The student will describe the role of citizens under Georgia's
constitution.
A. Explain the basic structure of the Georgia state constitution.
Past Constitutions:
Georgia has gone through 10 constitutions. They include the constitutions of 1983 (as ratified and as amended through 1998), 1976, 1945, 1877, 1868, 1865, 1861,1798, 1789, and 1777
Georgia has gone through 10 constitutions. They include the constitutions of 1983 (as ratified and as amended through 1998), 1976, 1945, 1877, 1868, 1865, 1861,1798, 1789, and 1777
Georgia’s first constitution was a provisional government called the Rules and Regulations and the Constitution of 1777, a form of government that weakened the executive branch and strengthened the legislature, was the first permanent constitution. Our current constitution was adopted in 1983, and was intended to be a shorter, more modern constitution for the state.
Parts of the Constitution of 1983:
Preamble
States the purpose of the constitution
Article I Bill of Rights
States specific rights guaranteed by the constitution such as the life, liberty, and property
Article II Voting and Elections
Sets qualifications and rules for elections
Article III Legislative Branch
Describes the structure and powers of the General Assembly
Article IV Constitutional Boards and Commissions
Sets up government bodies such as the Public Service Commission, State Transportation Board, and the Board of Pardons and Paroles
Article V Executive Branch
Establishes offices and powers of Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Article VI Judicial Branch
Establishes state court system
Article VII Taxation and Finance
Authorizes power to tax, and purposes and methods of taxation
Article VIII Education
Establishes public education system supported by taxes, and Board of Education to oversee it
Article IX Counties and Municipal Corporations
Describes powers and structure of county government
Article X Amendments to the Constitution
Describes the process for amending the constitution
Article XI Miscellaneous Provisions
Miscellaneous provisions
Preamble
States the purpose of the constitution
Article I Bill of Rights
States specific rights guaranteed by the constitution such as the life, liberty, and property
Article II Voting and Elections
Sets qualifications and rules for elections
Article III Legislative Branch
Describes the structure and powers of the General Assembly
Article IV Constitutional Boards and Commissions
Sets up government bodies such as the Public Service Commission, State Transportation Board, and the Board of Pardons and Paroles
Article V Executive Branch
Establishes offices and powers of Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Article VI Judicial Branch
Establishes state court system
Article VII Taxation and Finance
Authorizes power to tax, and purposes and methods of taxation
Article VIII Education
Establishes public education system supported by taxes, and Board of Education to oversee it
Article IX Counties and Municipal Corporations
Describes powers and structure of county government
Article X Amendments to the Constitution
Describes the process for amending the constitution
Article XI Miscellaneous Provisions
Miscellaneous provisions
Find Out More
Click for pictures and more information about the Georgia State Constitutions.
B. Explain the concepts of separation of powers and checks and balances.
The three basic functions of government are separated into:
1. The Legislative Branch – the General Assembly makes the law
2. The Executive Branch – the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, and State Treasurer enforces the law
3. The Judicial Branch – the State Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Circuit Courts, and Municipal Courts interprets the law
1. The Legislative Branch – the General Assembly makes the law
2. The Executive Branch – the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, and State Treasurer enforces the law
3. The Judicial Branch – the State Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Circuit Courts, and Municipal Courts interprets the law
Checks and Balances:
Dividing the above functions of government into three branches makes certain that no single branch has more power than the other. This is how the system of checks and balances comes into play, which allows each branch to check the power of the others.
Dividing the above functions of government into three branches makes certain that no single branch has more power than the other. This is how the system of checks and balances comes into play, which allows each branch to check the power of the others.
C. Describe the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
Basic Rights of all Citizens:
• Right to free speech
• Right to worship freely
• Right to a trial by jury
Basic Responsibilities of all Citizens:
• Take care of one’s self
• Respect the rights of others
• Obey rules and laws
• Right to free speech
• Right to worship freely
• Right to a trial by jury
Basic Responsibilities of all Citizens:
• Take care of one’s self
• Respect the rights of others
• Obey rules and laws
Test Your Skills
Click to play Rights and Responsibilities Drag n Drop.
Click to play Rights and Responsibilities Drag n Drop.
D. Explain voting qualifications and elections in Georgia.
In the state of Georgia, you must meet the following requirements in order to vote:
• You must be a citizen of the United States
• You must be a legal resident of Georgia and of the county where you wish to vote
• You must be at least 18 years old on Election Day
If you get convicted of a felony or declared mentally incompetent by a judge, even if you follow all the requirements you won't be allowed to vote
• You must be a citizen of the United States
• You must be a legal resident of Georgia and of the county where you wish to vote
• You must be at least 18 years old on Election Day
If you get convicted of a felony or declared mentally incompetent by a judge, even if you follow all the requirements you won't be allowed to vote
Georgia has its own set of election guidelines and requirements:
• Elections are run by the Secretary of State’s office
• Voter registration deadlines are usually 30 days before an election
• Presidential elections, according to the US Constitution, must be held every four years on the first Tuesday of November
• Special elections may be held at other times throughout the year
• Elections are run by the Secretary of State’s office
• Voter registration deadlines are usually 30 days before an election
• Presidential elections, according to the US Constitution, must be held every four years on the first Tuesday of November
• Special elections may be held at other times throughout the year
Election Day:
• Polling places are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Voters standing in line at 7:00 p.m. must be allowed to vote
• Employers are required to give employees up to two hours to vote
If a voter can’t vote on Election Day, there are two options:
1. Absentee Ballots – Voting by mail before an election
2. Advance Voting – Voting the week prior to the election
• Polling places are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Voters standing in line at 7:00 p.m. must be allowed to vote
• Employers are required to give employees up to two hours to vote
If a voter can’t vote on Election Day, there are two options:
1. Absentee Ballots – Voting by mail before an election
2. Advance Voting – Voting the week prior to the election
E. Explain the role of political parties in government.
Citizens can take part in the government through a political party
Basic functions of a political party:
1. To recruit and nominate candidates.
2. To help candidates win elections.
3. To educate the citizens about campaign issues.
4. To monitor the actions of current office holders.
Basic functions of a political party:
1. To recruit and nominate candidates.
2. To help candidates win elections.
3. To educate the citizens about campaign issues.
4. To monitor the actions of current office holders.
Today, the two major parties competing for control of the government are:
• Democrats
• Republicans
There are also “third parties”:
• Green Party
• Socialist Party
• Anti-Masonic Party
• Reform Party
• Constitution Party
• Communist Party USA
• Democrats
• Republicans
There are also “third parties”:
• Green Party
• Socialist Party
• Anti-Masonic Party
• Reform Party
• Constitution Party
• Communist Party USA
F. Identify wisdom, justice, and moderation as the three principles of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Georgia flag.
"I pledge allegiance to the Georgia Flag and to the principles for which it stands: Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation."
• Wisdom - the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the quality of being wise
• Justice - just behavior or treatment
• Moderation - the avoidance of excess or extremes, esp. in one's behavior or political opinions
• Wisdom - the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the quality of being wise
• Justice - just behavior or treatment
• Moderation - the avoidance of excess or extremes, esp. in one's behavior or political opinions
Vocabulary:
Constitution - a set of laws for a nation or state
Checks and Balances - system in which allows each branch to check the power of the others
General Assembly - the Senate and House of Representatives
Third Party - a person or group besides the two primarily involved in a situation, esp. a dispute
Provisional - arranged or existing for the present, possibly to be changed later
Constitution - a set of laws for a nation or state
Checks and Balances - system in which allows each branch to check the power of the others
General Assembly - the Senate and House of Representatives
Third Party - a person or group besides the two primarily involved in a situation, esp. a dispute
Provisional - arranged or existing for the present, possibly to be changed later