Simone Lawson
Georgia has had ten different constitutions in its history, not counting its royal charter, granted in 1732. The current Georgia Constitution was adopted in 1983 and took effect on July 1, 1983. The 1983 constitution was about half as long as the 1976 Constitution and was better organized, using simple modern English. The 1983 Constitution was the first truly new constitution since 1945.
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What You'll Learn
Georgia's constitution history
Georgia has had a long and complex constitutional history, with ten different constitutions since its royal charter was granted in 1732. The state's first constitution was drafted in 1777 and included provisions for a bicameral legislature, an executive branch, and a judicial branch. The legislature, or General Assembly, was elected and had the power to choose a governor, modelled after the US president as the commander of Georgia's military forces. The 1777 constitution also included basic rights such as freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and trial by jury.
In 1789, Georgia adopted a new constitution modelled after the US Constitution, which had been ratified by Georgia in 1788. This new constitution addressed weaknesses in the 1777 document, just as the US Constitution had responded to weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation. The 1798 constitution was one of only three framed completely under peaceful conditions.
Georgia adopted new constitutions at the beginning of the Civil War in 1861 and at its conclusion in 1865. The 1865 constitution was followed by another new constitution during Reconstruction in 1868. This document aimed to provide rights for African Americans and promote racial equality in the state, incorporating the 14th Amendment into the state constitution and granting suffrage to all males over 21 regardless of race.
Subsequent constitutions were adopted in 1877, 1945, 1976, and 1983. The 1945 constitution was drafted by a 23-member commission composed of all three branches of government and included an extensive bill of rights, set the voting age at 18, and introduced a literacy test for voters. The 1983 constitution, which is currently in effect, was revised to be more concise, better organized, and written in modern English. It also prohibited the inclusion of any further constitutional amendments relating to only a particular city, county, or other local political subdivisions. The current constitution has been amended 91 times, most recently in 2024.
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1983 constitution
Georgia's current constitution, which came into effect on July, 1983, is the state's tenth constitution since its colonial charter was granted in 1732. The 1983 Constitution was approved by voters and streamlined the previous constitution, removing the authorization for local amendments. It consists of a preamble and eleven articles.
The 1983 Constitution was 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 many matters by statute rather than including them 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 particular city, county, or other local political subdivisions.
The 1983 Constitution was the first truly "new" constitution since 1945. All previous constitutions, up until 1945, were drafted by constitutional convention. The 1945 Constitution, while not a significant departure from the 1877 Constitution, included an extensive bill of rights and made permanent several changes, such as setting the voting age at eighteen and introducing a literacy test for voters.
The 1983 Constitution has been amended numerous times. As of 2024, it has been amended 91 times. Amendments 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, followed by ratification by a majority of electors qualified to vote for members of the General Assembly.
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1945 constitution
Georgia has had ten different constitutions in its history, not counting its colonial charter granted in 1732. The state's first constitution was adopted in 1777, and the current constitution is that of 1983.
The 1945 Constitution of Georgia was drafted by a 23-member commission, composed of all three branches of government, and appointed by Governor Ellis Arnall. This was the first constitution that was not drafted by a constitutional convention. The 1945 Constitution was ratified by popular vote in August 1945. It did not represent a significant departure from the previous constitution, with 90% of the 1877 constitution's provisions remaining intact. However, it did make permanent several changes made over the years, such as setting the voting age at 18 and introducing a literacy test for voters.
The 1945 Constitution was Georgia's eighth constitution, following those of 1777, 1789, 1861, 1865, 1868, 1877, and 1945, and preceding those of 1976 and 1983. Seven of these constitutions—those of 1777, 1789, 1861, 1865, 1868, 1877, and 1945—were directly associated with war-related periods. The 1945 Constitution was amended several times, as evidenced by the existence of a version of the document "as amended through 1967".
The 1945 Constitution provided for a bicameral legislature, an executive branch, and a judicial branch. The legislature, or General Assembly, was elected and had the power to select a governor, modelled after the US president as the commander of Georgia's military forces. The governor was allowed to serve a two-year term. The judicial branch received little attention. The 1945 Constitution also included civil liberties protections normally found in a bill of rights.
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1777 constitution
Georgia's first constitution was drafted in 1777 and remained in effect for twelve years without being submitted to voters for ratification. The 1777 constitution was updated in 1789 and 1798. The 1789 constitution was revised to conform with the federal document, the U.S. Constitution, which Georgia ratified in 1788.
The 1777 constitution was completed on February 5, 1777, and vested most governmental authority in a state legislative body. It incorporated the separation of powers doctrine and included basic rights such as freedom of the press, free exercise of religion, and trial by jury. The document also included an oath of allegiance to the State of Georgia, which was to be administered to each of the representatives.
The 1777 constitution provided for a bicameral legislature, an executive branch, and a judicial branch. The legislature, or General Assembly, was elected and had the power to select a governor, modelled after the U.S. president as the commander of Georgia's military forces. The governor was allowed to serve a two-year term instead of a one-year term. The judicial branch received little attention. Civil liberties protections, usually found in a bill of rights, were also included in this constitution.
The 1777 constitution was one of seven Georgia constitutions directly associated with war-related periods. It was also the shortest of Georgia's constitutions, with the 1789 constitution being modelled after the U.S. Constitution and responding to weaknesses in the 1777 document.
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Amending the constitution
Georgia has had ten different constitutions in its history, not counting its royal charter, which was granted in 1732. The current Georgia Constitution was adopted in 1983 and has been amended 91 times. Voters last approved amendments to the Georgia Constitution on November 5, 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. This must then be followed by ratification by a majority of the electors qualified to vote for members of the General Assembly at the next general election, which is held in the even-numbered years.
Alternatively, the Constitution can also be amended by proposal at a constitutional convention, the calling of which must receive the support of a two-thirds majority vote by both houses of the legislature and a simple majority of state voters. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
Article X of the Georgia Constitution provides provisions for changing the constitution. Specifically, Paragraphs I, II, and IV deal with the subject. To amend the constitution or to begin a constitutional convention for the creation of a new document, such amendments must be proposed by the General Assembly, according to Paragraph I.
Georgia's first constitution in 1777 was updated in 1789 and 1798. A new constitution was adopted at the beginning of the Civil War in 1861 and at the end of the war in 1865. Another new constitution was adopted during the Reconstruction in 1868 and at its end in 1877. There have been three additional constitutions in 1945, 1976, and the current constitution of 1983.
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Frequently asked questions
The first Georgia Constitution took effect in 1777.
Georgia has had 10 constitutions, not counting its royal charter granted in 1732.
The current Georgia Constitution took effect on July 1, 1983.
