Georgia’s Legislative Branch: Georgia’s Legislative Branch:

The General AssemblyThe General Assembly

MAKING THE LAWS

Georgia Legislative BranchGeorgia Legislative Branch

The legislative branch of government The legislative branch of government makes makes lawslaws. Georgia’s legislative . Georgia’s legislative branch is called the General Assembly. branch is called the General Assembly. It is It is bicameralbicameral. Two houses make up . Two houses make up the General Assembly—the House of the General Assembly—the House of RepresentativesRepresentatives and the and the SenateSenate. . There are There are 180180 representatives in the representatives in the House of Representatives, and House of Representatives, and 5656 senators in the Senate.senators in the Senate.

Qualifications of LegislatorsQualifications of Legislators

SENATORSSENATORS Must be at least Must be at least 2525

Live in district they Live in district they representrepresent

Legal residents of Legal residents of GA for at least GA for at least twotwo yearsyears

REPRESENTATIVES

Must be at least 21 Live in district they represent Legal residents of GA

for at least two years

NOT ON CLOZE NOTESNOT ON CLOZE NOTESTerms and Elections of Terms and Elections of

LegislatorsLegislators

Legislators are elected in even number Legislators are elected in even number years during general elections.years during general elections.

Representatives Serve two years

Senators Serve two years

Duties of the General AssemblyDuties of the General Assembly GA meetings begin on 2GA meetings begin on 2ndnd Monday of Monday of

January January each year for their regular each year for their regular sessionsession Session usually lasts for two months or Session usually lasts for two months or

lessless For remainder of their two year terms they For remainder of their two year terms they

meet in special sessions and committeesmeet in special sessions and committees Most important duty is making laws and Most important duty is making laws and

passing passing budgetbudget (proposed by governor) (proposed by governor) Can change constitution (amend) with a Can change constitution (amend) with a

2/3’s 2/3’s vote in GAvote in GA

Organization of General AssemblyOrganization of General Assembly

Most work takes place in committeesMost work takes place in committees Each house has a majority and a Each house has a majority and a

minority powerminority power MajorityMajority party is the political party party is the political party

with the most members in the with the most members in the househouse

Minority party has the fewest Minority party has the fewest membersmembers

House of Representatives House of Representatives LeadershipLeadership

Majority party tends to control the House Majority party tends to control the House because there are two leaders from majoritybecause there are two leaders from majority SpeakerSpeaker of the House--most important leader of the House--most important leader

Picks committee assignments for representativesPicks committee assignments for representatives Decides debate and discussion topicsDecides debate and discussion topics Choose leaders of committeesChoose leaders of committees

Majority Leader—make sure majority party ideas are heard.Majority Leader—make sure majority party ideas are heard. MinorityMinority leader is leader of minority party in leader is leader of minority party in

the house the house Floor Floor leader promotes governor’s cause and leader promotes governor’s cause and

is usually represents the same partyis usually represents the same party Leaders try to get the interests and ideas of Leaders try to get the interests and ideas of

their party heardtheir party heard

Senate LeadershipSenate Leadership

Lieutenant governor is the Lieutenant governor is the president president of the of the SenateSenate (leader of Senate) (leader of Senate)

The other leader in the Senate is the The other leader in the Senate is the president pro president pro temporetempore (leader of the (leader of the Senate majority party)Senate majority party)

There is also a majority and minority There is also a majority and minority leader for each partyleader for each party

Committee SystemCommittee System

Most Most work work of the legislative branch takes of the legislative branch takes place in committeesplace in committees

There are There are 2626 committees in the Senate committees in the Senate (each Senator is on at least three (each Senator is on at least three committees)committees)

There are There are 36 36 regular committees in the regular committees in the House of Representatives (most members House of Representatives (most members serve on 2 to 3)serve on 2 to 3)

Leaders of committees tend to represent Leaders of committees tend to represent the the majoritymajority party party

Committee SystemCommittee System

Different Types of CommitteesDifferent Types of Committees

Standing—are Standing—are permanent permanent and monitor the and monitor the work of federal agencies and departmentswork of federal agencies and departments

InterimInterim (Select)—temporary and deal with (Select)—temporary and deal with specific current issuesspecific current issues

JointJoint—members of both houses focus on —members of both houses focus on issues of national concernissues of national concern

Conference—members of both houses work Conference—members of both houses work to develop a compromise version of a bill to develop a compromise version of a bill that both houses supportthat both houses support

How A Bill Becomes A LawHow A Bill Becomes A Law1.1. DraftingDrafting – written by legislators – written by legislators2.2. IntroductionIntroduction – By senator or representative – By senator or representative

to house in which they serveto house in which they serve3.3. CommitteeCommittee Consideration – studied and Consideration – studied and

changes or improvements are considered changes or improvements are considered (other officials, bill’s author, lobbyists or (other officials, bill’s author, lobbyists or public may comment)public may comment)

4.4. FloorFloor Consideration – Proposed before each Consideration – Proposed before each house for a votehouse for a vote

5.5. Governor Governor consideration – either signed into consideration – either signed into law or vetoedlaw or vetoed