Malcolm Rivera
Article X of the Georgia Constitution outlines the process for amending the document and creating a new constitution. The current Georgia Constitution, written in 1983, has been amended eighty-five times and is written in a way that allows the people of Georgia to determine their rights at any time. Amendments to the constitution or a new constitution may be proposed by the General Assembly or by a constitutional convention, as provided in this article.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Article that describes the process to amend the Georgia Constitution | Article X |
| Number of amendments to the Georgia Constitution | 85-91 |
| Last amendment | January 2017 |
| Proposal for amendment | Proposed by the General Assembly or by a constitutional convention |
| Voting | Requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments |
| 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 |
| Constitutional convention | Requires a two-thirds majority of the members of both houses of the Georgia General Assembly to agree to hold it |
Explore related products
$9.99 $9.99
What You'll Learn
Article X outlines the amendment process
The legislative process requires a two-thirds majority vote (66.67%) 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.
The state constitutional convention mechanism requires a two-thirds majority of the members of both houses of the Georgia General Assembly to agree to hold it. This agreement does not need to be put to a vote of the people. A constitutional convention can propose amendments to the constitution, which then must be ratified by a simple majority vote (50% plus one) of the voters.
Proposed amendments to the constitution must be of general and uniform applicability throughout the state. They must be submitted to the people and approved by popular vote. The General Assembly is responsible for providing the language of the proposal unless otherwise prescribed by the Governor. A copy of the proposal must be filed in the office of the probate court of each county and made available for public inspection. The proposal must be published once each week for three consecutive weeks immediately preceding the general election at which it will be submitted.
Amendments to the constitution or a new constitution become effective on the first day of January following their ratification.
The Nigerian Constitution's Last Amendments
You may want to see also
Requires a simple majority vote
Article X of the Georgia Constitution outlines the process for amending the state's constitution. The article provides two mechanisms for making changes: a legislative process and a state constitutional convention.
To amend the Georgia Constitution through the legislative process, a two-thirds majority (66.67%) vote is required 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.
However, to approve a constitutional amendment, only a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) of the voters is required. This means that a slight majority of voters who participate in the election must vote in favour of the amendment for it to be passed.
On the other hand, a constitutional convention 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 need to be put to a vote of the people. During a constitutional convention, all eligible voters can participate and cast their votes on the proposed amendment.
It is important to note that Georgia's constitution has been amended numerous times, with the current constitution, adopted in November 1982, being the state's tenth constitution. The process for amending the constitution is outlined in detail within Article X, ensuring that any changes are made in a specific and controlled manner.
The Mini Constitution: A Powerful Amendment
You may want to see also
Amendments proposed by the General Assembly
Article X of the 1983 Georgia Constitution outlines the process for amending the constitution or creating a new constitution. Amendments proposed by the General Assembly (the Senate and House of Representatives) must be ratified by two-thirds of the members of each house in a roll-call vote entered in their respective journals. This proposal can be amended or repealed by the same General Assembly that proposed it, as long as it is done at least two months before the election at which the proposal will be submitted to the people.
The language used in submitting a proposal for an amendment or a new constitution is determined by the General Assembly, or, in their absence, by the Governor. A copy of the entire proposal must be filed in the office of the probate court of each county and made available for public inspection. The General Assembly is also responsible for providing the procedure by which a convention is called and operated.
The Governor does not have the right to veto any proposal by the General Assembly or a convention to amend or create a new constitution. Once an amendment or new constitution is ratified, it becomes effective on the first day of January following its ratification, unless otherwise specified.
Any proposal by the General Assembly to amend the constitution or create a new one must be approved by two-thirds of the members of each house of the General Assembly before a convention of the people can be called. The proposal must then be advertised, submitted to, and ratified by the people.
Amendments in Ohio's Constitution: Where Are They?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Ratification by voters
Article X of the Georgia Constitution outlines the process of amending the state's constitution. This article provides two mechanisms for making changes: a legislative process and a state constitutional convention.
For an amendment to be ratified, it must first be proposed by the General Assembly or by a constitutional convention. The General Assembly is comprised of the Senate and the House of Representatives, also referred to as the state's Congress. A constitutional convention can be called if two-thirds of the members of both houses of the General Assembly agree to hold it. This agreement does not require a vote from the people. Once a proposal is made, it must be approved by a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) of the voters for it to become effective.
The process of amending the constitution is detailed in Article X, which states that only amendments with general and uniform applicability throughout the state shall be proposed, passed, or submitted to the people. This means that any amendment must apply to the entire state, rather than just specific regions or groups. The proposal must be published once each week for three consecutive weeks before the general election at which it will be submitted. This ensures that voters are informed about the proposed changes before casting their votes.
The current Georgia Constitution, written in 1983, has been amended eighty-five times as of 2018, with an additional six amendments approved through 2024. The most recent amendment was applied in January 2017. Amendments or new constitutions approved by the voters take effect on the first day of the following year. This process allows the people of Georgia to have a direct say in determining their rights and shaping the state's governance.
Constitution Amendment: Slavery Abolishment
You may want to see also
The current constitution has 11 articles
The current Georgia Constitution, the state's tenth constitution, was written and adopted in 1983 and consists of a preamble and eleven articles. It has been amended eighty-five times, with the last amendment applied in January 2017. However, one source states that there have been 91 amendments, with the most recent occurring in November 2024.
Article One of the Georgia State Constitution is the Bill of Rights, which outlines the rights of the people and the powers of the government. It contains thirty individual rights.
Article Ten of the Georgia Constitution outlines the process for amending the constitution and creating a new state constitution. It stipulates that amendments to the constitution or a new constitution may be proposed by the General Assembly or by a constitutional convention. A proposal by the General Assembly requires a two-thirds majority vote of both the Senate and House of Representatives (also called the General Assembly) to be approved. A constitutional convention, on the other hand, requires a two-thirds majority of both houses of the General Assembly to agree to hold it, and this agreement does not need to be put to a vote of the people.
Article Eleven of the Constitution, consisting of one section with six paragraphs, covers miscellaneous provisions. It discusses the continuation of officers, boards, commissions, and authorities; judicial review; the preservation of existing law; confirmation of proceedings of courts and administrative tribunals; the continuation of amendments for the four years following the 1983 constitution; and special commissions and the date the constitution became effective.
How Judicial Interpretation Impacts the Constitution
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Article X of the Georgia Constitution describes the process to amend the constitution.
Amendments to the Georgia Constitution may be proposed by the General Assembly or by a constitutional convention. To begin a constitutional convention, two-thirds of both the Senate and House of Representatives of Georgia (the General Assembly) must approve it. All amendments or new constitutions approved by the people become effective on the first day of the next year.
The General Assembly is the Senate and House of Representatives.
