Unit 6 - State and Local Government

GEORGIA'S EXECUTIVE BRANCH

THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS

THE JUDICIAL BRANCH

1. Describe the role of the executive branch in Georgia.

The purpose of the executive branch in Georgia is to carry out the laws passed by the state. Members of the executive branch lead agencies responsible for enforcing state laws and carrying out programs like education, elections and law enforcement.

2. What are the qualifications to run for governor in Georgia? Explain why the state constitutions would require these qualifications.

In order to run for governor in Georgia, the candidate must be at least 30 years old, a United States citizen for at least 15 years and a Georgia resident for a minimum of six years prior to the election. These qualifications are outlined in the state constitution to ensure that the person elected governor is mature and thoroughly understands the ways of the United States and the state of Georgia.

3. Compare and contrast Georgia's Executive Branch and the United States Executive Branch.

Student answers may vary. Some responses may include the following: The governor and president are both elected to serve a four year team, with a maximum of two terms. They are both heads of the executive branch. The governor's responsibilities are similar to the United States president because both oversee government budgets, serve as Commander-in-Chief, propose laws and sign or vetos legislation. While federal cabinet secretaries are nominated by the president and approved by the Senate, Georgia constitutional officers are all elected by the people.

1. Why do you think a majority vote is needed in both houses to pass a bill?

Elected officials typically vote on bills to appease their constituents, or the people they represent. Requiring a simple majority in both houses would indicate that the bill would be favorable to most people in Georgia.

2. Explain what happens to a bill when it is sent to the governor.

1. Explain the purpose of appellate level courts. Appellate level courts do not conduct trials. Instead, they hear appeals from lower level courts. An appeal is when a higher court reviews a decision from a lower court and determines if the decision was justly made.

2. What is the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony? A misdemeanor is a less serious crime, like trespassing or a traffic violation. A felony is a more serious crime, like the sale of illegal drugs or stealing a car, and usually result in a year or more in prison.

Once a bill has passed a simple majority in the House of Representatives and Senate, it is sent to the governor for approval. He has 40 days to make a decision. The governor has three options: sign the bill into law; veto the bill; or do nothing. If there is no action taken on the bill in the 40-day timeframe, the bill becomes law. If the governor vetoes the bill, it is sent back to the house where it was introduced. Two-thirds of both houses must approve to the bill in order to override the veto.

3. Why do you think there is a special court that specifically deals with juveniles? Answers may vary, but many will include reasons that because children are not fully developed and behave and think differently than adults, juveniles require a unique judicial system. While there are some similarities between the two systems, the juvenile justice system maintains rehabilitation as its primary goal and all youth are entitled (and often required) to attend school.

WHERE DOES YOUR TAX MONEY GO?

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE GEORGIA

GEORGIA AND THE US CONSTITUTION

1. Give your opinion of the five most valuable ways in which taxes are spent. Justify the reasons these are the most valuable.

(Even though this is an opinion, students should justify their answer to indicate that these are critical areas that must be provided in order for the people to live in an orderly society. They should indicate that without these services, the populace would be in danger of anarchy from certain groups that would not work for the common good.)

2. What would be some of the effects on the people and the operation of the state government if the most valuable of the tax-paid services were not offered?

These services must be provided in order to keep people feeling safe in an orderly society. Without these areas being paid out of public funds, the public would be in danger of being taken over by a certain group which might not have concern about the general welfare of all people.

3. Give your opinion of the five least valuable ways in which taxes are spent. Justify the reasons these are the least valuable.

(While this is an opinion, students should justify their answer to indicate that these services are not critical to provide for the common good, or that these are areas that could be supported with private funds or institutions.)

4. Conduct an internet search to find out what the budget for the state of Georgia looks like. Go through and pick out the education projects that are being funded for your school system. Add them up. How much is your school system benefiting from the state of Georgia budget?

By using a search engine, you can find this website: (Office of Planning and Budget) which will give you many, many pages of budget expenditures. Page-down or scroll through the departments until you find schools or education. Find your system and note the amount of money being spent there and for what the funds are used. This could be done as a class or in groups. Come back together to talk about how your school system benefits from the taxes paid by their parents.

5. What is SPLOST? What is it used for? Why is it necessary to vote on it?

SPLOST stands for Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. It is used by a county to fund a project that is urgently needed but the county cannot afford with present resources. It must find a way to get this money for the project. For the most part, SPLOST is used for roads and schools. The county must petition the people for this money, which usually comes from raising the sales tax on goods and services by one penny within that county. The people must vote on this by going to the polls and voting “yes” or “no.” If a majority votes “yes” for the extra penny sales tax, it becomes a law and by a certain date, the sales tax goes into effect. If the people do not want this particular project to be done, they will vote “no.” In this way, everyone has had their say in the democratic process: one person/one vote. This is the way our country has founded its government: by the will of the people. Even a penny sales tax must be voted upon by the people.

1. How does recycling help with the effects of throwing out this much garbage? Give examples.

Recycling takes garbage and turns it into another raw product to produce something entirely new. It keeps the landfills from becoming full, and it saves money. Yard waste is turned into mulch; plastic bags become new plastic bags; soda cans become new soda cans; paper can be recycled into new paper.

2. Make a list of all the products you use in any given day that are either made with recycled material or are themselves recyclable.

1. Explain why Georgia and the United States did not want a strong central government.

Both Georgia and the United States lived through a brutal time ruled by the King of England, who was more of a tyrant than an administrator. The state and federal government, however, knew they needed a stronger executive power than what was outlined in the Articles of the Confederation to help them handle the complex issues experienced by both governments.

2. What was the Great Compromise?

The Great Compromise was the result of a tie between ideas to design the legislative branch. Some state delegates wanted each state to have an equal number of legislative representatives, while others wanted a state's number of representatives to be proportionate to its population. The Great Compromise included both ideas, resulting in a bicameral legislation. A state's number of representatives in the House was determined by its population size, and each state received equal representation in the Senate.

3. Why did Georgia support a strong national government?

Before giving this question to your class, make your own list of items you use each day that fit the above description. Bring to class a few of those items. As a warm-up to this question, ask students which of the items are which: (a) are made of recycled material, or (b) can be recycled? (This may vary by recycling company - check with the ones in your community.) This will help them to know what to look for as they go through their day. You might give a prize to the person(s) who have the longest list: to promote the use of recycled/recyclable product containers."

Georgia was experiencing a lot of conflict between settlers and Native Americans, and the state needed protection along its frontier. With conflict surrounding land rights and ownership, Georgia--the smallest and youngest state at the time--needed help from other states to protect settlers' property.