• 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 have a constitution…

SS8CG1a Georgia’s Constitution
Constitutions

Georgia’s Constitution
• 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”

SS8CG1a Georgia’s Constitution
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.”

Georgia’s Constitution
• 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
.” - The fact that true governmental power is derived from the people…

Georgia State Constitution • Article I – Bill of Rights – your rights • Article II – Voting and Elections: voter requirements and rules for elections • Article III – Legislative Branch: structure and powers to the Gen. Assembly • Article IV – Constitution Boards & Commissions: Set up gov’t bodies (Public Service Commission, State Transportation, Board of Pardons/Paroles)

Georgia State Constitution • Article V – Executive Branch: establishes offices of governor and lieutenant governor • Article VI – Judicial Branch: court system • Article VII – Taxation and Finance: power to tax, and purposes methods of taxation • Article VIII – Education: Public education, and Board of Education

Georgia State Constitution • Article IX – Counties and Municipalities: powers and structure of county government • Article X – Amendments to the Constitution: describes process to amend the constitution • Article XI – Miscellaneous Provisions

SS8CG1b Separation of Powers
• There are Three Main powers of Government… -Legislative – 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.

SS8CG1b Separation of Powers
• The United States (and
Georgia) was one of the few Societies in history to start a government with these powers separated.
• Now many nations use this
system because it works.
• Separation of Powers helps
governments from infringing on the people’s rights.

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

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 too keep each branch from becoming too powerful.

SS8CG1b
Checks and Balances • 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

Roles of Citizens under Georgia’s SS8CG1c Government
• 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.

Roles of Citizens under Georgia’s 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

Roles of Citizens under Georgia’s 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.

What DO Political Parties Do?
• Parties are a way people with similar ideas can join with others to express their opinions. Factions and parties form because not all people think alike; conflict and differences of opinion seem to be natural to humanity. • Suppressing disagreement, or prohibiting peaceful forms of conflict, can often lead to a loss of liberty. If differing views are denied the right to be heard, violence can be the alternative.

• The genius of the American model of democracy allows people to freely express what they think, thus working out conflicts with words instead of weapons. By necessity, consensus and compromise are embedded into the American system. • No one side will always win, and some people will disagree with the majority. But, if everyone has had a say, and the rights of the minority are respected, then most people are willing to accept the decisions made, using peaceful means to express any differences that may remain.

The Role of Third Parties
• • • •
In America, third parties have traditionally held the role of protest vehicles.
Third parties arise when a group of people believe that the major two parties have become unresponsive to their needs. Many independent candidacies and third parties fulfill the important role of bringing an issue to the public eye that has been neglected by the major players. However, before the issue can be resolved, it usually has to be "adopted" by one of the major parties. Over time, third parties and their ideas tend to be reabsorbed into whichever major party is willing to listen to their issues. For example, in the 1890s, the Populist Party was one of the best known third parties in America. By the early 1900s, some ideas of the Populist Party were absorbed into the major parties, which then enacted many Populist ideas into law (including the direct election of US Senators and the Federal Income Tax). There has been only one third party in US history that succeeded in rising to become a major party and winning the Presidency: The Republican party, which reached major party status in 1860 with the election of Abraham Lincoln.

Georgia Motto - "Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation"