Georgia Constitution Exam – Flashcards
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1.) Does the current Georgia Constitution impose term limits on governors? If so, what are they?
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Georgia does limit the term on governors. It is the only position that has a limit on term. Governor is the highest and most powerful position. Past-1942 2 consecutive two year terms 1942-1976 1 four year term 1976-now 2 consecutive four year terms
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2.) Does the governor have the authority to exercise line-item veto?
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Governors can exercise line-item vetoes. Line-item veto is removing specific lines from a budget
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3.) Who has the power of executive clemency in the Georgia Constitution?
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Executive clemency (governor's pardon), The State Board of Pardons and Paroles
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4.) What are the citizenship and residency requirements for Senate and House of GA and US?
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Georgia House of Representatives - must be 21 years old and must have residency in Georgia for at least 2 years and for at least 1 year in the district that he or she represents and resides US House - must be 25 years old, a citizen of the US for at least 7 years prior to the election, a resident of the state that he or she has chosen to represent Georgia Senate - must be 25 years old and must have residency in Georgia for at least 2 years and for at least 1 year in the district that he or she represents US Senate - must be 30 years old, a citizen of the US for at least 9 years prior to election , a resident of the state represented
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5.) What are the responsibilities of the lieutenant governor in Georgia?
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Lieutenant governor aka president of the senate oversees committee on senate membership. They do not run with governor, elected separately.
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6.) Besides the governor and lieutenant governor, who else are elected executive officers? *
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Attorney general: represents the state in legal matters Secretary of state: runs elections, handles incorporation of businesses, and maintains GA archives. Insurance commissioner: set rates and determine which carriers will be licensed to operate in GA. Also serves as state fire marshal. State school superintendent: Commissioner of agriculture: provides information to farmers and certifies the accuracy and quality of fertilizer Commissioner of labor: occupational safety and the administration of labor laws, addresses unemployment. Public service commission: regulates industries and their rates such as telephones, electricity, and natural gas, trucks, buses
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7.) What are the qualifications and responsibilities of an attorney general?
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Attorney general represents the state in legal matters. They must be at least 25 years, citizen for 10 years, live in GA for 4 years.
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8.) List the Georgia constitutional boards and commissions?
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Public Service Commission - five members to be elected by the people, oversees utilities like gas, electricity, communication networks and transportation State Board of Pardons and Paroles - five members appointed by the Governor, power of executive clemency, including the powers to grant reprieves, pardons and paroles State Transportation Board - as many members as congressional districts in the state to be elected by a majority vote of the members of the House of Representatives and Senate, in charge of transportation, highway construction, railroads Veterans Service Board - seven members appointed by the Governor Board of Natural Resources - one member from each congressional district in the state and five members from the state at large all appointed by the Governor Educational Board - governor, one member per district Regents - one per district, appointed by governor, in charge of colleges
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9.) How many days does the Georgia General Assembly meet each year "in session"? What is a "special session"?
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The Georgia General Assembly's most important function is to pass the state's operating budget. They meet "in session" 40 days a year but not necessarily consecutive. Special session happens with three-fifths agreement of the membership of each chamber.
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10.) What is the term length for Georgia state legislators?
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State legislators are elected by their district for a 2 year term.
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11.) How many members make up the Georgia General Assembly?
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The Georgia General assembly is comprised of 236 members
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12.) The passage of legislation by the General Assembly requires what proportion of support from each chamber?
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The passage of legislation requires a two-thirds vote from both houses
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13.) What are the powers of the Board of Regents of the University system of Georgia?
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The Board of Regents exercises the exclusive right to govern, control, and manage the University System of Georgia, an educational system comprised of thirty-five institutions. Creates new public colleges, junior colleges, and universities
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14.) What does the constitution indicate about the state's legal commitment to public education?
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Free public education prior to college
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15.) What proportion of the vote is required to be elected to public office in Georgia?
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Candidate must capture 50% of the vote. If not, a runoff is held
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16.) What requirements does Georgia have for those who wish to vote in an election?
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Must be a US citizen, a citizen of GA, 18 by election day, cannot be a felon
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17.) What is eminent domain?
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Taking private property for public use
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18.) How many counties are there in Georgia?
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159
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19.) What is home rule?
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Counties/cities have the ability to have some government and legal powers of their own as long as they are not allowing things outside of the constitution (aka local self-government)
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20.) What are the categories of expenditures for which lottery proceeds can be used?
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Educational programs and purposes and the governor's annual budget
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21.) What does it mean to have an open direct primary?*
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All voters can take part. In primary elections the political party nominates candidates for the next general election.
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22.) What is the jurisdiction of the "State Court" in Georgia's court system?
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...
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23.) What civil liberties are protected by the Georgia Constitution?
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24.) What civil liberties are not protected by the Georgia Constitution?
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Right to privacy is not in the constitution but it is recognized
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25.) How are judges (in the state judiciary) selected in Georgia? (distinguish vacancies from open seats)
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Judges are selected by non-partisan elections.
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26.) What are courts of limited jurisdiction (in Georgia)?
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Specialized cases: less serious than those in courts of general jurisdictions
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27.) With the exception of some juveniles, what is the primary trial court for hearing felony cases?
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Superior court
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28.) How is the chief justice of the Georgia Supreme Court selected?
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Justices choose the chief justice
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29.) According to the state of Georgia constitution, can taxes be levied by local schools to assist with financing those schools? If so, what kind?
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Yes, property tax
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30.) Can the constitution be amended to affect specific individual counties and cities?
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yes, home rule-local govt
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31.) Are there limits on cities' and counties' ability to tax and incur debt?
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Law allows counties to levy one percent general sales tax and four percent state tax
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32.) What is consolidation? What procedures does a local government have to go through in order to consolidate?
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Consolidation is combing with another county. Majority vote
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33.) How may the Georgia Constitution be amended?
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Requires 2/3 vote by legislature.
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34.) 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?
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35.) 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?
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life, liberty, property: equal protection: freedom of conscience: religion: speech and press: libel-truth as evidence: protection of citizens: right to bear arms: assemble and petition: no bill of attainder: trial by jury: right to courts: searches, seizures, warrants: benefit of counsel: habeas corpus: self-incrimination: arrest/abuse of prisoners: jeopardy of life/liberty probidden: treason: effect of conviction" no banishment and whipping: no involuntary servitude: no imprisionment for debt: costs of case not paid beore trial: social status never subject to legislation: exemptions from levy and sale" spouse's separate property: enumeration of rights not denial of others: marriages of same sex prohibited
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36.) What does Georgia's Bill of Right say about limits on what the State of Georgia may do with respect to citizens who fail to pay their debts?
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Prohibits imprisonment for debt
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37.) How many constitutions have been adopted by Georgia? When did Georgia last ratify a constitution?
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10: last ratification was 1983
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38.) What does the Georgia constitution say about "sovereign immunity"?
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ability of citizens to sue the state/local govt
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39.) What are the responsibilities of the Georgia Public Service Commission? How are members selected for the Commission?
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5 members who are elected statewide for staggered, 6 year terms: regulates telephone services, utilities such as gas and electricity, communication networks and transportation such as trucking and rail systems
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40.) What are the responsibilities of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles?
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power to stay death sentences: executive clemency
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41.) What does the Georgia Constitution say about bills of attainder? What is a bill of attainder?
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declaring a person/group of persons as guilty and punishing them without the benefit of a judicial trial: no bill of attainder will pass
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42.) What does the Georgia Constitution say about slavery, if at all?
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doesn't say anything, talks about involuntary servitude
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43.) What are the requirements for registering to vote in Georgia?
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US citizen, legal res. of georgia and the county in which you want to vote: at least 18 on election day: cant vote if considered mentally incompetent or serving felony sentence
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44.) Under the Georgia Constitution, will the state recognize marriage between two individuals of the same sex?
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No
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45.) How many legislators must be present in order for the general assembly to transact legislative business?
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3/5 of the assembly
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46.) What are the legislative procedures, according to the Georgia constitution, for approval, veto and override of vetos?
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senate and house of reps called in: line item vetos are allowed (governor can kill a specific item in a spending bill): bills passed by a simple majority of entire membership of each chamber: motions to change bill require 2/3 majority: bills that have been rejected also need 2/3 to be reconsidered: must be passed by majority vote in one chamber and passed by majority vote in the other chamber to become a law
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47.) How has Georgia's constitution historically approached judicial review?
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the power to declare acts unconstitutional: allowed now: institutionalized in 1861
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48.) How did state political leaders, pushing for white supremacy during the 19th and 20th century use the constitution to achieve their goals?
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constitution of 1877-disenfranchised of blacks and poor whites by making only those who paid all of their taxes eligible to vote: misproportion of votes so urban areas votes didn't count in elections: 1877 constitution
