GCSU Wilkinson GA Government Exam Questions and Answers

General Assembly of Georgia - ANS mandates that USG students take and pass an exam on Georgia Government and Constitution Georgia Geographical Size - ANS 21st largest state and largest east of the Mississippi Number of Counties - ANS 2nd largest amount of counties Population - ANS > 9.7 million Number of Georgia House Representatives - ANS 173 What percentage of Georgia is urban? (FL is 93%) - ANS 69% Fastest growing minority - ANS hispanics What two things are less than national average? - ANS Median household income and voting participation Why study sub-national government? - ANS -They are important -In everyday life -Numerous -Nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes Government employment (National Civilian) - ANS 3 million Government Employment (State & Local) - ANS Over 18 million (over 6 times the national level) Where do people most want to live (our age group)? - ANS Towns > suburbs > farm > city As of 2000 what percentage of the US is urban? - ANS 80% What is the structure of the state government like? - ANS Similar to the national structure with separation of powers What functions do State governments have the national government does not? - ANS Education and Drivers Licenses Constitutionalism - ANS A written document that protects citizens and limits government. Some attributes of a constitution - ANS -Brief fundamentals -less interpreted -easy to amend Details on Georgia's Constitution - ANS -Only general amendments allowed now -constitutional laws more difficult to change than Statutory -10 constitutions (1982 most recent) Ordinary laws that detail constitution - ANS Statues and ordinances How does Georgia's constitution fit in with the rest of the state constitutions? - ANS Mainstream Who is the current Georgia Governor - ANS Nathan Deal Who is the current Lieutenant Governor? - ANS Casey Cagel What did Mack Mattingly do? - ANS First republican to win statewide since Reconstruction What did Linda Schrenko do? - ANS First woman to win statewide Who is Leah Sears? - ANS first female African American chief justice of the State Supreme Court Most powerful state politician - ANS governor Governor eligibility requirements - ANS 30 years old, US citizen for 15 years, and State resident for 6 years Governor and Lt. Governor term length of office - ANS 4 years Roles of the Governor - ANS -Chief (Head) of State -Commander in Chief -Chief Executive -Chief Legislator -Political Party Chief Chief of State - ANS diplomat/spokesperson for state Commander in Chief - ANS Appoint Head of the National Guard and control state patrol Chief Executive - ANS -Implement laws/statutes -Fiscal Power -Weak appointment power Fiscal Power - ANS -Most powerful tool in GA -Office of planning and budget (OPB) 16 month process State fiscal year - ANS July 1st - June 30th Chief Legislator - ANS -State of the State Address -Reject or veto legislation -Lame duck (2 term limit) -introduces bills via floor leaders Governor Floor Leader - ANS Political Party Chief Board of Regents - ANS -7 year terms (not removable by gov) -appointed by governor Legislature (GA General Assembly) - ANS -Similar to US congress -Bicameral (careful consideration of legislation) -236 members -56000 bills enacted every year Georgia Senate Members - ANS 56 (republican majority) What position is the president of the general assembly? - ANS Lt. Governor Georgia Senate term length - ANS 2 year Georgia Senate Qualifications - ANS 25 years old, 2 year GA resident, 1 year District resident Georgia House term length - ANS 2 year Georgia House Qualifications - ANS 21 years old, 2 year GA resident, 1 year District resident Judicial Act of 1789 - ANS Created system of national courts that would coexist with the state courts How long do judges serve for on national level? - ANS For life unless removed for cause Stare decisis - ANS let the decision stand Adversarial System - ANS judges act as umpires Statutory Law - ANS constructions as the interpretation of legislative acts Common law - ANS judge made law Uniformity of Law - ANS similar courts hear same type of cases & appeal process Civil Law - ANS protects private rights of individuals Criminal Law - ANS punish and prevent public wrongs Misdemeanor - ANS small fine and less than 12 months incarceration Felony - ANS fine and more than 1 year in jail Grand Jury - ANS indictment = trial Which court will hear cases involving capital punishment or constitutional interpretation - ANS Georgia Supreme Court What is the District Attorney? - ANS Government Prosecutor District Attorney term length - ANS 4 years If state is sued, who serves as Defense? - ANS District Attorney Plea Bargains - ANS arrangement for the defendant to plead guilty that results in a reduced charge What percentage of cases are plea bargained? - ANS 93% Santobello v New York - ANS "Yes I understand" right to new trial Missouri Plan - ANS Governor makes initial appointment and the public votes to retain or reject current sitting judge What district is a special type of district? - ANS School district Municipal Charter - ANS Statue creating a city Weak-Mayor-Council Plan - ANS has city manager in charge of hires/fires Strong-Mayor-Council Plan - ANS mayor is in charge of hires/fires Common GA local government type - ANS Mayor-Council plan Commission Plan - ANS Three business leaders ran city (department heads) Township - ANS small government with few services -- vote on all decisions with administrator Most profitable Georgia state tax - ANS Sales (49%) Most profitable city revenue - ANS property tax (71%) Highest expenditure for local governments? - ANS Education What type of tax is property tax? - ANS Regressive tax (more from poor, less from rich) Real property - ANS land and improvement Personal property - ANS home furnishings/automobiles Intangible personal property - ANS cash/stocks/bonds Gitlow v. New York - ANS Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech. (also applied to state governments) McCulloch v. Maryland - ANS Constitution grants Congress implied powers and state action may not impede valid constitutional exercises by Federal government