Articles – GA Constitution
• The Basic Structure of the Georgia State
Constitution
• Legislators began writing Georgia’s current
constitution in 1977, and it was approved by the
state’s citizens in 1983.
• The constitution is broken up into 11 articles and
is 89 pages long.
• The articles outline the rights, rules,
regulations, and procedures for both
citizens and the state’s government.
• Article I:
Bill of Rights
• Article II:
Voting and Elections
• Article III:
Legislative Branch
• Article IV:
Constitutional Boards and Commissions
Parole / Public Service /
Veterans / Transportation / Etc.
• Article V:
Executive Branch
• Article VI:
Judicial Branch
• Article VII:
Taxation and Finance
• Article VIII:
Education
• Article IX:
Counties and Municipal Corporations
• Article X:
Amendments to the Constitution
• Article XI:
Miscellaneous Provisions
Government of Georgia
 Separation of powers between the three branches
of government
 Powers to check and balance the actions of the
other branches.
A simple way to describe these powers is that:
 Legislative branch (The Georgia General Assembly)
makes the laws
 Executive branch (headed by the Governor) carries
out and enforces the laws
 Judicial branch (headed by the Georgia Supreme
Court) determines the constitutionality of the laws
Checks and Balances
• The concept of checks and balances
– Limiting roles of each branch
– So one branch does not become too powerful
– If one branch makes an error, another branch can set it right, or balance it.
• For Example:
– If the General Assembly passes a law that the governor does not
agree with he or she can veto it.
– Congress then has the option if it can gather enough votes to
override the veto.
– Once the bill becomes a law, the Supreme Court determines if it
is constitutional or not. If the law is ruled unconstitutional, then
it is null and void.
© Brain Wrinkles
SS8CG1.c - Describe the rights and
responsibilities of citizens.
RIGHTS
RESPONSIBILITIES
Bill of Rights
Vote
• Life, Liberty, and Property
• Freedom of Religion
• Freedom of Speech and Press
• Right to Bear Arms
• Right to Assemble and Petition
• Right to Trial by Jury
• Protection from Unreasonable
Searches and Seizures
Pay Taxes
Obey Laws
Serve on Jury
Selective Service
Voting Qualification
Georgia
Qualifications:
1. Must be a citizen the United States
2. Must be 18 years old by election day
3. Must be a legal resident of Georgia & the
county where you want to vote
In addition, the voter cannot currently be serving time in
jail for a felony offense or ruled to be mentally
incompetent
Elections in GA
• Several locations where Georgians can register to vote.
– Include city, county and state offices, and libraries.
– Download a voter registration form online and mail it to the
Georgia secretary of state’s office.
• People are only allowed to vote:
– Polling Place in their district (precinct), or
– via absentee ballot.
• Once registered, vote in three types of elections:
–
–
–
–
Primary
General
Special
Run-off election
Primary Elections
 Members of the Republican and Democratic
party vote for candidates to run for a specific
office (governor, lieutenant governor, and
secretary of state.)
 Open elections and the voter does not have to
be a member of the party to vote.
 Held in July or August during even numbered
years.
General Election
 Winners from both parties’ primaries, along with
members of third parties and independents,
compete for political offices.
 Held in even number years
 Take place on the second Tuesday of November.
Special Election
Used to present a special issue to voters or to fill a
vacancy.
Run Off Election
If the candidate does not receive more than 50% of
the vote. This can take place in the primary or the
general election.
Voters sometimes have the opportunity to vote on a
law. This is called a Referendum.
Political Parties
America’s political system is often called a “two party” system.
• Dominated by two parties
• Since the 1860s the two major parties have been the
Republican and the Democratic.
– Role:
• groups of like-minded individuals who share common beliefs and
ideas to work together in hopes of electing their members to political
offices.
• Offer Voters a choice – Best represents their beliefs/interests
– Georgia was dominated by one party for much of its history,
though today, Republicans and Democrats both hold elected
offices.
• Several minor or “third parties” parties.
• Can cause run-off elections.
– An example was in the 1992 U.S. Senate race, when a member of the
Libertarian Party took 3% of the vote causing neither Wyche Fowler (D) nor
Paul Coverdale(R) to win a majority of the vote. This happened again in the
2008 senate race when Libertarian Allen Buckley caused a run-off between
Saxby Chambliss (R) and Jim Martin (D).
• Georgia’s current state flag was adopted in 2003.
• It has three red and white stripes and the state coat of arms is in the upper
left corner on a blue background.
• The coat of arms has an arch that symbolizes the constitution and three
pillars that represent the legislative, judicial, and executive branches.
• The words wisdom, justice, and moderation are wrapped around the
pillars.
• In 1935, the Georgia legislature adopted the Pledge of Allegiance to
the Georgia Flag.
• “I pledge allegiance to the Georgia flag and to the principles for
principles for which it stands: Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation.”
Moderation.”
• The three important principles of the Pledge of Allegiance are the
same ones displayed on the coat of arms.
• Wisdom reminds the legislative branch to be
wise in creating laws.
• Justice appeals to the judicial branch for fair
and just decisions.
• Moderation urges the executive branch to carry
out laws calmly within the boundaries of the
Assignment (100 points)
Students will work in groups of two to create a trifold brochure
(Each category is 20 points):
The Brochure must include the following
– Creation of their own political party
• Name
• Symbol
– Beliefs of that party
• Can be a slogan
– An upcoming Election
• Must have date, who is running for office and location
– Voter Rights and Responsibilities & Qualifications
• Responsibility to vote to exercise your right to vote
• Age of voter and how they can register to vote
– The GA flag somewhere on the brochure incorporating the Pledge
and identifying Wisdom, Justice and Moderation.
• YOU MAY NEED TO WORK SOME AT HOME TONIGHT!!!!!