Legislative Branch
Who are They?
Article III
They make our laws
General Assembly (Bicameral)
House
of
Representatives
Senate
Members of the General Assembly
Qualifications, Term, Election, and Duties
Georgia State Senate Member
Georgia State House of
Representative Member
Qualifications
-25 years old
-Resident of GA for two years
-Resident of the district for at least one
year
-U.S. citizen
-21 years old
-Resident of GA for two years
-Resident of the district for at least
one year
-U.S. citizen
Terms
2 years
2 years
Election
-November, even numbered years
-November, even numbered years
Duties
-Serving on standing committees
-Pass state’s operating budget
-Enacting laws
-Redistricting (every 10 years)
-Vote to place Constitutional
Amendments on the election ballot
(2/3 vote)
Serving on standing committees
-Pass state’s operating budget
-Enacting laws -Redistricting (every
10 years)
-Vote to place Constitutional
Amendments on the election ballot
(2/3 vote)
Leadership
• Majority Leader
• Minority Leader
• Floor Leader
Senate – Lt. Governor
House – Speaker of the House
Committees
• Senate
• 36 Committees
• Meet to pass Bills / Laws
• House of Representatives
• 26 Committee
• Meet to pass Bills / Laws
Green Tree Frog
• http://video.gpb.org/video/2365105160/
Instructions: Label all the correct steps for a bill to become a law. Where there are bullet points, you must write the discussion points that happened in that step to get your bill to the next step of the process.
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Instructions:
1. Label all the correct steps for a bill to
become a law.
2. Where there are bullet points, you must
write the discussion points that happened
in that step to get your bill to the next step
of the process.
CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS
1. Why is it important that both the U.S. House of Representatives and
U.S. Senate agree to a bill before it is sent to the President? Why
should the President have a say in which bills become laws?
2. How would a Member’s personal experiences effect the way he or
she votes on legislation?
Hold a discussion about the main points of
the bill:
a.
b.
c.
d.
HB 1234 or SB 1234?
Who would this bill help? Would it hurt anyone?
What would happen if this bill became a law?
What would change if this bill become a law?
Enhancement:
Instruct the students to write a letter to their Representative
expression their opinion on the bill.
Choose 1
These are topics for creating a bill to become a law
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Unmanned aircraft; provide lawful use; prohibit capturing certain images
Minimum wage
Motor vehicles; only hands-free telephone calls
HOPE; grants cover full cost of tuition;
HOPE; eligibility requirements;
Law enforcement officers; equipped with body cameras;
Elementary and secondary education; bullying;
State symbols;
Animal Protection; payment of expenses while an animal impounded;
Education; mandatory education for children between ages 6 and 16; raise the age of
mandatory attendance
11. Education; funding for state charter schools
12. "Digital Classroom Act"; require instructional materials and content to be in digital or
electronic format after a certain date
13. Education; automatic expulsion for possession of firearms and dangerous weapons at school