Transcript Georgia Politics

Georgia Politics
Georgia’s Constitutions
Distribution of Power
The student will understand that
distribution of power
in government is a product of existing
documents and laws combined with
contemporary values and beliefs.
How would you describe the distribution of power at
Schley County Middle School?
Which branch of government is responsible for
making laws?
Why did the writers of the Georgia Constitution of
1777 want to limit the power of the Executive branch
(Governor)?
Constitution of 1777
 1 House Assembly (Unicameral Legislature)
 The Assembly had most of the power.
 They appointed the Governor which now only
had a 1 year term.
 All decisions made by the governor had to be
approved by the Assembly.
 The Parish system replaced by 8 counties.
 *Reason- Governor loyal to the king.
Georgia Bill of Rights
 Equal division of property between heirs.( Family)
 Freedom of the press and religion.
 Right to trial by jury.
 Forbid excess fines or bail.
 Most white males could vote. (land owners)
Weakness of 1777 Georgia
Constitution
 No “Checks and Balances”
 1 house legislature had most of the
power without another branch to keep them
in check.
 Not everyone could vote.
Appointed by
executive council
Appointed by
legislature
1 year term
Very
little
power
STATE
JUDGES
GOVERNOR
EXECUTIVE
GA
Constitution
of 1777
JUDICIARY
LEGISLATIVE
Power to appoint
Governor and
judges
LEGISLATORS
(lawmakers)
Have most of
the power
Uni-cameral
(1
house) called the
House of Assembly
Primary Source Document
GEORGIA CONSTITUTION OF 1777
Article IX. All male white inhabitants, of the age of twentyone years, and possessed in his own right of ten pounds value,
and liable to pay tax in this State, or being of any mechanic
trade, and shall have been resident six months in this State, shall
have a right to vote at all elections for representatives, or any
other officers...
Articles of Confederation
 This was the first constitution of the United States of
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America.
Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation:
1) Under the Articles there was only a unicameral legislature
so that there was no separation of powers.
2) The central government under the Articles was too weak
since the majority of the power rested with the states.
3) Congress, under the Articles, did not have the power to
tax which meant that they could never put their finances in
order.
Articles of Confederation
 4) In order to change or amend the Articles, unanimous
approval of the states was required which essentially
meant that changes to the Articles were impossible.
 5) For any major laws to pass they had to be approved by
9 of the 13 states which proved difficult to do so that
even the normal business of running a government was
difficult.
 6) Under the Articles, Congress did not have the power
to regulate commerce which will cause competition
between states as well as diplomatic issues.
The Constitutional Convention
Georgia’s Representatives
&
The Great Compromise and Slavery
The Convention 1787
 The Articles are weak because the states have all the power.
 In Philadelphia the delegates write The United States
Constitution.
 Many of the delegates have different ideas, compromises have to
be made.
 Compromise- is when people with different ideas give up a little
of what they want so that an agreement can be made that everyone
can live with.
CAUSE
EFFECT
ARTICLES
OF
CONFEDERATION
• State governments had too
much power
THE U.S.
CONSTITUTION
Constitutional
Convention
of
1787
• National government
could not levy taxes, enforce
laws, or control trade
• Great Compromise: Bicameral legislature benefits both
big and small states (population)
• No executive branch
(President)
• 3/5ths Compromise:
3 out of 5 slaves counted toward
population and were also taxed
• No judicial branch (no
federal courts to settle
disputes between the states)
• Bill of Rights: 1st ten
amendments to the Constitution
guaranteeing rights for citizens
• Federal government
becomes more powerful
• Separation of Powers
- Legislative branch
makes laws
- Executive branch
enforce laws
- Judicial branch
interpret laws
• Bi-cameral legislature
• House of Representatives
based on state population
• Senate – 2 representatives
from each state
ABRAHAM BALDWIN
BOTH MEN WERE
REPRESENTATIVES
FROM GEORGIA WHO
HELPED CREATE AND
SIGN THE UNITED
STATES
CONSTITUTION.
ABRAHAM BALDWIN
PLAYED A BIG ROLE
IN THE GREAT
COMPROMISE THAT
HELPED CREATE A BICAMERAL
LEGISLATURE
WILLIAM FEW
HELPED WRITE THE
CONSTITUTION
WILLIAM FEW
The Convention 1787
 William Few and Abraham Baldwin were the only two
delegates from Georgia to sign the new Constitution.
Agreements
Separation of powers:
1. Legislative Branch- to make laws
2. Executive Branch- to enforce laws
3. Judicial Branch- to make sure the laws are fairly applied
The Convention 1787
Disagreements
They disagreed on how these branches should be set up and
how much power they should have.
The Virginia Plan- large states liked this plan because it gave
them more representation.
The New Jersey Plan- small states like this plan because it
called for 1 house and gave each state 1 vote.
The Great Compromise
 Abraham Baldwin of Georgia was the last to vote, he voted
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for the New Jersey Plan making it a tie.
As a result delegates compromised.
The Compromise
Created a bicameral house.
House of Representatives- each state had a certain
number of representatives based on population.
Senate- each state was given two representatives.
The Great Compromise
 Together these two houses, The House of Representatives and the
Senate, formed the United States Congress.
 The delegates also agreed to form the executive branch with
a leader to be headed by the president of the United States.
 They also created the Supreme Court to act as the highest
court with supporting federal courts.
BI-CAMERAL
2 REPRESENTATIIVES
FROM EACH STATE
REPRESENTATIVES FROM
EACH STATE BASED ON
POPULATION
Slavery
 Slavery was another important issue at the Constitutional
Convention.
 Slavery- was an institution in which white citizens owned
blacks as “property”.
 Slavery was not as important in northern states and many
wanted to end slavery because it contradicted the freedom
expressed in the Declaration of Independence.
 Many states did not want slaves to count as part of the
population.
The Three-Fifths Compromise
 The 3/5 Compromise stated that slaves would count as
3/5 of a person.
 This meant that for every five slaves a state had, that state
would be given credit for three people.
 The slave trade compromise- ensured the Deep South
that the slave trade would be allowed to continue for at least
20 more years.
Georgia’s Reason for Ratifying the
Constitution
Weaknesses of the Constitution:
 Many believed it gave to much power to the national government
and especially the president.
 Citizens also believed it needed a section guaranteeing the rights
of the people.
 Congress agreed to amend the Constitution and so it created the
Bill of Rights.
 Amend- means to change or to make right.
Georgia’s Reason for Ratifying the
Constitution
 Georgia was the 4th state to ratify(approve) the U.S.
Constitution.
 Georgia was still considered to be a frontier region and was
still waging war with the Creek Indians.
 Georgia wanted a strong central government that could
provide military help.
 Savannah depended on good trade relations in order to make
money. A strong central govt. could make negotiations for
profitable trade with other countries.