Unit 12Unit 12

SovereigntySovereignty

Supreme power or Supreme power or source of authoritysource of authority

Basic principal of Basic principal of American American governmentgovernment

After Revolution, After Revolution, source of power went source of power went from king to peoplefrom king to people

People are the People are the source of authority source of authority herehere

ConstitutionalismConstitutionalism

Another basic principal of American Another basic principal of American governmentgovernment

A written constitution describes the A written constitution describes the rights of the people and the rights of the people and the framework of governmentframework of government

Limits the power of governmentLimits the power of government Constitution has been amended more Constitution has been amended more

than 25 times, basic structure still the than 25 times, basic structure still the samesame

ElectorateElectorate

VotersVoters Choose who will be Choose who will be

a part of the a part of the government and government and who represents who represents themthem

Makes us a Makes us a democratic form of democratic form of governmentgovernment

Separation of powersSeparation of powers Another basic Another basic

principalprincipal Division of Division of

responsibilitiesresponsibilities Three branches of Three branches of

government: government: executive, executive, legislative, and legislative, and judicial branchesjudicial branches

Limited governmentLimited government—no one part can —no one part can deny rightsdeny rights

Separation of PowersSeparation of Powers

““Five Freedoms”Five Freedoms”

Basic American rightsBasic American rights Listen in first amendmentListen in first amendment 1) freedom of religion1) freedom of religion 2) freedom of speech2) freedom of speech 3) freedom of press3) freedom of press 4) freedom of assembly4) freedom of assembly 5) freedom to petition for redress5) freedom to petition for redress

Federal SystemFederal System

Another principal of American Another principal of American governmentgovernment

A form of government in which nation A form of government in which nation and state government exercise authority and state government exercise authority over the same people and territoryover the same people and territory

National law takes precedence in case National law takes precedence in case of disputeof dispute

Example: Georgians have to follow both Example: Georgians have to follow both Georgia and federal lawsGeorgia and federal laws

Executive BranchExecutive Branch

Federal: President and Vice PresidentFederal: President and Vice President State: governor and lieutenant State: governor and lieutenant

governorgovernor Governor is chief executive—elected Governor is chief executive—elected

by popular vote, can serve two terms by popular vote, can serve two terms of 4 yrs, must wait to run againof 4 yrs, must wait to run again

Heads state militiaHeads state militia Other duties listed on pages 598-601Other duties listed on pages 598-601

BillBill

Draft of a proposed Draft of a proposed lawlaw

Legislative BranchLegislative Branch Federal: Congress (House and Senate)Federal: Congress (House and Senate) State: Georgia AssemblyState: Georgia Assembly Bicameral—made up of two housesBicameral—made up of two houses Make laws for the stateMake laws for the state Can veto state legislative billsCan veto state legislative bills

CommitteeCommittee Small working groups Small working groups

in legislative sessionsin legislative sessions Some are permanent, Some are permanent,

some are notsome are not A member of A member of

Georgia’s General Georgia’s General Assembly can serve Assembly can serve on several committeeson several committees

Create and deal with Create and deal with billsbills

Judicial System (or judicial Judicial System (or judicial branch)branch)

Federal: Supreme court, court of appeals, Federal: Supreme court, court of appeals, and district courts. Interprets laws and and district courts. Interprets laws and ConstitutionConstitution

State: state supreme court, superior court, State: state supreme court, superior court, state court. Interprets state laws and passes state court. Interprets state laws and passes sentencessentences

Function is to protect citizens from Function is to protect citizens from government and provide due process of lawgovernment and provide due process of law

Protects citizens from each other by settling Protects citizens from each other by settling disputes that cannot be resolved privatelydisputes that cannot be resolved privately

Supreme CourtSupreme Court

Highest ranking court on both Highest ranking court on both federal and state levelfederal and state level

7 justices on state level, one chief 7 justices on state level, one chief justice elected by membersjustice elected by members

Judges serve 6 year terms, elected Judges serve 6 year terms, elected by popular voteby popular vote

Appellate court—only reviews cases Appellate court—only reviews cases from lower courtsfrom lower courts

Final authority on state levelFinal authority on state level

Court of AppealsCourt of Appeals

Second highest Second highest ranking courtranking court

9 judges serve, one 9 judges serve, one serves as chief serves as chief judge elected by judge elected by membersmembers

Appellate courtAppellate court

Trial CourtsTrial Courts Below appellate Below appellate

courts (supreme and courts (supreme and appeals)appeals)

Hear original casesHear original cases Example: disputes Example: disputes

between private between private parties, criminal casesparties, criminal cases

Includes state Includes state superior courts, state superior courts, state courts, probate courts, courts, probate courts, juvenile courts, etcjuvenile courts, etc

JurisdictionJurisdiction

Each court case Each court case has jurisdictionhas jurisdiction

Jurisdiction is Jurisdiction is range of action range of action over which court over which court has influence or has influence or controlcontrol

Example: Juvenile Example: Juvenile courts deal with courts deal with minors (under 17)minors (under 17)

Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances

National and state constitutions have National and state constitutions have system of checks and balances system of checks and balances

Prevents one branch from having too Prevents one branch from having too much powermuch power

State: citizens elect most officials, they State: citizens elect most officials, they are responsible to electorateare responsible to electorate

Example: judicial branch can rule laws Example: judicial branch can rule laws passed unconstitutional, president can passed unconstitutional, president can veto bills passed by Congress, veto bills passed by Congress, Congress can impeach presidentCongress can impeach president

General ElectionsGeneral Elections

Secretary of State handles elections, Secretary of State handles elections, makes sure candidate meet makes sure candidate meet requirements and deals with getting requirements and deals with getting election carried outelection carried out

General elections are held in General elections are held in November every even numbered November every even numbered yearyear

Major federal offices and state Major federal offices and state offices run at this time (president)offices run at this time (president)

Capital Capital

Georgia’s capital is AtlantaGeorgia’s capital is Atlanta Where the seat of government is locatedWhere the seat of government is located Each January, Assembly meets hereEach January, Assembly meets here

CapitolCapitol Gold domed building in Gold domed building in

Atlanta where major Atlanta where major officials workofficials work

Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Senators Governor, Senators and representatives and representatives work herework here

Gold on dome was Gold on dome was mined from Dahlonegamined from Dahlonega

State of “Miss State of “Miss Freedom” on top of Freedom” on top of buildingbuilding