Eleanor Finch
Georgia's current constitution has been in force since July 1983. It is the tenth constitution of the U.S. state and was ratified in November 1982, replacing the previous 1976 constitution. The 1983 constitution is half the length of its predecessor and is written in simple modern English. It consists of a preamble and eleven articles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Current constitution | 1983 |
| Previous constitution | 1976 |
| Number of articles | 11 |
| Number of amendments | 91 |
| Last amendment | November 5, 2024 |
| Amendment method | legislative process or state constitutional convention |
| Amendment vote requirement | simple majority |
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What You'll Learn
Georgia's current constitution was ratified in November 1982
Georgia's current constitution was ratified on November 2, 1982, and came into effect in July 1983. It is the tenth constitution of the US state and replaced the previous 1976 constitution.
The 1983 constitution was about half as long as the 1976 constitution, and was better organized, using simple modern English instead of arcane and cumbersome terminology. It gave the General Assembly greater flexibility to deal by statute with many matters that had been covered in the constitution itself. The most significant change between the 1976 and 1983 constitutions was that the latter document prohibited the inclusion of any further constitutional amendments relating to only a particular city, county, or other local political subdivision.
The current constitution consists of a preamble and eleven articles. It outlines the three branches of government in Georgia: the legislative branch, the executive branch, and the judicial branch. The legislative branch is embodied in the bicameral General Assembly, the executive branch is headed by the Governor, and the judicial branch is headed by the Supreme Court. The constitution carefully outlines which powers each branch may exercise.
The 1983 Constitution was the first truly "new" constitution since 1877, and was the culmination of almost twenty years of discussion, debate, and compromise.
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It became effective in July 1983
Georgia's current constitution, which consists of a preamble and eleven articles, came into effect in July 1983. It is the tenth constitution of the state and was ratified in November 1982, replacing the previous 1976 constitution. The 1983 constitution is the first truly "new" constitution since 1877, and it was the result of almost two decades of discussion, debate, and compromise.
The 1983 constitution streamlined the previous one and removed the authorization for local amendments. It is about half as long as the 1976 Constitution, better organized, and written in modern English. It also gave the General Assembly greater flexibility to deal with statutes that were previously covered in the constitution itself.
The most significant change between the 1976 and 1983 constitutions was the prohibition of any further constitutional amendments relating to a specific city, county, or other local political subdivisions. This constitution has been amended 91 times, with the most recent amendments approved by voters on November 5, 2024.
The constitution outlines the three branches of government in Georgia: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. It also carefully outlines which powers each branch may exercise.
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It is the tenth constitution of Georgia
Georgia's current constitution, the tenth in the state's history, has been in force since 1983. It was ratified in 1982, replacing the previous 1976 constitution. The 1983 constitution is the first truly "new" constitution since 1877.
The state's first constitution was drafted in 1777, a year after the completion of a document entitled 'Rules and Regulations of the Colony of Georgia'. The 1777 constitution remained in effect for 12 years, until it was updated in 1789 to align with the newly ratified US Constitution. The 1789 constitution was then updated in 1798 to prohibit the importation of enslaved Africans.
During the Civil War (1861-65) and Reconstruction eras, four new constitutions were written and approved in 1861, 1865, 1868, and 1877. The 1865 constitution was drafted during the era of Presidential Reconstruction and placed Georgia under military rule, allowing African Americans to participate in the state government. The 1868 constitution incorporated the 14th Amendment and granted suffrage to all males over 21 regardless of race.
The 1983 constitution consists of a Preamble and eleven Articles. It outlines the three branches of government in Georgia: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The legislative branch is embodied in the bicameral General Assembly, the executive branch is headed by the Governor, and the judicial branch is headed by the Supreme Court. The constitution carefully outlines which powers each branch may exercise.
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It was the first new constitution since 1877
Georgia's current constitution, adopted in November 1982, became effective in July 1983. It is the tenth constitution in the state's history. The 1983 constitution is the first truly "new" constitution since 1877. It was the culmination of almost two decades of discussion, debate, and compromise.
The state's first constitution was drafted in 1777, and it remained in effect for twelve years. This constitution vested most governmental authority in a state legislative body, incorporated the separation of powers doctrine, and included basic rights such as freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and trial by jury. The adoption of the new federal constitution in 1788 obliged Georgia to implement a new state constitution, which was adopted in 1789.
During the Civil War (1861-65) and Reconstruction eras, four new constitutions were written and approved in 1861, 1865, 1868, and 1877. These new constitutions reflected the rapid changes in state governmental control during this tumultuous period. The 1868 constitution, for example, aimed to provide rights for African Americans and promote racial equality in the state.
The 1983 constitution streamlined the previous one and prohibited local amendments. It consists of a preamble and eleven articles. It outlines the three branches of government in Georgia: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The legislative branch is embodied in the bicameral General Assembly, the executive branch is headed by the Governor, and the judicial branch is led by the Supreme Court.
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It is half the length of the previous 1976 constitution
Georgia's current constitution, the state's tenth constitution, was ratified on November 2, 1982, and became effective in July 1983. It replaced the previous 1976 constitution. The 1983 constitution is about half the length of the 1976 Constitution.
The 1983 constitution was the first truly "new" constitution since 1877. It was the result of almost two decades of discussion, debate, and compromise. It is better organized and written in simple modern English, replacing arcane and cumbersome terminology. The new constitution gave the General Assembly greater flexibility to deal by statute with many matters that were previously covered in the constitution itself.
The most significant change between the 1976 and 1983 constitutions was the prohibition of any further constitutional amendments relating to a specific city, county, or other local political subdivisions. The current constitution has been amended 91 times, with the most recent amendments approved by voters on November 5, 2024.
The Georgia State Constitution consists of a preamble and eleven articles. It outlines the three branches of government: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The legislative branch is the bicameral General Assembly, the executive branch is headed by the Governor, and the judicial branch is led by the Supreme Court. The constitution carefully outlines the powers of each branch.
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Frequently asked questions
Georgia's current and tenth constitution has been in force since July 1983.
Georgia has had 10 constitutions, with the current one being the tenth.
The previous constitution of Georgia was adopted in 1976.
The 1976 constitution was in force for 6 years, from 1976 to 1982, when it was replaced by the current constitution.
