Eleanor Finch
The state of Georgia has had 10 constitutions, with the current iteration adopted in 1983. This version has been amended 91 times, with the most recent amendments approved by voters on November 5, 2024. The process of amending the Georgia Constitution is outlined in Article X, which includes provisions for both legislative processes and state constitutional conventions. The state's constitution has evolved over time, with significant changes made to address issues such as governance, individual rights, and civil rights.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of constitutions Georgia has had | 10 |
| Number of amendments to the current constitution | 91 |
| Last date of approval of amendments | November 5, 2024 |
| Number of amendments ratified through 2018 | 85 |
| Number of additional amendments approved through 2024 | 6 |
| Number of amendments to Article VII concerning state finances | 188 |
| Minimum vote percentage for voters to approve constitutional amendments | 50% |
| Minimum vote percentage for the Georgia State Legislature to place an amendment on the ballot | 66.67% |
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What You'll Learn
The Georgia Constitution has been amended 91 times
The Georgia Constitution, which was last revised in 1983, has been amended 91 times. The state has had 10 constitutions, with the current one featuring 11 articles. The process of amending the Georgia Constitution is outlined in Article X, which provides two mechanisms for doing so: a legislative process and a state constitutional convention.
The legislative process involves the Georgia State Legislature, which requires a two-thirds (66.67%) vote during one legislative session to place an amendment on the ballot. This amounts to a minimum of 120 votes in the Georgia House of Representatives and 38 votes in the Georgia State Senate. The state constitutional convention, on the other hand, can be called if a two-thirds majority of the members of both houses of the Georgia General Assembly agree to hold it. This agreement does not require a popular vote.
The first constitution of Georgia was drafted in 1777 and has since gone through several significant changes. The Constitution of 1789, for example, brought Georgia's laws in line with the United States Constitution, while the 1798 Constitution introduced the popular election of the governor. The 1861 Constitution added a Bill of Rights, and the 1865 Constitution prohibited slavery and introduced a two-term limit for governors. The 1868 Constitution established free public education, and the 1945 Constitution introduced a lieutenant governor position.
The most recent amendments to the Georgia Constitution were approved by voters on November 5, 2024, bringing the total number of amendments to 91.
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Amendments are proposed by the General Assembly
The Georgia Constitution has been amended 91 times since its adoption in 1983. It is the fundamental document that outlines the state's framework for governance, including the powers, structure, and limitations of the state government, individual and civil rights, and other matters.
Amendments to the Georgia Constitution are proposed by the General Assembly, as outlined in Article X, Paragraph I of the state's constitution. This process involves the following steps:
- Proposal Origination: The proposal must originate as a resolution in either the Senate or the House of Representatives. It can be initiated by a legislative process or a state constitutional convention.
- General Assembly Approval: The proposed amendment must be approved by the General Assembly. This requires an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of both the state House and the state Senate, also known as a "super-majority."
- Public Advertisement: Once approved by the General Assembly, the proposed amendment must be publicly advertised and made accessible to the people. According to Article X, Paragraph IX, the proposal shall be published once each week for three consecutive weeks immediately preceding the general election when it will be submitted.
- Submission and Ratification: The proposed amendment is then submitted to the people for ratification. This process follows the same procedures for advertisement, submission, and ratification as outlined for proposals to amend the Constitution by the General Assembly in Article X, Paragraph IV.
- Voter Approval: Finally, the amendment must be approved by a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) of the voters during a general election.
It is important to note that Georgia's constitution does not provide for initiated constitutional amendments. This means that amendments cannot be directly proposed by citizens through mechanisms like initiatives or referendums. The power to propose and initiate amendments rests solely with the General Assembly or a constitutional convention.
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Amendments can be put on the ballot by the legislature
Georgia has had 10 constitutions, with the current constitution adopted in 1983. This current constitution has been amended 91 times, with voters most recently approving amendments on November 5, 2024.
Amendments to the Georgia Constitution can be proposed by the General Assembly, according to Paragraph I of Article X. Such a proposal must originate as a resolution in either the Senate or the House of Representatives. A two-thirds (66.67%) vote is required during a legislative session for the Georgia State Legislature to place an amendment on the ballot. This amounts to a minimum of 120 votes in the Georgia House of Representatives and 38 votes in the Georgia State Senate.
The Georgia Constitution provides two mechanisms for amending the state's constitution: a legislative process and a state constitutional convention. A constitutional convention can occur if a two-thirds majority of the members of both houses of the Georgia General Assembly agree to hold it. This agreement does not need to be put to a vote of the people.
The state of Georgia does not feature a process for initiated constitutional amendments. Thus, amendments can be put on the ballot through referral by the legislature or by a constitutional convention.
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A constitutional convention can occur with a two-thirds majority
The Georgia Constitution has been amended 91 times since its adoption in 1983. It is the state's 10th constitution and contains 11 articles. Amendments to the Georgia Constitution can be proposed by the General Assembly and must originate as a resolution in either the Senate or the House of Representatives.
A legislative process requires a two-thirds (66.67%) vote during one legislative session for the Georgia State Legislature to place an amendment on the ballot. This amounts to a minimum of 120 votes in the Georgia House of Representatives and 38 votes in the Georgia State Senate, assuming no vacancies. On the other hand, a constitutional convention can put amendments directly on the ballot without going through the legislature.
Through 2018, 85 amendments were ratified, and an additional six amendments were approved through 2024. Voters last approved amendments to the Georgia Constitution on November 5, 2024.
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The constitution has been re-written several times
The Constitution of Georgia has been amended 91 times since its adoption in 1983. This is the state's tenth constitution, and it consists of 11 articles. The constitution has been rewritten several times, reflecting the dynamic nature of governance in the state.
The first constitution of Georgia was adopted in 1777 and was updated in 1789 and 1798. The 1789 update brought the Georgia Constitution in line with the United States Constitution. The 1798 update brought about the popular election of the governor.
In 1861, on the eve of the Civil War, Georgia's Secession Convention drafted a new constitution, led by the chairman Thomas Reade Rootes Cobb. This constitution included a bill of rights, which was retained in the post-Civil War constitution of 1865. The 1865 constitution also included a two-term limit for governors and legislative elections for the Supreme Court.
The constitution underwent significant changes in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The 1868 constitution established free public education, but this was reversed in 1877 with the mandate for segregated public schools. The 1945 constitution introduced the position of lieutenant governor, and the 1983 version brought the largest rewrite since 1877.
The process of amending the Georgia Constitution is outlined in Article X. Amendments can be proposed by the General Assembly and must originate as resolutions in either the Senate or the House of Representatives. A simple majority vote (50% plus 1) is required for voters to approve constitutional amendments.
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Frequently asked questions
There have been 91 amendments to the Georgia Constitution.
The Georgia Constitution has been amended frequently, with 85 amendments through 2018 and 6 additional amendments approved through 2024.
The Georgia Constitution provides two mechanisms for amending the state's constitution: a legislative process and a state constitutional convention. A simple majority vote (50% plus 1) is required for voters to approve constitutional amendments.
