Omar Bennett
Georgia has a detailed process for proposing constitutional amendments. A proposal to amend the Constitution or to provide for a new Constitution must originate as a resolution in either the Senate or the House of Representatives and be approved by a two-thirds supermajority of the members of each house. If approved, the proposal is then submitted to Georgia voters at the next general election in even-numbered years. Before the election, a summary of the proposed amendment is published in newspapers and made available online and in print to voters at the Secretary of State's Office and each county's election superintendent office. During the election, Georgians vote 'Yes' or 'No' on the proposed amendment. If the proposal is ratified by a majority of the electors, it becomes part of the Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who proposes the amendment? | The General Assembly or a convention |
| Who reviews the proposal? | The Governor of Georgia |
| Who prepares the summary of the proposal? | Attorney General, Legislative Counsel, and Secretary of State |
| Who approves the ballot? | Constitutional Amendments Publication Board |
| Who votes on the amendment? | Georgians/electors |
| When is the amendment voted on? | Next general election in an even-numbered year |
| How often does Georgia hold general elections? | Every two years |
| How long is the summary? | 15 words or less, printed in boldface |
| How is the summary distributed? | Published in newspapers, available online, and printed booklets |
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What You'll Learn
- A proposal to amend the Constitution must first be approved by a 2/3 supermajority of the General Assembly
- The proposal is then submitted to Georgia voters at the next general election
- The ballot must display a short title or heading, describing the substance of the proposal
- A summary of the proposal must be published in newspapers before the election
- The Governor does not have the right to veto any proposal by the General Assembly to amend the Constitution
A proposal to amend the Constitution must first be approved by a 2/3 supermajority of the General Assembly
In Georgia, a proposal to amend the Constitution must first be approved by a 2/3 supermajority of the General Assembly. This means that any proposed amendment to the Georgia Constitution must be passed by a supermajority, or two-thirds, of the members of each house of the General Assembly. This is a significant hurdle for any proposed amendment to clear, as it requires a substantial level of support within the General Assembly.
The process of proposing a constitutional amendment in Georgia typically begins with a resolution in either the Senate or the House of Representatives. If the proposal is approved by two-thirds of the members of each house, it then moves forward to the next stage. This initial approval by the General Assembly is crucial, as it sets the amendment process in motion and indicates a strong level of support for the proposed changes.
Once a proposed amendment has been approved by the General Assembly, it is then submitted to the voters of Georgia for their consideration. This typically occurs during the next general election, which is held in even-numbered years. Georgians have the opportunity to cast their votes on the proposed amendment, either approving or rejecting the changes. This step ensures that the citizens of Georgia have a direct say in any modifications made to their state constitution.
Before the election, a summary of the proposed amendment is prepared by the Constitutional Amendments Publication Board, which consists of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Speaker of the House of Representatives. This summary is then published in newspapers and made available to voters to help them understand the proposed changes. It is important to note that the summary must be written in clear and concise language, free of legal and technical jargon, to ensure that it is accessible to the majority of citizens.
The process of proposing and approving constitutional amendments in Georgia involves multiple steps and requires significant support at both the legislative and voter levels. The 2/3 supermajority approval by the General Assembly is a crucial first step in this process, ensuring that proposed amendments have strong legislative support before being presented to the people of Georgia for their final decision.
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The proposal is then submitted to Georgia voters at the next general election
In Georgia, a proposed constitutional amendment must first be approved by a 2/3 supermajority of the members elected to each house of the General Assembly. Following this approval, the proposal is then submitted to Georgia voters at the next general election. This typically occurs during the November general election of even-numbered years.
The ballot for any proposed constitutional amendment in Georgia must adhere to specific requirements. It should include a short title or heading, limited to 15 words or less and printed in boldface. This title aims to summarise the substance of the proposal concisely and clearly. The ballot wording is available on sample ballots, which voters can access through their My Voter Page.
Before the election, a summary of the proposed amendment is published in newspapers and made available to voters. This summary is prepared by the Constitutional Amendments Publication Board, which consists of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Speaker of the House of Representatives. It provides an explanation of each proposed amendment in straightforward language, ensuring it is accessible and understandable to the majority of citizens. The summary also indicates that the full text of the proposed amendment can be found in the office of the probate court judge in each county.
Georgia has a strong reputation for election integrity and accessibility. It was the first state to implement automatic voter registration, early voting, and no-excuse absentee voting. The state continues to set records for voter turnout and participation, demonstrating its commitment to ensuring that citizens have a say in important decisions, including constitutional amendments.
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The ballot must display a short title or heading, describing the substance of the proposal
The process of proposing constitutional amendments in Georgia involves several steps, and one critical aspect is the requirement for clear and accessible communication with voters. This is evident in the mandate that the ballot must display a short title or heading that summarises the substance of the proposal.
This requirement ensures that voters have a concise and straightforward understanding of the proposed amendment when they cast their votes. The short title or heading appears on the ballot and serves as a concise summary of the main idea or purpose of the amendment. It is designed to provide voters with a quick reference, enabling them to grasp the key point of the proposal without having to read through lengthy or complex legal text.
The ballot title is limited to 15 words or less and is printed in boldface, making it visually prominent and easily noticeable by voters. This word limit encourages clarity and precision in conveying the essence of the proposal. The title is carefully crafted to capture the central theme of the amendment, ensuring that voters can make informed decisions when voting on the proposed changes to the constitution.
The responsibility for preparing the ballot title falls to the Constitutional Amendments Publication Board, which consists of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Speaker of the House of Representatives. This board plays a crucial role in ensuring that the title accurately reflects the substance of the proposal. The title must be approved by at least two of the three members of the board, emphasising the importance of consensus and accuracy in presenting information to voters.
The process of proposing constitutional amendments in Georgia, including the requirement for a short title or heading on the ballot, promotes transparency and accessibility. It ensures that voters have the necessary information to understand the proposed changes, as seen through the availability of summaries and the state's commitment to voter engagement.
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A summary of the proposal must be published in newspapers before the election
In Georgia, a proposed constitutional amendment must first be approved by a two-thirds supermajority of the members of each house of the General Assembly. Once approved, the proposal is submitted to Georgia voters during the next general election held in an even-numbered year.
Before the election, a summary of the proposal must be published in newspapers. This summary is prepared by the Attorney General, the Legislative Counsel, and the Secretary of State. It is then published in the official organ of each county and may also be published in up to 20 other newspapers in the state, as designated by the Constitutional Amendments Publication Board. This board is composed of the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The summary must be written in a way that is easy for most citizens to understand and must not contain legal or technical jargon. It should also indicate that the full text of the proposed amendment is available in the office of the probate court judge in each county.
The Secretary of State is responsible for printing and providing copies of the summary to local election officials, who then distribute them to citizens upon request. This ensures that voters have access to information about the proposed amendment before casting their votes during the general election.
Overall, the process of publishing a summary of the proposed constitutional amendment in newspapers before the election helps to inform and engage Georgia's citizens in the democratic process, allowing them to make informed decisions when voting on potential changes to their state's constitution.
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The Governor does not have the right to veto any proposal by the General Assembly to amend the Constitution
In Georgia, a proposal to amend the Constitution must first be approved by a two-thirds supermajority of the members of each house of the General Assembly. If approved, it is then submitted to Georgia voters at the next general election held in an even-numbered year. The ballot must display a short title or heading (of no more than 15 words) that summarises the proposal. This title must be approved by at least two members of the Constitutional Amendments Publication Board, which is made up of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Speaker of the House of Representatives.
While the Governor is typically involved in the process of amending the Constitution, they do not have the right to veto any proposal by the General Assembly. This is because Georgia's provisions for legislatively referred amendments do not include a veto. The Governor can, however, veto a bill passed by the legislature, which will then be returned to the legislature. The legislature can override the Governor's veto with a two-thirds majority vote in each chamber.
The process of amending the Georgia Constitution is a collaborative effort involving the General Assembly, the Governor, and the voters. The General Assembly initiates the process by proposing an amendment, which must be approved by a supermajority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. The proposal is then submitted to the voters, who have the final say through a "Yes" or "No" vote during a general election.
The role of the Governor in this process is primarily administrative and facilitative rather than having a direct say in the content of the amendment. They are involved in approving the title or heading of the ballot and are part of the Constitutional Amendments Publication Board, which is responsible for publishing and distributing summaries of the proposed amendments to the public.
In summary, while the Governor plays a crucial role in the process of amending the Georgia Constitution, their role does not extend to vetoing proposals initiated by the General Assembly. The absence of a veto power for the Governor in this context is a unique feature of Georgia's legislative process and demonstrates the state's commitment to direct democracy and the people's right to decide on constitutional amendments.
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Frequently asked questions
A proposal for a constitutional amendment in Georgia can originate as a resolution in either the Senate or the House of Representatives.
A proposal must be approved by a 2/3 supermajority of the members of each house of the General Assembly. It is then submitted to Georgia voters at the next general election held in even-numbered years.
The ballot must include a short title or heading (15 words or fewer, in boldface) that summarises the proposal. It is prepared by the Constitutional Amendments Publication Board, which includes the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Speaker of the House of Representatives.
