SS8CG1
The student will describe the role of citizens under Georgia’s constitution.
SS8CG5 The student will analyze the role of local governments in the state of Georgia.
1. COUNTIES are the subdivisions of the state set up to carry out certain GOVERNMENTAL functions.
KEY
(pg. 564)
2. What is the maximum number of counties allowed in Georgia by law? (pg. 561) 159
3. How many counties were allowed in Georgia according to its first state constitution ? (pg. 565) 8
Name at least 6 services that counties provide for Georgia citizens: (pg. 566)
4.
5.
6.
Animal control services
Children and family services
Emergency services
7. Public libraries
8. Sherriff’s department
9. Parks and recreation services
10. Most county governments are headed by an elected BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS (pg. 564)
11. Which county in Georgia is the most populated ? (pg. 567) FULTON
12. What is the county seat of Cobb County ? (pg. 565) MARIETTA
Name at least 6 county officials that are elected : (pg. 567)
13. COMMISSIONERS
14. CLERK OF THE SUPERIOR COURT
16.
17.
TAX COMMISSIONER
SHERRIFF
15. CORONER 18. JUDGE OF THE PROBATE COURT
Name at least 5 county officials that are appointed : (pg. 567)
19. COUNTY CLERK
20. TAX ASSESSORS
22. ATTORNEYS
23. FIRE CHIEFS
21. ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS
24. Define Municipality : (pg. 570) A CITY WITH ITS OWN CITY GOVERNMENT
List five of Georgia’s ten largest cities
according to census data from the year 2000. (pg. 570)
25. ATLANTA 28. SAVANNAH
26. AUGUSTA 29. ATHENS
27. COLUMBUS
30. Who was the first African American Mayor of Atlanta ? (pg. 571)
MAYNARD JACKSON
31. What college did he attend and graduate from? (pg. 571)
MOREHOUSE COLLEGE (in ATLANTA)

Identify at least three improvements that Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson promoted for the city: (pg. 571)
32. Developed and expanded MARTA
33.
Expanded Atlanta’s airport – Hartsfield
34. helped Atlanta get the 1996 Summer Olympic Games
35. After his death in 2003, Atlanta’s airport, the busiest in the world, was renamed HARTSFIELD -
JACKSON International Airport.
What are the 3 major types of city government ? (pg. 572-573)
36. MAYOR-COUNCIL FORM
37. COUNCIL-MANAGER FORM
38. COMMISSION FORM
39. How is a mayor-council form of city government different from a commission form of city government? (pg.
572-573; use Figures 80-82)
In a mayor-council form, the elected city council is responsible for making the laws, and the elected mayor acts as the chief executive officer and sees that laws are carried out and that city agencies do their job. In a commission form, voters elect commissioners to head city departments (ex. Finance, Streets, Public Safety), and a mayor is elected as a figurehead by the commissioners from amongst themselves.
40. How is a commission form of city government different from a council-manager form of city government?
(pg. 572-573; use Figures 80-82)
Commission form has voters elect commissioners to each head up city departments, and they select a mayor from amongst themselves. A council-manager form has voters elect a city council to establish laws and policies. The mayor MAY be either elected by voters
OR be named by the council. The council then hires a city manager who is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the city, and the city manager appoints the heads of city departments like Health, Water, Police, and Parks and Recreation.
41. Who has the power to charter a city ? (pg. 572) The GA General Assembly
To be charted as a city, an area must meet 3 requirements ?
42. Must have 200+ residents
43.
Must be 3 miles + from the next nearest city’s boundaries
44. Must have 60% + of its land divided up into tracts for development
45. What are ad valorem taxes ? (pg. 574)
Local property taxes based on the value of property like land, houses, cars, boats, trailers, and airplanes.

46. What is SPLOST ? (pg. 574)
Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax – voters agree to pay tax for 5 years to fund local improvement projects like schools, bridges, and roads. The revenue is then divided between the county and cities within the county.
Name the 3 sources of revenue for local governments : (pg. 574)
47. Ad VALOREM taxes
48. USER fees
49. Sales TAX
50. The main taxes that local governments collect and that the state government of Georgia collects are similar yet different. The two main taxes that the state government of Georgia collects are in COME tax and SALES tax.
(pg. 539) **Then, place a check next to the similar tax in #s 47-49.**