Georgia state government

Georgia State Government

Georgia State Government Beyond

the Gold Dome

Dut

ies

and

Res

pons

ibil

itie

s as

a

citi

zen

You must be 18 old to vote, US

citizen, reside in the county

where you are voting. You

must register to vote and hold

valid photo identification.

Voting Requirements in

Georgia

Dut

ies

and

Res

pons

ibil

itie

s as

a

citi

zen

Voting

Paying taxes

Serving on a Jury

Obeying all laws

Participating in government at local, state, or national levels

Defending your country against its enemies

Voting Requirements in Georgia

Wha

t is

a co

nsti

tuti

on? The

document that

creates the

government for a nation or

state.

The Georgia Constitution

Bra

nche

s of

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over

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t System created so that each branch of

government can check or limit the powers of the

other branches

Checks and Balances

Bra

nche

s of

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over

nmen

t Each branch of government has different duties,

powers and responsibilities

Separation of Powers

Bra

nche

s of

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over

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t Legislative Branch (creates and passes the law)

Executive Branch (Enforces the law)

Judicial Branch (interprets the law)

3 branches of government

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nche

s of

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over

nmen

t The Legislative Branch of Georgia is called Georgia General Assembly and is composed of the Senate

and the House of Representatives.

Legislative Branch

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nche

s of

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over

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t Their purpose is to create and pass laws. These are elected officials.

Legislative Branch

How

is a

law

m

ade?

1.Drafting/the bill is written by a member of the General Assembly

2. Introduction/Introduced by a member, numbered and printed, sent to committee

5 Steps to Creating a Bill to become a law

How

is a

law

m

ade?

3. Committee Consideration/ considers bill and recommends that a.) the bill passes (with or without

changes), b.) that the bill does not pass,

C.) holds the bill


How

is a

law

m

ade?

4. Floor Consideration/House of Representatives (debates, amends, votes on the bill) if it passes, it goes to the Senate reviews bill using similar process, votes on bill, reaches agreement with the House of Representatives then the bill goes to the


How

is a

law

m

ade?

5. Governor Consideration/ can sign bill into law, take no action and the bill becomes a law, or veto the bill which will die unless overridden by a 2/3rds vote of the General Assembly


Who

col

lect

s th

e ta

xes?

County governments are funded by property taxes which constitutes the largest form of revenue for the county. This revenue helps to pay for your education!

Legislative Branch

Bra

nche

s of

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over

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t The largest branch of government.

The governor and lieutenant governor are under this branch

Responsible for implementing state laws and overseeing the operation of the state executive branch. Elected position

Executive Branch

The

Exe

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ve b

ranc

h in

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es th

ese

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tion

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These positions carries out the laws.•Governor – head of the

executive branch of Georgia

Nathan DealGovernor since January - 2011

The

Exe

cuti

ve b

ranc

h in

clud

es th

ese

posi

tion

s

These positions carries out the laws.• Lieutenant Governor– the “assistant” to

the governor (if the Governor were to die or resign, this position would become the new governor)

Casey CagleLieutenant Governor since January - 2007

Can serve an unlimited number of terms.

The

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ve b

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h in

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es th

ese

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tion

s

These positions carries out the laws.• Secretary of State– maintains the state’s

official records, supervises elections, and publishes laws passed by the legislature

Brian KempSecretary of State since

January - 2010

The

Exe

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ve b

ranc

h in

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es th

ese

posi

tion

s

These positions carries out the laws.• State Commissioners–Agricultural

Department, Labor Department, Insurance Department, and Public Service Department

Insurance DepartmentRalph Hudgens

Agricultural DepartmentGary W. Black

Labor Dept.Mark Butler

The

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ve b

ranc

h in

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es th

ese

posi

tion

s

These positions carries out the laws.• State School Superintendent– head of

the Department of Education

Richard WoodsState School

Superintendent since January - 2015

For

ms

of C

ity

Gov

ernm

ent

Mayor-Council (strong mayor) – Mayor has most of the powerThe mayor may appoint and remove departmental heads.

The mayor drafts and proposes a budget to city council.

The mayor possesses veto or line-item veto power.

The mayor officially represents the city on the state, national and international levels.

For

ms

of C

ity

Gov

ernm

ent

Mayor -Council (weak mayor) — Government in which the city council has most of the responsibilities and the mayor holds no special executive power.

Council-Manager_– council has power and mayor has little executive power, led by city manager

Municipalities- refers to cities and towns, each has its own government

For

ms

of C

ity

Gov

ernm

ent

Taxes –The largest source of revenue for the State of Georgia

Income TaxesSales TaxesAd Valorem Taxes

–The largest budget

expenditure for Georgia in 2015 is

proposed to be

education

$26.4Million

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nche

s of

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over

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t The Judicial branch of Georgia’s government–Interpret the law

–Made up of the Supreme Court and all lower courts• Court of appeals• Superior Court• Local Courts

Judicial Branch

Juve

nile

Ju

stic

e2 Types of JuvenilesA Juvenile is – any person between

the ages of 13-17 in Georgia

Delinquent juvenile – those under the age of seventeen who commit acts that would be considered crimes if committed by an adult (ages 13-17/burglary, car theft)

Unruly juvenile – those under the age of eighteen who commit acts that would not be crimes if committed by adults

running away from home, disobeying parents, being out between 12 midnight & 5am, truancy from school

Juve

nile

Ju

stic

eUnruly

JuvenilesUnruly juvenile – those under the age of eighteen who commit acts that would not be crimes if committed by adults

This is considered to be a Status Offense an action that is prohibited only to a certain class of people, and most often applied only to offenses committed by minors.)

Juve

nile

Ju

stic

e

Juvenile / Due Process

To be notified in writing of the charges against them

To be represented by an attorney

To call witnesses

You have the right to…

Juve

nile

Ju

stic

e


To confront and cross-examine witnesses against you

To present a defense, introduce evidence, and testify on your own behalf


Juve

nile

Ju

stic

e


Not to be found guilty solely on the basis of a confession

Not to have their names or photographs made public on a first offense (unless being tried as an adult)


Juve

nile

Ju

stic

e

Steps that will happen if you are

taken into custody but not

arrested…

Juve

nile

Ju

stic

e

1st step intake investigation- parents are notified. Juvenile court officer decides whether to place child temporarily in a juvenile detention center or release the child to parents.

2nd step detention- probable cause is determined/is there enough evidence against juvenile. Judge can dismiss case, informal adjustment/admit wrongdoing, pay for damages, community service/Case may end here.

Juve

nile

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stic

e

3rd step formal hearing/Adjudicatory hearing/like a trial/no jury-person the crime is against files a petition, and a summons is issued/juvenile & parents must attend hearing before judge. Judge hears case if found innocent juvenile is released. If guilty next hearing is held.

.

Juve

nile

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stic

e

4th step is sentencing/Dispositional Hearing – Juvenile and parents appear in juvenile court. Prosecutor and defense may present evidence to sway the judge. Judge determines the punishment for the crime.

Judge may

1. release to parents

2. place on probation

3. 90 days Youth Center

4. put into Department of

Juvenile Justice facility.

All

Jus

tice

• Serious criminal crimes are called felonies.

– Minor crimes such as petty theft (value of less than $500), disorderly conduct, less serious assaults, and drunk driving are generally misdemeanor offenses. The jail and prison sentences for these crimes do not usually apply to a minor, because he or she cannot be found guilty of a "crime."

Serious crimes

7 D

eadl

y S

ins

Certain violent crimes in which a youth could be tried as an adult /carries at least a 10 year sentence

• Murder, Rape, Armed Robbery, Aggravated Child Molestation, Aggravated Sodomy, Aggravated Sexual Battery, and Kidnapping

Documents

Georgia state government