the last two lectures of INTA

Wow, that class was great. Rich is a fantastic teacher.

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+The Importance of State and Local Governments
+- Comparative perspective
+- Local governments are "part of the whole"
+- The US has more than 87K units of government
+- Important to us as citizens
+- 537 elected officials at nat. level and over 500K state and local
+    - Voters are usually only on senators, house, pres. ticket
+- Federalism: state government services are much more impactful and
+  policy-relevant to voters.
+
+The present reflects the past. For Georgia, this means:
+- Relationship between Rural-Urban and White-Black
+    - County Unit System, lumped together locales to overrepresent
+      small, rural locales.
+        - Intent is to "offset" growing urban centers.
+        - "Rule of the Rustics"
+            - V. O. Key
+            - By the 60s, governor elects were losing the popular vote
+              by taking rural counties
+    - Last state to rejoin the Union. Had difficulty ensuring the
+      political system would represent all citizens
+    - Political disenfranchisement of African Americans at polls
+    - 1964 "juncture for change"
+        - Civil Rights Act made penalties for states keeping black
+          people from the polls.
+        - Rise of moral/religious belief in democratic representation
+        - Supreme Court dismantled County Unit System in 1963
+    - Urban voters are overwhelmingly Democrat and rural Republican.
+        - Also because black people are pushed to cities
+        - The divide is still reflected in state politics
+
+Georgia's Constitution
+- Constitutionalism
+    - Assign the fundamental powers of gov't
+        - Institutions to exercise the powers
+        - Specifically excluded powers
+    - The "limited purposes" the gov't is meant for
+- New constitution requires 2/3 vote of legislature and public approval
+  by referendum
+    - Since 1777, GA has had 10 constitutions
+        - Abnormally high (more than any other state than Louisiana)
+            - Because Louisiana is a code law state
+        - US: 2 constitutions
+Length of GA Constitutions
+- Previous prevailing doctrine: unless the state specifically allows it,
+  the gov't cannot do it. Leads to long constitutions.
+    - Over 1000 amendments just to get things done for individual
+      locales or limited purview.
+- Most political scientists agree:
+    - Details should be left to ordinary laws, not constitutional
+      amendments
+
+- Current GA Constitution instated in Jul 1, 1983
+    - Not as screwed up as previous constitutions
+- Covers the fundamentals
+    - The constitution talks about education, taxation, the Branches
+      (including boards and commissions), and the amendment process.
+    - Special Amendments (local provisions) are prohibited.
+    - General Amendments must apply to the state as a whole.
+    - More within mainstream of other states, but ours mentions God and
+      Family
+        - Georgia is very traditionalist, moralistic
+        - The constitution reflects "the society that created it"
+
+The Office of Governor
+- In theory and practice the most important state official
+- Eligibility:
+    - 30yrs old
+    - Citizen of US for 15yrs
+    - GA resident for 6yrs
+- Current Governor: Brian Kemp (R)
+- Roles:
+    - Chief of State (more minor role than Pres)
+        - Meet foreign dignitary or the Pres
+    - Commander in Chief (also minor role)
+        - No standing army, but state police or national guard
+    - Chief Admin/Chief Executive
+        - Weaker than other governors around the country
+        - Weak appointment powers
+        - Dept Heads chosen by election, so may be less loyal to gub
+        - Can directly appoint directors of agencies and members of
+          commissions
+        - Power over fiscal affairs is way more important than appt's
+            - Complete supervision over Office of Planning & Budget
+            - OBP shapes the executive budget
+            - Begins 16 months prior to fiscal year
+            - Gets submitted to General Assembly for passage
+                - Although it needs approval, the General Assembly has
+                  fewer resources to manipulate it. Members of General
+                  Assembly are part-time and have limited staff.
+    - Chief Legislator
+        - Addresses legislature from time to time
+            - Veto Power (2/3 vote of both houses in General Assembly to
+              override)
+            - Governor must veto within 6 days if General Assembly is in
+              session and in 40 days if General Assembly isn't in
+              session
+            - If Governor takes no action in either case, the bill
+              becomes law (no Pocket Veto)
+            - Power of Line-Item Veto (part of bill), including over the
+              Budget
+
+Legislature: GA General Assembly
+    - US Congress goes full year, but the Assembly in session for small
+      amt of time
+    - Bicameral legislature
+    - Functions: (mostly similar to US)
+        - Statutory laws
+            - Avg. 2K introduced, 1K passed (Assembly is super busy)
+        - Legislative oversight
+        - Senate confirmation
+        - Authorization and Appropriations [of spending]
+        - (Minor) Appointment Powers
+        - Propose constitutional amendments
+        - Representation
+            - Constituent Services - taken very seriously by members
+            - Small-district representatives try to go around and knock
+              on as many doors as possible
+            - Unpaid, part-time, so anyone there is super committed
+    - The entire session: Jan--Mar or 40 days
+    - 56 Senate seats and a minimum of 180 House seats (can be adjusted
+      for population)
+        - Democrats controlled both chambers from Reconstruction to 2022
+            (Although they were Southern Democrats for much of time)
+        - But from 2002 to present, the Republican Party controls both
+          chambers and the Governor
+
+Jurisdictions
+- Insanely complicated court system
+- Approximately 1K courts in GA in 7 classes
+    - Tasked with resolving conflicts by "interpreting and applying the
+      law"