branches of georgia’s govern- ment legislative executive judicial
TRANSCRIPT
Branches of
Georgia’s Govern-
ment
Legislative
Executive
Judicial
Legislative Branch• Georgia’s Legislative Branch is responsible for
introducing bills and making the laws for the state.• It is called the General Assembly.• It is made up of two houses (bicameral).• The smaller of the two is the Senate. It is made up
of 56 members, 1 per voting district• The Larger of the two is the House of
Representatives. It is made up of a 180 members. It is based on the population of the voting district.
Senate• 56 members, 1 per district
• Must be 25 years old to serve
• Must be a resident of Georgia and a U.S. citizen for at least 2 years.
• Must live in the district you represent.
• Serves a 2 year term
• Led by the Lieutenant Governor
House of Representatives• 180 members, based on the
district’s population
• Must be 21 years old to serve
• Must be a resident of Georgia and a U.S. citizen for at least 2 years
• Must live in the district you represent.
• Serves a 2 year term
• Led by the Speaker of the House
Organization• Both the Senate and House are divided
into committees. • Their work is divided into a committee
system.• Committees are responsible for
reviewing/amending or rejecting bills before they are voted on.
Lawmaking Process• Proposal
– Idea is introduced to the legislature• Committee Action
– Idea is assigned to be evaluated by appropriate committee
• Floor Action– Idea is open for discussion with all members
• Conference– Idea goes back to the committee for acceptance
• Passage– Idea is voted on by all member of legislature
• Action by Governor – Signed into Law or Vetoed
Executive Branch
• Georgia’s Executive Branch is responsible for enforcing the laws of the state.
• Led by the Governor who is elected by the people.
• The Lieutenant Governor is also elected into office by the people; he serves as the president of the senate.
Qualification for the Executive Branch
• You must be 30 years old.
• A U.S. citizen for 15 years.
• A resident of Georgia for 6 years.
• Governor serves a term of 4 years with a maximum of 2 consecutive terms.
• Lieutenant Governor serve for 4 years with an unlimited number of terms they may serve.
Governor of Georgia’s Powers
Can Veto a Bill
Appoints leaders of
the executive
departments
Leader of the
Executive BranchCommander
in Chief of Georgia’s National Guard
Can Sign A bill into a
Law
Writes the budget for the state
Powers of Lieutenant Governor
• Serves as Governor if the current governor dies or is too sick to continue as Governor.
• Serves as the President of the State Senate
• Appoints Senate members to committees.
Important Executive Departments
1. Education- oversees public schools.
2. Public Safety- State police protect citizens
3. Transportation- maintains Georgia’s 4 major transportation systems.
4. Economic Development- promotes Georgia’s products and businesses.
5. Natural Resources: enforces laws on hunting and fishing and maintains state parks.
Left Hand page 176Complete a tree map over Georgia’s executive branch
Georgia’s Executive Branch
Governor
Qualifications
Duties
Lieutenant Governor Executive Departments
Judicial Branch
• The job of the Judicial Branch is to Interpret how the law applies.
• Georgia’s Judicial Branch is divided into two court systems.
Georgia’s Court Systems
• Trial Court: criminal actions and lawsuits.
• Court of Appeals: reviews decisions made in trial courts.
• Supreme Court is the highest court in Georgia.
Criminal Law
• Criminal laws are created to protect society from wrong-doers.
• Covers serious crimes that will to lead to fines, community service or prison.
In Georgia there are two types of crime
1. Felonies- serious crimes (murder, rape, robbery) with a minimum sentence of 1 year in prison.
2. Misdemeanors- less serious (shoplifting, trespassing) with a sentence of less than 1 year in jail.
Civil Law
• Civil Law covers grievances or problems between individuals or groups of people.
• Usually based on injuries or wrong doings and ends with compensation or payment.
Criminal Court Processuse to draw on LH 166
Arrest and Booking Preliminary hearing
Plea bargain Grand jury
Jury selection Present evidence
Jury deliberation Cross examine
Sentencing Appeal
Georgia’s Juvenile Justice System
1. Juveniles are citizens under the age of 17
2. must follow the same local, state, and federal laws that all citizens follow
*plus some that adults don’t- attend school, cannot run away from home and no alcoholic beverages or tobacco****curfew***
Some Terms To Know• Delinquent Act- an act that would be considered
a crime if committed by an adult.
Examples: Burglary and car theft
If this act is serious enough, the juvenile may be charged as an adult.
• Unruly Act- an act that would NOT be considered a crime if committed by an adult.
Examples: running away from home, breaking curfew & skipping school.
If a child commits these acts, they may be placed in a juvenile detention center.
YOU HAVE RIGHTS
• “taken into custody” rather than “under arrest”
1.The right to have a parent present when questioned
2.Right not to have their names or pics public
3.The right to two phone calls
4.Not self-incriminate
5.Not to be placed with adults
Juvenile Court System
• The juvenile court has three main purposes:
1.To help and protect the well-being of children
2.To make sure that any child under the jurisdiction of the court receives the care, guidance, and control needed
3.To provide care for children who have been removed from their homes
Steps in the Juvenile Justice Process
Step 1- intake- decide if there is enough evidence- release or charge
- Release to parent or detained in the state’s Regional Youth Detention Center
Step 2- detention- hearing to decide
1. dismiss the case
2. informal adjustment (first offenders)
3. formal hearing Say your sorry
Step 3-formal hearing-
• Trial for the judge to hear the case
• Judge decide
NOT GUILTY- released
GUILTY- Another hearing for sentencing
Step 4-sentencing-
1.Release
2.Probation
3.Youth development center 90 days
4. Special programs- boot camp
5. Assign fines/restitutions or probation
The Seven Most Serious Delinquent Behaviors
• There are seven offences that, if a child 13-17 commits they will not be protected under the juvenile court.
• Murder, voluntary manslaughter, rape, aggravated sodomy, aggravated child molestation, aggravated sexual battery, & armed robbery with a firearm.
County and city government
*Georgia has the 2nd most counties in the U.S.(Texas 1st).
*Georgia has 159 counties, each of these counties has a government.
*In addition to these counties, there are almost 600 cities in Georgia. Each city has a government.
County Government
Counties- are subdivisions of the state set up to carry out certain government functions.
-providing courts of law
-building & repairing roads
-holding elections
-police & fire protection
Ran by the board of commissioners
City Government
-Over 500 cities and towns in Georgia
*Some city services are
police & fire protection, schools, taxes, and street & water services.