendments to the Constitution XI. Miscellaneous Provisions

Three Branches of Georgia’s Government • • Legislative: Creates the Laws General Assembly Governor Executive: Carries out and enforces Laws Judicial: Interprets how the law will apply Supreme Court Each branch: has separate powers to carry out their functions. • The division of the powers among the three is known as Separation of Power. • Each uses its power to check and balance the actions of the others.

Checks and Balances • Definition-The system that gives each branch of government some ways to keep the other two branches from becoming too powerful. • Checks and balances……. . • This ensures: that no one branch becomes too powerful.

Checks and Balances Example – Created to ensure that no one branch becomes too powerful. – The Legislative branch(General Assembly) can pass laws. – The Executive Branch (Governor) can veto bills passed by the Legislature Branch. – Legislative Branch (General Assembly) can override officials in the other two branches. – The Governor can appoint judges to the Supreme Court, but the General Assembly must approve them. – Judicial Branch (Supreme Court) determines if the laws are unconstitutional.

Georgia’s Checks and Balances How does Legislative check the Executive and Judicial? How does Legislative check the Executive? How does Executive check the Legislative? How does Legislative check the Judicial? How does Executive check the Judicial? How does Judicial check the Executive and the Legislative?

Review 1. How many Articles are in Ga’s Constitution? 2. What are the 3 branches of Ga’s government? 3. What does the term “separation of power” mean? 4. What does the term “Checks and Balances” mean? - give as many examples as you can of how one branch checks another

Citizen’s Rights • The Bill of Rights outlines the basic rights of all citizens including life, liberty, property, and freedom of conscience. • Both the US and Georgia Constitution have a Bill of Rights – Freedom of Speech – Freedom of Religion – Trial by Jury

Citizen’s Responsibilities • Includes paying taxes, serving on juries and volunteering. . . also…. • Voting: • Must be a citizen of U. S. and a legal resident of Georgia. • Must be 18 or older. • Can not be serving time for a felony or ruled mentally incompetent.

Role of Political Parties • America’s political system is often called a “two party system”. • Two major parties (Republican & Democratic) with many smaller parties. • The role of political parties is for groups of people who share similar ideas to have a chance to work together to elect their members to political office.