Georgia-State Government

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Georgia State Government
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WARM-UP 1 Dec 2008
USE PAGE 530 and WRITE THE QUESTION

• How many Constitutions has Georgia had?
• - When was the first state Constitution
  approved?
• - When was the last Georgia constitution
  approved?
• What is the purpose of Georgia government?
• What is the largest branch of State government
  and who is the head of it?

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QuestionWhat is a Constitution?

• Answer A Constitution is a written plan for how
  a government is supposed to operate or work
• Both the United States and Each Individual States
  has a constitution

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Georgias Constitution
SS8CG1a

• Georgia adopted its first state constitution in
  1777 just after the Colonies declared themselves
  free from Great Britain.
• Georgia has had 10 State Constitutions
• The Current one was created in 1983.
• The Preamble to the State Constitution reads
  To perpetuate the principles of free government,
  insure justice for all, preserve peace, promote
  the interest and happiness of the Citizens and of
  the family, and to transmit to posterity the
  enjoyment of liberty, we the people of Georgia,,
  relying on the protection and guidance of
  Almighty God, do ordain and establish this
  Constitution

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Georgias Constitution
SS8CG1a

• Georgias Constitution states that All
  Government, of Right, Originates with the people,
  is founded upon their will only, and is
  instituted for the good of the whole. Public
  officers are the trustees and servants of the
  people and are at all times amenable to them.
• This means that the Government is founded by
  Permission of the people, and those officials in
  government are accountable to serve us and our
  needs as state citizens.
• This concept is called popular sovereignty.

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Separation of Powers
SS8CG1b

• There are Three Main powers of Government-Legisl
  ative Making the Laws-Executive Enforcing or
  Carrying out the
  Laws-Judicial Interpreting the law and judging
  criminals according to it.
• It used to be that Kings and other types of
  Dictatorships would do all three of these powers
  by themselves.
• The United States (and Georgia) was one of the
  few Societies to start a government with these
  powers separated.
• Now many nations use this system because it works.

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Separation of Powers

• Georgias State Government Works similar to the
  Federal/National Government
• The Legislative Branch is called the General
  Assembly. It is Bicameral with a -State Senate
  (56) and a -State House of Representatives
  (180).
• Each member has a 2 year term.

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Separation of Powers

• The Executive Branch is headed by the Governor
  who serves a 4 year term.
• The Judicial Branch is headed by the Supreme
  Court of Georgia, Justices are elected.

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Roles of Citizens under Georgias Government
SS8CG1c

• Citizens have rights These Rights are given to
  you by the U.S. and State Constitutions. Among
  them are- Free Speech- Freedom of Religion-
  Freedom of the Press- Right to keep and bare
  arms- Right to a speedy, fair, and public trial.

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Roles of Citizens under Georgias Government
SS8CG1c

• With Rights comes Responsibilities- Voting
  Though it is a right, it is also the
  responsibility of a free citizen. It is the
  responsibility to research every office and issue
  you vote for. -Paying Taxes- It is every
  citizens Duty to pay taxes to the Federal, State,
  and Local government. -Jury Duty- For our court
  systems to be fair, you may be called to
  participate on a jury-Draft- All young men at
  the age of 18 must register for the draft for
  military service

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Roles of Citizens under Georgias Government
SS8CG1

• To vote in Georgia, one must be-18 years Old-A
  Citizen of the United States- a Legal resident
  of the county in which you reside
• Voters May join a Political Party, which is a
  group of voters who have like minded issues.

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Georgias Legislative Branch
SS8CG2 a

• Georgias Legislative branch is called the
  General Assembly.
• It is made up of two houses (bicameral)-The
  Senate-The House of Representatives.
• To be in the State House of Representatives, you
  must be 21 years old, Live in Georgia for 2
  years, and live in the district you represent.

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Georgias Legislative Branch
SS8CG2 a

• To be in the State Senate you must be 25 years
  old, Live in Georgia for 2 years, and live in the
  district you represent.
• Both State Senators and Representatives serve two
  year terms.

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Georgias Legislative Branch
SS8CG2b

• The Georgia Generally Assembly meets for nearly
  two months every year beginning in Late January.
• Their Primary duties are to pass laws and passing
  the final version of Georgias budget.
• Most of the Work done in Georgias General
  Assembly takes place in committees.

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Georgias Legislative Branch
SS8CGb

• The House of Representatives has 36 committees.
• The leader of the House of Representatives is
  called the Speaker of the House.
• The Majority leader represents the Majority
  Political Party while the Minority leader
  represents the minority political party.
• The Floor Leader promotes the causes of the
  Governor

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Georgias Legislative Branch
SS8CGb

• Georgias Senate also is made up of Committees,
  of which, there are 26.
• The Leader of the Senate is called the President
  of the Senate -Georgias Lieutenant Governor is
  President of the Senate
• The is also a President Pro Tempore of the
  Senate. This is the leader of the Majority
  Party.

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The Legislative Process
SS8CG2 c

• A potential law (before it is passed) is called a
  Bill. A Bill goes through several steps before
  it becomes a law
• Drafting
• Introduction
• Committee Consideration
• Floor Consideration, Then to other house
• Governor Consideration

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WARM-UP
WRITE AND ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS FROM PAGE 536!
3 December 2008

1. What does the Tenth amendment to the U.S.
   Constitution say?
2. - What is something only the State House of
   representatives can do? - What is something only
   the State Senate can do?
3. According to Map 51 on that page, which state
   senate district would you say McDonough is in?

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Georgias Executive Branch
SS8CG3 a

• Georgias Executive Branch is headed up by the
  Governor.
• His second in command is called the
  LieutenantGovernor. (This is sort of like the
  Vice President)

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Georgias Executive Branch
SS8CG3 a

• To run for either the Governorship or the
  Lieutenant Governorship one must be 30 years old,
  a U.S. Citizen for at least 15 years, and a
  resident of Georgia for at least 6 years.

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Georgias Executive Branch
SS8CG3 a

• The Governor can be elected to two-four year
  terms.
• The Lt. Governor can serve an unlimited amount of
  4-year terms.

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More on Georgias Executive Branch
Georgias Governor Nathan Deal

• Powers of the Governor
• Appoints people to lead executive departments
• Writes the first draft of the state budget.
• Has to make a State of the State speech every
  year.
• Can Pardon Criminals.

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More on Georgias Executive Branch

• Powers of the Governor
• Leader of the executive Branch
• Commander and Chief or Georgias military forces.
  (Georgia National Guard)
• Veto Legislation
• Signs bills into law

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More on Georgias Executive Branch

• Powers of the Lieutenant Governor
• Serves as Governor if the current governor dies
  or is too sick to carry out his duties.
• As president of the senate, he decides committee
  memberships and chooses committee chair-persons.

Georgias Lt. Governor Casey Cagle
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More on the Executive Branch!

• The executive branch is also made up of executive
  departments.
• Department of Agriculture, the Insurance
  Commissioner and Department of Labor all have
  elected officials elected by the people.

Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine
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More on the Executive Branch!

• The Department of Corrections, Department of
  Defense, Department of Education, Department of
  Natural Resources, and the Department of
  Transportation all have officials appointed by
  the governor.

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Executive Departments
SS8CG3b,c

• State Attorney General This person is the Chief
  Lawyer for the state.
• Commissioner of Agriculture This person is Head
  of the Agriculture department. He/she helps
  maintain farmers markets, attract
  Farming-Related businesses to the state and
  inspects farms and farming related products.
• Commissioner of Labor This person is head of
  the Labor department. They regulate the health
  and safety of workers and enforce state labor
  laws.

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Executive Departments
SS8CG3b,c

• Commissioner of Insurance This person regulates
  the insurance companies and says which ones can
  operate in Georgia.
• Public Service Commissioners These are people
  who regulate utilities in Georgia, such as phone,
  cable, electricity and water.
• Secretary of State This persons department
  maintains official records, supervises elections,
  appoints examining boards, grants corporate
  charters, and regulates stocks and bonds in
  Georgia.
• State School Superintendant - this is the head
  of the schools for our state.

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State Agencies
SS8CG3b,c

• There are over thirty state Agencies and Boards
• Most of the members of these state agencies are
  appointed by the Governor or Commissioners of
  executive departments.
• Examples of Boards and Agencies are the-State
  Board of Pardons and Paroles-the Board of
  Natural Resources-the State Personnel Board.

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The Judicial Branch in Georgia SS8CG4a,b,c,d

• The Georgia Supreme Court is the Highest State
  Court in the State of Georgia.
• There are two types of Courts-Trial Courts-
  Appellate courts
• A Trial Court is where a criminals action or a
  lawsuit may be tried.

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The Judicial Branch in Georgia SS8CG4a,b,c,d

• An Appellate Court is where a previous case is
  appealed.
• Jurisdiction is a term meaning which cases a
  court can try. This is because of the type of
  case, and the geographic location.
• Judges may be appointed, or Chosen in partisan
  and non-partisan elections

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Civil and Criminal Cases

• A Civil Case is where one person sues another for
  a claim of having done them wrong. -The person
  suing is the Plaintiff-The Person getting sued
  is the defendant
• Most Civil Cases are settled out of court, and
  those found guilty never have to go to jail.

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Civil and Criminal Cases

• The Second kind of case is a criminal case.This
  is where someone accused of breaking the law is
  put on trial by the law enforcement agencies.
• The Governments lawyer is called the prosecutor.

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Georgia
Court System
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Adult Justice System
SS8CG4c

• Persons accused of a crime must goes through
  these steps
• Arrested
• Arraignment - The Police bring the accused
  before the judge to tell why he/she has been
  arrested
• Grand Jury This is a group of people who
  determines if there is enough evidence for the
  accused to stand trial.
• Jury trial
• Sentencing

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Checks and Balances
SS8CG1b

• In Both the state and federal governments, there
  is a concept of Checks and Balances
• This means that each branch of government has
  some power over another branch of government.

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Checks and Balances
SS8CG1b

• For Example (In the Georgia State Government)
  -The Executive Branch can Veto bills sent to it
  by the Legislative branch. It can also appoint
  court justices when they resign or die. -The
  Legislative branch Can Impeach officials, It can
  override a veto, it can confirm those people
  appointed to office by the governor, and it can
  propose constitutional changes.-The Judicial
  branch can rule actions of the governor or Laws
  made by the general Assembly Unconstitutional

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1. Why does the committee system exist?
2. What is a standing committee? Give 3 examples of
   one
3. Compare and contrast an Interim Committee,
   Conference Committee, and a joint committee

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1. The highest Ranking Court in Georgia is the
   _________ court.
2. The GA supreme court automatically reviews all
   cases involving the _________ penalty.
3. The Second Highest Court in Georgia is the...
4. Explain the difference between a Trial Jury and
   a Grand Jury from page 546.

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1. The highest Ranking Court in Georgia is the
   _________ court.
2. Give 3 examples of a standing committee?

• When was the first state Constitution approved?
• Why does the committee system exist?

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DEFINE THESE WORDS!

• General Assembly
• Lieutenant Governor
• Separation of Powers
• Constitution

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• Truancy
• Juvenile
• Status Offense
• Delinquent Act
• List the steps in the Juvenile Justice Process
• For what kinds of crimes can a Child be tried as
  an adult?

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1. What is the Georgia State Legislative Branch
   Called?
2. How many People are in the state Senate? State
   House of Representatives?
3. Who is in charge of the State Executive branch?
4. What is the Highest court in Georgia?

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The Juvenile Justice System

• On any given day, 2,500 children are locked up in
  Georgia because of Criminal Activity.
• Juveniles are Citizens under the age of 17
• Juveniles have to follow all other Federal, State
  and Local Laws, but have a special status under
  the law.
• A Juveniles Status can mean more lenient
  sentencing, but it also means that you have to
  obey some laws that adults dont.

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Juvenile Courts
SS8CG6 a,b,c,d

• Juvenile Courts exist in every county and have
  three purposes
• To help protect the well being of Children
• To make sure that any child coming under the
  jurisdiction of the court receive the care,
  protection and control that they need.
• To provide for children that are removed from
  their homes.

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Types of Offenses

• There are two types of offenses
• A Status Offense is one where the Juvenile
  commits a crime that is only a crime for a
  Juvenile.Ex Truancy, Disobeys Caregivers,
  Curfew Violations etc..
• A Delinquent Act is a crime committed by a child
  that would also be a crime if an adult did the
  same thing Ex Rape, Murder, Drugs etc.
• Children can be tried as an adult for serious
  crimes.

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Steps in the Juvenile Justice Process

1. Intake A juvenile is turned over to an Intake
   Officer.
2. Detention When a Juvenile is detained, a
   probable cause hearing must be held within 72
   hours.
3. Formal Hearing has two parts1) Adjudicatory
   Hearing Actual Trial2) Dispositional Hearing
   Sentencing Phase
4. Sentencing
5. Appeals

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Settling Disputes Peacefully
SS8CG4d

• Filing a lawsuit against someone is not always
  the best way to handle a dispute peacefully.
  Below are other ways
• Mediation A Neutral third person meets with all
  sides and helps them settle the dispute.
• Arbitration A Neutral Third Person called an
  arbitrator meets with both sides and the
  arbitrator makes a legally binding decision
• Compromise Each of the disputing parties gives
  up something to live in peace
• Negotiation The Process of giving up an issue
  with the intention of resolving it.
• Collaboration - occurs when members of opposing
  parties meet together to find common ground.
• Non-Violence to seek change with peaceful
  protest

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1. How old do you have to be to serve in the Georgia
   State House of Representatives?
2. How old do you have to be to serve in the Georgia
   State Senate?
3. Define Jurisdiction
4. Define Juvenile

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• 1) What is the Primary duty of the Georgia
  General Assembly?
• 2) Why is the committee system used?
• 3) Explain the difference between a Status
  Offense and a Delinquent Act Give examples of
  each.

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1. How many People are in the state Senate?
2. How many People are in State House of
   Representatives?
3. Why is the committee system used?

1. Define Juvenile
2. What is the legislative branch called in
   Georgia?
3. The Crime of Skipping school too frequently is
   called