Georgia Constitution Exam Bel Jean Questions and Answers 100% Pass

Georgia Constitution Exam Bel Jean Questions and Answers 100% Pass Does the current Georgia Constitution impose term limits on governors? If so, what are they? 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 four year term 1976-now 2 consecutive four year terms Does the governor have the authority to exercise line-item veto? Governors can exercise line-item vetoes. Line-item veto is removing specific lines from a budget Who has the power of executive clemency in the Georgia Constitution? Executive clemency (governor's pardon), The State Board of Pardons and Paroles What are the citizenship and residency requirements for Senate and House of GA and US? 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 What are the responsibilities of the lieutenant governor in Georgia? Lieutenant governor aka president of the senate oversees committee on senate membership. They do not run with governor, elected separately. Besides the governor and lieutenant governor, who else are elected executive officers? * 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 What are the qualifications and responsibilities of an attorney general? 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. List the Georgia constitutional boards and commissions? 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 How many days does the Georgia General Assembly meet each year "in session"? What is a "special session"? 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. What is the term length for Georgia state legislators? State legislators are elected by their district for a 2 year term. How many members make up the Georgia General Assembly? The Georgia General assembly is comprised of 236 members The passage of legislation by the General Assembly requires what proportion of support from each chamber? The passage of legislation requires a two-thirds vote from both houses What are the powers of the Board of Regents of the University system of Georgia? 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 What does the constitution indicate about the state's legal commitment to public education? Free public education prior to college What proportion of the vote is required to be elected to public office in Georgia? Candidate must capture 50% of the vote. If not, a runoff is held What requirements does Georgia have for those who wish to vote in an election? Must be a US citizen, a citizen of GA, 18 by election day, cannot be a felon What is eminent domain? Taking private property for public use How many counties are there in Georgia? 159 What is home rule? 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) What are the categories of expenditures for which lottery proceeds can be used? Educational programs and purposes and the governor's annual budget What does it mean to have an open direct primary?* All voters can take part. In primary elections the political party nominates candidates for the next general election. What is the jurisdiction of the "State Court" in Georgia's court system? misdemeanor violations-traffic cases, and all civil actions, regardless of the amount claimed, unless the superior court has exclusive jurisdiction: hearings on applications for an issuance of search and arrest warrants: preliminary hearings What civil liberties are protected by the Georgia Constitution? similar to bill of rights: church and state: death penalty: free expression: gay and lesbian rights: open government: poverty: prisons: race and national origin: students and juveniles rights: voting rights: women and choice: workers rights 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) Judges are selected by non-partisan elections. The initial term of office is six years for appellate judges and four years for superior court judges: governor can appoint people to vacant/newly created judgeships: judicial nomination committees to fill vacancies What are courts of limited jurisdiction (in Georgia)? Specialized cases: less serious than those in courts of general jurisdictions. 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 choose the chief justice 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 tax Can the constitution be amended to affect specific individual counties and cities? yes, home rule-local govt Are there limits on cities' and counties' ability to tax and incur debt? Law allows counties to levy one percent general sales tax and four percent state tax What is consolidation? What procedures does a local government have to go through in order to consolidate? Consolidation is combing with another county. Majority vote How may the Georgia Constitution be amended? Requires 2/3 vote by legislature. 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, 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 forbidden: treason: effect of conviction" no banishment and whipping: no involuntary servitude: no imprisonment for debt: costs of case not paid before 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 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? 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 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? Prohibits imprisonment for debt How many constitutions have been adopted by Georgia? When did Georgia last ratify a constitution? 10: last ratification was 1983 What does the Georgia constitution say about "sovereign immunity"? ability of citizens to sue the state/local govt What are the responsibilities of the Georgia Public Service Commission? How are members selected for the Commission? 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 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/group of persons as guilty and punishing them without the benefit of a judicial trial: no bill of attainder will pass What does the Georgia Constitution say about slavery, if at all? doesn't say anything, talks about involuntary servitude What are the requirements for registering to vote in Georgia? 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 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? 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 How has Georgia's constitution historically approached judicial review? the power to declare acts unconstitutional: 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? 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 Federalism A type of political system that gives certain powers to the national government, others to the states, and some to both levels of government. Unitary Systems A political system used by France/GB where all authority rests with the national government, which can distribute to local or regional governments Confederations Political system where all power is in the hands of the individual states, and the national government has only as much power as the states give to it. When were the Articles of Confederation in place and what type of political system were they? What are the 4 key factors that have had a major influence on the way federalism in the US has developed? National supremacy, the Tenth Amendment, the Fourteenth Amendment, and state constitutions Enumerated Powers Grants congress the ability to tax, spend, declare war, and regulate interstate commerce. "Necessary and Proper" Implied Powers Extension of the elastic clause that are not explicitly mentioned in the constitution but can be inferred from enumerated powers. Fourteenth Amendment One of three amendments designed to end slavery and grant right to blacks after the Civil War, also helped establish dual citizenship Do State Constitutions have implied powers? No Georgia is among the 21 states requiring the 2/3 of its legislature to vote in favor of submitting a proposed amendment to its constitution. True Georgia is among the 18 states whose constitutions allow amendments through the initiative process. False they are not among these 18 states. Difference between ratifying amendments between US and GA constitution? US requires ratification of amendments by 3/4 of the states. GA requires ratification by a majority of the voters casting ballots on the proposed amendment, proposals are then voted upon in the next statewide general election after being submitted to the electorate by the General Assembly. How many constitutions has Georgia had? 10 Earmarks requirements that revenues from certain sources be spent for designated purposes. Line item veto Something the GA constitution has that the US does not, it is the ability to kill a specific item in a spending bill. How does GA elect judges? On a non partisan ballot. GA Attorney General issues advisory opinions Have the force of law unless reversed by court, no such comparable process at the national level. Georgia does not have a cabinet system. True