Balances, Citizens’ Rights and - The...

Foundations of

Georgia’s Government

Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances, Citizens’ Rights and

Responsibilties


• It is the governing document

the explains the laws,

governmental offices, and

citizens rights and

responsibilities in the state of

Georgia.

What is the

Georgia

state

constitution?


• Structure of the Georgia state

constitution:

– Preamble (Introduction)

– Articles (11 main articles)

–Sections

–Paragraphs

What is the

basic

structure of

the Georgia

state

constitution?


• Article I: Bill of Rights

• Article II: Voting & Elections

• Article III: Legislative Branch

• Article IV: Constitutional Boards & Commissions

• Article V: Executive Branch

• Article VI: Judicial Branch

• Article VII: Taxation & Finance

• Article VIII: Education

• Article IX: Counties & Municipal Corporations

• Article X: Amendments to the Constitution

• Article XI: Miscellaneous Provisions

What is the

basic

structure of

the Georgia

state

constitution?


• The three branches of

government are the:

– Executive Branch: Carries out

laws

– Legislative Branch: Make

laws

– Judicial Branch: Evaluates or

reviews laws

What are the

three

branches of

government?

Structure of U.S.

Government

Structure of Georgia

Government

State

Capital

Governor’s

Mansion

State

Supreme

Court

General Assembly

Governor Lieutenant

Governor

Structure of Georgia Government

Executive Branch Legislative Branch Judicial Branch

Carries out the laws.

Makes the laws. Evaluates or reviews the

laws.

Governor: Nathan Deal

(Republican) 82nd Governor

Lieutenant Governor:

Casey Cagle (Republican)

Also includes the head

officials of these

departments:

Department of Agriculture,

Attorney General, GA

Insurance and Safety Fire

Commissioner, Public

Service Commission,

Secretary of State, and

State School

Superintendent.

General Assembly

House of

Representatives:

180 members

representing the

citizens of Georgia.

Senate: 56

members

representing the

citizens of Georgia.

Courts at the state,

county and city levels.

Supreme Court

Juvenile Courts

Court of Appeals

Superior Courts

Probate Courts

Magistrate Courts


• When the U.S. Constitution was written, the writers wanted to separate the powers of the branches of government so no one branch would have all or most of the power.

• They also included a system of “checks and balances” to keep the branches of government accountable to one another.

• The Georgia constitution was modeled after the U.S. Constitution.

How do the

separate

branches of

government

ensure equal

power among

the

branches?

Checks and Balances

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH JUDICIAL BRANCH

Checks and Balances

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH JUDICIAL BRANCH

Determines whether laws are constitutional

Can propose constitutional changes; Impeach officials

Georgia Citizen

Rights and Responsibilities

• The rights of Georgia citizens

are found in Article I of the

Georgia state constitution.

• Modeled after the U.S.

Constitution’s Bill of Rights.

• Along with our rights we have

responsibilities

• We must control our actions

so we don’t harm others.

What are the

rights and

responsibilities

of Georgia

citizens?

Georgia Citizen


• Right to freedom of religion

• Right to keep and bear arms

• Right to freedom of speech

• Right to life, liberty and property

• Right to courts

• Right to trial by jury

• Right to a lawyer

• Right to assemble

• Right to reasonable search & seizure

What are the

rights and

responsibilities

of Georgia

citizens?

Georgia Citizen


• Actions that harm

others

• Actions that are immoral

• Actions that break laws

• Actions that infringe on

other’s rights

What actions

could take

these rights

away?

Georgia Citizen


• Wait! Don’t think that the

government should only do things

for the citizens. The citizens also

have responsibilities to the

government. Voting is an example

of a citizen responsibility.

• Other examples of citizen

responsibilities:

– Jury Duty

– Serving in military when

required.

What are the

responsibilities

of Georgia

citizens?

Election & Voter Requirements

• You must be 18 years of age or older.

• Be a citizen of the U.S.

• Citizen of Georgia and live in the county where you wish to vote.

• Be registered with the Secretary of State’s office 30 days before election.

• Have a VALID form of identification – such as a voter ID card, driver’s license or state issued ID

What are the

requirements

to vote in

Georgia?


• May not vote if they have

been convicted of a felony

until they complete their

sentence.

• May not vote if they have

been found by a judge to

have certain mental

disabilities

Why can’t

some people

vote?


• Remember, the citizens or voters hold the power by electing officials to represent them and their interests.

• A general election is held in November on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in every even-numbered year. – This is when national and state

officials are elected.

– Other elections are held to elect officials or vote for issues, such as an increase in the sales tax.

– Run-off elections or specials elections are held when neither candidate receives at least 50% of the vote plus one.

When are

elections

held in

Georgia?

Political Parties

• Groups of people who join together because of shared ideas and interests – Help voters know what a

candidate stands for

• Two major political parties in US: – Democrats

– Republicans

• Minor political parties also exist (Libertarian, Tea Party)

• Independents are not part of a particular political party

What are

political

parties?

Political Parties

• Elections that select candidates who represent a political party at the General Election

• In some states, voters must register as a Democrat or a Republican to be able to vote in primary elections

• In Georgia, any voter may vote in any party’s primary election at the state level

What are

primary

elections?

Voter Scenarios

• Tammy has just moved to Atlanta from

Houston, TX. It is the day before the

election and she has decided that she

wants to vote in this year’s presidential

election. Can she vote in this year’s

election? Why or why not?

Voter Scenarios

• Adam has lived in Conyers for a year and

a half and loves getting involved in local

politics. He has proof of residency proving

that he is a legal resident of Georgia.

However, Adam never changed his driver’s

license from his home state of New York.

The election is next week. Can he vote in

the election? Why or why not?

Voter Scenarios

• Sam has just been released from prison

for robbery – a felony crime. He is not on

probation and is anxious to find a job and

get on with his life. His friends are

encouraging him to vote for Senator

Barack Obama for president. Sam is

hesitant because he doesn’t know if he is

eligible to vote. Can he vote in the


Voter Scenarios

• Tasha just received a speeding ticket in

DeKalb county. She’s never been in

trouble with the law before and is nervous

that this speeding ticket will go on her

record. Can she vote in the election? Why

or why not?

Voter Scenarios

• Jake’s 18th birthday on Friday. The Friday

before the election. He really likes John

McCain and wants to help him win the

presidency. Can he vote in the election?

Why or why not?

Voter Scenarios

• Renee currently lives in Covington, GA

(Newton County), but she is still registered

to vote in Cobb County. The election is

three weeks away. Can she vote in the


Voter Scenarios

• Tony has suffered from many mental

disabilities most of his adult life. He works

at the local grocery store and owns his

own home. The neighborhood kids even

call him the crazy man because he sits on

his front porch and whispers to himself. He

is registered to vote. Can he vote in the


Voter Scenarios

• Dr. Smith is what some call a “mad scientist.” He is a genius in the sciences and has even came close to discovering a cure for cancer. He is a celebrated doctor and scientists. Unfortunately, last year Dr. Smith was committed to a mental institution by a judge due to mental distress he suffered after the death of his cat. Can he vote in the election? Why or why not?

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