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Georgia’s Constitution Break Down:The Amendments in Other Words
Article I – Bill of Rights: Describes the rights of citizens, like the United States Bill of Rights (Life, Liberty, and Property, Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Speech and Press, Right to Bear Arms, Right to Assemble and Petition, Right to Trial by Jury, Protection from Unreasonable Searches and Seizures)
Article II – Voting and Elections: Describes voter requirements and rules for elections
Article III – Legislative Branch: structure and powers to the General Assembly (remember from a long time ago when we talked about the legislative branch in Georgia… It has a TREMENDOUS amount of power. More power than any other branch, so it’s no wonder it’s listed before the other branches. It was considered the most important.)
Article IV – Constitution Boards and Commissions: Set up government bodies (Public Service Commission, State Transportation, Board of Pardons/Paroles)
Article V – Executive Branch: establishes offices of the governor and lieutenant governor (lieutenant governor is kind of like the Vice President and the governor is like the President)
Article VI – Judicial Branch: establishes the court system and rules for the courts
Article VII – Taxation and Finance: power to tax and purposes/methods of taxing
Article VIII – Education: Establishes public education and Board of Education
Article IX – Counties and Municipalities: powers and structure of county government (local governments)
Amendment X – Amendments to the Constitution: describes the process of amending/fixing/altering the state constitution
Amendment XI – Miscellaneous Provisions: Meaning other random things the government can and cannot do
What’s the Point of Having Our State Constitution? Elected persons work for the people and are accountable for their actions The people of the state to right of regulating their government Gives voters the right to control state government Government is meant to serve the people Can change when it doesn’t serve the people
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Georgia Constitution – Where do I find it?
Directions: For each item found in the Georgia Constitution, identify the article you would find that information.
1. Sets out the qualifications and terms of office for both governor and lieutenant governor
_________________________
2. Provides for a State Personal Board that ensures the rights of people who work for the
state of Georgia. _________________________
3. Explains the duties and powers of the governor. _________________________
4. Explains how changes, or amendments, to the Constitution can be made.
_________________________
5. Separation of church and state _________________________
6. Provides for a Public Service Commission that oversees utilities such as electricity and
water _________________________
7. Property rights _________________________
8. Separation of Powers _________________________
9. Gives the purposes and limits of each of Georgia’s seven types of courts
_________________________
10. Short paragraph that gives reasons for the Constitution _________________________
11. Explains who is allowed to vote in Georgia _________________________
12. Steps to take in case of run-off (tie) election _________________________
13. Individual Rights _________________________
14. Outlines Georgia’s unified court system _________________________
15. Elections must be by secret ballot and law-abiding _________________________
16. Explains how bills are passed into laws _________________________
17. List the reasons why the state of Georgia may tax its citizens _________________________
18. Outlines the roles and functions of county and city governments _________________________
19. Lists other elected positions in Georgia’s executive branch of government
_________________________
20. Outlines the structure of the school system at the state and local levels.
_________________________
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THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT – U.S.
THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT – GEORGIA
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BRANCHES COMPARED
QUESTIONS
1. What do we call the U.S. legislative branch? ___________________________________: The Georgia legislative branch? _______________________________
2. What do we call the chief executive of the U.S.? ____________________________ What do we call the chief executive of Georgia? __________________________
3. What do we call the person who is 2nd in succession to the chief executive in U.S. Federal Government? _________________________________ Georgia? ____________________________________________
4. What does BICAMERAL mean? _________________________________
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Separation of Power (Branches)
Federalism(Levels)
Legislative Branch
Purpose: Make Laws
Executive Branch
Purpose: Enforce
Laws
Judicial Branch
Purpose: Interpret Laws
National/Federal Level
Example: United States
State Level
Example: Georgia
Local Level
Example: Atlanta
Checks and Balances MatchingChecks and Balances: The process in which each branch prevents the others from having too much power by “checking” or reviewing their actions and stopping them from making bad decisions.
Directions: Match the action of one branch with the “check” done by another branch. Answer questions.
1. ______ Congress writes a law. A. Supreme Court finds a law that is being enforced to be unconstitutional.
2. ______ President sends troops to another country.
B. Congress must approve all appointments to the Cabinet.
3. ______ President enforces a law. C. Only Congress can declare war. President can only send out troops for a short period of time on his own.
4. ______ President signs a treaty (peace agreement) with another country.
D. Congress must approve all nominations for the Supreme Court.
5. ______ President can appoint people to his Cabinet (his group of advisers)
E. Congress must approve all treaties.
6. ______ President can appoint Supreme Court justices.
F. President vetoes (turns down) a law.
1. Why are checks and balances so important?
2. What could happen if we didn’t have checks and balances?
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3. Do you think checks and balances work?
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CITIZENS AND THE GOVERNMENT
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RIGHTS
Bill of Rights
RESPONSIBILITIES
Vote
Pay Taxes
Obey Laws
Serve on Jury
Selective Service
VOTINGQUALIFICATIONS
18 years old
U.S. citizen
Resident of The County You Vote In
Cannot vote if you have a felony
convication or if you are declared mentally
incompetent by a judge
ELECTIONS
President & Vice President
2 US Senators13 US
Representatives
Governor & Lieutenant Governor
56 State Senators & 180 State
Representatives
County officials (Mayor, School Board, Sheriff)
Debrief – Rights and Responsibilities
1. Why is it important that you vote?
2. What do you think would happen if everyone says, “My vote doesn’t matter, anyway. I’m just one person”?
3. What do taxes pay for? Why is it important that citizens pay taxes?
4. Why do we have laws? What would happen if we didn’t have laws?
5. The 6th amendment says you have the right to an “impartial jury of your peers.” Why is this important to having a fair trial?
6. What is the “selective service”?
7. What is a “selective service draft”?
8. Do you think it’s a fair trade to get the rights spelled out in the Bill of Rights in exchange for the responsibilities outlined? Why?
9. Do you think the voting age is appropriate? Do you think it should be older? Younger? Explain.
10. Why do you think people that have been accused of a felony cannot vote?
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Political Party: an organized group of people who control or seek to control a government
What do they do? o Recruit and nominate candidateso Education the people about campaign issueso Help candidates win electionso Monitor actions of elected officials
Democrats (Liberal) Believes in a larger role of the federal government in people’s daily lives Supports higher taxes to promote social programs and more money going to the federal
government to oversee and control the economy
Republicans (Conservative) Believes in a more limited role of the federal government in people’s daily lives Supports lower taxes and more money staying with the people to spend and keep the
economy working rather than the government
Independents (http://www.usiap.org/Beliefs/Platform.html) Believes in the maintaining of the original Constitution and its beliefs; minimizing the role
of the federal government in daily lives (privatization) Supports ridding the country of debt through necessary taxing and budget-cutting Focuses on democratic participation and voting Beliefs on typical major issues changes with each candidate; there is no consistent beliefs
for each independent candidate
** There are many people who have both Liberal and Conservative views
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DEMOCRAT INDEPENDENT REPUBLICAN
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
GEORGIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
180 MEMBERS
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
GEORGIA SENATE
56 MEMBERS
• MUST BE 21 YEARS OLD• GEORGIA RESIDENT FOR 2
YEARS• MUST LIVE IN DISTRICT
QUALIFICATIONS• MUST BE 25 YEARS OLD
• GEORGIA RESIDENT FOR 2 YEARS
• MUST LIVE IN DISTRICT
• SERVE 2 YEAR TERMS• NO TERM LIMITS
TERM • SERVE 2 YEAR TERMS• NO TERM LIMITS
• 180 DIFFERENT HOUSE DISTRICTS
• VOTE DURING GENERAL ELECTION EVERY EVEN
NUMBERED YEARS
ELECTION• 56 DIFFERENT SENATE
DISTRICTS• VOTE DURING GENERAL
ELECTION EVERY EVEN NUMBERED YEARS
• PROPOSING (MAKING) LAWS• PASSING GEORGIA’S BUDGET
• AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION
DUTIES• PROPOSING (MAKING) LAWS• PASSING GEORGIA’S BUDGET
• AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION
• SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE (3RD
IN LINE TO SUCCEED THE GOVERNOR)
• MAJORITY PARTY LEADER • MINORITY PARTY LEADER
• FLOOR LEADER (works with Governor)
LEADERSHIP• LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR (2ND
IN LINE TO SUCCEED THE GOVERNOR)
• MAJORITY PARTY LEADER = PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE
• MINORITY PARTY LEADER
• 36 COMMITTEES (groups of representatives who meet to
pass bills / laws)
COMMITTEESYSTEM
• 26 COMMITTEES
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COMPARE AND CONTRAST GEORGIA’S GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Directions: For each of the categories above, place the information in the below Venn diagram.
1. Which chamber, do you think is more prestigious or important? Why? Give at least 2 reasons.
2. Which chamber, do you think, better represents the beliefs of the people? Why?
3. Why is it important that the legislative branch is the only one that is responsible for making the laws (and not either of the other branches)?
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House of Representatives Senate
EXECUTIVE BRANCHGOVERNOR EXECUTIVE
BRANCHLIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
• MUST BE 30 YEARS OLD• CITIZEN OF U.S. FOR 15 YEARS
• RESIDENT OF STATE FOR 6 YEARS
QUALIFICATIONS
• MUST BE 30 YEARS OLD• CITIZEN OF U.S. FOR 15 YEARS
• RESIDENT OF STATE FOR 6 YEARS
• SERVE 4 YEAR TERMS• CAN RUN FOR A SECOND TERM
TERM • SERVE 4 YEAR TERMS• NO TERM LIMITS
• MUST WIN THE PARTY PRIMARY
• ELECTED BY CITIZENS - POPULAR VOTE DURING
GENERAL ELECTION
ELECTION• ELECTED BY CITIZENS
• DOES NOT HAVE TO BE FROM THE SAME PARTY AS THE
GOVERNOR
• CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER• COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF
MILITARY• CAN VETO (REJECT) LAWS• CAN SIGN BILLS INTO LAW
• APPOINTS PEOPLE TO OFFICES• HELPS DIRECT THE STATE
BUDGET
DUTIES• PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
• DECIDES WHO SERVES ON THE DIFFERENT SENATE
COMMITTEES• 1ST PERSON TO SUCCEED
(REPLACE) THE GOVERNOR
1. What do you think is most important qualification to run for governor? Why?
2. The Lieutenant Governor does not have to be the same political party as the Governor. Do you think that is a positive or a negative? Explain.
3. Why do you think we have term limits?
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4. Do you think the governor has too much power/the right amount/too little? Why?
Which of the state departments, do you think, is most important for the state of Georgia? Why?
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JUDICIAL BRANCH
VOCABULARYMISDEMEANOR CRIME THAT RECEIVES LESS THAN ONE YEAR OF PUNISHMENT or FINE OF
LESS THAN $1,000FELONY CRIME THAT RECEIVES MORE THAN ONE YEAR OF PUNISHMENT or FINE
OF MORE THAN $1,000APPELLATE HIGHER COURT WHERE PEOPLE APPEAL THEIR CONVICTION TO GET IT
CHANGEDPROSECUTOR GOVERNMENT TRIAL LAWYER WHO TRIES TO PROVE A SUSPECTED
CRIMINAL IS GUILTYDEFENDANT A PERSON CHARGED WITH A CRIMEPLAINTIFF A PERSON WHO SUES OR HAS A COMPLAINT AGAINST ANOTHER PERSONJURY CITIZENS WHO SIT IN ON A TRIAL AND DETERMINE IF SOMEONE IS GUILTY
OR INNOCENTJURISDICTION GEOGRAPHICAL AREA AND THE TYPES OF CASES A CERTAIN COURT IS
ABLE TO HOLD
Directions: Match each term with the situation that describes it.
Misdemeanor Felony Appellate ProsecutorDefendant Plaintiff Jury Jurisdiction
Term Situation
Everyone citizen is expected to serve on one of these if requested by the government, to make sure other citizens receive a fair trial. Ms. Rodgers felt that she was tried unfairly and that she was truly innocent of her crimes. She went to this court to challenge the decision.Since Mrs. Jones was tried for a crime, she was considered this person in the courtroom.Jane was caught stealing a candy bar, so she was charged with this type of crime. Mrs. Keeling sued Mrs. Arnold for the cost of her pencil sharpener after Mrs. Arnold borrowed it and returned it broken. Mrs. Hobbs would be considered this person in the courtroom.Mr. Cruz was proven guilty by this person that represented the state in the courtroom.Mr. Pinholster stole three luxury automobiles, so he was charged with this type of crime. The police investigated Mr. Hight’s crime because he was accused of committed the crime within their ___________________________.
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Short Story
Directions: Using the vocabulary terms on the previous page, write a short story that makes sense and demonstrates that you understand the meaning of each term. Underline the words as you use them.
Use all 8 words correctly = 100 Points Use 6 or more words correctly = 80-90 points Use 5 words correctly = 70 points Use 4 words or fewer correctly = 60 points
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CRIMINAL OR CIVIL?
Directions: Read the scenario and decide whether it is describing a criminal or civil case and write it in the first column. Next, explain how you know and if it is a criminal case identify whether it is a misdemeanor (minor case) or a felony (major/more severe case).
SITUATION TYPE OF CASE (Criminal/Civil
)
EXPLANATION (WHY?)
(IF IT’S A CRIMINAL CASE, IS IT A FELONY OR MISDEMEANOR ?)
In December of 2001, actress Winona Ryder was seen taking tags off of clothes in a department store, and trying to sneak them out. She was charged, and ultimately convicted of shoplifting. On June 12, 1994, Nicole Brown Simpson & Ron Goldman were murdered. Former football player O.J. Simpson was charged with the murder, but was ultimately found not guilty. In 2004, Jay Z and R Kelly signed a contract & agreed to go on tour together. However, Jay Z said that R Kelly was rude and disruptive during rehearsals and on tour. Jay Z kicked R Kelly off of his tour. In response, R. Kelly sued Jay Z, saying that he broke the contract that they both signed. After O.J. Simpson was found not guilty in his murder trial, Ron Goldman’s family filed a “wrongful death” suit against
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Use the information above to complete the next activity
Simpson. The jury found Simpson liable and ordered him to pay $33.5 million to the Goldman family. President Clinton was accused of committing perjury while answering questions under oath. He was was subsequently impeached and ultimately acquitted.
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What Trial Courtroom Is That?
Directions: For each scenario, identify the type of trial court.
1. _______________________ Mrs. Hobb’s went to get a marriage license before her wedding.
2. _______________________ Mr. Colvin got a speeding ticket that he wanted to challenge.
3. _______________________ Mrs. Abraham sued Ms. Davis for $15 (small claim) for breaking her pencil sharpener.
4. _______________________ Joey Smith, age 8, stole a candy bar from the corner store.
5. _______________________ Ted Bundy’s was on trial for murder.
6. _______________________ The police went to this court to get a warrant to search Mrs. Wexler’s house for evidence while investigating a crime.
7. _______________________ The police discovered that Ms. Myers had gone to this court to get a gun license.
8. _______________________ 10 students from River Trail Middle School were arrested at Atlantic Station for unruly behavior and taken to this court.
9. _______________________ Little Chuckie, age 13, was arrested for killing two of his classmates. He was taken to this court as result of the severity of his crime.
10. ______________________ Mrs. Sutton got a parking ticket outside of the courthouse.
Appellate Courts
1. What is another word for “challenging a decision”?
2. What does “supreme” mean?
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3. How do you know whether your case is going to the Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court?
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Juvenile Justice True or False
Directions: For each scenario, write true if the statement describes how the system is supposed to work in the juvenile justice process, or write false if the statement falsely describes the process. If the statement is false, write what would make the statement true in the space. Assume each of these people described are under the age of 18.
1. ____________________ Kylie is arrested for robbing a gas station.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
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2. ____________________ Cole decided to remain silent instead of answering questions by police.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
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3. ____________________ Vincent was denied a lawyer because his case was considered too minor to require counsel.
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4. ____________________ Jada was not allowed to have witnesses in her defense.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
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5. ____________________ Nina was sent to jail after being found guilty for her crime.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
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6. ____________________ In Jessie’s case, there was not jury; just a judge.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Juvenile or Adult Court?
Directions: For each of the scenarios, identify whether the case would be handled in juvenile or adult court.
1. __________________ Allie is 14 years old and is accused of shooting her sister Kate.
2. __________________ MacKenzie is 16 years old and is accused of stealing.
3. __________________ Caden, Kyle, Vincent, and Nick are 10 years old and are accused of bullying another student (Jack).
4. __________________ Renee is 15 years old and is accused of skipping school intentionally for 30 days.
5. __________________ Kami is 16 years old and is accused of using a fake ID to get into a club.
6. __________________ Gwyn is 13 years old and is accused of using a gun to hold up a convenience store.
7. __________________ Sasha is 16 years old and is accused of accidentally killing the passenger in his car in a car accident because he was recklessly driving.
8. __________________ Sarah is 9 years old and is accused of taking her dad’s gun and accidentally shooting her friend, Gerard.
9. __________________ Three 15-year-old boys on the local high school lacrosse team are accused of fatally stabbing one of the school’s cheerleaders.
10. __________________ Ally is 14 years old and is accused of driving without a driver’s license.
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Follow-Up Questions
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Directions: Answer the following questions using the information on the previous page.
1. How many counties are there in Georgia?
2. What are the powers of county governments?
3. Who makes decisions about these issues at the county level?
4. How are these people chosen?
5. Let’s say you want to form your own town. What are the requirements you would have to fulfill in order to form your town?
6. What does the government of a city have the power to do?
7. In a “Strong Mayor Plan” for a city government, who has the most power?
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8. What does that person have the power to do?
9. In a “Weak Mayor Plan” for a city government, who makes policy decisions?
10. Who elects Head of City Departments?
11. In a “Council Management Plan” for a city government, who writes/passes laws?
12. Who appoints city officials?
13. Which system always allows voters to directly elect the mayor?
14. If the mayor is not directly elected, who appoints the mayor in the other systems?
15. Which plan do you think is the best? Explain.
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