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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"
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