Georgia
Studies
Unit 8 – Government
Lesson 2 – Legislative
Branch in Georgia
Study Presentation
Lesson 2 - Legislative
Branch in Georgia
• ESSENTIAL QUESTION
– How do the desires of citizens to be secure and
free develop into actions by members of the
General Assembly?
Federal System
• In a Federal system of government powers are
shared between the national and state
governments.
• The Federal government is divided into three
branches – Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.
• The State government of Georgia is also divided
into three branches – Legislative, Executive, and
Judicial.
• The United States Legislative Branch is known as
Congress.
• GA’s Legislative Branch is known as the General
Assembly.
General Assembly
• Like the Congress of the United States the
General Assembly is bicameral (two houses).
• In Georgia’s General Assembly the House of
Representatives has 180 members
(Representatives) and the Senate has 56
members (Senators).
• Senators must be at least 25 years old and
citizens of the US. Representatives must be at
least 21 years old. Representatives and Senators
must be a legal resident of the district they
represent and have lived in GA for two years.
• In Georgia, Representatives and Senators each
serve two year terms and are elected in General
Elections.
Duties of the Legislative
Branch in Georgia
• Most important duties are making GA’s laws
and passing GA’s budget.
• While the Governor of Georgia is
responsible for distributing money the
General Assembly makes the bills that
actually raise the money.
• Amendments or changes to the Constitution
are made by the General Assembly after
passing a two-thirds vote.
Organization of the
General Assembly
• General Assembly meets for its regular session
starting on the second Monday of January each
year. The regular session usually lasts less than
two months.
• Most of the work is done through committees that
deal with certain issues. The majority party
(political party with the most elected members)
usually heads the committees.
• Most members join committees that deal with
issues important to the people they represent.
Legislative Process
• 5 Steps for a Bill to become a Law:
– Drafting – Legislators write the text of the bill (proposed
law).
– Introduction – The bill is introduced to either the Senate
or House of Representatives for discussion.
– Committee Consideration – The bill is assigned to a
committee that studies the bill. The bill may be
changed at this time.
– Floor Consideration – A vote is called during a regular
session. If the bill is passed in one house, it goes to
the other house for consideration.
– Governor Consideration – Once both houses pass the
bill it is sent to the governor. The governor can then
sign the bill into law or veto the bill (send it back to the
General Assembly to be changed or rewritten).