State Constitution and Powers What is a constitution

State Constitution and Powers

What is a constitution and what is its purpose? • Unwritten traditions or a written document that establishes the relationship between a government and its people.

What is a preamble and what is its purpose? • An introduction • States the ideas, or philosophy, behind a constitution • States the purpose of the government and the Constitution

What two things does a constitution do? • It lists the peoples’ rights • It limits the government’s power

What is a bill of rights? • A section where individual rights and government limits are written

What are three branches of government? • Legislative • Executive • Judicial

What is the function of each branch of government? • Legislative - makes the rules, or laws, that people must obey • Executive - is the head, or leader, of the government that enforces the laws • Judicial - Interprets the laws and decides whether or not people are guilty

What is separation of powers and why is it important in our government? • It makes sure that the government does not become too powerful

What is our checks and balances system and why is it important? • The system of limiting the roles of each branch, and setting right another branch’s error

Preamble • A short paragraph that gives reasons for the Constitution

Article I: Bill of Rights 1. Individual rights 2. Separation of powers/church & state 3. Property rights

Article II: Voting and Elections 1. Elections must be by secret ballot and law-abiding 2. Steps to take for a run-off election 3. Steps to take if a public official is found guilty of a serious crime

Article III: Legislative Branch • Made up of ten sections • Outlines the structure and function of the two houses of GA’s General Assembly • Explains how bills are passed into laws

Article IV: Constitutional Boards and Commissions • Provides for a: Public Service Commission, State Board of Pardons and Paroles, State Personnel Board, State Transportation Board, Veterans Service Board, and Board of Natural Resources

Article V: Executive Branch • Sets out the qualifications and terms of office for the governor and lieutenant governor • Explains duties and powers of governor • Lists other elected positions in GA’s executive branch

Article VI: Judicial Branch • Outlines GA’s unified court system • Gives purposes and limits of each court – Magistrate – Probate – Juvenile – State – Superior – Court of Appeals – Supreme

Article VII: Taxation and Finance • Lists reasons why GA may tax its citizens • Explains methods and limits of taxation

Article VIII: Education • Explains how GA’s public school system is paid for by taxes • Outlines the structure of the school system at state and local levels

Article IX: Counties and Municipal Corporations • Outlines roles and functions of county and city governments

Article X: Amendments to the Constitution • Explains how changes, or amendments, to the Constitution can be made

Article XI: Miscellaneous Provisions • Deal mostly with historical and legal continuity - that is, how GA’s different constitutions have been changed over the years

The End