UGA Georgia Constitution Test

The GA Constitution calls for the branches of government to be...

Separate and distinct

What is the term of office for a governor and how many consecutive terms can they have?

4 years, 2 consecutive terms

The Governor must be ____ years old.

30

What is the exception for governors running more than 2 terms?

They can sit out for a minimum of 4 years and then run again. No governor has done this since 1940s

What is a line item veto?

a special form of veto that authorizes the governor to reject particular provisions of a bill without vetoing the entire bill

The duty to take care that the laws of the state are faithfully executed is that of...

Governor

Does the GA governor have the ability to exercise a line item veto?

yes, for spending bills

How can a line item veto be overridden?

2/3 vote from the General Assembly

Who has the power of executive clemency in the Georgia Constitution?

State Board of Pardons and Paroles

Executive Clemency gives the power to grant...

reprieves, pardons, and paroles.

What are the qualifications for members of The US House?

1) at least 25 y/o

2) US citizen >7 years

3) live in the state they represent

What are the qualifications for US Senators?

1) at least 30 y/o

2) US citizen >9 years

3) live in the state they represent

What are the qualifications for members of The Georgia House?

1) at least 21 y/o

2) US citizen

3) GA citizen for 2 years

4) legal resident of district for 1 year

What are the qualifications for members of The Georgia Senate?

1) at least 25 y/o

2) US citizen

3) GA citizen for 2 years

4) legal resident of district for 1 year

The terms of Senators and Reps are ____ and have _____ on number of terms

2 years, no limit

All bills raising revenue or appropriating money must originate in...

The House

Votes on bills in the General Assembly must always be by ______ if a bill involves _______.

Roll call, appropriations

The presiding officer of the House of Reps is...

Speaker

What is the main purpose (2) of the Lieutenant Governor?

President of the Senate, successor of the Governor

What duty did Marvin Griffin propose for the Lieutenant Governor?

Appointing chairmen to senate committees w/ governor approval

In 2003, Governor Sonny Perdue stripped the Lieutenant Governor of Griffin's powers and gave them to ____________.

President Pro Tempore of the Senate

In 2010, the Republican majority voted to __________________ ability to appoint chairmen of senate committees.

strip the Lieutenant Governor's

Besides the governor and lieutenant governor, what positions are identified by the Georgia constitution as being elected executive officers?

1) secretary of state

2) attorney general

3) state school superintendent

4) commissioner of agriculture

5) commissioner of labor

6) commissioner of insurance

What are the qualifications to serve as GA's Attorney General?

1) US citizen for 10 years

2) GA resident for 4 years

3) 25 y/o

4) Active member of State Bar of GA for 7 years

The Attorney General must represent the state of Georgia in...

1) All capital felony appeals before GA Supreme Court

2) All civil cases before any court

3) All cases appearing before United States Supreme Court

The GA Attorney General must prepare all _______________ regarding any matter in which the state is involved.

contracts & agreements

The Georgia Public Service Commission:

1) ___ elected commissioners

2) Regulates _______, __________, __________

3) Decides what are ____________ for services under its jurisdiction

4) Inspect _____, _____, ____ of regulated companies

1) 5

2) Electricity, natural gas, telecommunications

3) fair and reasonable rates

4) properties, books, and papers

The Georgia Public Service Commission:

1) ___ year terms

2) Chairmen elected by ________ for ___ year term

1) 6

2) commission members for 2 year term

State Board of Pardons and Paroles:

1) ___ members appointed by ______

2) Power of _________

1) 5, governor

2) executive clemency

The General Assembly can prohibit the Board of Pardons & Paroles from executive clemency for any person _________________ or ____________________.

1) incarcerated for a 2nd time for any offense with a life imprisonment sentence

2) who received consecutive life sentences as a result of offenses occurring during the same act

The ________________ may suspend the execution of a sentence of death until the full board can hear the application of the convicted person.

Chairman of the Board of Pardons & Paroles

The State Board of Pardons & paroles can pardon any person convicted of crime if they are subsequently _______________, grant a _______________, or they can _________________.

1) deemed innocent of the crime

2) medical reprieve for terminal illness

3) parole any person 62 or older

State Personnel Board:

1) ___ members appointed by _______

2) ___ year term

3) May not be employed in ______________

4) Chairman selected by __________

1) 5, governor

2) 5

3) any other capacity of state government

4) members of the board

The State Personnel Board shall provide direction for a ___________________.

State Merit System of Personnel Administration

In paragraph II of the State Personnel Board, any US veterans involved in combat shall be given ____________________.

Veteran's preference in any civil service program established by state government

State Transportation Board:

1) Number of members determined by ________

2) Each member is elected by majority vote from ____________________

3) __ year terms

1) amount of congressional districts in the state (14)

2) House of Reps & Senate

3) 5

CEO of the State Transportation Board is selected by ____________

Transportation Board members

The GA Transportation Board is responsible for:

1) Designating __________ are encompassed within the ___________

2) Approving long range ________________

3) Authorizing _______ agreements

1) which public roads, state highway system

2) transportation plans

3) lease

Veterans Service Board:

1) ___ members appointed by _______

2) ___ year term

3) Executive officer determined by _______

4) members must be ________

1) 7, governor

2) 7

3) board members

4) veterans of some armed conflict

What are the 2 basic tasks of the Veterans Service Board?

1) informing veterans about benefits

2) assisting and advising veterans to secure benefits

Board of Natural Resources:

1) Number of members determined by ______________

2) All members appointed by _________

3) ___ year term

1) amount of congressional districts in the state (14) and 5 members from the state at large

2) Governor

3) 7 year

Of the 5 member "from the state at large" of the Board of Natural Resources, what counties must one come from?

Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Glynn, McIntosh, Liberty

The Board of Natural Resources is responsible for setting rules and regulations ranging from _________________ to ____________.

air & water quality, hunting seasons

The Georgia General Assembly can be "in session" for no more than ______ each year.

40 days

Special sessions occur when...

extended time is needed outside of the traditional session

Special Sessions can be granted for _________.

outlining the budget

How many members are in the GA House of Reps?

180

How many members make up the Georgia General Assembly?

236

The passage of legislation by the General Assembly requires what proportion of support from each chamber?

2/3 vote

To pass a bill in GA house or in the senate requires a favorable vote of...

a majority of all members

The Georgia Board of Regents has the exclusive authority to ______________ if approved by the ___________.

create new public colleges, junior colleges, and universities in GA, House & Senate

Explain how appropriations are used by the Board of Regents.

All appropriations made by institutions in the university system shall be paid to the Board in a lump sum and then distributed efficiently

The Board of Regents may exercise the power of ________ in regards to public property.

eminent domain

What does the Georgia constitution indicate about the state's legal commitment to public education?

free "adequate" public education prior to college with support from taxation

What proportion of the vote is required to be elected to public office in Georgia? What happens if a candidate does not receive this proportion?

A majority, 50% plus one vote is required. Otherwise the candidates with the two highest vote total proceed to a runoff

What are the requirements to vote in a GA election?

1) citizen of US

2) Legal resident of GA

3) 18 y/o

4) No felony conviction

How many counties are there in Georgia?

159

What is Home Rule?

involves the authority of a local government to prevent state government intervention with its operations

What are the categories of expenditures for which lottery proceeds can be used?

1) Scholarships

2) GA Prekindergarten Program

3) Tech upgrades for schools

What does it mean to have an open, direct primary?

a primary in which any registered voter can vote, but must vote for candidates of only one party

State Courts have jurisdiction within _________.

one county

State Court judges hear misdemeanors including...

1) traffic violations

2) issue arrest warrants

3) hold preliminary hearings in criminal cases

4) try civil matters

What civil liberties are protected by the GA Constitution?

Freedom of speech

Freedom of religion

Freedom of the press

Name a civil liberty not protected by the Georgia Constitution?

Right to Privacy

How are judges in the state judiciary selected in Georgia?

nonpartisan elections

Judicial vacancies are filled by...

appointment by Governor

Term of office:

- Appellate judges

- Superior Court judges

- 6 years

- 4 years

What are courts of limited jurisdiction (in Georgia)?

1) Magistrate

2) Probate

3) Juvenile State

4) Municipal

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?

elected by the state's justices on a rotating basis

The Constitution provides the use of what tax by local school systems as the primary means of financing schools?

Property Tax

What allows the constitution to be amended to affect specific individual counties and cities?

Home Rule

What are the limits to city and county tax levels?

1% sales tax & 4% state tax

What are the limits to city and county debt levels?

Cannot exceed 10% of taxable property within jurisdiction

What is consolidation?

County combines with another

Consolidation must be started through passage of act in __________ and approved by _______________.

General Assembly, majority of voters in affected counties

How can the GA Constitution be amended?

1) 2/3 majority vote in both House and Senate

2) approval by voters

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?

They cannot be imprisoned

How many Constitutions have been adopted by Georgia? When did GA last ratify the Constitution?

10, 1983

The ____ Amendment was passed to overturn the Supreme Court ruling in the 1793 case of Chisholm v. Georgia. Chisholm was seeking payment for _________________________.

Eleventh. goods supplied to GA during the War of Independence

What is sovereign immunity?

a legal doctrine where a state cannot commit a legal wrong doing and is immune from civil suit or criminal prosecution

In regard to sovereign immunity, the GA Constitution indicates the state may...

waive such immunity in specific situations

What is a Bill of Attainder and what is GA's stance on the bill?

Act of legislature declaring a person(s) guilty of a crime without trail. It is banned

Does the GA Constitution ban slavery?

Never mentions slavery

Does the GA Constitution ban indentured servitude?

Yes

Does GA recognize marriage of two same-sex individuals?

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?

A bill vetoed by the governor is dead unless the General Assembly overrides the veto by a two-thirds vote of the total membership of each house

How has Georgia's constitution historically approached judicial review?

Allowed to declare Acts unconstitutional after 1861

How did state political leaders, pushing for white supremacy during the 19th and 20th century use the constitution to achieve their goals?

1) Poll taxes

2) 1877 Constitution: had to pay all taxes to be eligible vote

3) 1877 Constitution: misproportion of votes for urban areas

To protect against the power of the national government, the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution grants the states...

Reserved Powers

In the section of the Constitution on impeachment, what standards are given to determine whether a person has committed an office warranting impeachment?

No standard is provided

The power to impeach is given to _______ and the trial is given to _________.

The house, Senate

With respect to apportionment of Senate and House districts, district must be composed of ____________.

contiguous territory

Georgia was the first state whose courts recognized a right to _________.

Privacy

Georgia's use of the white primary was outlawed by the federal courts in the case of...

King v. Chapman

This decision requires each state to draw its U.S. Congressional districts so that they are approximately equal in population.

Wesberry v. Sanders

A Supreme Court of the United States case dealing with equal representation in regard to the American election system and formulated the famous "one person, one vote" standard for legislative districting.

Gray v. Sanders

During the Furman v. Georgia case, the courts ruled on the requirement for a ____________ in the application of the ___________.

degree of consistency, the death penalty

What Georgia case involved capital punishment and the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment?

McCleskey v. Kemp