Article III — Legislative Branch

10 sections · 60 paragraphs in this article.

70 provisionsFiltered byArt. III

Ga. Const. art. III, § I, ¶ I Power vested in General Assembly
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The legislative power of the state shall be vested in a General Assembly which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives.
Ga. Const. art. III, § I Legislative Power
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Ga. Const. art. III, § I Legislative Power Structural section heading for the GA Constitution. Operative constitutional text is stored in child paragraph rows. Source: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_State_of_Georgia_(1983)
Ga. Const. art. III, § II, ¶ I Senate and House of Representatives
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(a) The Senate shall consist of not more than 56 Senators, each of whom shall be elected from single-member districts. (b) The House of Representatives shall consist of not fewer than 180 Representatives apportioned among representative districts of the state.
Ga. Const. art. III, § II, ¶ II Apportionment of General Assembly
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The General Assembly shall apportion the Senate and House districts. Such districts shall be composed of contiguous territory. The apportionment of the Senate and of the House of Representatives shall be changed by the General Assembly as necessary after each United States decenn…
Ga. Const. art. III, § II, ¶ III Qualifications of members of General Assembly
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(a) At the time of their election, the members of the Senate shall be citizens of the United States, shall be at least 25 years of age, shall have been citizens of this state for at least two years, and shall have been legal residents of the territory embraced within the district…
Ga. Const. art. III, § II, ¶ IV Disqualifications
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(a) No person on active duty with any branch of the armed forces of the United States shall have a seat in either house unless otherwise provided by law. (b) No person holding any civil appointment or office having any emolument annexed thereto under the United States, this state…
Ga. Const. art. III, § II, ¶ V Election and term of members
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(a) The members of the General Assembly shall be elected by the qualified electors of their respective districts for a term of two years and shall serve until the time fixed for the convening of the next General Assembly. (b) The members of the General Assembly in office on June …
Ga. Const. art. III, § II Composition Of General Assembly
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Ga. Const. art. III, § II Composition Of General Assembly Structural section heading for the GA Constitution. Operative constitutional text is stored in child paragraph rows. Source: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_State_of_Georgia_(1983)
Ga. Const. art. III, § III, ¶ I President and President Pro Tempore of the Senate
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(a) The presiding officer of the Senate shall be styled the President of the Senate. (b) A President Pro Tempore shall be elected by the Senate from among its members. The President Pro Tempore shall act as President in case of the temporary disability of the President. In case o…
Ga. Const. art. III, § III, ¶ II Speaker and Speaker Pro Tempore of the House of Representatives
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(a) The presiding officer of the House of Representatives shall be styled the Speaker of the House of Representatives and shall be elected bythe House of Representatives from among its members. (b) A Speaker Pro Tempore shall be elected by the House of Representatives from among …
Ga. Const. art. III, § III, ¶ III Other officers of the two houses
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The other officers of the two houses shall be a Secretary of the Senate and a Clerk of the House of Representatives.
Ga. Const. art. III, § III Officers Of The General Assembly
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Ga. Const. art. III, § III Officers Of The General Assembly Structural section heading for the GA Constitution. Operative constitutional text is stored in child paragraph rows. Source: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_State_of_Georgia_(1983)
Ga. Const. art. III, § IV, ¶ I Meeting, time limit, and adjournment
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(a) The Senate and House of Representatives shall organize each odd-numbered year and shall be a different General Assembly for each two-year period. The General Assembly shall meet in regular session on the second Monday in January of each year, or otherwise as provided by law, …
Ga. Const. art. III, § IV, ¶ II Oath of members
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Each Senator and Representative, before taking the seat to which elected, shall take the oath or affirmation prescribed by law.
Ga. Const. art. III, § IV, ¶ III Quorum
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A majority of the members to which each house is entitled shall constitute a quorum to transact business. A smaller number may adjourn from day to day and compel the presence of its absent members.
Ga. Const. art. III, § IV, ¶ IV Rules of procedure; employees; interim committees
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Each house shall determine its rules of procedure and may provide for its employees. Interim committees may be created by or pursuant to the authority of the General Assembly or of either house.
Ga. Const. art. III, § IV, ¶ V Vacancies
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When a vacancy occurs in the General Assembly, it shall be filled as provided by this Constitution and by law. The seat of a member of either house shall be vacant upon the removal of such member's legal residence from the district from which elected.
Ga. Const. art. III, § IV, ¶ VI Salaries
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The members of the General Assembly shall receive such salary as shall be provided for by law, provided that no increase in salary shall become effective prior to the end of the term during which such change is made.
Ga. Const. art. III, § IV, ¶ VII Election and returns; disorderly conduct
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Each house shall be the judge of the election, returns, and qualifications of its members and shall have power to punish them for disorderly behavior or misconduct by censure, fine, imprisonment, or expulsion; but no member shall be expelled except by a vote of two-thirds of the …
Ga. Const. art. III, § IV, ¶ VIII Contempts, how punished
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Each house may punish by imprisonment, not extending beyond the session, any person not a member who shall be guilty of a contempt by any disorderly behavior in its presence or who shall rescue or attempt to rescue any person arrested by order of either house.
Ga. Const. art. III, § IV, ¶ IX Privilege of members
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The members of both houses shall be free from arrest during sessions of the General Assembly, or committee meetings thereof, and in going thereto or returning therefrom, except for treason, felony, or breach of the peace. No member shall be liable to answer in any other place for…
Ga. Const. art. III, § IV, ¶ X Elections by either house
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All elections by either house of the General Assembly shall be by recorded vote, and the vote shall appear on the respective journal of each house.
Ga. Const. art. III, § IV, ¶ XI Open meetings
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The sessions of the General Assembly and all standing committee meetings thereof shall be open to the public. Either house may by rule provide for exceptions to this requirement.
Ga. Const. art. III, § IV Organization And Procedure Of The General Assembly
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Ga. Const. art. III, § IV Organization And Procedure Of The General Assembly Structural section heading for the GA Constitution. Operative constitutional text is stored in child paragraph rows. Source: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_State_of_Georgia_(1983)
Ga. Const. art. III, § V, ¶ I Journals and laws
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Each house shall keep and publish after its adjournment a journal of its proceedings. The original journals shall be the sole, official records of the proceedings of each house and shall be preserved as provided by law. The General Assembly shall provide for the publication of th…
Ga. Const. art. III, § V, ¶ II Bills for revenue
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All bills for raising revenue, or appropriating money, shall originate in the House of Representatives.
Ga. Const. art. III, § V, ¶ III One subject matter expressed
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No bill shall pass which refers to more than one subject matter or contains matter different from what is expressed in the title thereof.
Ga. Const. art. III, § V, ¶ IV Statutes and sections of Code, how amended
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No law or section of the Code shall be amended or repealed by mere reference to its title or to the number of the section of the Code; but the amending or repealing Act shall distinctly describe the law or Code section to be amended or repealed as well as the alteration to be mad…
Ga. Const. art. III, § V, ¶ V Majority of members to pass bill
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No bill shall become law unless it shall receive a majority of the votes of all the members to which each house is entitled, and such vote shall so appear on the journal of each house.
Ga. Const. art. III, § V, ¶ VI When roll-call vote taken
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In either house, when ordered by the presiding officer or at the desire of one-fifth of the members present or a lesser number if so provided by the rules of either house, a roll-call vote on any question shall be taken and shall be entered on the journal. The yeas and nays in ea…
Ga. Const. art. III, § V, ¶ VII Reading of general bills
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The title of every general bill and of every resolution intended to have the effect of general law or to amend this Constitution or to propose a new Constitution shall be read three times and on three separate days in each house before such bill or resolution shall be voted upon;…
Ga. Const. art. III, § V, ¶ VIII Procedure for considering local legislation
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The General Assemblymay provide by law for the procedure for considering local legislation. The title of every local bill and every resolution intended to have the effect of local law shall be read at least once before such bill or resolution shall be voted upon; and no such bill…
Ga. Const. art. III, § V, ¶ IX Advertisement of notice to introduce local legislation
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The General Assembly shall provide by law for the advertisement of notice of intention to introduce local bills.
Ga. Const. art. III, § V, ¶ X Acts signed
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All Acts shall be signed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Ga. Const. art. III, § V, ¶ XI Signature of Governor
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No provision in this Constitution for a two-thirds' vote of both houses of the General Assembly shall be construed to waive the necessity for the signature of the Governor as in any other case, except in the case of the two-thirds' vote required to override the veto or to submit …
Ga. Const. art. III, § V, ¶ XII Rejected bills
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No bill or resolution intended to have the effect of law which shall have been rejected by either house shall again be proposed during the same regular or special session under the same or any other title without the consent of two-thirds of the house by which the same was reject…
Ga. Const. art. III, § V, ¶ XIII Approval, veto, and override of veto of bills and resolutions
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(a) All bills and all resolutions which have been passed by the General Assembly intended to have the effect of law shall become law if the Governor approves or fails to veto the same within six days from the date any such bill or resolution is transmitted to the Governor unless …
Ga. Const. art. III, § V, ¶ XIV Jointly sponsored bills and resolutions
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The General Assembly may provide by law for the joint sponsorship of bills and resolutions.
Ga. Const. art. III, § V Enactment Of Laws
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Ga. Const. art. III, § V Enactment Of Laws Structural section heading for the GA Constitution. Operative constitutional text is stored in child paragraph rows. Source: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_State_of_Georgia_(1983)
Ga. Const. art. III, § VI, ¶ I General powers
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The General Assembly shall have the power to make all laws not inconsistent with this Constitution, and not repugnant to the Constitution of the United States, which it shall deem necessary and proper for the welfare of the state.
Ga. Const. art. III, § VI, ¶ II Specific powers
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(a) Without limitation of the powers granted under Paragraph I, the General Assembly shall have the power to provide by law for: (1) Restrictions upon land use in order to protect and preserve the natural resources, environment, and vital areas of this state. (2) A militia and fo…
Ga. Const. art. III, § VI, ¶ III Powers not to be abridged
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The General Assembly shall not abridge its powers under this Constitution. No law enacted by the General Assembly shall be construed to limit its powers.
Ga. Const. art. III, § VI, ¶ IV Limitations on special legislation
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(a) Laws of a general nature shall have uniform operation throughout this state and no local or special law shall be enacted in any case for which provision has been made by an existing general law, except that the General Assembly may by general law authorize local governments b…
Ga. Const. art. III, § VI, ¶ V Specific limitations
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(a) The General Assembly shall not have the power to grant incorporation to private persons but shall provide by general law the manner in which private corporate powers and privileges may be granted. (b) The General Assembly shall not forgive the forfeiture of the charter of any…
Ga. Const. art. III, § VI, ¶ VI Gratuities
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(a) Except as otherwise provided in the Constitution, (1) the General Assembly shall not have the power to grant any donation or gratuity or to forgive any debt or obligation owing to the public, and (2) the General Assembly shall not grant or authorize extra compensation to any …
Ga. Const. art. III, § VI, ¶ VII Regulation of alcoholic beverages
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The State of Georgia shall have full and complete authority to regulate alcoholic beverages and to regulate, restrict, or prohibit activities involving alcoholic beverages. This regulatory authority of the state shall include all such regulatory authority as is permitted to the s…
Ga. Const. art. III, § VI Exercise Of Powers
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Ga. Const. art. III, § VI Exercise Of Powers Structural section heading for the GA Constitution. Operative constitutional text is stored in child paragraph rows. Source: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_State_of_Georgia_(1983)
Ga. Const. art. III, § VII, ¶ I Power to impeach
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The House of Representatives shall have the sole power to vote impeachment charges against any executive or judicial officer of this state or any member of the General Assembly.
Ga. Const. art. III, § VII, ¶ II Trial of impeachments
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The Senate shall have the sole power to try impeachments. When sitting for that purpose, the Senators shall be on oath, or affirmation, and shall be presided over by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Should the Chief Justice be disqualified, then the Presiding Justice shall…
Ga. Const. art. III, § VII, ¶ III Judgments in impeachment
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In cases of impeachment, judgments shall not extend further than removal from office and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust, or profit within this state or to receive a pension therefrom, but no such judgment shall relieve any party from any criminal or…