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 2002
            (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"