Module 6
After reviewing the Georgia State Constitution that is attached please discuss how the State Constitution addresses the role of public officials impacting public programs and services. Are there clear constitutional guidelines stated or is the State Constitution vague in this regard.
Your initial response to this discussion should be at least 500 words in length. Be careful to cite sources appropriately
CONSTITUTION
OF THE
STATE OF GEORGIA
(As Amended Through January 1, 2017)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREAMBLE ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..1
ARTICLE I. Bill of Rights …………………………………………………………………………………………..1
ARTICLE II. Voting and Elections ………………………………………………………………………………7
ARTICLE III. Legislative Branch ………………………………………………………………………………10
ARTICLE IV. Constitutional Boards and Commissions ………………………………………………..25
ARTICLE V. Executive Branch …………………………………………………………………………………28
ARTICLE VI. Judicial Branch …………………………………………………………………………………..32
ARTICLE VII. Taxation and Finance …………………………………………………………………………40
ARTICLE VIII. Education………………………………………………………………………………………….51
ARTICLE IX. Counties and Municipal Corporations…………………………………………………….57
ARTICLE X. Amendments to the Constitution……………………………………………………………..70
ARTICLE XI. Miscellaneous Provisions……………………………………………………………………..71
(THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK)
CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA
PREAMBLE
To perpetuate the principles of free government, insure justice to all, preserve peace,
promote the interest and happiness of the citizen and of the family, and transmit to posterity
the enjoyment of liberty, we the people of Georgia, relying upon the protection and
guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
ARTICLE I.
BILL OF RIGHTS
SECTION I.
RIGHTS OF PERSONS
Paragraph I. Life, liberty, and property. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or
property except by due process of law.
Paragraph II. Protection to person and property; equal protection. Protection to person
and property is the paramount duty of government and shall be impartial and complete. No
person shall be denied the equal protection of the laws.
Paragraph III. Freedom of conscience. Each person has the natural and inalienable right
to worship God, each according to the dictates of that person’s own conscience; and no
human authority should, in any case, control or interfere with such right of conscience.
Paragraph IV. Religious opinions; freedom of religion. No inhabitant of this state shall
be molested in person or property or be prohibited from holding any public office or trust
on account of religious opinions; but the right of freedom of religion shall not be so
construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness or justify practices inconsistent with the peace
and safety of the state.
Paragraph V. Freedom of speech and of the press guaranteed. No law shall be passed
to curtail or restrain the freedom of speech or of the press. Every person may speak, write,
and publish sentiments on all subjects but shall be responsible for the abuse of that liberty.
Paragraph VI. Libel. In all civil or criminal actions for libel, the truth may be given in
evidence; and, if it shall appear to the trier of fact that the matter charged as libelous is true,
the party shall be discharged.
Paragraph VII. Citizens, protection of. All citizens of the United States, resident in this
state, are hereby declared citizens of this state; and it shall be the duty of the General
Assembly to enact such laws as will protect them in the full enjoyment of the rights,
privileges, and immunities due to such citizenship.
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Paragraph VIII. Arms, right to keep and bear. The right of the people to keep and bear
arms shall not be infringed, but the General Assembly shall have power to prescribe the
manner in which arms may be borne.
Paragraph IX. Right to assemble and petition. The people have the right to assemble
peaceably for their common good and to apply by petition or remonstrance to those vested
with the powers of government for redress of grievances.
Paragraph X. Bill of attainder; ex post facto laws; and retroactive laws. No bill of
attainder, ex post facto law, retroactive law, or laws impairing the obligation of contract
or making irrevocable grant of special privileges or immunities shall be passed.
Paragraph XI. Right to trial by jury; number of jurors; selection and compensation of
jurors. (a) The right to trial by jury shall remain inviolate, except that the court shall render
judgment without the verdict of a jury in all civil cases where no issuable defense is filed
and where a jury is not demanded in writing by either party. In criminal cases, the
defendant shall have a public and speedy trial by an impartial jury; and the jury shall be the
judges of the law and the facts.
(b) A trial jury shall consist of 12 persons; but the General Assembly may prescribe any
number, not less than six, to constitute a trial jury in courts of limited jurisdiction and in
superior courts in misdemeanor cases.
(c) The General Assembly shall provide by law for the selection and compensation of
persons to serve as grand jurors and trial jurors.
Paragraph XII. Right to the courts. No person shall be deprived of the right to prosecute
or defend, either in person or by an attorney, that person’s own cause in any of the courts
of this state.
Paragraph XIII. Searches, seizures, and warrants. The right of the people to be secure
in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures
shall not be violated; and no warrant shall issue except upon probable cause supported by
oath or affirmation particularly describing the place or places to be searched and the
persons or things to be seized.
Paragraph XIV. Benefit of counsel; accusation; list of witnesses; compulsory process.
Every person charged with an offense against the laws of this state shall have the privilege
and benefit of counsel; shall be furnished with a copy of the accusation or indictment and,
on demand, with a list of the witnesses on whose testimony such charge is founded; shall
have compulsory process to obtain the testimony of that person’s own witnesses; and shall
be confronted with the witnesses testifying against such person.
Paragraph XV. Habeas corpus. The writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended unless,
in case of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may require it.
Paragraph XVI. Self-incrimination. No person shall be compelled to give testimony
tending in any manner to be self-incriminating.
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Paragraph XVII. Bail; fines; punishment; arrest, abuse of prisoners. Excessive bail
shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments
inflicted; nor shall any person be abused in being arrested, while under arrest, or in prison.
Paragraph XVIII. Jeopardy of life or liberty more than once forbidden. No person shall
be put in jeopardy of life or liberty more than once for the same offense except when a new
trial has been granted after conviction or in case of mistrial.
Paragraph XIX. Treason. Treason against the State of Georgia shall consist of
insurrection against the state, adhering to the state’s enemies, or giving them aid and
comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason except on the testimony of two witnesses
to the same overt act or confession in open court.
Paragraph XX. Conviction, effect of. No conviction shall work corruption of blood or
forfeiture of estate.
Paragraph XXI. Banishment and whipping as punishment for crime. Neither
banishment beyond the limits of the state nor whipping shall be allowed as a punishment
for crime.
Paragraph XXII. Involuntary servitude. There shall be no involuntary servitude within
the State of Georgia except as a punishment for crime after legal conviction thereof or for
contempt of court.
Paragraph XXIII. Imprisonment for debt. There shall be no imprisonment for debt.
Paragraph XXIV. Costs. No person shall be compelled to pay costs in any criminal case
except after conviction on final trial.
Paragraph XXV. Status of the citizen. The social status of a citizen shall never be the
subject of legislation.
Paragraph XXVI. Exemptions from levy and sale. The General Assembly shall protect
by law from levy and sale by virtue of any process under the laws of this state a portion of
the property of each person in an amount of not less than $1,600.00 and shall have
authority to define to whom any such additional exemptions shall be allowed; to specify
the amount of such exemptions; to provide for the manner of exempting such property and
for the sale, alienation, and encumbrance thereof; and to provide for the waiver of said
exemptions by the debtor.
Paragraph XXVII. Spouse’s separate property. The separate property of each spouse
shall remain the separate property of that spouse except as otherwise provided by law.
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Paragraph XXVIII. Fishing and hunting. The tradition of fishing and hunting and the
taking of fish and wildlife shall be preserved for the people and shall be managed by law
and regulation for the public good.
Paragraph XXIX. Enumeration of rights not denial of others. The enumeration of rights
herein contained as a part of this Constitution shall not be construed to deny to the people
any inherent rights which they may have hitherto enjoyed.
SECTION II.
ORIGIN AND STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT
Paragraph I. Origin and foundation of government. All government, of right, originates
with the people, is founded upon their will only, and is instituted solely for the good of the
whole. Public officers are the trustees and servants of the people and are at all times
amenable to them.
Paragraph II. Object of government. The people of this state have the inherent right of
regulating their internal government. Government is instituted for the protection, security,
and benefit of the people; and at all times they have the right to alter or reform the same
whenever the public good may require it.
Paragraph III. Separation of legislative, judicial, and executive powers. The legislative,
judicial, and executive powers shall forever remain separate and distinct; and no person
discharging the duties of one shall at the same time exercise the functions of either of the
others except as herein provided.
Paragraph IV. Contempts. The power of the courts to punish for contempt shall be
limited by legislative acts.
Paragraph V. What acts void. Legislative acts in violation of this Constitution or the
Constitution of the United States are void, and the judiciary shall so declare them.
Paragraph VI. Superiority of civil authority. The civil authority shall be superior to the
military.
Paragraph VII. Separation of church and state. No money shall ever be taken from the
public treasury, directly or indirectly, in aid of any church, sect, cult, or religious
denomination or of any sectarian institution.
Paragraph VIII. Lotteries and nonprofit bingo games. (a) Except as herein specifically
provided in this Paragraph VIII, all lotteries, and the sale of lottery tickets, and all forms
of pari-mutuel betting and casino gambling are hereby prohibited; and this prohibition shall
be enforced by penal laws.
(b) The General Assembly may by law provide that the operation of a nonprofit bingo
game shall not be a lottery and shall be legal in this state. The General Assembly may by
law define a nonprofit bingo game and provide for the regulation of nonprofit bingo games.
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(c) The General Assembly may by law provide for the operation and regulation of a
lottery or lotteries by or on behalf of the state and for any matters relating to the purposes
or provisions of this subparagraph. Proceeds derived from the lottery or lotteries operated
by or on behalf of the state shall be used to pay the operating expenses of the lottery or
lotteries, including all prizes, without any appropriation required by law, and for
educational programs and purposes as hereinafter provided. Lottery proceeds shall not be
subject to Article VII, Section III, Paragraph II; Article III, Section IX, Paragraph VI(a);
or Article III, Section IX, Paragraph IV(c), except that the net proceeds after payment of
such operating expenses shall be subject to Article VII, Section III, Paragraph II. Net
proceeds after payment of such operating expenses shall be separately accounted for and
shall be specifically identified by the Governor in his annual budget presented to the
General Assembly as a separate budget category entitled ‘Lottery Proceeds’ and the
Governor shall make specific recommendations as to educational programs and educational
purposes to which said net proceeds shall be appropriated. In the General Appropriations
Act adopted by the General Assembly, the General Assembly shall appropriate all net
proceeds of the lottery or lotteries by such separate budget category to educational
programs and educational purposes. Such net proceeds shall be used to support
improvements and enhancements for educational programs and purposes and such net
proceeds shall be used to supplement, not supplant, non-lottery educational resources for
educational programs and purposes. The educational programs and educational purposes
for which proceeds may be so appropriated shall include only the following:
(1) Tuition grants, scholarships, or loans to citizens of this state to enable such citizens
to attend colleges and universities located within this state, regardless of whether such
colleges or universities are operated by the board of regents, or to attend institutions
operated under the authority of the Department of Technical and Adult Education;
(2) Voluntary pre-kindergarten;
(3) One or more educational shortfall reserves in a total amount of not less than 10
percent of the net proceeds of the lottery for the preceding fiscal year;
(4) Costs of providing to teachers at accredited public institutions who teach levels
K-12, personnel at public postsecondary technical institutes under the authority of the
Department of Technical and Adult Education, and professors and instructors within the
University System of Georgia the necessary training in the use and application of
computers and advanced electronic instructional technology to implement interactive
learning environments in the classroom and to access the state-wide distance learning
network; and
(5) Capital outlay projects for educational facilities;
provided, however, that no funds shall be appropriated for the items listed in paragraphs
(4) and (5) of this subsection until all persons eligible for and applying for assistance as
provided in paragraph (1) of this subsection have received such assistance, all approved
pre-kindergarten programs provided for in paragraph (2) of this subsection have been fully
funded, and the education shortfall reserve or reserves provided for in paragraph (3) of this
subsection have been fully funded.
(d) On and after January 1, 1995, the holding of raffles by nonprofit organizations shall
be lawful and shall not be prohibited by any law enacted prior to January 1, 1994. Laws
enacted on or after January 1, 1994, however, may restrict, regulate, or prohibit the
operation of such raffles.
Paragraph IX. Sovereign immunity and waiver thereof; claims against the state and its
departments, agencies, officers, and employees. (a) The General Assembly may waive the
state’s sovereign immunity from suit by enacting a State Tort Claims Act, in which the
General Assembly may provide by law for procedures for the making, handling, and
disposition of actions or claims against the state and its departments, agencies, officers, and
employees, upon such terms and subject to such conditions and limitations as the General
Assembly may provide.
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(b) The General Assembly may also provide by law for the processing and disposition
of claims against the state which do not exceed such maximum amount as provided therein.
(c) The state’s defense of sovereign immunity is hereby waived as to any action ex
contractu for the breach of any written contract now existing or hereafter entered into by
the state or its departments and agencies.
(d) Except as specifically provided by the General Assembly in a State Tort Claims Act,
all officers and employees of the state or its departments and agencies may be subject to
suit and may be liable for injuries and damages caused by the negligent performance of,
or negligent failure to perform, their ministerial functions and may be liable for injuries and
damages if they act with actual malice or with actual intent to cause injury in the
performance of their official functions. Except as provided in this subparagraph, officers
and employees of the state or its departments and agencies shall not be subject to suit or
liability, and no judgment shall be entered against them, for the performance or
nonperformance of their official functions. The provisions of this subparagraph shall not
be waived.
(e) Except as specifically provided in this Paragraph, sovereign immunity extends to the
state and all of its departments and agencies. The sovereign immunity of the state and its
departments and agencies can only be waived by an Act of the General Assembly which
specifically provides that sovereign immunity is thereby waived and the extent of such
waiver.
(f) No waiver of sovereign immunity under this Paragraph shall be construed as a waiver
of any immunity provided to the state or its departments, agencies, officers, or employees
by the United States Constitution.
SECTION III.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Paragraph I. Eminent domain. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Paragraph, private
property shall not be taken or damaged for public purposes without just and adequate
compensation being first paid.
(b) When private property is taken or damaged by the state or the counties or
municipalities of the state for public road or street purposes, or for public transportation
purposes, or for any other public purposes as determined by the General Assembly, just and
adequate compensation therefor need not be paid until the same has been finally fixed and
determined as provided by law; but such just and adequate compensation shall then be paid
in preference to all other obligations except bonded indebtedness.
(c) The General Assembly may by law require the condemnor to make prepayment
against adequate compensation as a condition precedent to the exercise of the right of
eminent domain and provide for the disbursement of the same to the end that the rights and
equities of the property owner, lien holders, and the state and its subdivisions may be
protected.
(d) The General Assembly may provide by law for the payment by the condemnor of
reasonable expenses, including attorney’s fees, incurred by the condemnee in determining
just and adequate compensation.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Constitution, the General Assembly may
provide by law for relocation assistance and payments to persons displaced through the
exercise of the power of eminent domain or because of public projects or programs; and
the powers of taxation may be exercised and public funds expended in furtherance thereof.
Paragraph II. Private ways. In case of necessity, private ways may be granted upon just
and adequate compensation being first paid by the applicant.
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Paragraph III. Tidewater titles confirmed. The Act of the General Assembly approved
December 16, 1902, which extends the title of ownership of lands abutting on tidal water
to low water mark, is hereby ratified and confirmed.
SECTION IV.
MARRIAGE
Paragraph I. Recognition of marriage. (a) This state shall recognize as marriage only the
union of man and woman. Marriages between persons of the same sex are prohibited in this
state.
(b) No union between persons of the same sex shall be recognized by this state as
entitled to the benefits of marriage. This state shall not give effect to any public act, record,
or judicial proceeding of any other state or jurisdiction respecting a relationship between
persons of the same sex that is treated as a marriage under the laws of such other state or
jurisdiction. The courts of this state shall have no jurisdiction to grant a divorce or separate
maintenance with respect to any such relationship or otherwise to consider or rule on any
of the parties’ respective rights arising as a result of or in connection with such relationship.
ARTICLE II.
VOTING AND ELECTIONS
SECTION I.
METHOD OF VOTING; RIGHT TO REGISTER AND VOTE
Paragraph I. Method of voting. Elections by the people shall be by secret ballot and shall
be conducted in accordance with procedures provided by law.
Paragraph II. Right to register and vote. Every person who is a citizen of the United
States and a resident of Georgia as defined by law, who is at least 18 years of age and not
disenfranchised by this article, and who meets minimum residency requirements as
provided by law shall be entitled to vote at any election by the people. The General
Assembly shall provide by law for the registration of electors.
Paragraph III. Exceptions to right to register and vote. (a) No person who has been
convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude may register, remain registered, or vote
except upon completion of the sentence.
(b) No person who has been judicially determined to be mentally incompetent may
register, remain registered, or vote unless the disability has been removed.
SECTION II.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Paragraph I. Procedures to be provided by law. The General Assembly shall provide by
law for a method of appeal from the decision to allow or refuse to allow any person to
register or vote and shall provide by law for a procedure whereby returns of all elections
by the people shall be made to the Secretary of State.
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Paragraph II. Run-off election. A run-off election shall be a continuation of the general
election and only persons who were entitled to vote in the general election shall be entitled
to vote therein; and only those votes cast for the persons designated for the runoff shall be
counted in the tabulation and canvass of the votes cast.
Paragraph III. Persons not eligible to hold office. No person who is not a registered
voter; who has been convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude, unless that person’s
civil rights have been restored and at least ten years have elapsed from the date of the
completion of the sentence without a subsequent conviction of another felony involving
moral turpitude; who is a defaulter for any federal, state, county, municipal, or school
system taxes required of such officeholder or candidate if such person has been finally
adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to owe those taxes, but such ineligibility
may be removed at any time by full payment thereof, or by making payments to the tax
authority pursuant to a payment plan, or under such other conditions as the General
Assembly may provide by general law; or who is the holder of public funds illegally shall
be eligible to hold any office or appointment of honor or trust in this state. Additional
conditions of eligibility to hold office for persons elected on a write-in vote and for persons
holding offices or appointments of honor or trust other than elected offices created by this
Constitution may be provided by law.
Paragraph IV. Recall of public officials holding elective office. The General Assembly
is hereby authorized to provide by general law for the recall of public officials who hold
elective office. The procedures, grounds, and all other matters relative to such recall shall
be provided for in such law.
Paragraph V. Vacancies created by elected officials qualifying for other office. The
office of any state, county, or municipal elected official shall be declared vacant upon such
elected official qualifying, in a general primary or general election, or special primary or
special election, for another state, county, or municipal elective office or qualifying for the
House of Representatives or the Senate of the United States if the term of the office for
which such official is qualifying for begins more than 30 days prior to the expiration of
such official’s present term of office. The vacancy created in any such office shall be filled
as provided by this Constitution or any general or local law. This provision shall not apply
to any elected official seeking or holding more than one elective office when the holding
of such offices simultaneously is specifically authorized by law.
SECTION III.
SUSPENSION AND REMOVAL OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS
Paragraph I. Procedures for and effect of suspending or removing public officials upon
felony indictment. (a) As used in this Paragraph, the term ‘public official’ means the
Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, the State
School Superintendent, the Commissioner of Insurance, the Commissioner of Agriculture,
the Commissioner of Labor, and any member of the General Assembly.
(b) Upon indictment for a felony by a grand jury of this state or by the United States,
which felony indictment relates to the performance or activities of the office of any public
official, the Attorney General or district attorney shall transmit a certified copy of the
indictment to the Governor or, if the indicted public official is the Governor, to the
Lieutenant Governor who shall, subject to subparagraph (d) of this Paragraph, appoint a
review commission. If the indicted public official is the Governor, the commission shall
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be composed of the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, the State School
Superintendent, the Commissioner of Insurance, the Commissioner of Agriculture, and the
Commissioner of Labor. If the indicted public official is the Attorney General, the
commission shall be composed of three other public officials who are not members of the
General Assembly. If the indicted public official is not the Governor, the Attorney General,
or a member of the General Assembly, the commission shall be composed of the Attorney
General and two other public officials who are not members of the General Assembly. If
the indicted public official is a member of the General Assembly, the commission shall be
composed of the Attorney General and one member of the Senate and one member of the
House of Representatives. If the Attorney General brings the indictment against the public
official, the Attorney General shall not serve on the commission. In place of the Attorney
General, the Governor shall appoint a retired Supreme Court Justice or a retired Court of
Appeals Judge. The commission shall provide for a speedy hearing, including notice of the
nature and cause of the hearing, process for obtaining witnesses, and the assistance of
counsel. Unless a longer period of time is granted by the appointing authority, the
commission shall make a written report within 14 days. If the commission determines that
the indictment relates to and adversely affects the administration of the office of the
indicted public official and that the rights and interests of the public are adversely affected
thereby, the Governor or, if the Governor is the indicted public official, the Lieutenant
Governor shall suspend the public official immediately and without further action pending
the final disposition of the case or until the expiration of the officer’s term of office,
whichever occurs first. During the term of office to which such officer was elected and in
which the indictment occurred, if a nolle prosequi is entered, if the public official is
acquitted, or if after conviction the conviction is later overturned as a result of any direct
appeal or application for a writ of certiorari, the officer shall be immediately reinstated to
the office from which he was suspended. While a public official is suspended under this
Paragraph and until initial conviction by the trial court, the officer shall continue to receive
the compensation from his office. After initial conviction by the trial court, the officer shall
not be entitled to receive the compensation from his office. If the officer is reinstated to
office, he shall be entitled to receive any compensation withheld under the provisions of
this Paragraph.
(c) Unless the Governor is the public officer under suspension, for the duration of any
suspension under this Paragraph, the Governor shall appoint a replacement officer except
in the case of a member of the General Assembly. If the Governor is the public officer
under suspension, the provisions of Article V, Section I, Paragraph V of this Constitution
shall apply as if the Governor were temporarily disabled. Upon a final conviction with no
appeal or review pending, the office shall be declared vacant and a successor to that office
shall be chosen as provided in this Constitution or the laws enacted in pursuance thereof.
(d) No commission shall be appointed for a period of 14 days from the day the
indictment is received. This period of time may be extended by the Governor. During this
period of time, the indicted public official may, in writing, authorize the Governor or, if the
Governor is the indicted public official, the Lieutenant Governor to suspend him from
office. Any such voluntary suspension shall be subject to the same conditions for review,
reinstatement, or declaration of vacancy as are provided in this Paragraph for a
nonvoluntary suspension.
(e) After any suspension is imposed under this Paragraph, the suspended public official
may petition the appointing authority for a review. The Governor or, if the indicted public
official is the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor may reappoint the commission to review
the suspension. The commission shall make a written report within 14 days. If the
commission recommends that the public official be reinstated, he shall immediately be
reinstated to office.
(f) The report and records of the commission and the fact that the public official has or
has not been suspended shall not be admissible in evidence in any court for any purpose.
The report and record of the commission shall not be open to the public.
(g) The provisions of this Paragraph shall not apply to any indictment handed down prior
to January 1, 1985.
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(h) If a public official who is suspended from office under the provisions of this
Paragraph is not first tried at the next regular or special term following the indictment, the
suspension shall be terminated and the public official shall be reinstated to office. The
public official shall not be reinstated under this subparagraph if he is not so tried based on
a continuance granted upon a motion made only by the defendant.
Paragraph II. Suspension upon felony conviction. Upon initial conviction of any public
official designated in Paragraph I of this section for any felony in a trial court of this state
or the United States, regardless of whether the officer has been suspended previously under
Paragraph I of this section, such public official shall be immediately and without further
action suspended from office. While a public official is suspended from office under this
Paragraph, he or she shall not be entitled to receive the compensation from his or her
office. If, during the remainder of the elected official’s term of office, the conviction is later
overturned as a result of any direct appeal or application for a writ of certiorari, the public
official shall be immediately reinstated to the office from which he or she was suspended
and shall be entitled to receive any compensation withheld under the provisions of this
Paragraph. Unless the Governor is the public official under suspension, for the duration of
any suspension under this Paragraph, the Governor shall appoint a replacement official
except in the case of a member of the General Assembly. If the public officer under
suspension is a member of the Senate or House of Representatives, then a replacement
member for the duration of the suspension shall be elected as now or hereafter provided by
law, in a manner the same as or similar to the election of a member to fill a vacancy in the
General Assembly but to serve only for the duration of the suspension. If the Governor is
the public officer under suspension, the provisions of Article V, Section I, Paragraph V of
this Constitution shall apply as if the Governor were temporarily disabled. Upon a final
conviction with no appeal or review pending, the office shall be declared vacant and a
successor to that office shall be chosen as provided in this Constitution or the laws enacted
in pursuance thereof. The provisions of this Paragraph shall not apply to any conviction
rendered prior to January 1, 1987.
ARTICLE III.
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
SECTION I.
LEGISLATIVE POWER
Paragraph I. Power vested in General Assembly. The legislative power of the state shall
be vested in a General Assembly which shall consist of a Senate and a House of
Representatives.
SECTION II.
COMPOSITION OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Paragraph I. Senate and House of Representatives. (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.
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Paragraph II. Apportionment of General Assembly. 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 decennial census.
Paragraph III. Qualifications of members of General Assembly. (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 from which elected for at
least one year.
(b) At the time of their election, the members of the House of Representatives shall be
citizens of the United States, shall be at least 21 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 from which elected for at least one year.
Paragraph IV. Disqualifications. (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, or any other state shall have a seat in either
house.
(c) No Senator or Representative shall be elected by the General Assembly or appointed
by the Governor to any office or appointment having any emolument annexed thereto
during the time for which such person shall have been elected unless the Senator or
Representative shall first resign the seat to which elected; provided, however, that, during
the term for which elected, no Senator or Representative shall be appointed to any civil
office which has been created during such term.
Paragraph V. Election and term of members. (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 30, 1983, shall serve out the
remainder of the terms to which elected.
(c) The first election for members of the General Assembly under this Constitution shall
take place on Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 1984, and subsequent elections
biennially on that day until the day of election is changed by law.
SECTION III.
OFFICERS
OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Paragraph I. President and President Pro Tempore of the Senate. (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 of the death, resignation, or permanent disability of the President or in
the event of the succession of the President to the executive power, the President Pro
Tempore shall become President and shall receive the same compensation and allowances
as the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The General Assembly shall provide by
law for the method of determining disability as provided in this Paragraph.
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Paragraph II. Speaker and Speaker Pro Tempore of the House of Representatives. (a)
The presiding officer of the House of Representatives shall be styled the Speaker of the
House of Representatives and shall be elected by the House of Representatives from among
its members.
(b) A Speaker Pro Tempore shall be elected by the House of Representatives from
among its members. The Speaker Pro Tempore shall become Speaker in case of the death,
resignation, or permanent disability of the Speaker and shall serve until a Speaker is
elected. Such election shall be held as provided in the rules of the House. The General
Assembly shall provide by law for the method of determining disability as provided in this
Paragraph.
Paragraph III. Other officers of the two houses. The other officers of the two houses shall
be a Secretary of the Senate and a Clerk of the House of Representatives.
SECTION IV.
ORGANIZATION AND PROCEDURE
OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Paragraph I. Meeting, time limit, and adjournment. (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, and may
continue in session for a period of no longer than 40 days in the aggregate each year. By
concurrent resolution, the General Assembly may adjourn any regular session to such later
date as it may fix for reconvening. Separate periods of adjournment may be fixed by one
or more such concurrent resolutions.
(b) Neither house shall adjourn during a regular session for more than three days or meet
in any place other than the state capitol without the consent of the other. Following the fifth
day of a special session, either house may adjourn not more than twice for a period not to
exceed seven days for each such adjournment. In the event either house, after the thirtieth
day of any session, adopts a resolution to adjourn for a specified period of time and such
resolution and any amendments thereto are not adopted by both houses by the end of the
legislative day on which adjournment was called for in such resolution, the Governor may
adjourn both houses for a period of time not to exceed ten days.
(c) If an impeachment trial is pending at the end of any session, the House shall adjourn
and the Senate shall remain in session until such trial is completed.
Paragraph II. Oath of members. Each Senator and Representative, before taking the seat
to which elected, shall take the oath or affirmation prescribed by law.
Paragraph III. Quorum. 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.
Paragraph IV. Rules of procedure; employees; interim committees. 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.
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Paragraph V. Vacancies. 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.
Paragraph VI. Salaries. 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.
Paragraph VII. Election and returns; disorderly conduct. 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 members of the
house to which such member belongs.
Paragraph VIII. Contempts, how punished. 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.
Paragraph IX. Privilege of members. 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 anything spoken in either house or
in any committee meeting of either house.
Paragraph X. Elections by either house. 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.
Paragraph XI. Open meetings. 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.
SECTION V.
ENACTMENT OF LAWS
Paragraph I. Journals and laws. 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 the laws passed at each session.
Paragraph II. Bills for revenue. All bills for raising revenue, or appropriating money,
shall originate in the House of Representatives.
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Paragraph III. One subject matter expressed. No bill shall pass which refers to more than
one subject matter or contains matter different from what is expressed in the title thereof.
Paragraph IV. Statutes and sections of Code, how amended. 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 made.
Paragraph V. Majority of members to pass bill. 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.
Paragraph VI. When roll-call vote taken. 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 each house shall be recorded and entered on
the journal upon the passage or rejection of any bill or resolution appropriating money and
whenever the Constitution requires a vote of two-thirds of either or both houses for the
passage of a bill or resolution.
Paragraph VII. Reading of general bills. 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; and the third reading of such bill
and resolution shall be in their entirety when ordered by the presiding officer or by a
majority of the members voting on such question in either house.
Paragraph VIII. Procedure for considering local legislation. The General Assembly may
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 or resolution shall be
voted upon prior to the second day following the day of introduction.
Paragraph IX. Advertisement of notice to introduce local legislation. The General
Assembly shall provide by law for the advertisement of notice of intention to introduce
local bills.
Paragraph X. Acts signed. All Acts shall be signed by the President of the Senate and the
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Paragraph XI. Signature of Governor. 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 proposed constitutional amendments or a
proposal for a new Constitution.
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Paragraph XII. Rejected bills. 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 rejected.
Paragraph XIII. Approval, veto, and override of veto of bills and resolutions. (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 the
General Assembly adjourns sine die or adjourns for more than 40 days prior to the
expiration of said six days. In the case of such adjournment sine die or of such adjournment
for more than 40 days, the same shall become law if approved or not vetoed by the
Governor within 40 days from the date of any such adjournment.
(b) During sessions of the General Assembly or during any period of adjournment of a
session of the General Assembly, no bill or resolution shall be transmitted to the Governor
after passage except upon request of the Governor or upon order of two-thirds of the
membership of each house. A local bill which is required by the Constitution to have a
referendum election conducted before it shall become effective shall be transmitted
immediately to the Governor when ordered by the presiding officer of the house wherein
the bill shall have originated or upon order of two-thirds of the membership of such house.
(c) The Governor shall have the duty to transmit any vetoed bill or resolution, together
with the reasons for such veto, to the presiding officer of the house wherein it originated
within three days from the date of veto if the General Assembly is in session on the date
of transmission. If the General Assembly adjourns sine die or adjourns for more than 40
days, the Governor shall transmit any vetoed bill or resolution, together with the reasons
for such veto, to the presiding officer of the house wherein it originated within 60 days of
the date of such adjournment.
(d) During sessions of the General Assembly, any vetoed bill or resolution may upon
receipt be immediately considered by the house wherein it originated for the purpose of
overriding the veto. If two-thirds of the members to which such house is entitled vote to
override the veto of the Governor, the same shall be immediately transmitted to the other
house where it shall be immediately considered. Upon the vote to override the veto by
two-thirds of the members to which such other house is entitled, such bill or resolution
shall become law. All bills and resolutions vetoed during the last three days of the session
and not considered for the purpose of overriding the veto and all bills and resolutions
vetoed after the General Assembly has adjourned sine die may be considered at the next
session of the General Assembly for the purpose of overriding the veto in the manner
herein provided. If either house shall fail to override the Governor’s veto, neither house
shall again consider such bill or resolution for the purpose of overriding such veto.
(e) The Governor may approve any appropriation and veto any other appropriation in the
same bill, and any appropriation vetoed shall not become law unless such veto is
overridden in the manner herein provided.
Paragraph XIV. Jointly sponsored bills and resolutions. The General Assembly may
provide by law for the joint sponsorship of bills and resolutions.
SECTION VI.
EXERCISE OF POWERS
Paragraph I. General powers. 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.
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Paragraph II. Specific powers. (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 for the trial by courts-martial and nonjudicial punishment of its
members, the discipline of whom, when not in federal service, shall be in accordance
with law and the directives of the Governor acting as commander in chief.
(3) The participation by the state and political subdivisions and instrumentalities of the
state in federal programs and the compliance with laws relating thereto, including but not
limited to the powers, which may be exercised to the extent and in the manner necessary
to effect such participation and compliance, to tax, to expend public money, to condemn
property, and to zone property.
(4) The continuity of state and local governments in periods of emergency resulting
from disasters caused by enemy attack including but not limited to the suspension of all
constitutional legislative rules during such emergency.
(5) The participation by the state with any county, municipality, nonprofit
organization, or any combination thereof in the operation of any of the facilities operated
by such agencies for the purpose of encouraging and promoting tourism in this state.
(6) The control and regulation of outdoor advertising devices adjacent to federal aid
interstate and primary highways and for the acquisition of property or interest therein for
such purposes and may exercise the powers of taxation and provide for the expenditure
of public funds in connection therewith.
(b) The General Assembly shall have the power to implement the provisions of Article
I, Section III, Paragraph I(2.); Article IV, Section VIII, Paragraph II; Article IV, Section
VIII, Paragraph III; and Article X, Section II, Paragraph XII of the Constitution of 1976
in force and effect on June 30, 1983; and all laws heretofore adopted thereunder and valid
at the time of their enactment shall continue in force and effect until modified or repealed.
(c) The distribution of tractors, farm equipment, heavy equipment, new motor vehicles,
and parts therefor in the State of Georgia vitally affects the general economy of the state
and the public interest and public welfare. Notwithstanding the provisions of Article I,
Section I, Paragraphs I, II, and III or Article III, Section VI, Paragraph V(c) of this
Constitution, the General Assembly in the exercise of its police power shall be authorized
to regulate tractor, farm equipment, heavy equipment, and new motor vehicle
manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and their representatives doing business in Georgia,
including agreements among such parties, in order to prevent frauds, unfair business
practices, unfair methods of competition, impositions, and other abuses upon its citizens.
Any law enacted by the General Assembly shall not impair the obligation of an existing
contract but may apply with respect to the renewal of such a contract after the effective
date of such law.
Paragraph III. Powers not to be abridged. 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.
Paragraph IV. Limitations on special legislation. (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 by local ordinance or resolution
to exercise police powers which do not conflict with general laws.
(b) No population bill, as the General Assembly shall define by general law, shall be
passed. No bill using classification by population as a means of determining the
applicability of any bill or law to any political subdivision or group of political
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subdivisions may expressly or impliedly amend, modify, supersede, or repeal the general
law defining a population bill.
(c) No special law relating to the rights or status of private persons shall be enacted.
Paragraph V. Specific limitations. (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
corporation existing on August 13, 1945, nor shall it grant any benefit to or permit any
amendment to the charter of any corporation except upon the condition that the acceptance
thereof shall operate as a novation of the charter and that such corporation shall thereafter
hold its charter subject to the provisions of this Constitution.
(c)(1) The General Assembly shall not have the power to authorize any contract or
agreement which may have the effect of or which is intended to have the effect of
encouraging a monopoly, which is hereby declared to be unlawful and void. Except as
otherwise provided in subparagraph (c)(2) of this Paragraph, the General Assembly shall
not have the power to authorize any contract or agreement which may have the effect of
or which is intended to have the effect of defeating or lessening competition, which is
hereby declared to be unlawful and void.
(2) The General Assembly shall have the power to authorize and provide by general
law for judicial enforcement of contracts or agreements restricting or regulating
competitive activities between or among:
(A) Employers and employees;
(B) Distributors and manufacturers;
(C) Lessors and lessees;
(D) Partnerships and partners;
(E) Franchisors and franchisees;
(F) Sellers and purchasers of a business or commercial enterprise; or
(G) Two or more employers.
(3) The authority granted to the General Assembly in subparagraph (c)(2) of this
Paragraph shall include the authority to grant to courts by general law the power to limit
the duration, geographic area, and scope of prohibited activities provided in a contract
or agreement restricting or regulating competitive activities to render such contract or
agreement reasonable under the circumstances for which it was made.
(d) The General Assembly shall not have the power to regulate or fix charges of public
utilities owned or operated by any county or municipality of this state, except as authorized
by this Constitution.
(e) No municipal or county authority which is authorized to construct, improve, or
maintain any road or street on behalf of, pursuant to a contract with, or through the use of
taxes or other revenues of a county or municipal corporation shall be created by any local
Act or pursuant to any general Act nor shall any law specifically relating to any such
authority be amended unless the creation of such authority or the amendment of such law
is conditioned upon the approval of a majority of the qualified voters of the county or
municipal corporation affected voting in a referendum thereon. This subparagraph shall
not apply to or affect any state authority.
Paragraph VI. Gratuities. (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 public officer, agent, or contractor after the service
has been rendered or the contract entered into.
(b) All laws heretofore adopted under Article III, Section VIII, Paragraph XII of the
Constitution of 1976 in force and effect on June 30, 1983, shall continue in force and effect
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and may be amended if such amendments are consistent with the authority granted to the
General Assembly by such provisions of said Constitution.
(c) The General Assembly may provide by law and may expend or authorize the
expenditure of public funds for a health insurance plan or program for persons and the
spouses and dependent children of persons who are retired former employees of public
schools or public school systems of this state.
(d) The General Assembly may provide by law for indemnification with respect to
licensed emergency management rescue specialists who are or have been killed or
permanently disabled in the line of duty on or after January 1, 1991, and publicly employed
emergency medical technicians who are or have been killed or permanently disabled in the
line of duty on or after January 1, 1987.
(e)(1) The General Assembly may provide by law for a program of indemnification
with respect to the death or permanent disability of any law enforcement officer, fireman,
prison guard, or publicly employed emergency medical technician who is or at any time
in the past was killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty. Funds shall be
appropriated as necessary for payment of such indemnification or for the purchase of
insurance for such indemnification or both.
(2) The General Assembly may provide by law for a program of compensation for
injuries incurred by law enforcement officers and firemen in the line of duty. A law
enforcement officer who becomes physically disabled, but not permanently disabled, as
a result of a physical injury incurred in the line of duty and caused by a willful act of
violence and a fireman who becomes physically disabled, but not permanently disabled,
as a result of a physical injury incurred in the line of duty while fighting a fire shall be
entitled to receive monthly compensation from the state in an amount equal to any such
person’s regular compensation for the period of time that the law enforcement officer or
fireman is physically unable to perform the duties of his or her employment; provided,
however, that such benefits provided in this subparagraph shall not be granted for more
than a total of 12 months for injuries resulting from a single incident. A law enforcement
officer or fireman shall be required to submit to a state agency satisfactory evidence of
such disability. Benefits made available under this subparagraph shall be subordinate to
workers’ compensation benefits, disability and other compensation benefits from an
employer which the law enforcement officer or fireman is awarded and shall be limited
to the difference between the amount of workers’ compensation benefits, disability and
other compensation benefits actually paid and the amount of the law enforcement
officer’s or fireman’s regular compensation. Any law enforcement officer or fireman who
receives indemnification under subparagraph (1) of this subparagraph (e) shall not be
entitled to any compensation under this subparagraph.
(f) The General Assembly is authorized to provide by law for compensating innocent
victims of crimes which occur on and after July 1, 1989. The General Assembly is
authorized to define the types of victims eligible to receive compensation and to vary the
amounts of compensation according to need. The General Assembly shall be authorized
to allocate certain funds, to appropriate funds, to provide for a continuing fund, or to
provide for any combination thereof for the purpose of compensating innocent victims of
crime and for the administration of any laws enacted for such purpose.
(g) The General Assembly may provide by law for indemnification with respect to public
school teachers, administrators, and employees who are killed or permanently disabled by
an act of violence in the line of duty, a nonlapsing indemnification fund for such purposes,
and dedication of revenue from special and distinctive motor vehicle license plates
honoring Georgia educators to such fund.
(g) The General Assembly may provide by law for a program of indemnification with
respect to the death or permanent disability of any state highway employee who is or at any
time in the past was killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty. Funds shall be
appropriated as necessary for payment of such indemnification or for the purchase of
insurance for such indemnification or both.
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Paragraph VII. Regulation of alcoholic beverages. 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 states under the Twenty-First
Amendment to the United States Constitution. This regulatory authority of the state is
specifically delegated to the counties and municipalities of the state for the purpose of
regulating, restricting, or prohibiting the exhibition of nudity, partial nudity, or depictions
of nudity in connection with the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages; and such
delegated regulatory authority may be exercised by the adoption and enforcement of
regulatory ordinances by the counties and municipalities of this state. A general law
exercising such regulatory authority shall control over conflicting provisions of any local
ordinance but shall not preempt any local ordinance provisions not in direct conflict with
general law.
SECTION VII.
IMPEACHMENTS
Paragraph I. Power to impeach. 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.
Paragraph II. Trial of impeachments. 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 preside. Should the Presiding Justice
be disqualified, then the Senate shall select a Justice of the Supreme Court to preside. No
person shall be convicted without concurrence of two-thirds of the members to which the
Senate is entitled.
Paragraph III. Judgments in impeachment. 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 civil liability.
SECTION VIII.
INSURANCE REGULATION
Paragraph I. Regulation of insurance. Provision shall be made by law for the regulation
of insurance.
Paragraph II. Issuance of licenses. Insurance licenses shall be issued by the
Commissioner of Insurance as required by law.
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SECTION IX.
APPROPRIATIONS
Paragraph I. Public money, how drawn. No money shall be drawn from the treasury
except by appropriation made by law.
Paragraph II. Preparation, submission, and enactments of general appropriations bill.
(a) The Governor shall submit to the General Assembly within five days after its convening
in regular session each year a budget message and a budget report, accompanied by a draft
of a general appropriations bill, in such form and manner as may be prescribed by statute,
which shall provide for the appropriation of the funds necessary to operate all the various
departments and agencies and to meet the current expenses of the state for the next fiscal
year.
(b) The General Assembly shall annually appropriate those state and federal funds
necessary to operate all the various departments and agencies. To the extent that federal
funds received by the state for any program, project, activity, purpose, or expenditure are
changed by federal authority or exceed the amount or amounts appropriated in the general
appropriations Act or supplementary appropriation Act or Acts, or are not anticipated, such
excess, changed or unanticipated federal funds are hereby continually appropriated for the
purposes authorized and directed by the federal government in making the grant. In those
instances where the conditions under which the federal funds have been made available do
not provide otherwise, federal funds shall first be used to replace state funds that were
appropriated to supplant federal funds in the same state fiscal year. The fiscal year of the
state shall commence on the first day of July of each year and terminate on the thirtieth of
June following.
(c) The General Assembly shall by general law provide for the regulation and
management of the finance and fiscal administration of the state.
Paragraph III. General appropriations bill. The general appropriations bill shall embrace
nothing except appropriations fixed by previous laws; the ordinary expenses of the
executive, legislative, and judicial departments of the government; payment of the public
debt and interest thereon; and for support of the public institutions and educational interests
of the state. All other appropriations shall be made by separate bills, each embracing but
one subject.
Paragraph IV. General appropriations Act. (a) Each general appropriations Act, now of
force or hereafter adopted with such amendments as are adopted from time to time, shall
continue in force and effect for the next fiscal year after adoption and it shall then expire,
except for the mandatory appropriations required by this Constitution and those required
to meet contractual obligations authorized by this Constitution and the continued
appropriation of federal grants.
(b) The General Assembly shall not appropriate funds for any given fiscal year which,
in aggregate, exceed a sum equal to the amount of unappropriated surplus expected to have
accrued in the state treasury at the beginning of the fiscal year together with an amount not
greater than the total treasury receipts from existing revenue sources anticipated to be
collected in the fiscal year, less refunds, as estimated in the budget report and amendments
thereto. Supplementary appropriations, if any, shall be made in the manner provided in
Paragraph V of this section of the Constitution; but in no event shall a supplementary
appropriations Act continue in force and effect beyond the expiration of the general
appropriations Act in effect when such supplementary appropriations Act was adopted and
approved.
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(c) All appropriated state funds, except for the mandatory appropriations required by this
Constitution, remaining unexpended and not contractually obligated at the expiration of
such general appropriations Act shall lapse.
(d) Funds appropriated to or received by the State Housing Trust Fund for the Homeless
shall not be subject to the provisions of Article III, Section IX, Paragraph IV(c), relative
to the lapsing of funds, and may be expended for programs of purely public charity for the
homeless, including programs involving the participation of churches and religious
institutions, notwithstanding the provisions of Article I, Section II, Paragraph VII.
Paragraph V. Other or supplementary appropriations. In addition to the appropriations
made by the general appropriations Act and amendments thereto, the General Assembly
may make additional appropriations by Acts, which shall be known as supplementary
appropriation Acts, provided no such supplementary appropriation shall be available unless
there is an unappropriated surplus in the state treasury or the revenue necessary to pay such
appropriation shall have been provided by a tax laid for such purpose and collected into the
general fund of the state treasury. Neither house shall pass a supplementary appropriation
bill until the general appropriations Act shall have been finally adopted by both houses and
approved by the Governor.
Paragraph VI. Appropriations to be for specific sums. (a) Except as hereinafter provided,
the appropriation for each department, officer, bureau, board, commission, agency, or
institution for which appropriation is made shall be for a specific sum of money; and no
appropriation shall allocate to any object the proceeds of any particular tax or fund or a part
or percentage thereof.
(b) An amount equal to all money derived from motor fuel taxes received by the state
in each of the immediately preceding fiscal years, less the amount of refunds, rebates, and
collection costs authorized by law, is hereby appropriated for the fiscal year beginning July
1, of each year following, for all activities incident to providing and maintaining an
adequate system of public roads and bridges in this state, as authorized by laws enacted by
the General Assembly of Georgia, and for grants to counties by law authorizing road
construction and maintenance, as provided by law authorizing such grants. Said sum is
hereby appropriated for, and shall be available for, the aforesaid purposes regardless of
whether the General Assembly enacts a general appropriations Act; and said sum need not
be specifically stated in any general appropriations Act passed by the General Assembly
in order to be available for such purposes. However, this shall not preclude the General
Assembly from appropriating for such purposes an amount greater than the sum specified
above for such purposes. The expenditure of such funds shall be subject to all the rules,
regulations, and restrictions imposed on the expenditure of appropriations by provisions
of the Constitution and laws of this state, unless such provisions are in conflict with the
provisions of this paragraph. And provided, however, that the proceeds of the tax hereby
appropriated shall not be subject to budgetary reduction. In the event of invasion of this
state by land, sea, or air or in case of a major catastrophe so proclaimed by the Governor,
said funds may be utilized for defense or relief purposes on the executive order of the
Governor.
(c) A trust fund for use in the reimbursement of a portion of an employer’s workers’
compensation expenses resulting to an employee from the combination of a previous
disability with subsequent injury incurred in employment may be provided for by law. As
authorized by law, revenues raised for purposes of the fund may be paid into and disbursed
from the trust without being subject to the limitations of subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph
or of Article VII, Section III, Paragraph II.
(d) As provided by law, additional penalties may be assessed in any case in which any
court in this state imposes a fine or orders the forfeiture of any bond in the nature of the
penalty for all offenses against the criminal and traffic laws of this state or of the political
subdivisions of this state. The proceeds derived from such additional penalty assessments
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may be allocated for the specific purpose of meeting any and all costs, or any portion of the
cost, of providing training to law enforcement officers and to prosecuting officials.
(e) The General Assembly may by general law approved by a three-fifths’ vote of both
houses designate any part or all of the proceeds of any state tax now or hereafter levied and
collected on alcoholic beverages to be used for prevention, education, and treatment
relating to alcohol and drug abuse.
(f) The General Assembly is authorized to provide by law for the creation of a State
Children’s Trust Fund from which funds shall be disbursed for child abuse and neglect
prevention programs. The General Assembly is authorized to appropriate moneys to such
fund and such moneys paid into the fund shall not be subject to the provisions of Article
III, Section IX, Paragraph IV(c), relative to the lapsing of funds.
(g) The General Assembly is authorized to provide by law for the creation of a
Seed-Capital Fund from which funds shall be disbursed at the direction of the Advanced
Technology Development Center of the University System of Georgia to provide equity
and other capital to small, young, entrepreneurial firms engaged in innovative work in the
areas of technology, manufacturing, or agriculture. Funds shall be disbursed in the form of
loans or investments which shall provide for repayment, rents, dividends, royalties, or other
forms of return on investments as provided by law. Moneys received from returns on loans
or investments shall be deposited in the Seed-Capital Fund for further disbursement. The
General Assembly is authorized to appropriate moneys to such fund and such moneys paid
into the fund shall not be subject to the provisions of Article III, Section IX, Paragraph
IV(c) relative to the lapsing of funds. The General Assembly shall be authorized to provide
by law for any matters relating to the purpose or provisions of this subparagraph.
(h) The General Assembly is authorized to provide by general law for additional
penalties or fees in any case in any court in this state in which a person is adjudged guilty
of an offense against the criminal or traffic laws of this state or an ordinance of a political
subdivision of this state. The General Assembly is authorized to provide by general law for
the allocation of such additional penalties or fees for the construction, operation, and
staffing of jails, correctional institutions, and detention facilities by counties.
(i) The General Assembly is authorized to provide by general law for the creation of an
Indigent Care Trust Fund. Any hospital, hospital authority, county, or municipality is
authorized to contribute or transfer moneys to the fund and any other person or entity
specified by the General Assembly may also contribute to the fund. The General Assembly
may provide by general law for the dedication and deposit of revenues raised from
specified sources for the purposes of the fund into the fund. Moneys in the fund shall be
exclusively used for primary health care programs for medically indigent citizens and
children of this state, for expansion of Medicaid eligibility and services, or for programs
to support rural and other health care providers, primarily hospitals, who disproportionately
serve the medically indigent. Any other appropriation from the Indigent Care Trust Fund
shall be void. Contributions and revenues deposited to the fund shall not lapse and shall not
be subject to the limitations of subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph or of Article VII, Section
III, Paragraph II. Contributions in the fund which are not appropriated as required by this
subparagraph shall be refunded pro rata to the contributors thereof, as provided by the
General Assembly.
(j) The General Assembly is authorized to provide by general law for the creation of an
emerging crops fund from which to pay interest on loans made to farmers to enable such
farmers to produce certain crops on Georgia farms and thereby promote economic
development. The General Assembly is authorized to appropriate moneys to such fund and
moneys so appropriated shall not be subject to the provisions of Article III, Section IX,
Paragraph IV(c), relative to the lapsing of appropriated funds. Interest on loans made to
farmers shall be paid from such fund pursuant to such terms, conditions, and requirements
as the General Assembly shall provide by general law. The General Assembly may provide
by general law for the administration of such fund by such state agency or public authority
as the General Assembly shall determine.
(k) The General Assembly is authorized to provide by general law for additional
penalties or fees in any case in any court in this state in which a person is adjudged guilty
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of an offense involving driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs or reckless driving.
The General Assembly is authorized to provide by general law for the allocation of such
additional penalties or fees to the Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund, as provided by law,
for the specified purpose of meeting any and all costs, or any portion of the costs, of
providing care and rehabilitative services to citizens of the state who have survived
neurotrauma with head or spinal cord injuries. Moneys appropriated for such purposes
shall not lapse. The General Assembly may provide by general law for the administration
of such fund by such authority as the General Assembly shall determine.
(l) The General Assembly is authorized to provide by general law for the creation of a
roadside enhancement and beautification fund from which funds shall be disbursed for
enhancement and beautification of public rights of way; for allocation and dedication of
revenue from tree and other vegetation trimming or removal permit fees, other related
assessments, and special and distinctive wildflower motor vehicle license plate fees to such
fund; that moneys paid into the fund shall not lapse, the provisions of Article III, Section
IX, Paragraph IV(c) notwithstanding; and for any matters relating to the purpose or
provisions of this subparagraph. An Act creating such fund and making such provisions
effective January 1, 1999, or later may originate or have originated in the Senate or the
House of Representatives.
(m) There shall be within the Department of Agriculture a dog and cat reproductive
sterilization support program to control dog and cat overpopulation and thereby reduce the
number of animals housed and killed in animal shelters, which program shall be
administered by the Commissioner of Agriculture. In order to fund the program, there shall
be issued beginning in 2003 specially designed license plates promoting the program. The
General Assembly shall provide by law for the issuance of such license plates and for
dedication of certain revenue derived from fees for such plates to the support of the
program. All such dedicated revenue derived from special license plate fees, any funds
appropriated to the department for such purposes, and any voluntary contributions or other
funds made available to the department for such purposes and all interest thereon shall be
deposited in a special fund for support of the program, shall not be used for any purpose
other than support of the program, and shall not lapse. The General Assembly may provide
by law for all matters necessary or appropriate to the implementation of this paragraph.
(n) The General Assembly may provide by law for the issuance and renewal of special
motor vehicle license plates that motor vehicle owners may optionally purchase and renew
for additional fees. The General Assembly may provide for all or a portion of the net
revenue, as defined by the General Assembly, derived from the additional fees charged for
any such special license plate to be dedicated to an agency, fund, or nonprofit corporation
to implement or support programs related to the nature of the special license plate, as
intended by the authorizing statute. Any dedication of funds enacted pursuant to the
authority of this subparagraph may be in whole or in part for the ultimate use of a nonprofit
corporation, without limitation by Article III, Section VI, Paragraph VI, if the General
Assembly determines that the license plate program and such appropriation will benefit
both the state and the nonprofit corporation. Any law enacted pursuant to the authority of
this subparagraph may provide that funds dedicated pursuant to such law shall not lapse as
otherwise required by Article III, Section IX, Paragraph IV(c). Any law enacted pursuant
to the authority of this subparagraph shall be required to receive a two thirds’ majority vote
in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
(o) The General Assembly may provide by general law for additional penalties in any
case in any court in this state in which a person is adjudged guilty of keeping a place of
prostitution, pimping, pandering, pandering by compulsion, solicitation of sodomy,
masturbation for hire, trafficking of persons for sexual servitude, or sexual exploitation of
children and may impose assessments on adult entertainment establishments as defined by
law; and such appropriated amount shall not lapse as required by Article III, Section IX,
Paragraph IV(c) and shall not be subject to the limitations of subparagraph (a) of this
Paragraph, Article III, Section V, Paragraph II, Article VII, Section III, Paragraph II(a), or
Article VII, Section III, Paragraph IV. The General Assembly may provide by general law
for the allocation of such assessments and additional penalties to the Safe Harbor for
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Sexually Exploited Children Fund for the specified purpose of meeting any and all costs,
or any portion of the costs, of providing care and rehabilitative and social services to
individuals in this state who have been or may be sexually exploited. The General
Assembly may provide by general law for the administration of such fund by such
authority as the General Assembly shall determine.
(o) The proceeds of any excise tax imposed by general law on the sale of fireworks or
consumer fireworks in this state shall be dedicated to the provision of trauma care, fire
services, and local public safety purposes in Georgia. The General Assembly shall provide
by general law for the use, dedication, and deposit of revenues raised from any such excise
tax on fireworks or consumer fireworks. Contributions and revenues deposited for such
purposes shall not lapse and shall not be subject to the limitations of subparagraph (a) of
this Paragraph or of Article VII, Section III, Paragraph II.
Paragraph VII. Appropriations void, when. Any appropriation made in conflict with any
of the foregoing provisions shall be void.
SECTION X.
RETIREMENT SYSTEMS
Paragraph I. Expenditure of public funds authorized. Public funds may be expended for
the purpose of paying benefits and other costs of retirement and pension systems for public
officers and employees and their beneficiaries.
Paragraph II. Increasing benefits authorized. Public funds may be expended for the
purpose of increasing benefits being paid pursuant to any retirement or pension system
wholly or partially supported from public funds.
Paragraph III. Retirement systems covering employees of county boards of education.
Notwithstanding Article IX, Section II, Paragraph III(a)(14), the authority to establish or
modify heretofore existing local retirement systems covering employees of county boards
of education shall continue to be vested in the General Assembly.
Paragraph IV. Firemen’s Pension System. The powers of taxation may be exercised by
the state through the General Assembly and the counties and municipalities for the purpose
of paying pensions and other benefits and costs under a firemen’s pension system or
systems. The taxes so levied may be collected by such firemen’s pension system or systems
and disbursed therefrom by authority of the General Assembly for the purposes therein
authorized.
Paragraph V. Funding standards. It shall be the duty of the General Assembly to enact
legislation to define funding standards which will assure the actuarial soundness of any
retirement or pension system supported wholly or partially from public funds and to control
legislative procedures so that no bill or resolution creating or amending any such retirement
or pension system shall be passed by the General Assembly without concurrent provisions
for funding in accordance with the defined funding standards.
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Paragraph V-A. Limitation on involuntary separation benefits for Governor of the State
of Georgia. Any other provisions of this Constitution to the contrary notwithstanding, no
past, present, or future Governor of the State of Georgia who ceases or ceased to hold
office as Governor for any reason, except for medical disability, shall receive a retirement
benefit based on involuntary separation from employment as a result of ceasing to hold
office as Governor. The provisions of any law in conflict with this Paragraph are null and
void effective January 1, 1985.
Paragraph VI. Involuntary separation; part-time service. (a) Any public retirement or
pension system provided for by law in existence prior to January 1, 1985, may be changed
by the General Assembly for any one or more of the following purposes:
(1) To redefine involuntary separation from employment; or
(2) To provide additional or revise existing limitations or restrictions on the right to
qualify for a retirement benefit based on involuntary separation from employment.
(b) The General Assembly by law may define or redefine part-time service, including
but not limited to service as a member of the General Assembly, for the purposes of any
public retirement or pension system presently existing or created in the future and may
limit or restrict the use of such part-time service as creditable service under any such
retirement or pension system.
(c) Any law enacted by the General Assembly pursuant to subparagraph (a) or (b) of this
Paragraph may affect persons who are members of public retirement or pension systems
on January 1, 1985, and who became members at any time prior to that date.
(d) Any law enacted by the General Assembly pursuant to subparagraph (a) or (b) of this
Paragraph shall not be subject to any law controlling legislative procedures for the
consideration of retirement or pension bills, including, but not limited to, any limitations
on the sessions of the General Assembly at which retirement or pension bills may be
introduced.
(e) No public retirement or pension system created on or after January 1, 1985, shall
grant any person whose retirement is based on involuntary separation from employment
a retirement or pension benefit more favorable than the retirement or pension benefit
granted to a person whose separation from employment is voluntary.
ARTICLE IV.
CONSTITUTIONAL BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
SECTION I.
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
Paragraph I. Public Service Commission. (a) There shall be a Public Service Commission
for the regulation of utilities which shall consist of five members who shall be elected by
the people. The Commissioners in office on June 30, 1983, shall serve until December 31
after the general election at which the successor of each member is elected. Thereafter, all
succeeding terms of members shall be for six years. Members shall serve until their
successors are elected and qualified. A chairman shall be selected by the members of the
commission from its membership.
(b) The commission shall be vested with such jurisdiction, powers, and duties as
provided by law.
(c) The filling of vacancies and manner and time of election of members of the
commission shall be as provided by law.
SECTION II.
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STATE BOARD OF PARDONS AND PAROLES
Paragraph I. State Board of Pardons and Paroles. There shall be a State Board of
Pardons and Paroles which shall consist of five members appointed by the Governor,
subject to confirmation by the Senate. The members of the board in office on June 30,
1983, shall serve out the remainder of their respective terms, provided that the expiration
date of the term of any such member shall be December 31 of the year in which the
member’s term expires. As each term of office expires, the Governor shall appoint a
successor as herein provided. All such terms of members shall be for seven years. A
chairman shall be selected by the members of the board from its membership.
Paragraph II. Powers and authority. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Paragraph,
the State Board of Pardons and Paroles shall be vested with the power of executive
clemency, including the powers to grant reprieves, pardons, and paroles; to commute
penalties; to remove disabilities imposed by law; and to remit any part of a sentence for any
offense against the state after conviction.
(b)(1) When a sentence of death is commuted to life imprisonment, the board shall not
have the authority to grant a pardon to the convicted person until such person has served
at least 25 years in the penitentiary; and such person shall not become eligible for parole
at any time prior to serving at least 25 years in the penitentiary.
(2) The General Assembly may by general law approved by two-thirds of the members
elected to each branch of the General Assembly in a roll-call vote provide for minimum
mandatory sentences and for sentences which are required to be served in their entirety
for persons convicted of armed robbery, kidnapping, rape, aggravated child molestation,
aggravated sodomy, or aggravated sexual battery and, when so provided by such Act, the
board shall not have the authority to consider such persons for pardon, parole, or
commutation during that portion of the sentence.
(3) The General Assembly may by general law approved by two-thirds of the members
elected to each branch of the General Assembly in a roll-call vote provide for the
imposition of sentences of life without parole for persons convicted of murder and for
persons who having been previously convicted of murder, armed robbery, kidnapping,
rape, aggravated child molestation, aggravated sodomy, or aggravated sexual battery or
having been previously convicted under the laws of any other state or of the United States
of a crime which if committed in this state would be one of those offenses and who after
such previous conviction subsequently commits and is convicted of one of those offenses
and, when so provided by such Act, the board shall not have the authority to consider
such persons for pardon, parole, or commutation from any portion of such sentence.
(4) Any general law previously enacted by the General Assembly providing for life
without parole or for mandatory service of sentences without suspension, probation, or
parole is hereby ratified and approved but such provisions shall be subject to amendment
or repeal by general law.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph, the General
Assembly, by law, may prohibit the board from granting and may prescribe the terms and
conditions for the board’s granting a pardon or parole to:
(1) Any person incarcerated for a second or subsequent time for any offense for which
such person could have been sentenced to life imprisonment; and
(2) Any person who has received consecutive life sentences as the result of offenses
occurring during the same series of acts.
(d) The chairman of the board, or any other member designated by the board, may
suspend the execution of a sentence of death until the full board shall have an opportunity
to hear the application of the convicted person for any relief within the power of the board.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Paragraph, the State Board of Pardons
and Paroles shall have the authority to pardon any person convicted of a crime who is
subsequently determined to be innocent of said crime or to issue a medical reprieve to an
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entirely incapacitated person suffering a progressively debilitating terminal illness or parole
any person who is age 62 or older.
SECTION III.
STATE PERSONNEL BOARD
Paragraph I. State Personnel Board. (a) There shall be a State Personnel Board which
shall consist of five members appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the
Senate. The members of the board in office on June 30, 1983, shall serve out the remainder
of their respective terms. As each term of office expires, the Governor shall appoint a
successor as herein provided. All such terms of members shall be for five years. Members
shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified. A member of the State
Personnel Board may not be employed in any other capacity in state government. A
chairman shall be selected by the members of the board from its membership.
(b) The board shall provide policy direction for a State Merit System of Personnel
Administration and may be vested with such additional powers and duties as provided by
law. State personnel shall be selected on the basis of merit as provided by law.
Paragraph II. Veterans preference. Any veteran who has served as a member of the
armed forces of the United States during the period of a war or armed conflict in which any
branch of the armed forces of the United States engaged, whether under United States
command or otherwise, and was honorably discharged therefrom, shall be given such
veterans preference in any civil service program established in state government as may
be provided by law. Any such law must provide at least ten points to a veteran having at
least a 10 percent service connected disability as rated and certified by the Veterans
Administration, and all other such veterans shall be entitled to at least five points.
SECTION IV.
STATE TRANSPORTATION BOARD
Paragraph I. State Transportation Board; commissioner. (a) There shall be a State
Transportation Board composed of as many members as there are congressional districts
in the state. The member of the board from each congressional district shall be elected by
a majority vote of the members of the House of Representatives and Senate whose
respective districts are embraced or partly embraced within such congressional district
meeting in caucus. The members of the board in office on June 30, 1983, shall serve out
the remainder of their respective terms. The General Assembly shall provide by law the
procedure for the election of members and for filling vacancies on the board. Members
shall serve for terms of five years and until their successors are elected and qualified.
(b) The State Transportation Board shall select a commissioner of transportation, who
shall be the chief executive officer of the Department of Transportation and who shall have
such powers and duties as provided by law.
SECTION V.
VETERANS SERVICE BOARD
Paragraph I. Veterans Service Board; commissioner. (a) There shall be a State
Department of Veterans Service and Veterans Service Board which shall consist of seven
members appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate. The members
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in office on June 30, 1983, shall serve out the remainder of their respective terms. As each
term of office expires, the Governor shall appoint a successor as herein provided. All such
terms of members shall be for seven years. Members shall serve until their successors are
appointed and qualified.
(b) The board shall appoint a commissioner who shall be the executive officer of the
department. All members of the board and the commissioner shall be veterans of some war
or armed conflict in which the United States has engaged. The board shall have such
control, duties, powers, and jurisdiction of the State Department of Veterans Service as
shall be provided by law.
SECTION VI.
BOARD OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Paragraph I. Board of Natural Resources. (a) There shall be a Board of Natural
Resources which shall consist of one member from each congressional district in the state
and five members from the state at large, one of whom must be from one of the following
named counties: Chatham, Bryan, Liberty, McIntosh, Glynn, or Camden. All members
shall be appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate. The members
of the board in office on June 30, 1983, shall serve out the remainder of their respective
terms. As each term of office expires, the Governor shall appoint a successor as herein
provided. All such terms of members shall be for seven years. Members shall serve until
their successors are appointed and qualified. Insofar as it is practicable, the members of the
board shall be representative of all areas and functions encompassed within the Department
of Natural Resources.
(b) The board shall have such powers and duties as provided by law.
SECTION VII.
QUALIFICATIONS, COMPENSATION, REMOVAL FROM
OFFICE, AND POWERS AND DUTIES OF MEMBERS OF
CONSTITUTIONAL BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
Paragraph I. Qualifications, compensation, and removal from office. The qualifications,
compensation, and removal from office of members of constitutional boards and
commissions provided for in this article shall be as provided by law.
Paragraph II. Powers and duties. The powers and duties of members of constitutional
boards and commissions provided for in this article, except the Board of Pardons and
Paroles, shall be as provided by law.
ARTICLE V.
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
SECTION I.
ELECTION OF GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
Paragraph I. Governor: term of office; compensation and allowances. There shall be a
Governor who shall hold office for a term of four years and until a successor shall be
chosen and qualified. Persons holding the office of Governor may succeed themselves for
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one four-year term of office. Persons who have held the office of Governor and have
succeeded themselves as hereinbefore provided shall not again be eligible to be elected to
that office until after the expiration of four years from the conclusion of their term as
Governor. The compensation and allowances of the Governor shall be as provided by law.
Paragraph II. Election for Governor. An election for Governor shall be held on Tuesday
after the first Monday in November of 1986, and the Governor-elect shall be installed in
office at the next session of the General Assembly. An election for Governor shall take
place quadrennially thereafter on said date unless another date be fixed by the General
Assembly. Said election shall be held at the places of holding general elections in the
several counties of this state, in the manner prescribed for the election of members of the
General Assembly, and the electors shall be the same.
Paragraph III. Lieutenant Governor. There shall be a Lieutenant Governor, who shall be
elected at the same time, for the same term, and in the same manner as the Governor. The
Lieutenant Governor shall be the President of the Senate and shall have such executive
duties as prescribed by the Governor and as may be prescribed by law not inconsistent with
the powers of the Governor or other provisions of this Constitution. The compensation and
allowances of the Lieutenant Governor shall be as provided by law.
Paragraph IV. Qualifications of Governor and Lieutenant Governor. No person shall
be eligible for election to the office of Governor or Lieutenant Governor unless such person
shall have been a citizen of the United States 15 years and a legal resident of the state six
years immediately preceding the election and shall have attained the age of 30 years by the
date of assuming office.
Paragraph V. Succession to executive power. (a) In case of the temporary disability of
the Governor as determined in the manner provided in Section IV of this article, the
Lieutenant Governor shall exercise the powers and duties of the Governor and receive the
same compensation as the Governor until such time as the temporary disability of the
Governor ends.
(b) In case of the death, resignation, or permanent disability of the Governor or the
Governor-elect, the Lieutenant Governor or the Lieutenant Governor-elect, upon becoming
the Lieutenant Governor, shall become the Governor until a successor shall be elected and
qualified as hereinafter provided. A successor to serve for the unexpired term shall be
elected at the next general election; but, if such death, resignation, or permanent disability
shall occur within 30 days of the next general election or if the term will expire within 90
days after the next general election, the Lieutenant Governor shall become Governor for
the unexpired term. No person shall be elected or appointed to the office of Lieutenant
Governor for the unexpired term in the event the Lieutenant Governor shall become
Governor as herein provided.
(c) In case of the death, resignation, or permanent disability of both the Governor or the
Governor-elect and the Lieutenant Governor or the Lieutenant Governor-elect or in case
of the death, resignation, or permanent disability of the Governor and there shall be no
Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall exercise the
powers and duties of the Governor until the election and qualification of a Governor at a
special election, which shall be held within 90 days from the date on which the Speaker of
the House of Representatives shall have assumed the powers and duties of the Governor,
and the person elected shall serve out the unexpired term.
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Paragraph VI. Oath of office. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor shall, before
entering on the duties of office, take such oath or affirmation as prescribed by law.
SECTION II.
DUTIES AND POWERS OF GOVERNOR
Paragraph I. Executive powers. The chief executive powers shall be vested in the
Governor. The other executive officers shall have such powers as may be prescribed by this
Constitution and by law.
Paragraph II. Law enforcement. The Governor shall take care that the laws are faithfully
executed and shall be the conservator of the peace throughout the state.
Paragraph III. Commander in chief. The Governor shall be the commander in chief of
the military forces of this state.
Paragraph IV. Veto power. Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, before any
bill or resolution shall become law, the Governor shall have the right to review such bill
or resolution intended to have the effect of law which has been passed by the General
Assembly. The Governor may veto, approve, or take no action on any such bill or
resolution. In the event the Governor vetoes any such bill or resolution, the General
Assembly may, by a two-thirds’ vote, override such veto as provided in Article III of this
Constitution.
Paragraph V. Writs of election. The Governor shall issue writs of election to fill all
vacancies that may occur in the Senate and in the House of Representatives.
Paragraph VI. Information and recommendations to the General Assembly. At the
beginning of each regular session and from time to time, the Governor may give the
General Assembly information on the state of the state and recommend to its consideration
such measures as the Governor may deem necessary or expedient.
Paragraph VII. Special sessions of the General Assembly. (a) The Governor may
convene the General Assembly in special session by proclamation which may be amended
by the Governor prior to the convening of the special session or amended by the Governor
with the approval of three-fifths of the members of each house after the special session has
convened; but no laws shall be enacted at any such special session except those which
relate to the purposes stated in the proclamation or in any amendment thereto.
(b) The Governor shall convene the General Assembly in special session for all purposes
whenever three-fifths of the members to which each house is entitled certify to the
Governor in writing, with a copy to the Secretary of State, that in their opinion an
emergency exists in the affairs of the state. The General Assembly may convene itself if,
after receiving such certification, the Governor fails to do so within three days, excluding
Sundays.
(c) Special sessions of the General Assembly shall be limited to a period of 40 days
unless extended by three-fifths’ vote of each house and approved by the Governor or unless
at the expiration of such period an impeachment trial of some officer of state government
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is pending, in which event the House shall adjourn and the Senate shall remain in session
until such trial is completed.
Paragraph VIII. Filling vacancies. (a) When any public office shall become vacant by
death, resignation, or otherwise, the Governor shall promptly fill such vacancy unless
otherwise provided by this Constitution or by law; and persons so appointed shall serve for
the unexpired term unless otherwise provided by this Constitution or by law.
(b) In case of the death or withdrawal of a person who received a majority of votes cast
in an election for the office of Secretary of State, Attorney General, State School
Superintendent, Commissioner of Insurance, Commissioner of Agriculture, or
Commissioner of Labor, the Governor elected at the same election, upon becoming
Governor, shall have the power to fill such office by appointing, subject to the confirmation
of the Senate, an individual to serve until the next general election and until a successor for
the balance of the unexpired term shall have been elected and qualified.
Paragraph IX. Appointments by Governor. The Governor shall make such appointments
as are authorized by this Constitution or by law. If a person whose confirmation is required
by the Senate is once rejected by the Senate, that person shall not be renominated by the
Governor for appointment to the same office until the expiration of a period of one year
from the date of such rejection.
Paragraph X. Information from officers and employees. The Governor may require
information in writing from constitutional officers and all other officers and employees of
the executive branch on any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices or
employment.
SECTION III.
OTHER ELECTED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Paragraph I. Other executive officers, how elected. The Secretary of State, Attorney
General, State School Superintendent, Commissioner of Insurance, Commissioner of
Agriculture, and Commissioner of Labor shall be elected in the manner prescribed for the
election of members of the General Assembly and the electors shall be the same. Such
executive officers shall be elected at the same time and hold their offices for the same term
as the Governor.
Paragraph II. Qualifications. (a) No person shall be eligible to the office of the Secretary
of State, Attorney General, State School Superintendent, Commissioner of Insurance,
Commissioner of Agriculture, or Commissioner of Labor unless such person shall have
been a citizen of the United States for ten years and a legal resident of the state for four
years immediately preceding election or appointment and shall have attained the age of 25
years by the date of assuming office. All of said officers shall take such oath and give bond
and security, as prescribed by law, for the faithful discharge of their duties.
(b) No person shall be Attorney General unless such person shall have been an
active-status member of the State Bar of Georgia for seven years.
Paragraph III. Powers, duties, compensation, and allowances of other executive officers.
Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, the General Assembly shall prescribe
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the powers, duties, compensation, and allowances of the above executive officers and
provide assistance and expenses necessary for the operation of the department of each.
Paragraph IV. Attorney General; duties. The Attorney General shall act as the legal
advisor of the executive department, shall represent the state in the Supreme Court in all
capital felonies and in all civil and criminal cases in any court when required by the
Governor, and shall perform such other duties as shall be required by law.
SECTION IV.
DISABILITY OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Paragraph I. ‘Elected constitutional executive officer,’ how defined. As used in this
section, the term ‘elected constitutional executive officer’ means the Governor, the
Lieutenant Governor, the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, the State School
Superintendent, the Commissioner of Insurance, the Commissioner of Agriculture, and the
Commissioner of Labor.
Paragraph II. Procedure for determining disability. Upon a petition of any four of the
elected constitutional executive officers to the Supreme Court of Georgia that another
elected constitutional executive officer is unable to perform the duties of office because of
a physical or mental disability, the Supreme Court shall by appropriate rule provide for a
speedy and public hearing on such matter, including notice of the nature and cause of the
accusation, process for obtaining witnesses, and the assistance of counsel. Evidence at such
hearing shall include testimony from not fewer than three qualified physicians in private
practice, one of whom must be a psychiatrist.
Paragraph III. Effect of determination of disability. If, after hearing the evidence on
disability, the Supreme Court determines that there is a disability and that such disability
is permanent, the office shall be declared vacant and the successor to that office shall be
chosen as provided in this Constitution or the laws enacted in pursuance thereof. If it is
determined that the disability is not permanent, the Supreme Court shall determine when
the disability has ended and when the officer shall resume the exercise of the powers of
office. During the period of temporary disability, the powers of such office shall be
exercised as provided by law.
ARTICLE VI.
JUDICIAL BRANCH
SECTION I.
JUDICIAL POWER
Paragraph I. Judicial power of the state. The judicial power of the state shall be vested
exclusively in the following classes of courts: magistrate courts, probate courts, juvenile
courts, state courts, superior courts, Court of Appeals, and Supreme Court. Magistrate
courts, probate courts, juvenile courts, and state courts shall be courts of limited
jurisdiction. In addition, the General Assembly may establish or authorize the
establishment of municipal courts and may authorize administrative agencies to exercise
quasi-judicial powers. Municipal courts shall have jurisdiction over ordinance violations
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and such other jurisdiction as provided by law. Except as provided in this paragraph and
in Section X, municipal courts, county recorder’s courts and civil courts in existence on
June 30, 1983, and administrative agencies shall not be subject to the provisions of this
article. The General Assembly shall have the authority to confer ‘by law’ jurisdiction upon
municipal courts to try state offenses.
Paragraph II. Unified judicial system. All courts of the state shall comprise a unified
judicial system.
Paragraph III. Judges; exercise of power outside own court; scope of term ‘judge.’
Provided the judge is otherwise qualified, a judge may exercise judicial power in any court
upon the request and with the consent of the judges of that court and of the judge’s own
court under rules prescribed by law. The term ‘judge,’ as used in this article, shall include
Justices, judges, senior judges, magistrates, and every other such judicial office of whatever
name existing or created.
Paragraph IV. Exercise of judicial power. Each court may exercise such powers as
necessary in aid of its jurisdiction or to protect or effectuate its judgments; but only the
superior and appellate courts shall have the power to issue process in the nature of
mandamus, prohibition, specific performance, quo warranto, and injunction. Each superior
court, state court, and other courts of record may grant new trials on legal grounds.
Paragraph V. Uniformity of jurisdiction, powers, etc. Except as otherwise provided in
this Constitution, the courts of each class shall have uniform jurisdiction, powers, rules of
practice and procedure, and selection, qualifications, terms, and discipline of judges. The
provisions of this Paragraph shall be effected by law within 24 months of the effective date
of this Constitution.
Paragraph VI. Judicial circuits; courts in each county; court sessions. The state shall
be divided into judicial circuits, each of which shall consist of not less than one county.
Each county shall have at least one superior court, magistrate court, a probate court, and,
where needed, a state court and a juvenile court. The General Assembly may provide by
law that the judge of the probate court may also serve as the judge of the magistrate court.
In the absence of a state court or a juvenile court, the superior court shall exercise that
jurisdiction. Superior courts shall hold court at least twice each year in each county.
Paragraph VII. Judicial circuits, courts, and judgeships, law changed. The General
Assembly may abolish, create, consolidate, or modify judicial circuits and courts and
judgeships; but no circuit shall consist of less than one county.
Paragraph VIII. Transfer of cases. Any court shall transfer to the appropriate court in the
state any civil case in which it determines that jurisdiction or venue lies elsewhere.
Paragraph IX. Rules of evidence; law prescribed. All rules of evidence shall be as
prescribed by law.
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Paragraph X. Authorization for pilot projects. The General Assembly may by general
law approved by a two-thirds’ majority of the members of each house enact legislation
providing for, as pilot programs of limited duration, courts which are not uniform within
their classes in jurisdiction, powers, rules of practice and procedure, and selection,
qualifications, terms, and discipline of judges for such pilot courts and other matters
relative thereto. Such legislation shall name the political subdivision, judicial circuit, and
existing courts affected and may, in addition to any other power, grant to such court created
as a pilot program the power to issue process in the nature of mandamus, prohibition,
specific performance, quo warranto, and injunction. The General Assembly shall provide
by general law for a procedure for submitting proposed legislation relating to such pilot
programs to the Judicial Council of Georgia or its successor. Legislation enacted pursuant
to this Paragraph shall not deny equal protection of the laws to any person in violation of
Article I, Section I, Paragraph II of this Constitution.
SECTION II.
VENUE
Paragraph I. Divorce cases. Divorce cases shall be tried in the county where the
defendant resides, if a resident of this state; if the defendant is not a resident of this state,
then in the county in which the plaintiff resides; provided, however, a divorce case may be
tried in the county of residence of the plaintiff if the defendant has moved from that same
county within six months from the date of the filing of the divorce action and said county
was the site of the marital domicile at the time of the separation of the parties, and
provided, further, that any person who has been a resident of any United States army post
or military reservation within the State of Georgia for one year next preceding the filing
of the petition may bring an action for divorce in any county adjacent to said United States
army post or military reservation.
Paragraph II. Land titles. Cases respecting titles to land shall be tried in the county where
the land lies, except where a single tract is divided by a county line, in which case the
superior court of either county shall have jurisdiction.
Paragraph III. Equity cases. Equity cases shall be tried in the county where a defendant
resides against whom substantial relief is prayed.
Paragraph IV. Suits against joint obligors, copartners, etc. Suits against joint obligors,
joint tort-feasors, joint promisors, copartners, or joint trespassers residing in different
counties may be tried in either county.
Paragraph V. Suits against maker, endorser, etc. Suits against the maker and endorser
of promissory notes, or drawer, acceptor, and endorser of foreign or inland bills of
exchange, or like instruments, residing in different counties, shall be tried in the county
where the maker or acceptor resides.
Paragraph VI. All other cases. All other civil cases, except juvenile court cases as may
otherwise be provided by the Juvenile Court Code of Georgia, shall be tried in the county
where the defendant resides; venue as to corporations, foreign and domestic, shall be as
provided by law; and all criminal cases shall be tried in the county where the crime was
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committed, except cases in the superior courts where the judge is satisfied that an impartial
jury cannot be obtained in such county.
Paragraph VII. Venue in third-party practice. The General Assembly may provide by
law that venue is proper in a county other than the county of residence of a person or entity
impleaded into a pending civil case by a defending party who contends that such person
or entity is or may be liable to said defending party for all or part of the claim against said
defending party.
Paragraph VIII. Power to change venue. The power to change the venue in civil and
criminal cases shall be vested in the superior courts to be exercised in such manner as has
been, or shall be, provided by law.
SECTION III.
CLASSES OF COURTS OF LIMITED JURISDICTION
Paragraph I. Jurisdiction of classes of courts of limited jurisdiction. The magistrate,
juvenile, and state courts shall have uniform jurisdiction as provided by law. Probate courts
shall have such jurisdiction as now or hereafter provided by law, without regard to
uniformity.
SECTION IV.
SUPERIOR COURTS
Paragraph I. Jurisdiction of superior courts. The superior courts shall have jurisdiction
in all cases, except as otherwise provided in this Constitution. They shall have exclusive
jurisdiction over trials in felony cases, except in the case of juvenile offenders as provided
by law; in cases respecting title to land; in divorce cases; and in equity cases. The superior
courts shall have such appellate jurisdiction, either alone or by circuit or district, as may
be provided by law.
SECTION V.
COURT OF APPEALS
Paragraph I. Composition of Court of Appeals; Chief Judge. The Court of Appeals shall
consist of not less than nine Judges who shall elect from among themselves a Chief Judge.
Paragraph II. Panels as prescribed. The Court of Appeals may sit in panels of not less
than three Judges as prescribed by law or, if none, by its rules.
Paragraph III. Jurisdiction of Court of Appeals; decisions binding. The Court of
Appeals shall be a court of review and shall exercise appellate and certiorari jurisdiction
in all cases not reserved to the Supreme Court or conferred on other courts by law. The
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decisions of the Court of Appeals insofar as not in conflict with those of the Supreme Court
shall bind all courts except the Supreme Court as precedents.
Paragraph IV. Certification of question to Supreme Court. The Court of Appeals may
certify a question to the Supreme Court for instruction, to which it shall then be bound.
Paragraph V. Equal division of court. In the event of an equal division of the Judges
when sitting as a body, the case shall be immediately transmitted to the Supreme Court.
SECTION VI.
SUPREME COURT
Paragraph I. Composition of Supreme Court; Chief Justice; Presiding Justice; quorum;
substitute judges. The Supreme Court shall consist of not more than nine Justices who shall
elect from among themselves a Chief Justice as the chief presiding and administrative
officer of the court and a Presiding Justice to serve if the Chief Justice is absent or is
disqualified. A majority shall be necessary to hear and determine cases. If a Justice is
disqualified in any case, a substitute judge may be designated by the remaining Justices to
serve.
Paragraph II. Exclusive appellate jurisdiction of Supreme Court. The Supreme Court
shall be a court of review and shall exercise exclusive appellate jurisdiction in the
following cases:
(1) All cases involving the construction of a treaty or of the Constitution of the State of
Georgia or of the United States and all cases in which the constitutionality of a law,
ordinance, or constitutional provision has been drawn in question; and
(2) All cases of election contest.
Paragraph III. General appellate jurisdiction of Supreme Court. Unless otherwise
provided by law, the Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction of the following
classes of cases:
(1) Cases involving title to land;
(2) All equity cases;
(3) All cases involving wills;
(4) All habeas corpus cases;
(5) All cases involving extraordinary remedies;
(6) All divorce and alimony cases;
(7) All cases certified to it by the Court of Appeals; and
(8) All cases in which a sentence of death was imposed or could be imposed.
Review of all cases shall be as provided by law.
Paragraph IV. Jurisdiction over questions of law from state appellate or federal district
or appellate courts. The Supreme Court shall have jurisdiction and authority to answer any
question of law from any state appellate or federal district or appellate court.
Paragraph V. Review of cases in Court of Appeals. The Supreme Court may review by
certiorari cases in the Court of Appeals which are of gravity or great public importance.
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Paragraph VI. Decisions of Supreme Court binding. The decisions of the Supreme Court
shall bind all other courts as precedents.
SECTION VII.
SELECTION, TERM, COMPENSATION,
AND DISCIPLINE OF JUDGES
Paragraph I. Election; term of office. All superior court and state court judges shall be
elected on a nonpartisan basis for a term of four years. All Justices of the Supreme Court
and the Judges of the Court of Appeals shall be elected on a nonpartisan basis for a term
of six years. The terms of all judges thus elected shall begin the next January 1 after their
election. All other judges shall continue to be selected in the manner and for the term they
were selected on June 30, 1983, until otherwise provided by local law.
Paragraph II. Qualifications. (a) Appellate and superior court judges shall have been
admitted to practice law for seven years.
(b) State court judges shall have been admitted to practice law for seven years, provided
that this requirement shall be five years in the case of state court judges elected or
appointed in the year 2000 or earlier. Juvenile court judges shall have been admitted to
practice law for five years.
(c) Probate and magistrate judges shall have such qualifications as provided by law.
(d) All judges shall reside in the geographical area in which they are selected to serve.
(e) The General Assembly may provide by law for additional qualifications, including,
but not limited to, minimum residency requirements.
Paragraph III. Vacancies. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment of the Governor
except as otherwise provided by law in the magistrate, probate, and juvenile courts.
Paragraph IV. Period of service of appointees. An appointee to an elective office shall
serve until a successor is duly selected and qualified and until January 1 of the year
following the next general election which is more than six months after such person’s
appointment.
Paragraph V. Compensation and allowances of judges. All judges shall receive
compensation and allowances as provided by law; county supplements are hereby
continued and may be granted or changed by the General Assembly. County governing
authorities which had the authority on June 30, 1983, to make county supplements shall
continue to have such authority under this Constitution. An incumbent’s salary, allowance,
or supplement shall not be decreased during the incumbent’s term of office.
Paragraph VI. Judicial Qualifications Commission; power; composition. (a) The
General Assembly shall by general law create and provide for the composition, manner of
appointment, and governance of a Judicial Qualifications Commission, with such
commission having the power to discipline, remove, and cause involuntary retirement of
judges as provided by this Article. Appointments to the Judicial Qualifications
Commission shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate as provided for by general law.
(b) The procedures of the Judicial Qualifications Commission shall comport with due
process. Such procedures and advisory opinions issued by the Judicial Qualifications
Commission shall be subject to review by the Supreme Court.
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(c) The Judicial Qualifications Commission which existed on June 30, 2017, is hereby
abolished.
Paragraph VII. Discipline, removal, and involuntary retirement of judges. (a) Any judge
may be removed, suspended, or otherwise disciplined for willful misconduct in office, or
for willful and persistent failure to perform the duties of office, or for habitual
intemperance, or for conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude, or for conduct
prejudicial to the administration of justice which brings the judicial office into disrepute.
Any judge may be retired for disability which constitutes a serious and likely permanent
interference with the performance of the duties of office. The Supreme Court shall adopt
rules of implementation.
(b)(1) Upon indictment for a felony by a grand jury of this state or by a grand jury of
the United States of any judge, the Attorney General or district attorney shall transmit a
certified copy of the indictment to the Judicial Qualifications Commission. The
commission shall, subject to subparagraph (b)(2) of this Paragraph, review the
indictment, and, if it determines that the indictment relates to and adversely affects the
administration of the office of the indicted judge and that the rights and interests of the
public are adversely affected thereby, the commission shall suspend the judge
immediately and without further action pending the final disposition of the case or until
the expiration of the judge’s term of office, whichever occurs first. During the term of
office to which such judge was elected and in which the indictment occurred, if a nolle
prosequi is entered, if the public official is acquitted, or if after conviction the conviction
is later overturned as a result of any direct appeal or application for a writ of certiorari,
the judge shall be immediately reinstated to the office from which he was suspended.
While a judge is suspended under this subparagraph and until initial conviction by the
trial court, the judge shall continue to receive the compensation from his office. After
initial conviction by the trial court, the judge shall not be entitled to receive the
compensation from his office. If the judge is reinstated to office, he shall be entitled to
receive any compensation withheld under the provisions of this subparagraph. For the
duration of any suspension under this subparagraph, the Governor shall appoint a
replacement judge. Upon a final conviction with no appeal or review pending, the office
shall be declared vacant and a successor to that office shall be chosen as provided in this
Constitution or the laws enacted in pursuance thereof.
(2) The commission shall not review the indictment for a period of 14 days from the
day the indictment is received. This period of time may be extended by the commission.
During this period of time, the indicted judge may, in writing, authorize the commission
to suspend him from office. Any such voluntary suspension shall be subject to the same
conditions for review, reinstatement, or declaration of vacancy as are provided in this
subparagraph for a nonvoluntary suspension.
(3) After any suspension is imposed under this subparagraph, the suspended judge may
petition the commission for a review. If the commission determines that the judge should
no longer be suspended, he shall immediately be reinstated to office.
(4)(A) The findings and records of the commission and the fact that the public
official has or has not been suspended shall not be admissible in evidence in any court
for any purpose.
(B) The findings and records of the commission shall not be open to the public except
as provided by the General Assembly by general law.
(5) The provisions of this subparagraph shall not apply to any indictment handed down
prior to January 1, 1985.
(6) If a judge who is suspended from office under the provisions of this subparagraph
is not first tried at the next regular or special term following the indictment, the
suspension shall be terminated and the judge shall be reinstated to office. The judge shall
not be reinstated under this provision if he is not so tried based on a continuance granted
upon a motion made only by the defendant.
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(c) Upon initial conviction of any judge for any felony in a trial court of this state or the
United States, regardless of whether the judge has been suspended previously under
subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph, such judge shall be immediately and without further
action suspended from office. While a judge is suspended from office under this
subparagraph, he shall not be entitled to receive the compensation from his office. If the
conviction is later overturned as a result of any direct appeal or application for a writ of
certiorari, the judge shall be immediately reinstated to the office from which he was
suspended and shall be entitled to receive any compensation withheld under the provisions
of this subparagraph. For the duration of any suspension under this subparagraph, the
Governor shall appoint a replacement judge. Upon a final conviction with no appeal or
review pending, the office shall be declared vacant and a successor to that office shall be
chosen as provided in this Constitution or the laws enacted in pursuance thereof. The
provisions of this subparagraph shall not apply to any conviction rendered prior to January
1, 1987.
Paragraph VIII. Due process; review by Supreme Court. No action shall be taken against
a judge except after hearing and in accordance with due process of law. No removal or
involuntary retirement shall occur except upon order of the Supreme Court after review.
SECTION VIII.
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS
Paragraph I. District attorneys; vacancies; qualifications; compensation; duties;
immunity. (a) There shall be a district attorney for each judicial circuit, who shall be
elected circuit-wide for a term of four years. The successors of present and subsequent
incumbents shall be elected by the electors of their respective circuits at the general
election held immediately preceding the expiration of their respective terms. District
attorneys shall serve until their successors are duly elected and qualified. Vacancies shall
be filled by appointment of the Governor.
(b) No person shall be a district attorney unless such person shall have been an
active-status member of the State Bar of Georgia for three years immediately preceding
such person’s election.
(c) The district attorneys shall receive such compensation and allowances as provided
by law and shall be entitled to receive such local supplements to their compensation and
allowances as may be provided by law.
(d) It shall be the duty of the district attorney to represent the state in all criminal cases
in the superior court of such district attorney’s circuit and in all cases appealed from the
superior court and the juvenile courts of that circuit to the Supreme Court and the Court of
Appeals and to perform such other duties as shall be required by law.
(e) District attorneys shall enjoy immunity from private suit for actions arising from the
performance of their duties.
Paragraph II. Discipline, removal, and involuntary retirement of district attorneys. Any
district attorney may be disciplined, removed or involuntarily retired as provided by
general law.
SECTION IX.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
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Paragraph I. Administration of the judicial system; uniform court rules; advice and
consent of councils. The judicial system shall be administered as provided in this
Paragraph. Not more than 24 months after the effective date hereof, and from time to time
thereafter by amendment, the Supreme Court shall, with the advice and consent of the
council of the affected class or classes of trial courts, by order adopt and publish uniform
court rules and record-keeping rules which shall provide for the speedy, efficient, and
inexpensive resolution of disputes and prosecutions. Each council shall be comprised of
all of the judges of the courts of that class.
Paragraph II. Disposition of cases. The Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals shall
dispose of every case at the term for which it is entered on the court’s docket for hearing
or at the next term.
SECTION X.
TRANSITION
Paragraph I. Effect of ratification. On the effective date of this article:
(1) Superior courts shall continue as superior courts.
(2) State courts shall continue as state courts.
(3) Probate courts shall continue as probate courts.
(4) Juvenile courts shall continue as juvenile courts.
(5) Municipal courts not otherwise named herein, of whatever name, shall continue as
and be denominated municipal courts, except that the City Court of Atlanta shall retain
its name. Such municipal courts, county recorder’s courts, the Civil Courts of Richmond
and Bibb counties, and administrative agencies having quasi-judicial powers shall
continue with the same jurisdiction as such courts and agencies have on the effective date
of this article until otherwise provided by law.
(6) Justice of the peace courts, small claims courts, and magistrate courts operating on
the effective date of this Constitution and the County Court of Echols County shall
become and be classified as magistrate courts. The County Court of Baldwin County and
the County Court of Putnam County shall become and be classified as state courts, with
the same jurisdiction and powers as other state courts.
Paragraph II. Continuation of judges. Each judge holding office on the effective date of
this article shall continue in office until the expiration of the term of office, as a judge of
the court having the same or similar jurisdiction. Each court not named herein shall cease
to exist on such date or at the expiration of the term of the incumbent judge, whichever is
later; and its jurisdiction shall automatically pass to the new court of the same or similar
jurisdiction, in the absence of which court it shall pass to the superior court.
ARTICLE VII.
TAXATION AND FINANCE
SECTION I.
POWER OF TAXATION
Paragraph I. Taxation; limitations on grants of tax powers. The state may not suspend
or irrevocably give, grant, limit, or restrain the right of taxation and all laws, grants,
contracts, and other acts to effect any of these purposes are null and void. Except as
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otherwise provided in this Constitution, the right of taxation shall always be under the
complete control of the state.
Paragraph II. Taxing power limited. (a) The annual levy of state ad valorem taxes on
tangible property for all purposes, except for defending the state in an emergency, shall not
exceed one-fourth mill on each dollar of the assessed value of the property.
(b) So long as the method of taxation in effect on December 31, 1980, for the taxation
of shares of stock of banking corporations and other monied capital coming into
competition with such banking corporations continues in effect, such shares and other
monied capital may be taxed at an annual rate not exceeding five mills on each dollar of
the assessed value of the property.
Paragraph III. Uniformity; classification of property; assessment of agricultural land;
utilities. (a) All taxes shall be levied and collected under general laws and for public
purposes only. Except as otherwise provided in subparagraphs (b), (c), (d), (e), and (f) of
this Paragraph, all taxation shall be uniform upon the same class of subjects within the
territorial limits of the authority levying the tax.
(b)(1) Except as otherwise provided in this subparagraph (b), classes of subjects for
taxation of property shall consist of tangible property and one or more classes of
intangible personal property including money; provided, however, that any taxation of
intangible personal property may be repealed by general law without approval in a
referendum effective for all taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 1996.
(2) Subject to the conditions and limitations specified by law, each of the following
types of property may be classified as a separate class of property for ad valorem
property tax purposes and different rates, methods, and assessment dates may be provided
for such properties:
(A) Trailers.
(B) Mobile homes other than those mobile homes which qualify the owner of the
home for a homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation.
(C) Heavy-duty equipment motor vehicles owned by nonresidents and operated in
this state.
(3) Motor vehicles may be classified as a separate class of property for ad valorem
property tax purposes, and such class may be divided into separate subclasses for ad
valorem purposes. The General Assembly may provide by general law for the ad
valorem taxation of motor vehicles including, but not limited to, providing for different
rates, methods, assessment dates, and taxpayer liability for such class and for each of its
subclasses and need not provide for uniformity of taxation with other classes of property
or between or within its subclasses. The General Assembly may also determine what
portion of any ad valorem tax on motor vehicles shall be retained by the state. As used
in this subparagraph, the term ‘motor vehicles’ means all vehicles which are
self-propelled.
(c) Tangible real property, but no more than 2,000 acres of any single property owner,
which is devoted to bona fide agricultural purposes shall be assessed for ad valorem
taxation purposes at 75 percent of the value which other tangible real property is assessed.
No property shall be entitled to receive the preferential assessment provided for in this
subparagraph if the property which would otherwise receive such assessment would result
in any person who has a beneficial interest in such property, including any interest in the
nature of stock ownership, receiving the benefit of such preferential assessment as to more
than 2,000 acres. No property shall be entitled to receive the preferential assessment
provided for in this subparagraph unless the conditions set out below are met:
(1) The property must be owned by:
(A)(i) One or more natural or naturalized citizens;
(ii) An estate of which the devisee or heirs are one or more natural or naturalized
citizens; or
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(iii) A trust of which the beneficiaries are one or more natural or naturalized
citizens; or
(B) A family-owned farm corporation, the controlling interest of which is owned by
individuals related to each other within the fourth degree of civil reckoning, or which
is owned by an estate of which the devisee or heirs are one or more natural or
naturalized citizens, or which is owned by a trust of which the beneficiaries are one or
more natural or naturalized citizens, and such corporation derived 80 percent or more
of its gross income from bona fide agricultural pursuits within this state within the year
immediately preceding the year in which eligibility is sought.
(2) The General Assembly shall provide by law:
(A) For a definition of the term ‘bona fide agricultural purposes,’ but such term shall
include timber production;
(B) For additional minimum conditions of eligibility which such properties must
meet in order to qualify for the preferential assessment provided for herein, including,
but not limited to, the requirement that the owner be required to enter into a covenant
with the appropriate taxing authorities to maintain the use of the properties in bona fide
agricultural purposes for a period of not less than ten years and for appropriate penalties
for the breach of any such covenant.
(3) In addition to the specific conditions set forth in this subparagraph (c), the General
Assembly may place further restrictions upon, but may not relax, the conditions of
eligibility for the preferential assessment provided for herein.
(d)(1) The General Assembly shall be authorized by general law to establish as a
separate class of property for ad valorem tax purposes any tangible real property which
is listed in the National Register of Historic Places or in a state historic register
authorized by general law. For such purposes, the General Assembly is authorized by
general law to establish a program by which certain properties within such class may be
assessed for taxes at different rates or valuations in order to encourage the preservation
of such historic properties and to assist in the revitalization of historic areas.
(2) The General Assembly shall be authorized by general law to establish as a separate
class of property for ad valorem tax purposes any tangible real property on which there
have been releases of hazardous waste, constituents, or substances into the environment.
For such purposes, the General Assembly is authorized by general law to establish a
program by which certain properties within such class may be assessed for taxes at
different rates or valuations in order to encourage the cleanup, reuse, and redevelopment
of such properties and to assist in the revitalization thereof by encouraging remedial
action.
(e) The General Assembly shall provide by general law:
(1) For the definition and methods of assessment and taxation, such methods to include
a formula based on current use, annual productivity, and real property sales data, of:
‘bona fide conservation use property’ to include bona fide agricultural and timber land not
to exceed 2,000 acres of a single owner; and ‘bona fide residential transitional property,’
to include private single-family residential owner occupied property located in
transitional developing areas not to exceed five acres of any single owner. Such methods
of assessment and taxation shall be subject to the following conditions:
(A) A property owner desiring the benefit of such methods of assessment and
taxation shall be required to enter into a covenant to continue the property in bona fide
conservation use or bona fide residential transitional use; and
(B) A breach of such covenant within ten years shall result in a recapture of the tax
savings resulting from such methods of assessment and taxation and may result in other
appropriate penalties;
(2) That standing timber shall be assessed only once, and such assessment shall be
made following its harvest or sale and on the basis of its fair market value at the time of
harvest or sale. Said assessment shall be two and one-half times the assessed percentage
of value fixed by law for other real property taxed under the uniformity provisions of
subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph but in no event greater than its fair market value; and
for a method of temporary supplementation of the property tax digest of any county if the
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implementation of this method of taxing timber reduces the tax digest by more than 20
percent, such supplemental assessed value to be assigned to the properties otherwise
benefiting from such method of taxing timber.
(f)(1) The General Assembly shall provide by general law for the definition and
methods of assessment and taxation, such methods to include a formula based on current
use, annual productivity, and real property sales data, of ‘forest land conservation use
property’ to include only forest land each tract of which exceeds 200 acres of a qualified
owner. Such methods of assessment and taxation shall be subject to the following
conditions:
(A) A qualified owner shall consist of any individual or individuals or any entity
registered to do business in this state;
(B) A qualified owner desiring the benefit of such methods of assessment and
taxation shall be required to enter into a covenant to continue the property in forest land
use;
(C) All contiguous forest land conservation use property of an owner within a county
for which forest land conservation use assessment is sought under this subparagraph
shall be in a single covenant;
(D) A breach of such covenant within 15 years shall result in a recapture of the tax
savings resulting from such methods of assessment and taxation and may result in other
appropriate penalties; and
(E) The General Assembly may provide by general law for a limited exception to the
200 acre requirement in the case of a transfer of ownership of all or a part of the forest
land conservation use property during a covenant period to another owner qualified to
enter into an original forest land conservation use covenant if the original covenant is
continued by both such acquiring owner and the transferor for the remainder of the
term, in which event no breach of the covenant shall be deemed to have occurred even
if the total size of a tract from which the transfer was made is reduced below 200 acres.
(2) No portion of an otherwise eligible tract of forest land conservation use property
shall be entitled to receive simultaneously special assessment and taxation under this
subparagraph and either subparagraph (c) or (e) of this Paragraph.
(3)(A) The General Assembly shall appropriate an amount for assistance grants to
counties, municipalities, and county and independent school districts to offset revenue
loss attributable to the implementation of this subparagraph. Such grants shall be made
in such manner and shall be subject to such procedures as may be specified by general
law.
(B) If the forest land conservation use property is located in a county, municipality,
or county or independent school district where forest land conservation use value
causes an ad valorem tax revenue reduction of 3 percent or less due to the
implementation of this subparagraph, in each taxable year in which such reduction
occurs, the assistance grants to the county, each municipality located therein, and the
county or independent school districts located therein shall be in an amount equal to 50
percent of the amount of such reduction.
(C) If the forest land conservation use property is located in a county, municipality,
or county or independent school district where forest land conservation use value
causes an ad valorem tax revenue reduction of more than 3 percent due to the
implementation of this subparagraph, in each taxable year in which such reduction
occurs, the assistance grants to the county, each municipality located therein, and the
county or independent school districts located therein shall be as follows:
(i) For the first 3 percent of such reduction amount, in an amount equal to 50
percent of the amount of such reduction; and
(ii) For the remainder of such reduction amount, in an amount equal to 100 percent
of the amount of such remaining reduction amount.
(4) Such revenue reduction shall be calculated by utilizing forest land fair market
value. For purposes of this subparagraph, forest land fair market value means the 2008
fair market value of the forest land. Such 2008 valuation may increase from one taxable
year to the next by a rate equal to the percentage change in the price index for gross
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output of state and local government from the prior year to the current year as defined by
the National Income and Product Accounts and determined by the United States Bureau
of Economic Analysis and indicated by the Price Index for Government Consumption
Expenditures and General Government Gross Output (Table 3.10.4). Such revenue
reduction shall be determined by subtracting the aggregate forest land conservation use
value of qualified properties from the aggregate forest land fair market value of qualified
properties for the applicable tax year and the resulting amount shall be multiplied by the
millage rate of the county, municipality, or county or independent school district.
(5) For purposes of this subparagraph, the forest land conservation use value shall not
include the value of the standing timber located on forest land conservation use property.
(g) The General Assembly may provide for a different method and time of returns,
assessments, payment, and collection of ad valorem taxes of public utilities, but not on a
greater assessed percentage of value or at a higher rate of taxation than other properties,
except that property provided for in subparagraph (c), (d), (e), or (f) of this Paragraph.
SECTION II.
EXEMPTIONS FROM AD VALOREM TAXATION
Paragraph I. Unauthorized tax exemptions void. Except as authorized in or pursuant to
this Constitution, all laws exempting property from ad valorem taxation are void.
Paragraph II. Exemptions from taxation of property. (a) (1) Except as otherwise
provided in this Constitution, no property shall be exempted from ad valorem taxation
unless the exemption is approved by two-thirds of the members elected to each branch
of the General Assembly in a roll-call vote and by a majority of the qualified electors of
the state voting in a referendum thereon.
(2) Homestead exemptions from ad valorem taxation levied by local taxing
jurisdictions may be granted by local law conditioned upon approval by a majority of the
qualified electors residing within the limits of the local taxing jurisdiction voting in a
referendum thereon.
(3) Laws subject to the requirement of a referendum as provided in this subparagraph
(a) may originate in either the Senate or the House of Representatives.
(4) The requirements of this subparagraph (a) shall not apply with respect to a law
which codifies or recodifies an exemption previously authorized in the Constitution of
1976 or an exemption authorized pursuant to this Constitution.
(b) The grant of any exemption from ad valorem taxation shall be subject to the
conditions, limitations, and administrative procedures specified by law.
Paragraph III. Exemptions which may be authorized locally. (a) (1) The governing
authority of any county or municipality, subject to the approval of a majority of the
qualified electors of such political subdivision voting in a referendum thereon, may
exempt from ad valorem taxation, including all such taxation levied for educational
purposes and for state purposes, inventories of goods in the process of manufacture or
production, and inventories of finished goods.
(2) Exemptions granted pursuant to this subparagraph (a) may only be revoked by a
referendum election called and conducted as provided by law. The call for such
referendum shall not be issued within five years from the date such exemptions were first
granted and, if the results of the election are in favor of the revocation of such
exemptions, then such revocation shall be effective only at the end of a five-year period
from the date of such referendum.
(3) The implementation, administration, and revocation of the exemptions authorized
in this subparagraph (a) shall be provided for by law. Until otherwise provided by law,
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the grant of the exemption shall be subject to the same conditions, limitations, definitions,
and procedures provided for the grant of such exemption in the Constitution of 1976 on
June 30, 1983.
(b) Repealed.
Paragraph IV. Current property tax exemptions preserved. Those types of exemptions
from ad valorem taxation provided for by law on June 30, 1983, are hereby continued in
effect as statutory law until otherwise provided for by law. Any law which reduces or
repeals any homestead exemption in existence on June 30, 1983, or created thereafter must
be approved by two-thirds of the members elected to each branch of the General Assembly
in a roll-call vote and by a majority of the qualified electors of the state or the affected local
taxing jurisdiction voting in a referendum thereon. Any law which reduces or repeals
exemptions granted to religious or burial grounds or institutions of purely public charity
must be approved by two-thirds of the members elected to each branch of the General
Assembly.
Paragraph V. Disabled veteran’s homestead exemption. Except as otherwise provided
in this paragraph, the amount of the homestead exemption granted to disabled veterans
shall be the greater of $32,500.00 or the maximum amount which may be granted to a
disabled veteran under Section 802 of Title 38 of the United States Code as hereafter
amended. Such exemption shall be granted to: those persons eligible for such exemption
on June 30, 1983; to disabled American veterans of any war or armed conflict who are
disabled due to loss or loss of use of one lower extremity together with the loss or loss of
use of one upper extremity which so affects the functions of balance or propulsion as to
preclude locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair; and to
disabled veterans hereafter becoming eligible for assistance in acquiring housing under
Section 801 of the United States Code as hereafter amended. The General Assembly may
by general law provide for a different amount or a different method of determining the
amount of or eligibility for the homestead exemption granted to disabled veterans. Any
such law shall be enacted by a simple majority of the votes of all the members to which
each house is entitled and may become effective without referendum. Such law may
provide that the amount of or eligibility for the exemption shall be determined by reference
to laws enacted by the United States Congress.
SECTION IIA.
HOMEOWNER’S INCENTIVE ADJUSTMENT
Paragraph I. State grants; adjustment amount. For each taxable year, a homeowner’s
incentive adjustment may be applied to the return of each taxpayer claiming such
state-wide homestead exemption as may be specified by general law. The amount of such
adjustment may provide a taxpayer with a benefit equivalent to a homestead exemption of
up to $18,000.00 of the assessed value of a taxpayer’s homestead or the taxpayer’s ad
valorem property tax liability on the homestead, whichever is lower. The General
Assembly may appropriate such amount each year for grants to local governments and
school districts as homeowner tax relief grants. The adjustments and grants authorized by
this Paragraph shall be made in such manner and shall be subject to the procedures and
conditions as may be specified by general law heretofore or hereafter enacted.
SECTION III.
PURPOSES AND METHOD OF STATE TAXATION
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Paragraph I. Taxation; purposes for which powers may be exercised. (a) Except as
otherwise provided in this Constitution, the power of taxation over the whole state may be
exercised for any purpose authorized by law. Any purpose for which the powers of taxation
over the whole state could have been exercised on June 30, 1983, shall continue to be a
purpose for which such powers may be exercised.
(b) Subject to conditions and limitations as may be provided by law, the power of
taxation may be exercised to make grants for tax relief purposes to persons for sales tax
paid and not otherwise reimbursed on prescription drugs. Credits or relief provided
hereunder may be limited only to such reasonable classifications of taxpayers as may be
specified by law.
Paragraph II. Revenue to be paid into general fund. (a) Except as otherwise provided in
this Constitution, all revenue collected from taxes, fees, and assessments for state purposes,
as authorized by revenue measures enacted by the General Assembly, shall be paid into the
general fund of the state treasury.
(b)(1) As authorized by law providing for the promotion of any one or more types of
agricultural products, fees, assessments, and other charges collected on the sale or
processing of agricultural products need not be paid into the general fund of the state
treasury. The uniformity requirement of this article shall be satisfied by the application
of the agricultural promotion program upon the affected products.
(2) As used in this subparagraph, ‘agricultural products’ includes, but is not limited to,
registered livestock and livestock products, poultry and poultry products, timber and
timber products, fish and seafood, and the products of the farms and forests of this state.
Paragraph III. Grants to counties and municipalities. State funds may be granted to
counties and municipalities within the state. The grants authorized by this Paragraph shall
be made in such manner and form and subject to the procedures and conditions specified
by law. The law providing for any such grant may limit the purposes for which the grant
funds may be expended.
Paragraph IV. Increase in state income tax rate prohibited. The General Assembly
shall not increase the maximum marginal rate of the state income tax above that in effect
on January 1, 2015.
SECTION IV.
STATE DEBT
Paragraph I. Purposes for which debt may be incurred. The state may incur:
(a) Public debt without limit to repel invasion, suppress insurrection, and defend the state
in time of war.
(b) Public debt to supply a temporary deficit in the state treasury in any fiscal year
created by a delay in collecting the taxes of that year. Such debt shall not exceed, in the
aggregate, 5 percent of the total revenue receipts, less refunds, of the state treasury in the
fiscal year immediately preceding the year in which such debt is incurred. The debt
incurred shall be repaid on or before the last day of the fiscal year in which it is incurred
out of taxes levied for that fiscal year. No such debt may be incurred in any fiscal year
under the provisions of this subparagraph (b) if there is then outstanding unpaid debt from
any previous fiscal year which was incurred to supply a temporary deficit in the state
treasury.
(c) General obligation debt to acquire, construct, develop, extend, enlarge, or improve
land, waters, property, highways, buildings, structures, equipment, or facilities of the state,
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its agencies, departments, institutions, and of those state authorities which were created and
activated prior to November 8, 1960.
(d) General obligation debt to provide educational facilities for county and independent
school systems and to provide public library facilities for county and independent school
systems, counties, municipalities, and boards of trustees of public libraries or boards of
trustees of public library systems, and, when the construction of such educational or library
facilities has been completed, the title to such facilities shall be vested in the respective
local boards of education, counties, municipalities, or public library boards of trustees for
which such facilities were constructed.
(e) General obligation debt in order to make loans to counties, municipal corporations,
political subdivisions, local authorities, and other local government entities for water or
sewerage facilities or systems or for regional or multijurisdictional solid waste recycling
or solid waste facilities or systems. It shall not be necessary for the state or a state authority
to hold title to or otherwise be the owner of such facilities or systems. General obligation
debt for these purposes may be authorized and incurred for administration and
disbursement by a state authority created and activated before, on, or after November 8,
1960.
(f) Guaranteed revenue debt by guaranteeing the payment of revenue obligations issued
by an instrumentality of the state if such revenue obligations are issued to finance:
(1) Toll bridges or toll roads.
(2) Land public transportation facilities or
systems.
(3) Water facilities or systems.
(4) Sewage facilities or systems.
(5) Loans to, and loan programs for, citizens of the state for educational purposes.
(6) Regional or multijurisdictional solid waste recycling or solid waste facilities or
systems.
Paragraph II. State general obligation debt and guaranteed revenue debt; limitations.
(a) As used in this Paragraph and Paragraph III of this section, ‘annual debt service
requirements’ means the total principal and interest coming due in any state fiscal year.
With regard to any issue of debt incurred wholly or in part on a term basis, ‘annual debt
service requirements’ means an amount equal to the total principal and interest payments
required to retire such issue in full divided by the number of years from its issue date to its
maturity date.
(b) No debt may be incurred under subparagraphs (c), (d), and (e) of Paragraph I of this
section or Paragraph V of this section at any time when the highest aggregate annual debt
service requirements for the then current year or any subsequent year for outstanding
general obligation debt and guaranteed revenue debt, including the proposed debt, and the
highest aggregate annual payments for the then current year or any subsequent fiscal year
of the state under all contracts then in force to which the provisions of the second
paragraph of Article IX, Section VI, Paragraph I(a) of the Constitution of 1976 are
applicable, exceed 10 percent of the total revenue receipts, less refunds of the state treasury
in the fiscal year immediately preceding the year in which any such debt is to be incurred.
(c) No debt may be incurred under subparagraphs (c) and (d) of Paragraph I of this
section at any time when the term of the debt is in excess of 25 years.
(d) No guaranteed revenue debt may be incurred to finance water or sewage treatment
facilities or systems when the highest aggregate annual debt service requirements for the
then current year or any subsequent fiscal year of the state for outstanding or proposed
guaranteed revenue debt for water facilities or systems or sewage facilities or systems
exceed 1 percent of the total revenue receipts less refunds, of the state treasury in the fiscal
year immediately preceding the year in which any such debt is to be incurred.
(e) The aggregate amount of guaranteed revenue debt incurred to make loans for
educational purposes that may be outstanding at any time shall not exceed $18 million, and
the aggregate amount of guaranteed revenue debt incurred to purchase, or to lend or deposit
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against the security of, loans for educational purposes that may be outstanding at any time
shall not exceed $72 million.
Paragraph III. State general obligation debt and guaranteed revenue debt; conditions
upon issuance; sinking funds and reserve funds. (a) (1) General obligation debt may not
be incurred until legislation is enacted stating the purposes, in general or specific terms,
for which such issue of debt is to be incurred, specifying the maximum principal amount
of such issue and appropriating an amount at least sufficient to pay the highest annual
debt service requirements for such issue. All such appropriations for debt service
purposes shall not lapse for any reason and shall continue in effect until the debt for
which such appropriation was authorized shall have been incurred, but the General
Assembly may repeal any such appropriation at any time prior to the incurring of such
debt. The General Assembly shall raise by taxation and appropriate each fiscal year, in
addition to the sum necessary to make all payments required under contracts entitled to
the protection of the second paragraph of Paragraph I(a), Section VI, Article IX of the
Constitution of 1976, such amounts as are necessary to pay debt service requirements in
such fiscal year on all general obligation debt.
(2)(A) The General Assembly shall appropriate to a special trust fund to be
designated ‘State of Georgia General Obligation Debt Sinking Fund’ such amounts as
are necessary to pay annual debt service requirements on all general obligation debt.
The sinking fund shall be used solely for the retirement of general obligation debt
payable from the fund. If for any reason the monies in the sinking fund are insufficient
to make, when due, all payments required with respect to such general obligation debt,
the first revenues thereafter received in the general fund of the state shall be set aside
by the appropriate state fiscal officer to the extent necessary to cure the deficiency and
shall be deposited by the fiscal officer into the sinking fund. The appropriate state fiscal
officer may be required to set aside and apply such revenues at the suit of any holder
of any general obligation debt incurred under this section.
(B) The obligation to make sinking fund deposits as provided in subparagraph (2)(A)
shall be subordinate to the obligation imposed upon the fiscal officers of the state
pursuant to the provisions of the second paragraph of Paragraph I(a) of Section VI of
Article IX of the Constitution of 1976.
(b)(1) Guaranteed revenue debt may not be incurred until legislation has been enacted
authorizing the guarantee of the specific issue of revenue obligations then proposed,
reciting that the General Assembly has determined such obligations will be
self-liquidating over the life of the issue (which determination shall be conclusive),
specifying the maximum principal amount of such issue and appropriating an amount at
least equal to the highest annual debt service requirements for such issue.
(2)(A) Each appropriation made for the purposes of subparagraph (b)(1) shall be paid
upon the issuance of said obligations into a special trust fund to be designated ‘State of
Georgia Guaranteed Revenue Debt Common Reserve Fund’ to be held together with
all other sums similarly appropriated as a common reserve for any payments which may
be required by virtue of any guarantee entered into in connection with any issue of
guaranteed revenue obligations. No appropriations for the benefit of guaranteed
revenue debt shall lapse unless repealed prior to the payment of the appropriation into
the common reserve fund.
(B) If any payments are required to be made from the common reserve fund to meet
debt service requirements on guaranteed revenue obligations by virtue of an
insufficiency of revenues, the amount necessary to cure the deficiency shall be paid
from the common reserve fund by the appropriate state fiscal officer. Upon any such
payment, the common reserve fund shall be reimbursed from the general funds of the
state within ten days following the commencement of any fiscal year of the state for
any amounts so paid; provided, however, the obligation to make any such
reimbursements shall be subordinate to the obligation imposed upon the fiscal officers
of the state pursuant to the second paragraph of Paragraph I(a) of Section VI, Article
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IX of the Constitution of 1976 and shall also be subordinate to the obligation to make
sinking fund deposits for the benefit of general obligation debt. The appropriate state
fiscal officer may be required to apply such funds as provided in this subparagraph
(b)(2)(B) at the suit of any holder of any such guaranteed revenue obligations.
(C) The amount to the credit of the common reserve fund shall at all times be at least
equal to the aggregate highest annual debt service requirements on all outstanding
guaranteed revenue obligations entitled to the benefit of the fund. If at the end of any
fiscal year of the state the fund is in excess of the required amount, the appropriate state
fiscal officer, as designated by law, shall transfer the excess amount to the general
funds of the state free of said trust.
(c) The funds in the general obligation debt sinking fund and the guaranteed revenue
debt common reserve fund shall be as fully invested as is practicable, consistent with the
requirements to make current principal and interest payments. Any such investments shall
be restricted to obligations constituting direct and general obligations of the United States
government or obligations unconditionally guaranteed as to the payment of principal and
interest by the United States government, maturing no longer than 12 months from date of
purchase.
Paragraph IV. Certain contracts prohibited. The state, and all state institutions,
departments and agencies of the state are prohibited from entering into any contract, except
contracts pertaining to guaranteed revenue debt, with any public agency, public
corporation, authority, or similar entity if such contract is intended to constitute security
for bonds or other obligations issued by any such public agency, public corporation, or
authority and, in the event any contract between the state, or any state institution,
department or agency of the state and any public agency, public corporation, authority or
similar entity, or any revenues from any such contract, is pledged or assigned as security
for the repayment of bonds or other obligations, then and in either such event, the
appropriation or expenditure of any funds of the state for the payment of obligations under
any such contract shall likewise be prohibited.
Paragraph V. Refunding of debt. The state may incur general obligation debt or
guaranteed revenue debt to fund or refund any such debt or to fund or refund any
obligations issued upon the security of contracts to which the provisions of the second
paragraph of Paragraph I(a), Section VI, Article IX of the Constitution of 1976 are
applicable. The issuance of any such debt for the purposes of said funding or refunding
shall be subject to the 10 percent limitation in Paragraph II(b) of this section to the same
extent as debt incurred under Paragraph I of this section; provided, however, in making
such computation the annual debt service requirements and annual contract payments
remaining on the debt or obligations being funded or refunded shall not be taken into
account. The issuance of such debt may be accomplished by resolution of the Georgia State
Financing and Investment Commission without any action on the part of the General
Assembly and any appropriation made or required to be made with respect to the debt or
obligation being funded or refunded shall immediately attach and inure to the benefit of the
obligations to be issued in connection with such funding or refunding. Debt incurred in
connection with any such funding or refunding shall be the same as that originally
authorized by the General Assembly, except that general obligation debt may be incurred
to fund or refund obligations issued upon the security of contracts to which the provisions
of the second paragraph of Paragraph I(a), Section VI, Article IX of the Constitution of
1976 are applicable and the continuing appropriations required to be made under this
Constitution shall immediately attach and inure to the benefit of the obligation to be issued
in connection with such funding or refunding with the same force and effect as though said
obligations so funded or refunded had originally been issued as a general obligation debt
authorized hereunder. The term of a funding or refunding issue pursuant to this Paragraph
shall not extend beyond the term of the original debt or obligation and the total interest on
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the funding or refunding issue shall not exceed the total interest to be paid on such original
debt or obligation. The principal amount of any debt issued in connection with such
funding or refunding may exceed the principal amount being funded or refunded to the
extent necessary to provide for the payment of any premium thereby incurred.
Paragraph VI. Faith and credit of state pledged debt may be validated. The full faith,
credit, and taxing power of the state are hereby pledged to the payment of all public debt
incurred under this article and all such debt and the interest on the debt shall be exempt
from taxation. Such debt may be validated by judicial proceedings in the manner provided
by law. Such validation shall be incontestable and conclusive.
Paragraph VII. Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission; duties. (a) There
shall be a Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission. The commission shall
consist of the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, the State Auditor, the Attorney General, the director, Fiscal Division,
Department of Administrative Services, or such other officer as may be designated by law,
and the Commissioner of Agriculture. The commission shall be responsible for the issuance
of all public debt and for the proper application, as provided by law, of the proceeds of
such debt to the purposes for which it is incurred; provided, however, the proceeds from
guaranteed revenue obligations shall be paid to the issuer thereof and such proceeds and
the application thereof shall be the responsibility of such issuer. Debt to be incurred at the
same time for more than one purpose may be combined in one issue without stating the
purpose separately but the proceeds thereof must be allocated, disbursed and used solely
in accordance with the original purpose and without exceeding the principal amount
authorized for each purpose set forth in the authorization of the General Assembly and to
the extent not so used shall be used to purchase and retire public debt. The commission
shall be responsible for the investment of all proceeds to be administered by it and, as
provided by law, the income earned on any such investments may be used to pay operating
expenses of the commission or placed in a common debt retirement fund and used to
purchase and retire any public debt, or any bonds or obligations issued by any public
agency, public corporation or authority which are secured by a contract to which the
provisions of the second paragraph of Paragraph I(a) of Section VI, Article IX of the
Constitution of 1976 are applicable. The commission shall have such additional
responsibilities, powers, and duties as are provided by law.
(b) Notwithstanding subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, proceeds from general
obligation debt issued for making loans to local government entities for water or sewerage
facilities or systems or for regional or multijurisdictional solid waste recycling or solid
waste facilities or systems as provided in Paragraph I(e) of this section shall be paid or
transferred to and administered and invested by the unit of state government or state
authority made responsible by law for such activities, and the proceeds and investment
earnings thereof shall be applied and disbursed by such unit or authority.
Paragraph VIII. State aid forbidden. Except as provided in this Constitution, the credit
of the state shall not be pledged or loaned to any individual, company, corporation, or
association. The state shall not become a joint owner or stockholder in or with any
individual, company, association, or corporation.
Paragraph IX. Construction. Paragraphs I through VIII of this section are for the purpose
of providing an effective method of financing the state’s needs and their provisions and any
law now or hereafter enacted by the General Assembly in furtherance of their provisions
shall be liberally construed to effect such purpose. Insofar as any such provisions or any
such law may be inconsistent with any other provisions of this Constitution or of any other
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law, the provisions of such Paragraphs and laws enacted in furtherance of such Paragraphs
shall be controlling; provided, however, the provisions of such Paragraphs shall not be so
broadly construed as to cause the same to be unconstitutional and in connection with any
such construction such Paragraphs shall be deemed to contain such implied limitations as
shall be required to accomplish the foregoing.
Paragraph X. Assumption of debts forbidden; exceptions. The state shall not assume the
debt, or any part thereof, of any county, municipality, or other political subdivision of the
state, unless such debt be contracted to enable the state to repel invasion, suppress civil
disorders or insurrection, or defend itself in time of war.
Paragraph XI. Section not to unlawfully impair contracts or revive obligations
previously voided. The provisions of this section shall not be construed so as to:
(a) Unlawfully impair the obligation of any contract in effect on June 30, 1983.
(b) Revive or permit the revival of the obligation of any bond or security declared to be
void by the Constitution of 1976 or any previous Constitution of this state.
Paragraph XII. Multiyear contracts for energy efficiency or conservation improvement.
The General Assembly may by general law authorize state governmental entities to incur
debt for the purpose of entering into multiyear contracts for governmental energy
efficiency or conservation improvement projects in which payments are guaranteed over
the term of the contract by vendors based on the realization of specified savings or revenue
gains attributable solely to the improvements; provided, however, that any such contract
shall not exceed ten years unless otherwise provided by general law.
Paragraph XIII. Multiyear rental agreements. The General Assembly may by general
law authorize the State Properties Commission, the Board of Regents of the University
System of Georgia, and the Georgia Department of Labor to enter into rental agreements
for the possession and use of real property without obligating present funds for the full
amount of obligation the state may bear under the full term of any such rental agreement.
Any such agreement shall provide for the termination of the agreement in the event of
insufficient funds.
ARTICLE VIII.
EDUCATION
SECTION I.
PUBLIC EDUCATION
Paragraph I. Public education; free public education prior to college or postsecondary
level; support by taxation. The provision of an adequate public education for the citizens
shall be a primary obligation of the State of Georgia. Public education for the citizens prior
to the college or postsecondary level shall be free and shall be provided for by taxation, and
the General Assembly may by general law provide for the establishment of education
policies for such public education. The expense of other public education shall be provided
for in such manner and in such amount as may be provided by law.
SECTION II.
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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Paragraph I. State Board of Education. (a) There shall be a State Board of Education
which shall consist of one member from each congressional district in the state appointed
by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The Governor shall not be a member of said
board. The ten members in office on June 30, 1983, shall serve out the remainder of their
respective terms. As each term of office expires, the Governor shall appoint a successor as
herein provided. The terms of office of all members appointed after the effective date of
this Constitution shall be for seven years. Members shall serve until their successors are
appointed and qualified. In the event of a vacancy on the board by death, resignation,
removal, or any reason other than expiration of a member’s term, the Governor shall fill
such vacancy; and the person so appointed shall serve until confirmed by the Senate and,
upon confirmation, shall serve for the unexpired term of office.
(b) The State Board of Education shall have such powers and duties as provided by law.
(c) The State Board of Education may accept bequests, donations, grants, and transfers
of land, buildings, and other property for the use of the state educational system.
(d) The qualifications, compensation, and removal from office of the members of the
board of education shall be as provided by law.
SECTION III.
STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT
Paragraph I. State School Superintendent. There shall be a State School Superintendent,
who shall be the executive officer of the State Board of Education, elected at the same time
and in the same manner and for the same term as that of the Governor. The State School
Superintendent shall have such qualifications and shall be paid such compensation as may
be fixed by law. No member of the State Board of Education shall be eligible for election
as State School Superintendent during the time for which such member shall have been
appointed.
SECTION IV.
BOARD OF REGENTS
Paragraph I. University System of Georgia; board of regents. (a) There shall be a Board
of Regents of the University System of Georgia which shall consist of one member from
each congressional district in the state and five additional members from the state at large,
appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The Governor shall not be a
member of said board. The members in office on June 30, 1983, shall serve out the
remainder of their respective terms. As each term of office expires, the Governor shall
appoint a successor as herein provided. All such terms of members shall be for seven years.
Members shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified. In the event of a
vacancy on the board by death, resignation, removal, or any reason other than the
expiration of a member’s term, the Governor shall fill such vacancy; and the person so
appointed shall serve until confirmed by the Senate and, upon confirmation, shall serve for
the unexpired term of office.
(b) The board of regents shall have the exclusive authority to create new public colleges,
junior colleges, and universities in the State of Georgia, subject to approval by majority
vote in the House of Representatives and the Senate. Such vote shall not be required to
change the status of a college, institution or university existing on the effective date of this
Constitution. The government, control, and management of the University System of
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Georgia and all of the institutions in said system shall be vested in the Board of Regents
of the University System of Georgia.
(c) All appropriations made for the use of any or all institutions in the university system
shall be paid to the board of regents in a lump sum, with the power and authority in said
board to allocate and distribute the same among the institutions under its control in such
way and manner and in such amounts as will further an efficient and economical
administration of the university system.
(d) The board of regents may hold, purchase, lease, sell, convey, or otherwise dispose
of public property, execute conveyances thereon, and utilize the proceeds arising
therefrom; may exercise the power of eminent domain in the manner provided by law; and
shall have such other powers and duties as provided by law.
(e) The board of regents may accept bequests, donations, grants, and transfers of land,
buildings, and other property for the use of the University System of Georgia.
(f) The qualifications, compensation, and removal from office of the members of the
board of regents shall be as provided by law.
SECTION V.
LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS
Paragraph I. School systems continued; consolidation of school systems authorized;
new independent school systems prohibited. Authority is granted to county and area
boards of education to establish and maintain public schools within their limits; provided,
however, that the authority provided for in this paragraph shall not diminish any authority
of the General Assembly otherwise granted under this article, including the authority to
establish special schools as provided for in Article VIII, Section V, Paragraph VII.
Existing county and independent school systems shall be continued, except that the General
Assembly may provide by law for the consolidation of two or more county school systems,
independent school systems, portions thereof, or any combination thereof into a single
county or area school system under the control and management of a county or area board
of education, under such terms and conditions as the General Assembly may prescribe; but
no such consolidation shall become effective until approved by a majority of the qualified
voters voting thereon in each separate school system proposed to be consolidated. No
independent school system shall hereafter be established.
Paragraph II. Boards of education. Each school system shall be under the management
and control of a board of education, the members of which shall be elected as provided by
law. School board members shall reside within the territory embraced by the school system
and shall have such compensation and additional qualifications as may be provided by law.
Any board of education to which the members are appointed as of December 31, 1992,
shall continue as an appointed board of education through December 31, 1993, and the
appointed members of such board of education who are in office on December 31, 1992,
shall continue in office as members of such appointed board until December 31, 1993, on
which date the terms of office of all appointed members shall end.
Paragraph III. School superintendents. There shall be a school superintendent of each
system appointed by the board of education who shall be the executive officer of the board
of education and shall have such qualifications, powers, and duties as provided by general
law. Any elected school superintendent in office on January 1, 1993, shall continue to serve
out the remainder of his or her respective term of office and shall be replaced by an
appointee of the board of education at the expiration of such term.
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Paragraph IV. Reserved.
Paragraph V. Power of boards to contract with each other. (a) Any two or more boards
of education may contract with each other for the care, education, and transportation of
pupils and for such other activities as they may be authorized by law to perform.
(b) The General Assembly may provide by law for the sharing of facilities or services
by and between local boards of education under such joint administrative authority as may
be authorized.
Paragraph VI. Power of boards to accept bequests, donations, grants, and transfers. The
board of education of each school system may accept bequests, donations, grants, and
transfers of land, buildings, and other property for the use of such system.
Paragraph VII. Special schools. (a) The General Assembly may provide by law for the
creation of special schools in such areas as may require them and may provide for the
participation of local boards of education in the establishment of such schools under such
terms and conditions as it may provide; but no bonded indebtedness may be incurred nor
a school tax levied for the support of special schools without the approval of the local
board of education and a majority of the qualified voters voting thereon in each of the
systems affected. Any special schools shall be operated in conformity with regulations of
the State Board of Education pursuant to provisions of law. Special schools may include
state charter schools; provided, however, that special schools shall only be public schools.
A state charter school under this section shall mean a public school that operates under the
terms of a charter between the State Board of Education and a charter petitioner; provided,
however, that such state charter schools shall not include private, sectarian, religious, or
for profit schools or private educational institutions; provided, further, that this Paragraph
shall not be construed to prohibit a local board of education from establishing a local
charter school pursuant to Article VIII, Section V, Paragraph I. The state is authorized to
expend state funds for the support and maintenance of special schools in such amount and
manner as may be provided by law; provided, however, no deduction shall be made to any
state funding which a local school system is otherwise authorized to receive pursuant to
general law as a direct result or consequence of the enrollment in a state charter school of
a specific student or students who reside within the geographic boundaries of the local
school system.
(b) Nothing contained herein shall be construed to affect the authority of local boards of
education or of the state to support and maintain special schools created prior to June 30,
1983.
SECTION VI.
LOCAL TAXATION FOR EDUCATION
Paragraph I. Local taxation for education. (a) The board of education of each school
system shall annually certify to its fiscal authority or authorities a school tax not greater
than 20 mills per dollar for the support and maintenance of education. Said fiscal authority
or authorities shall annually levy said tax upon the assessed value of all taxable property
within the territory served by said school system, provided that the levy made by an area
board of education, which levy shall not be greater than 20 mills per dollar, shall be in such
amount and within such limits as may be prescribed by local law applicable thereto.
(b) School tax funds shall be expended only for the support and maintenance of public
schools, public vocational-technical schools, public education, and activities necessary or
incidental thereto, including school lunch purposes.
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(c) The 20 mill limitation provided for in subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph shall not
apply to those school systems which are authorized on June 30, 1983, to levy a school tax
in excess thereof.
(d) The method of certification and levy of the school tax provided for in subparagraph
(a) of this Paragraph shall not apply to those systems that are authorized on June 30, 1983,
to utilize a different method of certification and levy of such tax; but the General Assembly
may by law require that such systems be brought into conformity with the method of
certification and levy herein provided.
Paragraph II. Increasing or removing tax rate. The mill limitation in effect on June 30,
1983, for any school system may be increased or removed by action of the respective
boards of education, but only after such action has been approved by a majority of the
qualified voters voting thereon in the particular school system to be affected in the manner
provided by law.
Paragraph III. School tax collection reimbursement. The General Assembly may by
general law require local boards of education to reimburse the appropriate governing
authority for the collection of school taxes, provided that any rate established may be
reduced by local act.
Paragraph IV. Sales tax for educational purposes. (a) The board of education of each
school district in a county in which no independent school district is located may by
resolution and the board of education of each county school district and the board of
education of each independent school district located within such county may by
concurrent resolutions impose, levy, and collect a sales and use tax for educational
purposes of such school districts conditioned upon approval by a majority of the qualified
voters residing within the limits of the local taxing jurisdiction voting in a referendum
thereon. This tax shall be at the rate of 1 percent and shall be imposed for a period of time
not to exceed five years, but in all other respects, except as otherwise provided in this
Paragraph, shall correspond to and be levied in the same manner as the tax provided for by
Article 3 of Chapter 8 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the
special county 1 percent sales and use tax, as now or hereafter amended. Proceedings for
the reimposition of such tax shall be in the same manner as proceedings for the initial
imposition of the tax, but the newly authorized tax shall not be imposed until the expiration
of the tax then in effect.
(b) The purpose or purposes for which the proceeds of the tax are to be used and may be
expended include:
(1) Capital outlay projects for educational purposes;
(2) The retirement of previously incurred general obligation debt with respect only to
capital outlay projects of the school system; provided, however, that the tax authorized
under this Paragraph shall only be expended for the purpose authorized under this
subparagraph (b)(2) if all ad valorem property taxes levied or scheduled to be levied prior
to the maturity of any such then outstanding general obligation debt to be retired by the
proceeds of the tax imposed under this Paragraph shall be reduced by a total amount
equal to the total amount of proceeds of the tax imposed under this Paragraph to be
applied to retire such bonded indebtedness. In the event of failure to comply with the
requirements of this subparagraph (b)(2), as certified by the Department of Revenue, no
further funds shall be expended under this subparagraph (b)(2) by such county or
independent board of education and all such funds shall be maintained in a separate,
restricted account and held solely for the expenditure for future capital outlay projects for
educational purposes; or
(3) A combination of the foregoing.
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(c) The resolution calling for the imposition of the tax and the ballot question shall each
describe:
(1) The specific capital outlay projects to be funded, or the specific debt to be retired,
or both, if applicable;
(2) The maximum cost of such project or projects and, if applicable, the maximum
amount of debt to be retired, which cost and amount of debt shall also be the maximum
amount of net proceeds to be raised by the tax; and
(3) The maximum period of time, to be stated in calendar years or calendar quarters
and not to exceed five years.
(d) Nothing in this Paragraph shall prohibit a county and those municipalities located in
such county from imposing as additional taxes local sales and use taxes authorized by
general law.
(e) The tax imposed pursuant to this Paragraph shall not be subject to and shall not count
with respect to any general law limitation regarding the maximum amount of local sales
and use taxes which may be levied in any jurisdiction in this state.
(f) The tax imposed pursuant to this Paragraph shall not be subject to any sales and use
tax exemption with respect to the sale or use of food and beverages which is imposed by
law.
(g) The net proceeds of the tax shall be distributed between the county school district and
the independent school districts, or portion thereof, located in such county according to the
ratio the student enrollment in each school district, or portion thereof, bears to the total
student enrollment of all school districts in the county or upon such other formula for
distribution as may be authorized by local law. For purposes of this subparagraph, student
enrollment shall be based on the latest FTE count prior to the referendum on imposing the
tax.
(h) Excess proceeds of the tax which remain following expenditure of proceeds for
authorized projects or purposes for education shall be used solely for the purpose of
reducing any indebtedness of the school system. In the event there is no indebtedness, such
excess proceeds shall be used by such school system for the purpose of reducing its millage
rate in an amount equivalent to the amount of such excess proceeds.
(i) The tax authorized by this Paragraph may be imposed, levied, and collected as
provided in this Paragraph without further action by the General Assembly, but the General
Assembly shall be authorized by general law to further define and implement its provisions
including, but not limited to, the authority to specify the percentage of net proceeds to be
allocated among the projects and purposes for which the tax was levied.
(j)(1) Notwithstanding any provision of any constitutional amendment continued in
force and effect pursuant to Article XI, Section I, Paragraph IV(a) and except as
otherwise provided in subparagraph (j)(2) of this Paragraph, any political subdivision
whose ad valorem taxing powers are restricted pursuant to such a constitutional
amendment may receive the proceeds of the tax authorized under this Paragraph or of any
local sales and use tax authorized by general law, or any combination of such taxes,
without any corresponding limitation of its ad valorem taxing powers which would
otherwise be required under such constitutional amendment.
(2) The restriction on and limitation of ad valorem taxing powers described in
subparagraph (j)(1) of this Paragraph shall remain applicable with respect to proceeds
received from the levy of a local sales and use tax specifically authorized by a
constitutional amendment in force and effect pursuant to Article XI, Section I, Paragraph
IV(a), as opposed to a local sales and use tax authorized by this Paragraph or by general
law.
SECTION VII.
EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE
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Paragraph I. Educational assistance programs authorized. (a) Pursuant to laws now or
hereafter enacted by the General Assembly, public funds may be expended for any of the
following purposes:
(1) To provide grants, scholarships, loans, or other assistance to students and to parents
of students for educational purposes.
(2) To provide for a program of guaranteed loans to students and to parents of students
for educational purposes and to pay interest, interest subsidies, and fees to lenders on
such loans. The General Assembly is authorized to provide such tax exemptions to
lenders as shall be deemed advisable in connection with such program.
(3) To match funds now or hereafter available for student assistance pursuant to any
federal law.
(4) To provide grants, scholarships, loans, or other assistance to public employees for
educational purposes.
(5) To provide for the purchase of loans made to students for educational purposes who
have completed a program of study in a field in which critical shortages exist and for
cancellation of repayment of such loans, interest, and charges thereon.
(b) Contributions made in support of any educational assistance program now or
hereafter established under provisions of this section may be deductible for state income
tax purposes as now or hereafter provided by law.
(c) The General Assembly shall be authorized by general law to provide for an education
trust fund to assist students and parents of students in financing postsecondary education
and to provide for contracts between the fund and purchasers for the advance payment of
tuition by each purchaser for a qualified beneficiary to attend a state institution of higher
education. Such general law shall provide for such terms, conditions, and limitations as the
General Assembly shall deem necessary for the implementation of this subparagraph.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Constitution to the contrary, the General Assembly
shall be authorized to provide for the guarantee of such contracts with state revenues.
Paragraph II. Guaranteed revenue debt. Guaranteed revenue debt may be incurred to
provide funds to make loans to students and to parents of students for educational purposes,
to purchase loans made to students and to parents of students for educational purposes, or
to lend or make deposits of such funds with lenders which shall be secured by loans made
to students and to parents of students for educational purposes. Any such debt shall be
incurred in accordance with the procedures and requirements of Article VII, Section IV of
this Constitution.
Paragraph III. Public authorities. Public authorities or public corporations heretofore or
hereafter created for such purposes shall be authorized to administer educational assistance
programs and, in connection therewith, may exercise such powers as may now or hereafter
be provided by law.
Paragraph IV. Waiver of tuition. The Board of Regents of the University System of
Georgia shall be authorized to establish programs allowing attendance at units of the
University System of Georgia without payment of tuition or other fees, but the General
Assembly may provide by law for the establishment of any such program for the benefit
of elderly citizens of the state.
ARTICLE IX.
COUNTIES AND MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS
SECTION I.
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COUNTIES
Paragraph I. Counties a body corporate and politic. Each county shall be a body
corporate and politic with such governing authority and with such powers and limitations
as are provided in this Constitution and as provided by law. The governing authorities of
the several counties shall remain as prescribed by law on June 30, 1983, until otherwise
provided by law.
Paragraph II. Number of counties limited; county boundaries and county sites; county
consolidation. (a) There shall not be more than 159 counties in this state.
(b) The metes and bounds of the several counties and the county sites shall remain as
prescribed by law on June 30, 1983, unless changed under the operation of a general law.
(c) The General Assembly may provide by law for the consolidation of two or more
counties into one or the division of a county and the merger of portions thereof into other
counties under such terms and conditions as it may prescribe; but no such consolidation,
division, or merger shall become effective unless approved by a majority of the qualified
voters voting thereon in each of the counties proposed to be consolidated, divided, or
merged.
Paragraph III. County officers; election; term; compensation. (a) The clerk of the
superior court, judge of the probate court, sheriff, tax receiver, tax collector, and tax
commissioner, where such office has replaced the tax receiver and tax collector, shall be
elected by the qualified voters of their respective counties for terms of four years and shall
have such qualifications, powers, and duties as provided by general law.
(b) County officers listed in subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph may be on a fee basis,
salary basis, or fee basis supplemented by salary, in such manner as may be directed by
law. Minimum compensation for said county officers may be established by the General
Assembly by general law. Such minimum compensation may be supplemented by local law
or, if such authority is delegated by local law, by action of the county governing authority.
(c) The General Assembly may consolidate the offices of tax receiver and tax collector
into the office of tax commissioner.
Paragraph IV. Civil service systems. The General Assembly may by general law
authorize the establishment by county governing authorities of civil service systems
covering county employees or covering county employees and employees of the elected
county officers.
SECTION II.
HOME RULE FOR COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES
Paragraph I. Home rule for counties. (a) The governing authority of each county shall
have legislative power to adopt clearly reasonable ordinances, resolutions, or regulations
relating to its property, affairs, and local government for which no provision has been made
by general law and which is not inconsistent with this Constitution or any local law
applicable thereto. Any such local law shall remain in force and effect until amended or
repealed as provided in subparagraph (b). This, however, shall not restrict the authority of
the General Assembly by general law to further define this power or to broaden, limit, or
otherwise regulate the exercise thereof. The General Assembly shall not pass any local law
to repeal, modify, or supersede any action taken by a county governing authority under this
section except as authorized under subparagraph (c) hereof.
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(b) Except as provided in subparagraph (c), a county may, as an incident of its home rule
power, amend or repeal the local acts applicable to its governing authority by following
either of the procedures hereinafter set forth:
(1) Such local acts may be amended or repealed by a resolution or ordinance duly
adopted at two regular consecutive meetings of the county governing authority not less
than seven nor more than 60 days apart. A notice containing a synopsis of the proposed
amendment or repeal shall be published in the official county organ once a week for three
weeks within a period of 60 days immediately preceding its final adoption. Such notice
shall state that a copy of the proposed amendment or repeal is on file in the office of the
clerk of the superior court of the county for the purpose of examination and inspection
by the public. The clerk of the superior court shall furnish anyone, upon written request,
a copy of the proposed amendment or repeal. No amendment or repeal hereunder shall
be valid to change or repeal an amendment adopted pursuant to a referendum as provided
in (2) of this subparagraph or to change or repeal a local act of the General Assembly
ratified in a referendum by the electors of such county unless at least 12 months have
elapsed after such referendum. No amendment hereunder shall be valid if inconsistent
with any provision of this Constitution or if provision has been made therefor by general
law.
(2) Amendments to or repeals of such local acts or ordinances, resolutions, or
regulations adopted pursuant to subparagraph (a) hereof may be initiated by a petition
filed with the judge of the probate court of the county containing, in cases of counties
with a population of 5,000 or less, the signatures of at least 25 percent of the electors
registered to vote in the last general election; in cases of counties with a population of
more than 5,000 but not more than 50,000, at least 20 percent of the electors registered
to vote in the last general election; and, in cases of a county with a population of more
than 50,000, at least 10 percent of the electors registered to vote in the last general
election, which petition shall specifically set forth the exact language of the proposed
amendment or repeal. The judge of the probate court shall determine the validity of such
petition within 60 days of its being filed with the judge of the probate court. In the event
the judge of the probate court determines that such petition is valid, it shall be his duty
to issue the call for an election for the purpose of submitting such amendment or repeal
to the registered electors of the county for their approval or rejection. Such call shall be
issued not less than ten nor more than 60 days after the date of the filing of the petition.
He shall set the date of such election for a day not less than 60 nor more than 90 days
after the date of such filing. The judge of the probate court shall cause a notice of the date
of said election to be published in the official organ of the county once a week for three
weeks immediately preceding such date. Said notice shall also contain a synopsis of the
proposed amendment or repeal and shall state that a copy thereof is on file in the office
of the judge of the probate court of the county for the purpose of examination and
inspection by the public. The judge of the probate court shall furnish anyone, upon
written request, a copy of the proposed amendment or repeal. If more than one-half of the
votes cast on such question are for approval of the amendment or repeal, it shall become
of full force and effect; otherwise, it shall be void and of no force and effect. The expense
of such election shall be borne by the county, and it shall be the duty of the judge of the
probate court to hold and conduct such election. Such election shall be held under the
same laws and rules and regulations as govern special elections, except as otherwise
provided herein. It shall be the duty of the judge of the probate court to canvass the
returns and declare and certify the result of the election. It shall be his further duty to
certify the result thereof to the Secretary of State in accordance with the provisions of
subparagraph (g) of this Paragraph. A referendum on any such amendment or repeal shall
not be held more often than once each year. No amendment hereunder shall be valid if
inconsistent with any provision of this Constitution or if provision has been made
therefor by general law.
In the event that the judge of the probate court determines that such petition was not
valid, he shall cause to be published in explicit detail the reasons why such petition is not
valid; provided, however, that, in any proceeding in which the validity of the petition is
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at issue, the tribunal considering such issue shall not be limited by the reasons assigned.
Such publication shall be in the official organ of the county in the week immediately
following the date on which such petition is declared to be not valid.
(c) The power granted to counties in subparagraphs (a) and (b) above shall not be
construed to extend to the following matters or any other matters which the General
Assembly by general law has preempted or may hereafter preempt, but such matters shall
be the subject of general law or the subject of local acts of the General Assembly to the
extent that the enactment of such local acts is otherwise permitted under this Constitution:
(1) Action affecting any elective county office, the salaries thereof, or the personnel
thereof, except the personnel subject to the jurisdiction of the county governing authority.
(2) Action affecting the composition, form, procedure for election or appointment,
compensation, and expenses and allowances in the nature of compensation of the county
governing authority.
(3) Action defining any criminal offense or providing for criminal punishment.
(4) Action adopting any form of taxation beyond that authorized by law or by this
Constitution.
(5) Action extending the power of regulation over any business activity regulated by
the Georgia Public Service Commission beyond that authorized by local or general law
or by this Constitution.
(6) Action affecting the exercise of the power of eminent domain.
(7) Action affecting any court or the personnel thereof.
(8) Action affecting any public school system.
(d) The power granted in subparagraphs (a) and (b) of this Paragraph shall not include
the power to take any action affecting the private or civil law governing private or civil
relationships, except as is incident to the exercise of an independent governmental power.
(e) Nothing in subparagraphs (a), (b), (c), or (d) shall affect the provisions of
subparagraph (f) of this Paragraph.
(f) The governing authority of each county is authorized to fix the salary, compensation,
and expenses of those employed by such governing authority and to establish and maintain
retirement or pension systems, insurance, workers’ compensation, and hospitalization
benefits for said employees.
(g) No amendment or revision of any local act made pursuant to subparagraph (b) of this
section shall become effective until a copy of such amendment or revision, a copy of the
required notice of publication, and an affidavit of a duly authorized representative of the
newspaper in which such notice was published to the effect that said notice has been
published as provided in said subparagraph has been filed with the Secretary of State. The
Secretary of State shall provide for the publication and distribution of all such amendments
and revisions at least annually.
Paragraph II. Home rule for municipalities. The General Assembly may provide by law
for the self-government of municipalities and to that end is expressly given the authority
to delegate its power so that matters pertaining to municipalities may be dealt with without
the necessity of action by the General Assembly.
Paragraph III. Supplementary powers. (a) In addition to and supplementary of all powers
possessed by or conferred upon any county, municipality, or any combination thereof, any
county, municipality, or any combination thereof may exercise the following powers and
provide the following services:
(1) Police and fire protection.
(2) Garbage and solid waste collection and disposal.
(3) Public health facilities and services, including hospitals, ambulance and emergency
rescue services, and animal control.
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(4) Street and road construction and maintenance, including curbs, sidewalks, street
lights, and devices to control the flow of traffic on streets and roads constructed by
counties and municipalities or any combination thereof.
(5) Parks, recreational areas, programs, and facilities.
(6) Storm water and sewage collection and disposal systems.
(7) Development, storage, treatment, purification, and distribution of water.
(8) Public housing.
(9) Public transportation.
(10) Libraries, archives, and arts and sciences programs and facilities.
(11) Terminal and dock facilities and parking facilities.
(12) Codes, including building, housing, plumbing, and electrical codes.
(13) Air quality control.
(14) The power to maintain and modify heretofore existing retirement or pension
systems, including such systems heretofore created by general laws of local application
by population classification, and to continue in effect or modify other benefits heretofore
provided as a part of or in addition to such retirement or pension systems and the power
to create and maintain retirement or pension systems for any elected or appointed public
officers and employees whose compensation is paid in whole or in part from county or
municipal funds and for the beneficiaries of such officers and employees.
(b) Unless otherwise provided by law,
(1) No county may exercise any of the powers listed in subparagraph (a) of this
Paragraph or provide any service listed therein inside the boundaries of any municipality
or any other county except by contract with the municipality or county affected; and
(2) No municipality may exercise any of the powers listed in subparagraph (a) of this
Paragraph or provide any service listed therein outside its own boundaries except by
contract with the county or municipality affected.
(c) Nothing contained within this Paragraph shall operate to prohibit the General
Assembly from enacting general laws relative to the subject matters listed in subparagraph
(a) of this Paragraph or to prohibit the General Assembly by general law from regulating,
restricting, or limiting the exercise of the powers listed therein; but it may not withdraw
any such powers.
(d) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph, the General
Assembly shall act upon the subject matters listed in subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph
only by general law.
Paragraph IV. Planning and zoning. The governing authority of each county and of each
municipality may adopt plans and may exercise the power of zoning. This authorization
shall not prohibit the General Assembly from enacting general laws establishing procedures
for the exercise of such power.
Paragraph V. Eminent domain. The governing authority of each county and of each
municipality may exercise the power of eminent domain for any public purpose subject to
any limitations on the exercise of such power as may be provided by general law.
Notwithstanding the provisions of any local amendment to the Constitution continued in
effect pursuant to Article XI, Section I, Paragraph IV or any existing general law, each
exercise of eminent domain by a nonelected housing or development authority shall be first
approved by the elected governing authority of the county or municipality within which the
property is located.
Paragraph VI. Special districts. As hereinafter provided in this Paragraph, special
districts may be created for the provision of local government services within such districts;
and fees, assessments, and taxes may be levied and collected within such districts to pay,
wholly or partially, the cost of providing such services therein and to construct and
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maintain facilities therefor. Such special districts may be created and fees, assessments, or
taxes may be levied and collected therein by any one or more of the following methods:
(a) By general law which directly creates the districts.
(b) By general law which requires the creation of districts under conditions specified by
such general law.
(c) By municipal or county ordinance or resolution, except that no such ordinance or
resolution may supersede a law enacted by the General Assembly pursuant to
subparagraphs (a) or (b) of this Paragraph.
Paragraph VII. Community redevelopment. (a) Each condemnation of privately held
property for redevelopment purposes must be approved by vote of the elected governing
authority of the city within which the property is located, if any, or otherwise by the
governing authority of the county within which the property is located. The power of
eminent domain shall not be used for redevelopment purposes by any entity, except for
public use, as defined by general law.
(a.1) The General Assembly may authorize any county, municipality, or housing
authority to undertake and carry out community redevelopment.
(b) The General Assembly is also authorized to grant to counties or municipalities for
redevelopment purposes and in connection with redevelopment programs, as such purposes
and programs are defined by general law, the power to issue tax allocation bonds, as
defined by such law, and the power to incur other obligations, without either such bonds
or obligations constituting debt within the meaning of Section V of this article, and the
power to enter into contracts for any period not exceeding 30 years with private persons,
firms, corporations, and business entities. Such general law may authorize the use of
county, municipal, and school tax funds, or any combination thereof, to fund such
redevelopment purposes and programs, including the payment of debt service on tax
allocation bonds, notwithstanding Section VI of Article VIII or any other provision of this
Constitution and regardless of whether any county, municipality, or local board of
education approved the use of such tax funds for such purposes and programs before
January 1, 2009. No county, municipal, or school tax funds may be used for such purposes
and programs without the approval by resolution of the applicable governing body of the
county, municipality, or local board of education. No school tax funds may be used for
such purposes and programs except as authorized by general law after January 1, 2009;
provided, however, that any school tax funds pledged for the repayment of tax allocation
bonds which have been judicially validated pursuant to general law shall continue to be
used for such purposes and programs. Notwithstanding the grant of these powers pursuant
to general law, no county or municipality may exercise these powers unless so authorized
by local law and unless such powers are exercised in conformity with those terms and
conditions for such exercise as established by that local law. The provisions of any such
local law shall conform to those requirements established by general law regarding such
powers. No such local law, or any amendment thereto, shall become effective unless
approved in a referendum by a majority of the qualified voters voting thereon in the county
or municipality directly affected by that local law.
(c) The General Assembly is authorized to provide by general law for the creation of
enterprise zones by counties or municipalities, or both. Such law may provide for
exemptions, credits, or reductions of any tax or taxes levied within such zones by the state,
a county, a municipality, or any combination thereof. Such exemptions shall be available
only to such persons, firms, or corporations which create job opportunities within the
enterprise zone for unemployed, low, and moderate income persons in accordance with the
standards set forth in such general law. Such general law shall further define enterprise
zones so as to limit such tax exemptions, credits, or reductions to persons and geographic
areas which are determined to be underdeveloped as evidenced by the unemployment rate
and the average personal income in the area when compared to the remainder of the state.
The General Assembly may by general law further define areas qualified for creation of
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enterprise zones and may provide for all matters relative to the creation, approval, and
termination of such zones.
(d) The existence in a community of real property which is maintained in a blighted
condition increases the burdens of state and local government by increasing the need for
governmental services, including but not limited to social services, public safety services,
and code enforcement services. Rehabilitation of blighted property decreases the need for
such governmental services. In recognition of such service needs and in order to encourage
community redevelopment, the counties and municipalities of this state are authorized to
establish community redevelopment tax incentive programs as authorized in this
subparagraph. A community redevelopment tax incentive program shall be established by
ordinance of the county or municipality. Any such program and ordinance shall include the
following elements:
(1) The ordinance shall specify ascertainable standards which shall be applied in
determining whether property is maintained in a blighted condition. The ordinance shall
provide that property shall not be subject to official identification as maintained in a
blighted condition and shall not be subject to increased taxation if the property is a
dwelling house which is being used as the primary residence of one or more persons; and
(2) The ordinance shall establish a procedure for the official identification of real
property in the county or municipality which is maintained in a blighted condition. Such
procedure shall include notice to the property owner and the opportunity for a hearing
with respect to such determination.
(3) The ordinance shall specify an increased rate of ad valorem taxation to be applied
to property which has been officially identified as maintained in a blighted condition.
Such increase in the rate of taxation shall be accomplished through application of a factor
to the millage rate applied to the property, so that such property shall be taxed at a higher
millage rate than the millage rate generally applied in the county or municipality, or
otherwise as may be provided by general law.
(4) The ordinance may, but shall not be required to, segregate revenues arising from
any increased rate of ad valorem taxation and provide for use of such revenues only for
community redevelopment purposes;
(5) The ordinance shall specify ascertainable standards for rehabilitation through
remedial actions or redevelopment with which the owner of property may comply in
order to have the property removed from identification as maintained in a blighted
condition. As used herein, the term ‘blighted condition’ shall include, at a minimum,
property that constitutes endangerment to public health or safety;
(6) The ordinance shall specify a decreased rate of ad valorem taxation to be applied
for a specified period of time after the county or municipality has accepted a plan
submitted by the owner for remedial action or redevelopment of the blighted property and
the owner is in compliance with the terms of the plan. Such decrease in the rate of
taxation shall be accomplished through application of a factor to the millage rate applied
to the property, so that such property shall be taxed at a lower millage rate than the
millage rate generally applied in the county or municipality, or otherwise as may be
provided by general law.
(7) The ordinance may contain such other matters as are consistent with the intent and
provisions of this subparagraph and general law.
Variations in rate of taxation as authorized under this subparagraph shall be a permissible
variation in the uniformity of taxation otherwise required. The increase or decrease in rate
of taxation accomplished through a change in the otherwise applicable millage rate shall
affect only the general millage rate for county or municipal maintenance and operations.
A county and one or more municipalities in the county may, but shall not be required to,
establish a joint community redevelopment tax incentive program through the adoption of
concurrent ordinances. No Act of the General Assembly shall be required for counties and
municipalities to establish community redevelopment tax incentive programs. However,
the General Assembly may by general law regulate, restrict, or limit the powers granted to
counties and municipalities under this subparagraph.
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Paragraph VIII. Limitation on the taxing power and contributions of counties,
municipalities, and political subdivisions. The General Assembly shall not authorize any
county, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state, through taxation,
contribution, or otherwise, to appropriate money for or to lend its credit to any person or
to any nonpublic corporation or association except for purely charitable purposes.
Paragraph IX. Immunity of counties, municipalities, and school districts. The General
Assembly may waive the immunity of counties, municipalities, and school districts by law.
SECTION III.
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
Paragraph I. Intergovernmental contracts. (a) The state, or any institution, department,
or other agency thereof, and any county, municipality, school district, or other political
subdivision of the state may contract for any period not exceeding 50 years with each other
or with any other public agency, public corporation, or public authority for joint services,
for the provision of services, or for the joint or separate use of facilities or equipment; but
such contracts must deal with activities, services, or facilities which the contracting parties
are authorized by law to undertake or provide. By way of specific instance and not
limitation, a mutual undertaking by a local government entity to borrow and an undertaking
by the state or a state authority to lend funds from and to one another for water or sewerage
facilities or systems or for regional or multijurisdictional solid waste recycling or solid
waste facilities or systems pursuant to law shall be a provision for services and an activity
within the meaning of this Paragraph.
(b) Subject to such limitations as may be provided by general law, any county,
municipality, or political subdivision thereof may, in connection with any contracts
authorized in this Paragraph, convey any existing facilities or equipment to the state or to
any public agency, public corporation, or public authority.
(c) Any county, municipality, or any combination thereof, may contract with any public
agency, public corporation, or public authority for the care, maintenance, and
hospitalization of its indigent sick and may as a part of such contract agree to pay for the
cost of acquisition, construction, modernization, or repairs of necessary land, buildings, and
facilities by such public agency, public corporation, or public authority and provide for the
payment of such services and the cost to such public agency, public corporation, or public
authority of acquisition, construction, modernization, or repair of land, buildings, and
facilities from revenues realized by such county, municipality, or any combination thereof
from any taxes authorized by this Constitution or revenues derived from any other source.
Paragraph II. Local government reorganization. (a) The General Assembly may provide
by law for any matters necessary or convenient to authorize the consolidation of the
governmental and corporate powers and functions vested in municipalities with the
governmental and corporate powers and functions vested in a county or counties in which
such municipalities are located; provided, however, that no such consolidation shall
become effective unless separately approved by a majority of the qualified voters of the
county or each of the counties and of the municipality or each of the municipalities located
within such county or counties containing at least 10 percent of the population of the
county in which located voting thereon in such manner as may be prescribed in such law.
Such law may provide procedures and requirements for the establishment of charter
commissions to draft proposed charters for the consolidated government, and the General
Assembly is expressly authorized to delegate its powers to such charter commissions for
such purposes so that the governmental consolidation proposed by a charter commission
may become effective without the necessity of further action by the General Assembly; or
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such law may require that the recommendation of any such charter commission be
implemented by a subsequent local law.
(b) The General Assembly may provide by general law for alternatives other than
governmental consolidation as authorized in subparagraph (a) above for the reorganization
of county and municipal governments, including, but not limited to, procedures to establish
a single governing body as the governing authority of a county and a municipality or
municipalities located within such county or for the redistribution of powers between a
county and a municipality or municipalities located within the county. Such law may
require the form of governmental reorganization authorized by such law to be approved by
the qualified voters directly affected thereby voting in such manner as may be required in
such law.
(c) Nothing in this Paragraph shall be construed to limit the authority of the General
Assembly to repeal municipal charters without a referendum.
SECTION IV.
TAXATION POWER OF COUNTY
AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS
Paragraph I. Power of taxation. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Paragraph, the
governing authority of any county, municipality, or combination thereof may exercise the
power of taxation as authorized by this Constitution or by general law.
(b) In the absence of a general law:
(1) County governing authorities may be authorized by local law to levy and collect
business and occupational license taxes and license fees only in the unincorporated areas
of the counties. The General Assembly may provide that the revenues raised by such tax
or fee be spent for the provision of services only in the unincorporated areas of the
county.
(2) Municipal governing authorities may be authorized by local law to levy and collect
taxes and fees in the corporate limits of the municipalities.
(c) The General Assembly may provide by law for the taxation of insurance companies
on the basis of gross direct premiums received from insurance policies within the
unincorporated areas of counties. The tax authorized herein may be imposed by the state
or by counties or by the state for county purposes as may be provided by law. The General
Assembly may further provide by law for the reduction, only upon taxable property within
the unincorporated areas of counties, of the ad valorem tax millage rate for county or
county school district purposes or for the reduction of such ad valorem tax millage rate for
both such purposes in connection with imposing or authorizing the imposition of the tax
authorized herein or in connection with providing for the distribution of the proceeds
derived from the tax authorized herein.
Paragraph II. Power of expenditure. The governing authority of any county,
municipality, or combination thereof may expend public funds to perform any public
service or public function as authorized by this Constitution or by law or to perform any
other service or function as authorized by this Constitution or by general law.
Paragraph III. Purposes of taxation; allocation of taxes. No levy need state the particular
purposes for which the same was made nor shall any taxes collected be allocated for any
particular purpose, unless otherwise provided by this Constitution or by law.
Paragraph IV. Tax allocation; regional facilities. As used in this Paragraph, the term
‘regional facilities’ means industrial parks, business parks, conference centers, convention
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centers, airports, athletic facilities, recreation facilities, jails or correctional facilities, or
other similar or related economic development parks, centers, or facilities or any
combination thereof. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution, a county
or municipality is authorized to enter into contracts with: (1) any county which is
contiguous to such county or the county in which such municipality is located; (2) any
municipality located in such a contiguous county or the same county; or (3) any
combination thereof. Any such contract may be for the purpose of allocating the proceeds
of ad valorem taxes assessed and collected on real property located in such county or
municipality with such other counties or municipalities with which the assessing county
or municipality has entered into agreements for the development of one or more regional
facilities and the allocation of other revenues generated from such regional facilities. Any
such regional facility may be publicly or privately initiated. The allocation of such tax
proceeds and other revenues shall be determined by contract between the affected local
governments. Such contract shall provide for the manner of development, operation, and
management of the regional facility and the sharing of expenses among the contracting
local governments and shall specify the percentage of ad valorem taxes and other revenues
to be allocated and the method of allocation to each contracting local government. Unless
otherwise provided by law, such a regional facility will qualify for the greatest dollar
amount of income tax credits which may be provided for by general law for any of the
counties or municipalities which have entered into an agreement for the development of
the regional facility, regardless of the county or municipality in which the business is
physically located. The authority granted to counties and municipalities under this
Paragraph shall be subject to any conditions, limitations, and restrictions which may be
imposed by general law.
SECTION V.
LIMITATION ON LOCAL DEBT
Paragraph I. Debt limitations of counties, municipalities, and other political
subdivisions. (a) The debt incurred by any county, municipality, or other political
subdivision of this state, including debt incurred on behalf of any special district, shall
never exceed 10 percent of the assessed value of all taxable property within such county,
municipality, or political subdivision; and no such county, municipality, or other political
subdivision shall incur any new debt without the assent of a majority of the qualified voters
of such county, municipality, or political subdivision voting in an election held for that
purpose as provided by law.
(b) Notwithstanding subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, all local school systems which
are authorized by law on June 30, 1983, to incur debt in excess of 10 percent of the
assessed value of all taxable property therein shall continue to be authorized to incur such
debt.
Paragraph II. Special district debt. Any county, municipality, or political subdivision of
this state may incur debt on behalf of any special district created pursuant to Paragraph VI
of Section II of this article. Such debt may be incurred on behalf of such special district
where the county, municipality, or other political subdivision shall have, at or before the
time of incurring such debt, provided for the assessment and collection of an annual tax
within the special district sufficient in amount to pay the principal of and interest on such
debt within 30 years from the incurrence thereof; and no such county, municipality, or
other political subdivision shall incur any debt on behalf of such special district without the
assent of a majority of the qualified voters of such special district voting in an election held
for that purpose as provided by law. No such county, municipality, or other political
subdivision shall incur any debt on behalf of such special district in an amount which,
when taken together with all other debt outstanding incurred by such county, municipality,
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or political subdivision and on behalf of any such special district, exceeds 10 percent of the
assessed value of all taxable property within such county, municipality, or political
subdivision. The proceeds of the tax collected as provided herein shall be placed in a
sinking fund to be held on behalf of such special district and used exclusively to pay off
the principal of and interest on such debt thereafter maturing. Such moneys shall be held
and kept separate and apart from all other revenues collected and may be invested and
reinvested as provided by law.
Paragraph III. Refunding of outstanding indebtedness. The governing authority of any
county, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state may provide for the
refunding of outstanding bonded indebtedness without the necessity of a referendum being
held therefor, provided that neither the term of the original debt is extended nor the interest
rate of the original debt is increased. The principal amount of any debt issued in connection
with such refunding may exceed the principal amount being refunded in order to reduce the
total principal and interest payment requirements over the remaining term of the original
issue. The proceeds of the refunding issue shall be used solely to retire the original debt.
The original debt refunded shall not constitute debt within the meaning of Paragraph I of
this section; but the refunding issue shall constitute a debt such as will count against the
limitation on debt measured by 10 percent of assessed value of taxable property as
expressed in Paragraph I of this section.
Paragraph IV. Exceptions to debt limitations. Notwithstanding the debt limitations
provided in Paragraph I of this section and without the necessity for a referendum being
held therefor, the governing authority of any county, municipality, or other political
subdivision of this state may, subject to the conditions and limitations as may be provided
by general law:
(1) Accept and use funds granted by and obtain loans from the federal government or
any agency thereof pursuant to conditions imposed by federal law.
(2) Incur debt, by way of borrowing from any person, corporation, or association as well
as from the state, to pay in whole or in part the cost of property valuation and equalization
programs for ad valorem tax purposes.
Paragraph V. Temporary loans authorized. The governing authority of any county,
municipality, or other political subdivision of this state may incur debt by obtaining
temporary loans in each year to pay expenses. The aggregate amount of all such loans shall
not exceed 75 percent of the total gross income from taxes collected in the last preceding
year. Such loans shall be payable on or before December 31 of the calendar year in which
such loan is made. No such loan may be obtained when there is a loan then unpaid obtained
in any prior year. No such county, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state
shall incur in any one calendar year an aggregate of such temporary loans or other
contracts, notes, warrants, or obligations for current expenses in excess of the total
anticipated revenue for such calendar year.
Paragraph VI. Levy of taxes to pay bonds; sinking fund required. Any county,
municipality, or other political subdivision of this state shall at or before the time of
incurring bonded indebtedness provide for the assessment and collection of an annual tax
sufficient in amount to pay the principal and interest of said debt within 30 years from the
incurring of such bonded indebtedness. The proceeds of this tax, together with any other
moneys collected for this purpose, shall be placed in a sinking fund to be used exclusively
for paying the principal of and interest on such bonded debt. Such moneys shall be held and
kept separate and apart from all other revenues collected and may be invested and
reinvested as provided by law.
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Paragraph VII. Validity of prior bond issues. Any and all bond issues validated and
issued prior to June 30, 1983, shall continue to be valid.
SECTION VI.
REVENUE BONDS
Paragraph I. Revenue bonds; general limitations. Any county, municipality, or other
political subdivision of this state may issue revenue bonds as provided by general law. The
obligation represented by revenue bonds shall be repayable only out of the revenue derived
from the project and shall not be deemed to be a debt of the issuing political subdivision.
No such issuing political subdivision shall exercise the power of taxation for the purpose
of paying any part of the principal or interest of any such revenue bonds.
Paragraph II. Revenue bonds; special limitations. Where revenue bonds are issued by
any county, municipality, or other political subdivision of this state in order to buy,
construct, extend, operate, or maintain gas or electric generating or distribution systems and
necessary appurtenances thereof and the gas or electric generating or distribution system
extends beyond the limits of the county in which the municipality or other political
subdivision is located, then its services rendered and property located outside said county
shall be subject to taxation and regulation in the same manner as are privately owned and
operated utilities.
Paragraph III. Development authorities. The development of trade, commerce, industry,
and employment opportunities being a public purpose vital to the welfare of the people of
this state, the General Assembly may create development authorities to promote and further
such purposes or may authorize the creation of such an authority by any county or
municipality or combination thereof under such uniform terms and conditions as it may
deem necessary. The General Assembly may exempt from taxation development authority
obligations, properties, activities, or income and may authorize the issuance of revenue
bonds by such authorities which shall not constitute an indebtedness of the state within the
meaning of Section V of this article.
Paragraph IV. Validation. The General Assembly shall provide for the validation of any
revenue bonds authorized and shall provide that such validation shall thereafter be
incontestable and conclusive.
Paragraph V. Validity of prior revenue bond issues. All revenue bonds issued and
validated prior to June 30, 1983, shall continue to be valid.
SECTION VII.
COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS
Paragraph I. Creation. The General Assembly may by local law create one or more
community improvement districts for any county or municipality or provide for the
creation of one or more community improvement districts by any county or municipality.
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Paragraph II. Purposes. The purpose of a community improvement district shall be the
provision of any one or more of the following governmental services and facilities:
(1) Street and road construction and maintenance, including curbs, sidewalks, street
lights, and devices to control the flow of traffic on streets and roads.
(2) Parks and recreational areas and facilities.
(3) Storm water and sewage collection and disposal systems.
(4) Development, storage, treatment, purification, and distribution of water.
(5) Public transportation.
(6) Terminal and dock facilities and parking facilities.
(7) Such other services and facilities as may be provided for by general law.
Paragraph III. Administration. (a) Any law creating or providing for the creation of a
community improvement district shall designate the governing authority of the
municipality or county for which the community improvement district is created as the
administrative body or otherwise shall provide for the establishment and membership of
an administrative body for the community improvement district. Any such law creating or
providing for the creation of an administrative body for the community improvement
district other than the municipal or county governing authority shall provide for
representation of the governing authority of each county and municipality within which the
community improvement district is wholly or partially located on the administrative body
of the community improvement district.
(b) Any law creating or providing for the creation of a community improvement district
shall provide that the creation of the community improvement district shall be conditioned
upon:
(1) The adoption of a resolution consenting to the creation of the community
improvement district by:
(A) The governing authority of the county if the community improvement district is
located wholly within the unincorporated area of a county;
(B) The governing authority of the municipality if the community improvement
district is located wholly within the incorporated area of a municipality; or
(C) The governing authorities of the county and the municipality if the community
improvement district is located partially within the unincorporated area of a county and
partially within the incorporated area of a municipality; and
(2) Written consent to the creation of the community improvement district by:
(A) A majority of the owners of real property within the community improvement
district which will be subject to taxes, fees, and assessments levied by the
administrative body of the community improvement district; and
(B) The owners of real property within the community improvement district which
constitutes at least 75 percent by value of all real property within the community
improvement district which will be subject to taxes, fees, and assessments levied by the
administrative body of the community improvement district; and for this purpose value
shall be determined by the most recent approved county ad valorem tax digest.
(c) The administrative body of each community improvement district may be authorized
to levy taxes, fees, and assessments within the community improvement district only on
real property used nonresidentially, specifically excluding all property used for residential,
agricultural, or forestry purposes and specifically excluding tangible personal property and
intangible property. Any tax, fee, or assessment so levied shall not exceed 2 1/2 percent of
the assessed value of the real property or such lower limit as may be established by law.
The law creating or providing for the creation of a community improvement district shall
provide that taxes, fees, and assessments levied by the administrative body of the
community improvement district shall be equitably apportioned among the properties
subject to such taxes, fees, and assessments according to the need for governmental
services and facilities created by the degree of density of development of each such
property. The law creating or providing for the creation of a community improvement
district shall provide that the proceeds of taxes, fees, and assessments levied by the
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administrative body of the community improvement district shall be used only for the
purpose of providing governmental services and facilities which are specially required by
the degree of density of development within the community improvement district and not
for the purpose of providing those governmental services and facilities provided to the
county or municipality as a whole. Any tax, fee, or assessment so levied shall be collected
by the county or municipality for which the community improvement district is created in
the same manner as taxes, fees, and assessments levied by such county or municipality. The
proceeds of taxes, fees, and assessments so levied, less such fee to cover the costs of
collection as may be specified by law, shall be transmitted by the collecting county or
municipality to the administrative body of the community improvement district and shall
be expended by the administrative body of the community improvement district only for
the purposes authorized by this Section.
Paragraph IV. Debt. The administrative body of a community improvement district may
incur debt, as authorized by law, without regard to the requirements of Section V of this
Article, which debt shall be backed by the full faith, credit, and taxing power of the
community improvement district but shall not be an obligation of the State of Georgia or
any other unit of government of the State of Georgia other than the community
improvement district.
Paragraph V. Cooperation with local governments. The services and facilities provided
pursuant to this Section shall be provided for in a cooperation agreement executed jointly
by the administrative body and the governing authority of the county or municipality for
which the community improvement district is created. The provisions of this section shall
in no way limit the authority of any county or municipality to provide services or facilities
within any community improvement district; and any county or municipality shall retain
full and complete authority and control over any of its facilities located within a
community improvement district. Said control shall include but not be limited to the
modification of, access to, and degree and type of services provided through or by facilities
of the municipality or county. Nothing contained in this Section shall be construed to limit
or preempt the application of any governmental laws, ordinances, resolutions, or
regulations to any community improvement district or the services or facilities provided
therein.
Paragraph VI. Regulation by general law. The General Assembly by general law may
regulate, restrict, and limit the creation of community improvement districts and the
exercise of the powers of administrative bodies of community improvement districts.
ARTICLE X.
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
SECTION I.
CONSTITUTION, HOW AMENDED
Paragraph I. Proposals to amend the Constitution; new Constitution. Amendments to
this Constitution or a new Constitution may be proposed by the General Assembly or by
a constitutional convention, as provided in this article. Only amendments which are of
general and uniform applicability throughout the state shall be proposed, passed, or
submitted to the people.
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Paragraph II. Proposals by the General Assembly; submission to the people. A proposal
by the General Assembly to amend this Constitution or to provide for a new Constitution
shall originate as a resolution in either the Senate or the House of Representatives and, if
approved by two-thirds of the members to which each house is entitled in a roll-call vote
entered on their respective journals, shall be submitted to the electors of the entire state at
the next general election which is held in the even-numbered years. A summary of such
proposal shall be prepared by the Attorney General, the Legislative Counsel, and the
Secretary of State and shall be published in the official organ of each county and, if deemed
advisable by the ‘Constitutional Amendments Publication Board,’ in not more than 20 other
newspapers in the state designated by such board which meet the qualifications for being
selected as the official organ of a county. Said board shall be composed of the Governor,
the Lieutenant Governor, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Such summary
shall be published once each week for three consecutive weeks immediately preceding the
day of the general election at which such proposal is to be submitted. The language to be
used in submitting a proposed amendment or a new Constitution shall be in such words as
the General Assembly may provide in the resolution or, in the absence thereof, in such
language as the Governor may prescribe. A copy of the entire proposed amendment or of
a new Constitution shall be filed in the office of the judge of the probate court of each
county and shall be available for public inspection; and the summary of the proposal shall
so indicate. The General Assembly is hereby authorized to provide by law for additional
matters relative to the publication and distribution of proposed amendments and summaries
not in conflict with the provisions of this Paragraph.
If such proposal is ratified by a majority of the electors qualified to vote for members of
the General Assembly voting thereon in such general election, such proposal shall become
a part of this Constitution or shall become a new Constitution, as the case may be. Any
proposal so approved shall take effect as provided in Paragraph VI of this article. When
more than one amendment is submitted at the same time, they shall be so submitted as to
enable the electors to vote on each amendment separately, provided that one or more new
articles or related changes in one or more articles may be submitted as a single amendment.
Paragraph III. Repeal or amendment of proposal. Any proposal by the General
Assembly to amend this Constitution or for a new Constitution may be amended or
repealed by the same General Assembly which adopted such proposal by the affirmative
vote of two-thirds of the members to which each house is entitled in a roll-call vote entered
on their respective journals, if such action is taken at least two months prior to the date of
the election at which such proposal is to be submitted to the people.
Paragraph IV. Constitutional convention; how called. No convention of the people shall
be called by the General Assembly to amend this Constitution or to propose a new
Constitution, unless by the concurrence of two-thirds of the members to which each house
of the General Assembly is entitled. The representation in said convention shall be based
on population as near as practicable. A proposal by the convention to amend this
Constitution or for a new Constitution shall be advertised, submitted to, and ratified by the
people in the same manner provided for advertisement, submission, and ratification of
proposals to amend the Constitution by the General Assembly. The General Assembly is
hereby authorized to provide the procedure by which a convention is to be called and under
which such convention shall operate and for other matters relative to such constitutional
convention.
Paragraph V. Veto not permitted. The Governor shall not have the right to veto any
proposal by the General Assembly or by a convention to amend this Constitution or to
provide a new Constitution.
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Paragraph VI. Effective date of amendments or of a new Constitution. Unless the
amendment or the new Constitution itself or the resolution proposing the amendment or the
new Constitution shall provide otherwise, an amendment to this Constitution or a new
Constitution shall become effective on the first day of January following its ratification.
ARTICLE XI.
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION I.
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Paragraph I. Continuation of officers, boards, commissions, and authorities. (a) Except
as otherwise provided in this Constitution, the officers of the state and all political
subdivisions thereof in office on June 30, 1983, shall continue in the exercise of their
functions and duties, subject to the provisions of laws applicable thereto and subject to the
provisions of this Constitution.
(b) All boards, commissions, and authorities specifically named in the Constitution of
1976 which are not specifically named in this Constitution shall remain as statutory boards,
commissions, and authorities; and all constitutional and statutory provisions relating thereto
in force and effect on June 30, 1983, shall remain in force and effect as statutory law unless
and until changed by the General Assembly.
Paragraph II. Preservation of existing laws; judicial review. All laws in force and effect
on June 30, 1983, not inconsistent with this Constitution shall remain in force and effect;
but such laws may be amended or repealed and shall be subject to judicial decision as to
their validity when passed and to any limitations imposed by their own terms.
Paragraph III. Proceedings of courts and administrative tribunals confirmed. All
judgments, decrees, orders, and other proceedings of the several courts and administrative
tribunals of this state, heretofore made within the limits of their several jurisdictions, are
hereby ratified and affirmed, subject only to reversal or modification in the manner
provided by law.
Paragraph IV. Continuation of certain constitutional amendments for a period of four
years. (a) The following amendments to the Constitutions of 1877, 1945, and 1976 shall
continue in force and effect as part of this Constitution until July 1, 1987, at which time
said amendments shall be repealed and shall be deleted as a part of this Constitution unless
any such amendment shall be specifically continued in force and effect without amendment
either by a local law enacted prior to July 1, 1987, with or without a referendum as
provided by law, or by an ordinance or resolution duly adopted prior to July 1, 1987, by the
local governing authority in the manner provided for the adoption of home rule
amendments to its charter or local act: (1) amendments to the Constitution of 1877 and the
Constitution of 1945 which were continued in force and effect as a part of the Constitution
of 1976 pursuant to the provisions of Article XIII, Section I, Paragraph II of the
Constitution of 1976 which are in force and effect on the effective date of this Constitution;
(2) amendments to the Constitution of 1976 which were ratified as general amendments but
which by their terms applied principally to a particular political subdivision or subdivisions
which are in force and effect on the effective date of this Constitution; (3) amendments to
the Constitution of 1976 which were ratified not as general amendments which are in force
and effect on the effective date of this Constitution; and (4) amendments to the Constitution
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of 1976 of the type provided for in the immediately preceding two subparagraphs (2) and
(3) of this Paragraph which were ratified at the same time this Constitution was ratified.
(b) Any amendment which is continued in force and effect after July 1, 1987, pursuant
to the provisions of subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph shall be continued in force and
effect as a part of this Constitution, except that such amendment may thereafter be repealed
but may not be amended. The repeal of any such amendment shall be accomplished by
local Act of the General Assembly, the effectiveness of which shall be conditioned on its
approval by a majority of the qualified voters voting thereon in each of the particular
political subdivisions affected by the amendment.
(c) All laws enacted pursuant to those amendments to the Constitution which are not
continued in force and effect pursuant to subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph shall be
repealed on July 1, 1987. All laws validly enacted on, before, or after July 1, 1987, and
pursuant to the specific authorization of an amendment continued in force and effect
pursuant to the provisions of subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph shall be legal, valid, and
constitutional under this Constitution. Nothing in this subparagraph (c) shall be construed
to revive any law not in force and effect on June 30, 1987.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraphs (a) and (b), the following
amendments to the Constitutions of 1877 and 1945 shall be continued in force as a part of
this Constitution: amendments to the Constitution of 1877 and the Constitution of 1945
which created or authorized the creation of metropolitan rapid transit authorities, port
authorities, and industrial areas and which were continued in force as a part of the
Constitution of 1976 pursuant to the provisions of Article XIII, Section I, Paragraph II of
the Constitution of 1976 and which are in force on the effective date of this Constitution.
(e) Any person owning property in an industrial area described in subparagraph (d) of
this Paragraph may voluntarily remove the property from the industrial area by filing a
certificate to that effect with the clerk of the superior court for the county in which the
property is located. Once the certificate is filed, the property described in the certificate,
together with all public streets and public rights of way within the property, abutting the
property, or connecting the property to property outside the industrial area, shall no longer
be in the industrial area and shall upon the filing of the certificate be annexed to the city
which provides water service to the property, or if no city provides water service shall be
annexed to the city providing fire service as provided under the constitutional amendments
that created such industrial areas described in subparagraph (d) of this Paragraph. The
filing of a certificate shall be irrevocable and shall bind the owners, their heirs, and their
assigns. The term ‘owner’ includes anyone with a legal or equitable ownership in property
but does not include a beneficiary of any trust or a partner in any partnership owning an
interest in the property or anyone owning an easement right in the property.
Paragraph V. Special commission created. Amendments to the Constitution of 1976
which were determined to be general and which were submitted to and ratified by the
people of the entire state at the same time this Constitution was ratified shall be
incorporated and made a part of this Constitution as provided in this Paragraph. There is
hereby created a commission to be composed of the Governor, the President of the Senate,
the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Attorney General, and the Legislative
Counsel, which is hereby authorized and directed to incorporate such amendments into this
Constitution at the places deemed most appropriate to the commission. The commission
shall make only such changes in the language of this Constitution and of such amendments
as are necessary to incorporate properly such amendments into this Constitution and shall
complete its duties prior to July 1, 1983. The commission shall deliver to the Secretary of
State this Constitution with those amendments incorporated therein, and such document
shall be the Constitution of the State of Georgia. In order that the commission may perform
its duties, this Paragraph shall become effective as soon as it has been officially determined
that this Constitution has been ratified. The commission shall stand abolished upon the
completion of its duties.
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Paragraph VI. Effective date. Except as provided in Paragraph V of this section, this
Constitution shall become effective on July 1, 1983; and, except as otherwise provided in
this Constitution, all previous Constitutions and all amendments thereto shall thereupon
stand repealed.
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