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Making the Law! Georgia’s General Assembly

Georgia General Assembly House of Representatives 180 members U.S. citizenship Georgia citizenship at least 2 years Legal resident of district for 1 year Must be 21 years old

Senate 56 members U.S. citizenship Georgia citizenship at least 2 years Legal resident of district for 1 year Must be 25 years old

Georgia’s General Assembly Duties: Making laws to ensure welfare of citizens Represent the views of their constituents (citizens within their districts) State legislatures represent people, not cities or counties. Election districts are changed every 10 years

The General Assembly oversees local government in Georgia Every city is created by an act of the legislature. City and county forms of government, taxes, and other local matters are determined by state lawmakers

General Assembley House of Representatives Senate Meet for a 40 day session Start 2nd Monday in January Elected for 2 years-no limit to the number of terms Either group can propose and pass bills

Leadership in the General Assembly

Senate: Lieutenant governor is the president of the Senate President Pro tem serves when president is absent Confirms appointments of the governor to executive office Run state wide not a part of redistriction

House of Representatives

Presiding officer is the Speaker of the House Can only write appropriationsspending bills Voted in by their districts

Committees Both houses use committees to study bills Most important committees involve: taxation, spending money (appropriations), judiciary, education and rules.