AM GOV State and Local Government Student Version
SSCG17 – The student will demonstrate knowledge of the organization and powers of state and local government described in the Georgia Constitution.
SSCG18 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the powers of Georgia’s state and local governments.
I. General Assembly
II. Executive Branch
A. Organization
1. Governor and Lt. Governor elected separately; may be from different political parties
2. Constitutional Officers
a) Provided for in state constitution
b) Elected independently & may be from different parties
B. Governor
1. Qualifications
a) US citizen for ______years
b) Legal resident of GA for ______years
c) At least ______years old
2. Term of Office
a) ______years & eligible to serve ______additional term(s)
b) After ______consecutive years in office must wait ______years before seeking a 3rd term (never happened)
3. Powers of Governor
a) Formal
· Appoints ______branch officials
· propose ______& state ______
· call out ______in emergencies
b) Informal
· Meet w/POTUS
· Lead trade delegations to other countries
· Propose policies for the state
C. Lt. Governor
1. Qualifications are same as governor
2. If governor dies, resigns, or become permanently disabled, the Lt. Gov becomes governor until the next general election
3. If both gov & Lt. Gov be unable to serve, speaker of the House serves as gov for up to 90 days; special election must be held during that time period
D. Constitutional Officers
1. ______of State
2. Attorney ______
3. State ______of Schools
4. ______s of Agriculture, Labor & Insurance
5. Qualifications
a) US citizen for ______years
b) Legal residence of GA for ______years
c) At least ______years old
d) Attorney General must be an active member of State Bar of GA for 7 years
6. Terms of Office = ______years w/no limit on number of terms
E. Services Provided by State Government
a) Education – biggest responsibility
b) Human Services – promote physical & mental health, welfare
c) Public safety – licensing & regulation, enforcement (police, GBI)
d) Transportation – Mass transit, highway construction
e) General government – serving other agencies in state government
f) Economic development – promoting GA’s economy, DED, GA Ports Authority
g) Natural resources – seeing that resources are used in best interest of all the people of GA; EPD
F. Financing State Government
a) Budget must be ______; no d______spending
b) Taxes
· Personal income taxes
· Corporate income taxes
· Sales taxes
· Motor Fuel tax
· Other taxes
III. Local Governments – Counties, Cities, Special Districts
A. Counties
1. Created to serve as districts to carry out state laws & programs; an “arm” of the state
2. City where county courthouse or county gov’t complex are located is the county seat
3. Today GA has 159 counties (2nd only to TX which has 254)
4. County Governing Body
a) County Commission – members are elected by county voters
b) Has a combination of legislative & executive power
c) Henry County has a 6-person commission chaired by ______
5. Henry County also has a county manager
6. Powers of County Government (“arm” of state)
a) Provides trial courts for state judicial system
b) Carries out state health & welfare programs
c) Conducts voter registration & state elections
d) Build & repair roads & bridges
e) Responsible for recording important info for state such as property ownership, births, deaths, & marriages
f) Registering automobiles
B. Cities: Find the names of the mayors of all Henry County incorporated cities.
1. A community that has been incorporated
2. Qualifications to be eligible for incorporation:
a) At least 200 people living in the area
b) Be at least 3 miles from boundary of any existing city
c) Be 60% developed & divided into tracts designated for residential, commercial, industrial, governmental, or institutional purposes
C. Special-Purpose Governments
1. Small governmental units set up by the legislature or by city or county ordinance to provide a single service
2. Examples:
a) MARTA
b) Grady Hospital
c) Henry County Schools