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Georgia's state government gets its money from:
- State taxes (income, sales)
- Federal funds
- Fees and licenses
- Lottery revenues (for education)

The biggest chunks usually go to:
- Education (K-12 and colleges)
- Healthcare (Medicaid)
- Transportation
- Public Safety

The funds collected support various aspects of state operations and services, ensuring Georgia runs smoothly.

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What is the Georgia General Assembly? 🏛️

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What is the Georgia General Assembly? 🏛️

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Hey y'all! The Georgia General Assembly is our state's legislative branch - basically our state's version of Congress! It's split into two chambers: the Senate (56 members) and the House of Representatives (180 members). They meet at our beautiful Gold Dome in Atlanta every 2nd Monday of January for a 40-day session. How cool is that?

The primary function of the Georgia General Assembly is to enact (make) the laws that govern the state of Georgia.

Think of it as the "voice of the people." Because Georgia is a representative democracy, we elect these members to handle the state's business. While making laws is their main job, it includes several specific responsibilities:

1. Passing the State Budget

This is actually the only law the General Assembly is required to pass every single year. They decide how to spend billions of dollars in state tax money on things like:

Education (Public schools and HOPE scholarship)

Public Safety (State patrol and prisons)

Transportation (Roads and bridges)

2. Representing Citizens

Legislators act as a link between you and the state government. They listen to the concerns of people in their home districts and turn those concerns into new laws or changes to old ones.

3. Amending the Constitution

If the Georgia Constitution needs a change, the General Assembly is the group that starts that process. They must vote to propose an amendment, which then goes to the citizens of Georgia for a final vote.

4. Overriding Vetoes

As we discussed earlier, they serve as a "check" on the Governor. If the Governor vetoes a bill they believe is important, they can vote to override it and make it a law anyway.

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Want to be a state legislator one day? Here's what you need:
Senate:
- At least 25 years old
- Georgia resident for at least 2 years
- Live in your district for at least 1 year

-Term 2 years (unlimited)

House:
- At least 21 years old
- Georgia resident for at least 2 years
- Live in your district for at least 1 year
-Term 2 years (unlimited)
Don't forget: You've got to win an election too!

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Think of committees like specialized teams that focus on specific topics. Just like we have group projects in class, legislators work in committees to study bills carefully before they go to the full General Assembly. For example, the Education Committee focuses on school-related bills, while the Transportation Committee deals with road and transit issues.

The 4 Main Jobs of a Committee

1. Studying and Researching When a bill is assigned to a committee, members look at the data. They ask: Is this law necessary? How much will it cost? What are the pros and cons?

2. Holding Public Hearings (Due Process) This is the "Notice and Hearing" part of lawmaking. Committees invite experts, lobbyists, and regular citizens to come to the Capitol and testify. This gives the public a chance to have their voices heard before a bill moves forward.

3. "Marking Up" (Amending) the Bill Committees rarely pass a bill exactly as it was written. They often suggest changes, fix mistakes, or combine two similar bills into one better version.

4. Making a Recommendation After they finish their work, the committee votes on what to do next. They have three main options:

Do Pass: They recommend the full House or Senate vote on it.

Do Not Pass: They recommend the bill be rejected (this usually kills the bill).

Hold/Ignore: They can simply do nothing. If a committee never votes on a bill, it "dies in committee" and never becomes a law.

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There are several types of committees in our General Assembly:
- Standing Committees (permanent)
- Special Committees (temporary)
- Conference Committees (work out differences between House and Senate versions)
- Joint Committees (members from both chambers)

Each committee holds hearings, debates bills, and makes recommendations. Pretty organized, right?

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1. Bill is introduced in either chamber
2. First Reading: Bill is announced
3. Assigned to Committee
4. Committee Review & Recommendation
5. Second Reading
6. Third Reading & Chamber Vote
7. If passed, goes to other chamber
8. Other chamber follows same process
9. If both chambers approve, goes to Governor

(To get to the Governor, at least 51% of both houses must approve the exact same bill. If even one comma is different, it’s not ready yet!)
10. Governor can sign, veto, or do nothing(after 40 days it becomes a law)

If the Governor vetoes the bill, the General Assembly can override this veto by a 2/3 (66%) majority vote in both chambers.

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How a Bill Becomes a Law (Feat. Schoolhouse Rock)

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Did you know our legislative session is exactly 40 days long? But these days don't have to be consecutive! Sometimes they spread them out over a few months. They even have a special clock in the chambers called the 'Sine Die' clock to keep track! "Sine Die" is a Latin term meaning "without a day fixed," and refers to the adjournment of the session without any future date set to resume. This clock helps manage the session length, ensuring all business is completed in time.

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Every year, the Governor proposes a budget, but the General Assembly has the 'power of the purse'! They review, modify, and approve the final budget. Fun fact: Georgia must have a balanced budget by law - we can't spend more than we take in! Wouldn't it be nice if our allowances worked that way? 😊

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If you are on a personal connection, like at home, you can run an anti-virus scan on your device to make sure it is not infected with malware.

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How does the General Assembly check the Power of the Executive Branch?

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How does the General Assembly check the Power of the Executive Branch?

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The Georgia General Assembly (the Legislative Branch) uses a system of Checks and Balances to ensure the Governor (the Executive Branch) doesn't become too powerful.

Think of it like a game of tug-of-war where neither side can pull the other over the line without permission.

1. The Veto Override

This is the most direct check. If the Governor rejects a bill by vetoing it, the General Assembly can say, "We disagree," and vote again.

The Check: If two-thirds of the members in both the House and the Senate vote "Yes," the bill becomes a law anyway, completely bypassing the Governor’s rejection.

2. "Power of the Purse" (The Budget)

The Governor proposes a budget, but the General Assembly has the final say on where the money goes.

The Check: The Governor cannot spend a single penny of state tax money unless the General Assembly passes a law (the Appropriations Bill) allowing it. They can choose to fund the Governor's favorite projects or cut the funding entirely.

3. Confirming Appointments

The Governor has the power to appoint people to lead important state agencies (like the Department of Transportation or the Board of Education).

The Check: In many cases, the Georgia State Senate must "confirm" (approve) these appointments. If the Senate doesn't think the person is qualified, they can vote "No," and the Governor has to pick someone else.

4. Impeachment

This is the "emergency brake" of the Constitution.

The Check: If a Governor or other executive official commits a crime or seriously abuses their power, the House of Representatives can impeach them (formally charge them), and the Senate holds a trial to decide if they should be removed from office.

5. Creating and Changing Laws

The Governor is responsible for enforcing the laws, but they can only enforce what the General Assembly gives them.

The Check: If the General Assembly doesn't like how an executive agency is handling things, they can pass a new law to change the agency's rules or even eliminate the agency altogether.