GLR Georgia Constitution

Where in the Georgia Constitution would one find the state's Bill of Rights?

Article I.

According to Article I, Section 1, "life, liberty, or property" may be taken from a citizen only by what process?

Due process of law.

Which of the following is an effective defense against an accusation of libel, according to Article I, Section 1?

The truth may be given as evidence in the trial.

Who are considered citizens of Georgia, according to Article I, Section 1?

All US citizens who are residents of Georgia.

According to Article I, Section 1, which of the following kinds of laws is the General Assembly not allowed to enact?

No law that curtails freedom of speech. No bills of attainder, ex post facto laws, retroactive laws, laws impairing the obligation of contract, or laws granting irrevocable special privelege or immunity. No laws regarding the social status of a citizen.

According to Article I, Section 1, which of the following kinds of laws is the General Assembly permitted to enact?

Laws regarding the selection and compensation of jurors. Providing exemption from levy and sale. Laws managing fishing and hunting. Laws concerning certain rights of victims. Laws providing for citizens to enjoy rights, privileges, and immunities conferred by citizenship.

According to Article I, Section 1, which of the following is the ultimate authority to determine the facts at issue in a trial?

The jury.

According to Article I, Section 1, under what circumstance may a person not be placed on trial for the same offense for a second time?

Never, except when a new trial is granted after conviction, or in the case of a mistrial.

According to Article I, Section 1, which of the following is adequate for an accused individual to be convicted of treason?

Two witnesses of the same overt act, or, a confession in court.

According to Article I, Section 1, which of the following may not be done to a person convicted of a crime?

They may not be whipped, subject to excessive fines, excessive bail, cruel or unusual punishment, abuse while imprisoned, corruption of blood or forfeiture of estate.

Under what circumstance a debtor may be imprisoned on account of his debt?

This is forbidden by constitution.

According to Article I, Section 2, which of the following kinds of legislative enactments is void?

Any act that violates the state or US Constitution.

What is the meaning of the term "sovereign immunity"?

That the state government cannot be sued without its consent.

According to Article II, Section 1, which of the following are the acceptable requirements that may be established for voting?

18 years of age, minimum residency requirements, not convicted of a felony 'involving moral turpitude,' and not determined judicially to be mentally incompetent.

According to Article II, Section 2, who collects ballots and election returns?

The Secretary of State

By definition, what would give rise to a "run

off election"?

If an elected official is indicted by a grand jury on felony charges, what happens to the elected official?

A commission is convened to determine if the indictment concerns or adversely affects the officials office, and if so, they are suspended from office pending resolution (or the end of the officials term).

What does "legislative power" allow a politician or politicians to do?

To make law.

What is the maximum number of members in the houses of Georgia's General Assembly?

56 members in the senate, with no fewer than 180 representatives.

Who determines the location of boundaries of legislative districts?

The General Assembly.

When are the boundaries of legislative districts redrawn?

After each US Census (as necessary).

What is the minimum age requirement for state representatives?

21 years of age.

What is the minimum age requirement for state senators?

25 years of age.

What is the term of office of members of the Georgia General Assembly?

2 years.

What is the term of office of members of the state Senate?

2 years.

Which of the following statements is true about the lieutenant governor?

They serve as president of the senate.

f the speaker of the House of Representatives dies or resigns, what is the title of the individual who temporarily fills the vacancy?

The Speaker Pro

What is the title of the individual who carries out the clerical and record

keeping work of the state Senate?

What is the title of the individual who carries out the clerical and record

keeping work of the state house of representatives?

Under ordinary circumstances, what is the maximum length of an annual session of the General Assembly?

40 days.

Which of the following is not a privilege of members of the General Assembly?

They are free from arrest while in session, except in case of treason, felony, or breach of peace. They are not liable for anything said while speaking in session.

How may a member of the General Assembly be removed?

They can be expelled by two thirds vote in the chamber they belong to. Or, suspended during felony indictment and removed when convicted.

What kind of bills may originate only in the state House of Representatives?

Bills for raising revenue (taxes).

According to Article III, Section 5, how many "readings" will a bill (not including local legislation) receive in a legislative house if that bill is to be approved by that house?

Three.

If a legislative house rejects a bill, may the bill be brought up for a vote again?

Not in the same session, unless two thirds of members approve it.

What of the following circumstances would not give rise to a roll

call vote in a legislative house?

f both houses of the General Assembly approve the same bill, and the legislatures adjourns sine die three days later, how much time does the governor have to consider whether to veto the act until it goes into effect without his signature?

40 days after adjournment.

How may a gubernatorial veto of an act of the General Assembly be overridden?

Two thirds vote in both houses.

When an appropriation bill passes both houses of the General Assembly and is presented to the governor, which of the following may he do?

Line

According to Article III, Section 6, which of the following kinds of laws may the General Assembly make?

Laws not inconsistant with the state constitution, not repugnant of the US constitution, which are deemed necessary and proper for the welfare of the state.

Who has the authority to impeach an official of the state government?

The House of Representatives.

If a state official is impeached, where is the trial held to determine whether the official will be removed?

The Senate.

If an impeachment is tried in the state Senate, who presides over the trial?

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

What kind of law is necessary before the executive branch may spend money?

An appropriations bill.

Assume that, while the General Assembly is working on the appropriations bill (i.e., the "budget"), a legislator has an idea for a pork

barrel bill that would fund a new project in his district. Which of the following rules applies?

What is the purpose of the Public Service Commission?

Regulation of utilities.

Execution of the death sentence is suspended if how many members of the State Board of Pardons and Parole want(s) a delay until the board can meet?

An single member.

Who establishes policies for the State Merit System?

The State Personnel Board.

According to Article IV, Section 3, which applicants must be given bonus points that are added to their scores on state employment examinations?

Veterans of war.

According to Article IV, Section 4, who selects the commissioner of transportation?

The State Transportation Board.

Which of the following is a qualification to serve on the Veterans Service Board?

Veterans of War.

Which of the following helps to determine the number of members of the Board of Natural

Resources?

One member for each county, plus 5 from the state at large.

Is a governor who is completing his second consecutive term eligible to run again?

No.

To run for governor and serve in that office, a person must have been a U. S. citizen for what period of time?

15 years.

To run for governor and serve in that office, a person must have been a citizen of Georgia for what period of time?

6 years.

What is the minimum age requirement for Governor?

30 years.

What is the minimum age requirement for Lieutenant Governor?

30 years.

What happens if the governor should resign or die after serving one year of his four

year term?

What is the minimum age requirement for the state superintendent of schools?

25 years.

How many years must a candidate for Attorney General have been active in the state bar?

7 years.

A petition from whom is necessary for the state Supreme Court to determine whether an "elected constitutional executive officer" is physically or mentally incapacitated?

Any 4 of the 8 elected constitutional officers.

How many elected constitutional officers are there?

8.

Which courts are not courts of limited jurisdiction?

Superior Courts, Courts of Appeal and the state Supreme Court.

Which courts are courts of limited jurisdiction?

Magistrate Courts, Probate Courts, Juvenile Courts and State Courts.

According to Article VI, Section 1, which of the following courts may issue a writ of mandamus?

Superior Courts and Appellate Courts.

Which of the following is an area that has a superior court, a magistrate court, a probate court, a so

called "state court" (if needed), and a juvenile court?

Except in special circumstances, where is a superior

court trial in a civil case held?

In which court is a divorce case heard?

Superior Court.

What kind of jurisdiction do both the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals have?

Appellate jurisdiction.

Which court hears any appeal of a court decision about the outcome of an election?

The Supreme Court.

What does the Supreme Court issue if it wants to hear an appeal from the Court of Appeals?

A certiorari.

In what kind of election do state judges run?

The general election.

A Supreme Court justice serves for what term of office?

6 years.

In a criminal trial in a Superior Court, the jury has how many members?

12.

A district attorney must have been active in the state bar for how many years?

3 years.

How many district attorneys are there?

1 for each judicial circuit.

The City Court of Atlanta is what kind of court?

Municipal Court.

If a real

estate property is not exempted from the property tax by the state Constitution, and state authorities would like to exempt it anyway, who may authorize the exemption?

What is the purpose of a "homestead exemption"?

To reduce the total tax on the primary residence of a citizen.

Which of the following categories of citizens receive an automatic reduction of at least $32,500 in their property assessments when property taxes are calculated?

Disabled veterans.

The state may undertake when repelling invasion, suppressing insurrection, and defending the state in times of war.

Debt.

When a temporary deficit in the state treasury in any fiscal year is created by a delay in collecting the taxes of that year, the state may borrow money in an amount that may not exceed what proportion of last year's total revenue receipts?

5 percent.

When the state borrows money to acquire or improve land, waterways, property, highways, and buildings, or to provide educational facilities and libraries, the term of the debt instrument may not exceed how many years?

25 years.

What is the name of the trust fund that is used to pay the annual debt

service requirement of the state's debt?

According to Article VII, Section 4, may the state government assume the debt of a local government?

No, unless it is undertaken in order to repel invasion, insurrection or in defense of the state in time of war.

Article VIII of the Constitution guarantees a free education to whom?

To all citizens, prior to college or post secondary level.

Which of the following helps to determine the number of members of the state Board of Education?

1 for each congressional disctrict.

How long does a state superintendent of schools serve?

4 years.

Which of the following governs the University System of Georgia?

The Board of Regents.

Who appoints the members of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia?

The Governor.

According to Article VIII, Section 5, who selects a local superintendent of schools?

The Board of Education.

Who determines the amount of the local property tax that will be used to support local public schools?

The Board of Education.

The General Assembly may, by enacting a law, waive the payment of tuition at state colleges and universities for which of the following classes of individuals?

Elderly residents.

What is the maximum allowable number of counties in Georgia?

159.

What are the county level officials?

The Clerk of the Superior Court, Judge of the Probate Court, Sheriff, Tax Receiver, Tax Collector, and Tax Commissioner.

What term describes the ability of a local government to make laws (or "ordinances") concerning its own operations and other local issues?

Home rule.

What term describes the power of a local government to determine which areas of the community may be used for residential, agricultural, commercial, and/or industrial purposes?

Planning and zoning.

What is the limit of debt, based on all assessed property, that a local government may undertake?

10 percent.

How does a local government repay debt raised from "revenue bonds"?

Out of the revenue arising from the project.