The framers of the U.S. Constitution had a shared goal: create a government with a set system of checks and balances. This way, no single political party, office, individual, or group could hold all the power at the federal, state, or local level. To ensure this balance, they created three separate branches of government: Show
These three branches exist at every level of our country’s government — federal, state and local. Here’s a quick overview of how it works in Georgia’s state government. LegislativeThe Georgia General Assembly is made up of the Georgia Senate and the Georgia House of Representatives. It is in charge of creating, debating and determining the laws that guide our state. The Georgia General Assembly also has the power to:
At the local level, legislative decisions are handled by your city council, county board of commissioners, board of supervisors, and board of trustees. To learn more about the Legislative Branch, read Article 3 of the State of Georgia Constitution. ExecutiveGeorgia’s main executive official and head of state is the governor. Elected to a 4-year term by Georgia voters, the governor isn’t allowed to hold office more than 2 consecutive terms. Along with overseeing the state budget and leading an executive branch of more than 100,000 employees, the governor is in charge of:
The other elected members of the executive branch include:
This is only an overview of the different roles and services managed by the executive branch, which also includes various agencies, boards, and commissions. To learn more about the Executive Branch, read Article 5 of the State of Georgia Constitution. JudicialGeorgia’s judicial branch interprets our state laws and administers justice through our legal system. Our judicial system has two appellate-level courts: the Supreme Court of Georgia and the Court of Appeals of Georgia. It also has five classes of trial-level courts: the superior, state, probate, juvenile, and magistrate courts. Georgia’s Judicial System is overseen by the Judicial Council. Its job is to develop policies for administering and improving our state courts. The Council is staffed by the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) and is led by the chief justice (chairperson) and the presiding justice (vice chairperson) of our state’s Supreme Court. To learn more about the Executive Branch, read Article 6 of the State of Georgia Constitution. Large-scale public works projects require federal and state governments to cooperate and compromise, especially when deciding who pays for what. The construction of the Interstate Highway System was a crowning achievement of this sometimes strained partnership. Governors. Mayors. State Representatives. City Council members. Sheriffs. Beneath the layer of the national government lies a complex web of state and local officials and institutions. The nation's founders concern over tyranny transcended their separation of power among the three branches of government. Power is also divided by level, with each layer performing its designated responsibility. States and communities would even have the freedom to design their own institutions and create their own offices. This creates a multitude of "laboratories" where government leaders at any level could see which systems were successful and which were problematic. State ConstitutionsThis well-built Governor looks like he could be a wrestler. Wait, he was a wrestler: Jesse Ventura of Minnesota broke onto the local and national political scene by becoming the first Reform Party candidate to win the governorship of a state. The states had constitutions years before the United States Constitution was even written. Since the Declaration of Independence, states have written a total of about 150 constitutions, with several states writing new ones frequently. State constitutions tend to be quite a bit longer than the national one — an average of four times as long — so they also are more specific. As a result, they often are heavily amended and rather easily tossed out, at least in some states. State constitutions determine the structure, role, and financing of state and local levels of government. State OfficialsEach of the 50 states has its own array of public officials, with no two states being exactly alike. But all of them have Governors, legislatures, and courts:
Types of Local GovernmentsLocal governments are generally organized into four types:
Governorship can often be an opportunity to pursue higher office; several state Governors have gone on to become President. Before he became one of the most notable chief executives of the century, Franklin Roosevelt served as Governor of New York. The organization of state and local governments varies widely across the United States. They have common specific features, but their organizations differ. Regardless of their design, state and local governments often have a far greater impact on people's lives than the federal government. Marriage, birth, and death certificates. School policies. Driving age and qualifications for licensure. Laws regarding theft, rape, and murder, as well as the primary responsibility of protecting citizens from criminals. These critical issues and many others are not decided by distant Washington authorities, but by state and local officials. Which of the following best describes governors roles with respect to their political party in Texas during the one party era quizlet?Which of the following best describes governors' role with respect to their political party in Texas? Governors can influence the choice of the party leadership, but do not control the party.
Which of the following is one of the governor's formal powers?The ability to veto legislation is just one of the formal powers governors have at their disposal. Formal powers are powers the governor may exercise that are specifically outlined in state constitutions or state law.
When the governor appoints his or her political supporters to prominent positions it is called?four-year term with no limit on terms served. When the governor appoints his or her political supporters to prominent positions, it is called ______. patronage.
When used by the governor Which of the following wields the most influence quizlet?When used by the governor, which of the following wields the most influence? the chairs of two committees from each chamber. Which of the following assists the legislature in doing research and serves as a depository of records for the legislature? state supreme court.
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