Georgia Constitution Questions and Answers Already Passed

Georgia Constitution Questions and Answers Already Passed Does the curent GA constitution impose term limits on governors? If so, what are they? Yes, two terms, re-eligible after 4 years. According to the Georgia constitution, does the Governor have the authority to exercise a line-item veto? Yes, they can kill specific item in spending ills; can be overridden by a 2/3 vote of the membership in each chamber of the General Assembly Who has the power of executive clemency in the Georgia Constitution? The State Board of Pardons and Paroles What are the age qualifications for holding elective office in Georgia (US Senate, US House, Georgia Senate, Georgia House)? Are there citizenship requirement for those seeking elective office? Residency requirements? US - at least 25 years old, a citizen of the US for at least 7 years prior to the election, a resident of the state that he/she has chosen to represent GA House of Reps - must be 21 years old and have residency for at least a year in the district that he/she represents and residency in GA for 2 years US Senate - at least 30 years old, residency in state which elected, citizenship for at least 9 years prior to election GA Senate - must be 25 years old, residency for at least a year in the district that he/she represents and residency in GA for at least 2 years What are the responsibilities of the lieutenant governor in Georgia? President of the Senate; oversees committee on senate membership; chooses the chairman of each committee; if Governor cannot perform duties Lieutenant Gov exercises power of the Governor and can serve the rest of the term if the Governor dies. Besides the governor and lieutenant governor, what positions are identified by the Georgia constitution as being elected executive officers? Attorney General Secretary of State Commissioner of Ag Commissioner of Labor State School Superintendent Public Service Commissioners What are the qualifications to serve as Georgia's attorney general? What are his/her responsibilities? Qualifications - 25 y/o, 10 years of US citizenships, 4 years of state residency, must be an active statue member of the GA State Bar for 7 years and must not engage in private practice of law during term Responsibilities - legal advisor of executive branch, represents the state in all capital felony cases/before the Supreme Court, prosecutes any state officer/person for violating criminal statue while dealing with the state, conducting investigations into the affairs of the government List the Georgia constitutional boards and commissions (see Article IV). How are members selected for each board or commission? What are the responsibilities of each? Public Service Commission - 5 members to be elected by people, oversees utilities like gas, etc. State Board of Pardons and Paroles - 5 members appointed by governor, subject to confirmation by Senate and have power of executive clemency State Transportation Board - as many members as congressional districts in the state to be elected by majority vote of members of the House and Senate, in charge of transportation/highway construction, etc. Veterans Service Board - 7 members appointed by governor Board of Natural Resources - one member from each congressional district in state & 5 members from the state at large appointed by Governor Educational Board - governor, one member per district, local schools Regents - one per district, appointed by governor, in charge of colleges How many days does the Georgia General Assembly meet each year "in session"? How can they convene in mid-January but adjourn at the end of March? What is a "special session"? 40 working days each year but do not have to be consecutive Governor may call the General Assembly into a special session for a set number of days when the legislature's major business has been completed. Special Session - agreement of 3/5 of membership of each chamber What is the term length for Georgia state legislators? 2 years and are directly elected by their district How many members makeup the Georgia General Assembly? 236 The passage of legislation by the General Assembly requires what proportion of support from each chamber? 2/3 vote in both the House and the Senate which will then be put on a ballot for the voters to decide if the constitution is to be amended. What does the Georgia Constitution indicate are the powers of the Board of Regents of the University System of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia? Govern, control, and manage University System fo Georgia comprised of 35 institutions of higher learning. They also can create new public colleges, junior colleges and universities subject to approval by 2/3 vote What does the Georgia constitution indicate about the state's legal commitment to public education? Free public education prior to college or postsecondary level supported by tax-nation What proportion of the vote is required to be elected to public office in Georgia? What happens if a candidate does not receive this proportion? Candidate must have 50% of the vote, if not, a runoff is held What requirements does Georgia have for those who wish to vote in an election? Us citizenship, citizen of GA/county, 18 by election day, cannot be a felon/mentally incompetent What is eminent domain? The taking of private property for public use such as exapnding the highway, construction facilities, and layering water/sewer lines How many counties are there in Georgia? 159 What is Home Rule? Counties and cities have the ability to some government and legal powers as long as they are not allowing things outside of the GA and US constitutions What are the categories of expenditures for which lottery proceeds can be used? Education programs, governor's annual budget including recommendations for the use of funds What does it mean to have an open, direct primary? All voters can take part. Primary elections are one way for a political party to nominate candidates for the next general election. Open primaries allow for voters of any party to participate in voting. What is the jurisdiction of the "State Court" in Georgia's court system? Misdemeanor violations - traffic cases and civil actions, regardless of the amount claimed, unless the superior court has exclusion jurisdiction What civil liberties are protected by the Georgia Constitution? ... What civil liberties are not protected by the Georgia Constitution? right to privacy is not in the constitution but it is recognized How are judges (in the state judiciary) selected in Georgia? (distinguish vacancies from open seats) All are selected by non-partisan elections. The initial terms if 6 years for appellate judges and 4 years for superior court judges. The governor can appoint people to vacant/newly created judgeships What are courts of limited jurisdiction (in Georgia)? Specialized cases - less serious than cases in the courts of general jurisdiction - includes traffic laws, local ordinances, other misdemeanors. With the exception of some juveniles, what is the primary trial court for hearing felony cases? Superior Court How is the Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court selected? Justices of Supreme Court choose Chief Justice from among themselves According to the state of Georgia constitution, can taxes be levied by local schools to assist with financing those schools? If so, what kind? Yes, property taxes "Community improvement districts" taxes for things beyond what the county/city provides Can the constitution be amended to affect specific individual counties and cities? Yes home rule-local government is granted powers to write and amend its charter (local constitution) and to take any action not prohibited by the state Are there limits on cities' and counties' ability to tax and incur debt? Law allows counties to levy a 1% general sales tax and 4% state tax. Debt cannot exceed 10% of the assessed value of taxable property within the jurisdiction ; voters must approve issuance of new debt by vote in election What is consolidation? What procedures does a local government have to go through in order to consolidate? Consolidation is combining with another county. There is a limit of 159 counties and must be started through passage of act in the General Assembly and approve by a majority vote in each county How may the Georgia Constitution be amended? a 2/3 vote is needed by the legislature and there is no limit to the number of amendments submitted to voters at one election. Article I of the Georgia Constitution provides for a bill of rights. What sorts of individual rights are included here? How does this compare with the "federal" bill of rights? Life, liberty, pursuit of happiness religion, speech/press, right to bear arms, assemble and petition, trial by jury, right to courts, searches and seizures Many of the same rights are provided as in the federal bill of rights same sex marriage is prohibited What does Georgia's Bill of Rights say about limits on what the State of Georgia may do with respect to citizens who fail to pay their debts? Prohibits imprisonment for debt How many constitutions have been adopted by Georgia? When did Georgia last ratify a constitution? 10 have been adopted by Georgia and the last ratification was 1983 What does the Georgia constitution say about "sovereign immunity"? Citizens have the ability to sue the state/local government, immunity of government for its acts harming property or persons, states that the state may waive such immunity in specific situations What are the responsibilities of the Georgia Public Service Commission? How are members selected for the Commission? 5 members are elected statewide for staggered 6 year terms; they regulate telephone services, utilities, communication networks, transportation networks What are the responsibilities of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles? Power to stay death sentences; executive clemency What does the Georgia Constitution say about bills of attainder? What is a bill of attainder? Declaring a person or a group of people as guilty and punishing them without the benefit of judicial trial. NO bill of attainder will pass What does the Georgia Constitution say about slavery, if at all? It doesn't say anything; it only talks about involuntary servitude What are the requirements for registering to vote in Georgia? US citizen, legal resident of Georgia and the county in which you want to vote, at least 18 on election day Under the Georgia Constitution, will the state recognize marriage between two individuals of the same sex? no How many legislators must be present in order for the general assembly to transact legislative business? 3/5 of the assembly What are the legislative procedures, according to the Georgia constitution, for approval, veto and override of vetos? The senate and the house of reps are called in, line item votes are allowed. 2/3 majority votes are needed by both houses to veto or approve a bill How has Georgia's constitution historically approached judicial review? the power to declare acts unconstitutional, is allowed now, institutionalized in 1861 How did state political leaders, pushing for white supremacy during the 19th and 20th century use the constitution to achieve their goals? through the disenfranchisement of blacks and poor whites by making only those who paid all their taxes were eligible to vote; there was also a disproportion of votes so urban areas didn't count in elections