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The Georgia Constitution is the state constitution of Georgia, outlining the state's framework for governance, including the powers, structure, and limitations of the state government, individual and civil rights, and other matters. Georgia has had 10 constitutions, the first of which was adopted in 1777 and updated in 1789 and 1798. The current constitution, adopted in 1983, is Georgia's tenth constitution and comprises 11 articles and has been amended 91 times.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Constitutions | 10 |
| Current Constitution | Adopted in 1983 |
| Number of Articles | 11 |
| Number of Amendments | 91 |
| Last Amendment | November 5, 2024 |
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What You'll Learn
History of the Georgia Constitution
The Georgia Constitution is the state constitution of Georgia. Georgia has had 10 constitutions, not counting its royal charter, granted in 1732. The charter, approved by George II of Great Britain, placed Georgia under the control of Trustees, led by James Oglethorpe. The Trustees governed Georgia until 1752, when they surrendered their charter. Georgia then became a crown colony.
Georgia's first attempt at constitutional government was initiated in April 1776 by the Provincial Congress called by the Georgia Trustees in response to a series of mass meetings held throughout the colony. A document entitled Rules and Regulations of the Colony of Georgia was drafted in 1776 and was designed to be a temporary governing document. It made the Provincial Congress the most powerful branch of government.
In 1777, Georgia's first formal constitution was drafted. This constitution remained in effect for 12 years and vested most governmental authority in a state legislative body, incorporated the separation of powers doctrine, and included a number of basic rights, such as the free exercise of religion, freedom of the press, and trial by jury. In 1789, a new constitution was adopted, modelled after the U.S. Constitution, which Georgia had ratified in 1788. The 1789 constitution replaced the unicameral Congress with a bicameral General Assembly and abolished the executive council.
Since then, Georgia has had several additional constitutions, including in 1861, 1865, 1868, 1877, 1945, 1976, and the current constitution of 1983. The 1983 Constitution was the first truly "new" constitution since 1877 and was the culmination of almost twenty years of discussion, debate, and compromise. It contained a mixture of old and new provisions, including the division of the courts into seven distinct classes, a requirement for uniform court rules, and an equal protection clause. The current Georgia Constitution has been amended 91 times, with voters last approving amendments on November 5, 2024.
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Number of pages in the 1983 Constitution
The current Georgia Constitution, adopted in 1983, is the state's 10th constitution. It has 11 articles and has been amended 91 times. The 1983 Constitution is available in Volume 2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) and Volumes 2 and 3 of the West's Code of Georgia Annotated (Ga. Code Ann.). An annotated version of the 1983 Constitution is also available in print and digital formats. Unfortunately, I couldn't find the exact number of pages in the 1983 Georgia Constitution.
The 1983 Constitution of Georgia outlines the state's framework for governance, including the powers, structure, and limitations of the state government, individual and civil rights, and other matters. It establishes the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government, as well as the state's education system.
Article I of the 1983 Constitution is titled the "Bill of Rights" and contains the rights of the citizens of Georgia. This includes the right to freedom of speech, freedom of religion, due process, and protection from unreasonable searches and seizures. The Bill of Rights also prohibits cruel and unusual punishment and guarantees the right to a jury trial.
Article XI of the 1983 Constitution is titled "Miscellaneous Provisions" and contains provisions on the continuation of officers, boards, commissions, and authorities. It also includes provisions on judicial review, the preservation of existing law, and the confirmation of court proceedings. Article X of the 1983 Constitution, on the other hand, outlines the procedures for amending the Constitution.
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Number of articles in the Georgia Constitution
The current Georgia Constitution, the state's tenth constitution, was adopted in 1983 and has 11 articles. The document outlines the state's framework for governance, including the powers, structure, and limitations of the state government, individual and civil rights, and other matters.
Article I, titled "Bill of Rights," contains the Bill of Rights for the citizens of Georgia. This includes paragraphs on the rights of spouses, the superiority of civil authority, the separation of church and state, and the prohibition of lotteries and certain forms of gambling. Article I also establishes that legislative acts in violation of the Georgia Constitution or the Constitution of the United States are void, and that no person shall be compelled to give self-incriminating testimony.
Article III, "Legislative Branch," establishes and defines the legislative branch of government. Article V, "Executive Branch," establishes the executive branch and details the responsibilities of the governor. Article VI, "Judicial Branch," establishes the court system within the judicial branch of government.
Article VIII of the Georgia Constitution is titled "Education" and establishes the education system for the state. It outlines the costs of providing teachers and instructors with training in advanced electronic instructional technology, as well as capital outlay projects for educational facilities.
The Georgia Constitution has been amended 91 times, with the most recent amendments approved by voters on November 5, 2024.
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Previous versions of the Georgia Constitution
Georgia has had 10 constitutions, not counting its royal charter granted in 1732. The first constitution was drafted in 1777 and was updated in 1789 and 1798. The 1798 constitution was one of only three framed completely under peaceful conditions and it was in effect for 63 years.
A new constitution was adopted at the beginning of the Civil War in 1861 and at the end of the war in 1865. The 1865 constitution was rejected, and Georgia was placed under military control. Following the establishment of congressional Reconstruction and military rule in 1867, a group of elected delegates met in a new convention. The convention was dominated by northerners and northern sympathizers, and the principal leaders had resided in Georgia long enough to develop an interest in the state’s welfare. The 1865 constitution included the first prohibition against imprisonment for debt and amnesty from debts contracted before June 1865.
Another new constitution was adopted during Reconstruction in 1868 and at its end in 1877. There have been three additional constitutions in 1945, 1976, and the current constitution of 1983. The current constitution was ratified on November 2, 1982, and it consists of a Preamble and eleven Articles.
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How to amend the Georgia Constitution
The Georgia Constitution is the state constitution of Georgia, which became the 4th state on 2 January 1788. Georgia has had ten constitutions, not counting its original colonial charter granted in 1732. The current and tenth Georgia State Constitution was ratified on 2 November 1982, replacing the previous 1976 constitution. The current constitution has been amended 91 times, with voters last approving amendments on 5 November 2024.
The Georgia Constitution provides two mechanisms for amending the state's constitution: a legislative process and a state constitutional convention. Amendments to the Constitution may be proposed in the Georgia legislature and must be approved by a two-thirds majority vote of both the state House and state Senate. Following this, a majority of the electors qualified to vote for members of the General Assembly must ratify the proposal at the next general election, which is held in even-numbered years.
Alternatively, the Constitution can be amended by proposal at a constitutional convention, which must receive the support of a two-thirds majority vote by both houses of the legislature and a simple majority of state voters. A constitutional convention can occur in Georgia 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.
Amendments to the Constitution or a new Constitution may be proposed by the General Assembly or by a constitutional convention. The General Assembly is authorized to provide the procedure by which a convention is called and under which it operates. The Governor does not have the right to veto any proposal by the General Assembly or by a convention to amend the Constitution or provide a new one.
Any proposal by the General Assembly to amend the Constitution or for a new Constitution may be amended or repealed by the same General Assembly by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members to which each house is entitled, provided that such action is taken at least two months before the date of the election at which the proposal is to be submitted to the people.
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