Georgia's Legislative Branch Overview

A set of laws that control the way people act and live in a society. They also set the rules for government.

The power to decide whether money is spent or raised.

The ability to add changes or corrections to a bill or law.

The ability to approve or reject someone for a government role.

A group of people who work together to examine bills and make recommendations on them.

The head of the House of Representatives is elected by its members.

The head of the Georgia Senate is elected by the people.

Each committee can either create, change, or reject bills.

Taxes imposed on specific goods or services, often a fixed amount per item rather than a percentage of the price. Examples include taxes on alcohol, tobacco, or gasoline.

These taxes are collected from the estate of a deceased person and are related to the federal government’s estate tax.

Funds generated from services provided by the state, like entrance fees to parks or licenses for occupations. These fees are often seen as a way to regulate activities.

The state lottery is a significant source of funding for the state, generating approximately 5% of its revenue per year. Lottery revenue is often dedicated to specific programs, such as education.

The process by which the Georgia General Assembly allocates its funds to various programs and services.

The legislative branch of Georgia's government; it is made up of two houses, the House of Representatives and the Senate.

A type of government where power is shared between two houses of legislature; Georgia uses this system.

The lower house of Georgia's legislature, with 180 members; members must be at least 21 years old, a US and Georgia citizen, and a resident of the district they represent for at least a year.

The upper house of Georgia's legislature with up to 56 members; members must be at least 25 years old, a US and Georgia citizen, and a resident of their district for at least a year.

Groups within the Georgia General Assembly that review bills before they are voted on by the whole house; they help organize and streamline the legislative process.

A proposed law; Bills are introduced in either the House or the Senate, reviewed by committees, debated, voted on, and then possibly sent to the Governor for approval.

The process of creating new laws in Georgia; bills go through multiple steps, including introduction, committee review, debate, voting, and possibly governor's approval.

The annual gathering of Georgia's lawmakers; it typically lasts 40 days and during this time, lawmakers propose, debate, and vote on new legislation.

A group of legislators that work together to review and revise bills before they are voted on by the full legislature. This helps to ensure that bills are thoroughly considered and debated before they become law.

A committee within the Georgia General Assembly that is established for a specific purpose and will disband after this purpose is fulfilled.

A committee within the Georgia General Assembly composed of members from both the Senate and House, working together on legislation.

A committee within the Georgia General Assembly that is formed when the House and Senate create different versions of the same bill. The members of this committee work to compromise and create a single version of the bill for it to become law.

The leader of a legislative committee, often holding significant power in determining the committee's schedule and directing the process of bill review and voting.

The process by which the state government collects money to fund its operations and provide services to citizens.

The money the state government receives from various sources to fund its operations, such as taxes, fees, and grants.

The process of carefully allocating state revenue to fund different government programs and services.

The total amount of money the government expects to earn and the planned expenditures, outlining program funding and service priorities.

Money generated by the state through various taxes, forming a significant portion of the state's revenue.

A tax levied on individuals based on their income from salaries, wages, or investments, with higher tax rates applied to higher earners.

A flat tax that corporations pay on their profits generated within the state boundaries.

A form of tax collected locally on properties such as homes and land, providing revenue for local governments and contributing a small portion to the state's revenue.