Standard - SS8CG2: The Student will analyze the role of the legislative branch of Georgia State Government

1. Standard-SS8CG2: The Student will analyze the role of the legislative branch of Georgia State Government • a) Explain the qualification, term, election, and duties of members of the General Assembly • E.Q: Why is the General Assembly important to the citizens of Georgia?

2. Georgia State’s Bicameral Legislature (Lower & Upper house) The Senate (Upper House) House of Representatives (Lower house) Making laws for you & me What are they doing?

3. Total Physical Response (TPR) 1.Each Pair will be assigned a different vocabulary word or concept 2. Students discuss & define the meaning of the term or concept to present with their performance 3. Students work together to create a physical demonstration or acting out of the term or concept (include an example) 4. Each group explains their definition or word and presents their physical demonstration of the term or concept. 5. Students from other groups must ask questions about the performances or vocabulary words

4. Vocabulary (Page-536-543) • (1),General Assembly • (2),House of Representatives • (3),Senate • (4),Bill/ spending bill or laws • (5),Legislative sessions • (6),Reapportionment • (7), Governor of Georgia • (8), Lieutenant Governor of Georgia

5. This is where it all came from (Bicameral legislature/ upper & lower houses to make laws) House of Lords (England)- Upper House House of Commons (England) -Lower House In the U.S & Georgia The Republican & Democrat Parties dominate politics. What 2 Parties dominate politics in England/ U.K? Answer: Labor & Conservative both of which share similar ideologies to our Democrat & Republican Parties respectively

6. Structure of the legislative branch in Georgia Law making body in Georgia (General Assembly) Bicameral legislature (Upper & Lower House) ( 1. House of Representatives & 2, Senate) only House can write spending bills senate confirms appointments made by the governor.

7. Members of the General Assembly • 180 members of house of representatives • 56 members of the senate • Elected by popular vote (Citizens of GA) • 2 year terms of office with no term limits • Members districts have about the same number of votes • Qualifications: • Citizen of Georgia & U.S @ least 2 years • Legal resident of district @ least one year • Senators @ least 25 years old • House of representatives @ least 21 years old

8. House and senate districts in Georgia How are Georgia’s House & Senate districts determined? By population of the districts. Loss of population= more representatives and vice-versa

9. How a bill becomes a law

10. How a bill becomes a Law • Any senator or representative can propose a bill • Bills related to spending must begin in the house • Same version of bill must pass house & senate • Compromise bill may come from conference committee • Governor can sign or veto bill if it passes house & congress

11. The role of committees in passing bills • Bills are assigned to committees based on the content • Committees study bills closely • Some committees are permanent while others are created for specific tasks only • Committees can (1) Pass a bill (2) Not pass a bill (3) Pass a bill with substitution (4) Do nothing & let the bill expire

12. Types of Committees in the legislature • Standing Committees • Interim Committees work on special assigned tasks • Conference Committees work out agreements between the house of representatives & senate • Joint Committee has members of H.O.R & Senate working on an assigned issue or topic

13. Reapportionment • Redrawing districts to reflect population changes • Takes place every 10 years when a census occurs • Usually leads to arguments/ disagreements between the 2 major political parties • Gerrymandering used by both parties to influence drawing of their districts