Eleanor Finch
Georgia has had ten constitutions in its history, not counting its royal charter granted in 1732. The current and tenth Georgia State Constitution was ratified on November 2, 1982, and came into effect on July 1, 1983. The 1983 Constitution was the first new constitution since 1877 and was the result of almost twenty years of discussion, debate, and compromise. It was about half as long as the 1976 Constitution, better organized, and used simple modern English. The 1983 Constitution also included new provisions, such as the division of courts into seven distinct classes and a requirement for uniform court rules and record-keeping rules.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for rewrite | The 1983 Constitution was the first truly "new" constitution since 1877 and was a reflection of the state's rich political and social history. |
| Previous revision | The 1976 Constitution was revised in 1983. |
| Length | The 1983 Constitution was about half as long as the 1976 Constitution. |
| Language | The 1983 Constitution used simple modern English in place of arcane and cumbersome terminology. |
| Flexibility | The 1983 Constitution gave the General Assembly greater flexibility to deal with many matters that had previously been covered in the constitution itself. |
| Amendments | The 1983 Constitution prohibited the inclusion of any further constitutional amendments relating to only a particular city, county, or other local political subdivision. |
| Process | The 1983 Constitution was drafted and approved individually by the Select Committee and the General Assembly. |
| Public input | A series of lengthy public meetings were held before agreement was reached on a proposed new constitution in late August 1981. |
| Ratification | The 1983 Constitution was overwhelmingly approved by voters in the 1982 general election and became effective on July 1, 1983. |
| Number of constitutions | The 1983 Constitution was Georgia's tenth constitution. |
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What You'll Learn
- The 1983 Constitution was the first truly new constitution since 1877
- It was about half as long as the 1976 Constitution
- It was a mixture of old and new provisions
- It was ratified on November 2, 1982
- It was amended in 1992 and 2004 to allow for the creation of the lottery and to ban recognition of same-sex marriage
The 1983 Constitution was the first truly new constitution since 1877
The 1983 Constitution of Georgia was the culmination of almost two decades of discussion, debate, and compromise. It was the first truly new constitution since 1877, replacing the previous 1976 constitution. The Select Committee on Constitutional Revision aimed for "brevity, clarity, and flexibility" in the new document. The 1983 Constitution was about half as long as its predecessor, better organized, and written in modern English. It prohibited the inclusion of any further amendments relating to a specific city, county, or local political subdivision.
The 1983 Constitution was a mixture of old and new provisions. It retained elements from the 1877 Constitution, such as freedom of religion, press, trial by jury, habeas corpus, and protection against excessive fines. At the same time, it introduced new provisions, such as the division of courts into seven distinct classes, the requirement for uniform court rules and record-keeping, the nonpartisan election of judges, and an equal protection clause.
The process of revising the constitution began in 1977, with the goal of individually drafting and approving each article. After a series of lengthy public meetings, a proposed new constitution was agreed upon in late August 1981 and submitted to the General Assembly. The General Assembly approved the new constitution on September 25, 1981. It was then amended in 1982 and submitted to the voters for ratification in the 1982 general election, receiving overwhelming approval.
The 1983 Constitution of Georgia outlined the three branches of government: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. It also carefully outlined the powers of each branch. The legislative branch was embodied in the bicameral General Assembly, the executive branch was headed by the governor, and the judicial branch by the Supreme Court. The constitution allowed for an expansive franchise, with only the poorest excluded, and made voting compulsory for those who were eligible.
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It was about half as long as the 1976 Constitution
The 1983 Constitution of Georgia was significantly shorter than the 1976 Constitution, being about half the length. This was a result of the Select Committee on Constitutional Revision's goal of achieving "brevity, clarity, [and] flexibility". The 1983 document was better organised, and used simple, modern English in place of arcane and complex phrasing. This gave the General Assembly greater flexibility to deal with many matters by statute, rather than through the constitution itself.
The 1983 Constitution was the first truly "new" constitution since 1877, and it contained a mixture of old and new provisions. For example, it included the division of courts into seven distinct classes, a requirement for uniform court rules and record-keeping, the nonpartisan election of judges, and an equal protection clause. These provisions gave the constitution a modern tone, reflecting the state's rich political and social history.
The 1983 Constitution also prohibited the inclusion of any further constitutional amendments relating to only a particular city, county, or other local political subdivision. This was a significant change from the 1976 Constitution, which had allowed for such specific amendments.
The process of revising the constitution began in 1977, with the creation of the Select Committee on Constitutional Revision. The committee agreed to a total revision, with each article being drafted and approved individually by the committee and the General Assembly. After a series of lengthy public meetings, a proposed new constitution was agreed upon in late August 1981. The document was then submitted to the General Assembly for approval, which occurred on September 25, 1981.
The proposed constitution was then amended and submitted to the voters for ratification in the 1982 general election. It was overwhelmingly approved by the voters and became effective on July 1, 1983. The entire process, from the start of the revision process to the final approval, took almost twenty years of discussion, debate, and compromise.
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It was a mixture of old and new provisions
The 1983 Constitution of Georgia was the culmination of almost twenty years of discussion, debate, and compromise. It was the state's tenth constitution and the first truly "new" one since 1877. It was about half as long as the 1976 Constitution, better organized, and written in simple modern English.
The 1983 Constitution was a mixture of old and new provisions. It contained provisions that first appeared in the Constitution of 1877, such as Articles on freedom of religion, press, trial by jury, habeas corpus, and protection against excessive fines. It also incorporated entirely new provisions, such as the division of the courts into seven distinct classes, a requirement for uniform court rules and record-keeping rules by class for all classes of courts, the nonpartisan election of judges, and an equal protection clause.
The 1983 Constitution also gave the General Assembly greater flexibility to deal by statute with many matters that had been covered in the constitution itself. It prohibited the inclusion of any further constitutional amendments relating to only a particular city, county, or other local political subdivisions.
Article X of the 1983 Constitution stipulates amendment procedures. Proposed amendments passed during a specific General Assembly session are located in the corresponding edition of the session laws, titled Georgia Laws. Proposed amendments become part of the Constitution if ratified by the voters.
The 1983 Constitution was overwhelmingly approved by voters and became effective on July 1, 1983. It has been amended 91 times since its ratification.
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It was ratified on November 2, 1982
The Georgia Constitution has been revised multiple times since the state's first attempt at constitutional government in 1776. The current and tenth Georgia State Constitution was ratified on November 2, 1982, replacing the previous 1976 constitution.
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 was about half as long as the 1976 Constitution, better organized, and written in simple modern English. It also gave the General Assembly greater flexibility to deal by statute with many matters that had previously been covered in the constitution itself.
The 1983 Constitution prohibited the inclusion of any further constitutional amendments relating to only a particular city, county, or other local political subdivision. It contained provisions that first appeared in the Constitution of 1877 and incorporated new provisions, such as the division of the courts into seven distinct classes, a requirement for uniform court rules and record-keeping rules by class for all classes of courts, the nonpartisan election of judges, and an equal protection clause.
The 1983 Constitution was amended 91 times between its adoption and 2024, with voters last approving amendments on November 5, 2024. 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, followed by ratification by a majority of qualified electors.
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It was amended in 1992 and 2004 to allow for the creation of the lottery and to ban recognition of same-sex marriage
The Georgia Constitution was rewritten in 1983 to reflect the state's rich and evolving political and social history. The 1983 Constitution was a product of almost two decades of discussion, debate, and compromise, resulting in a document that was more concise, better organised, and written in modern English.
Amendments in 1992 and 2004
The Georgia Constitution was amended in 1992 and 2004 to address specific issues. In 1992, Amendment 1 was added to the Georgia Constitution to allow for the creation and regulation of a state lottery. This amendment also outlined the appropriation of lottery revenues, with a significant portion designated for education programs. The establishment of the Georgia Lottery Corporation was further authorised by a separate bill, the Lottery for Education Act, in the same year.
The 2004 amendment, also known as Amendment 1, pertained to the recognition of same-sex marriages and civil unions. This amendment constitutionally banned same-sex marriages and prohibited their recognition by the state. The amendment was approved by 76% of voters and upheld by the Georgia Supreme Court, which ruled that it did not violate the single-subject rule of the Georgia Constitution.
These amendments demonstrate how the Georgia Constitution has been adapted over time to address emerging social and political issues, reflecting the evolving nature of constitutional law in the state.
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Frequently asked questions
The 1983 rewrite was the largest since 1877 and was the first truly "new" constitution since then. The document was about half as long as the 1976 Constitution, better organized, and written in simple modern English. It also included new provisions, such as the division of courts into seven distinct classes and a requirement for uniform court rules and record-keeping rules.
The Constitution of the State of Georgia is the governing document of the U.S. state of Georgia. It outlines the three branches of government in Georgia: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
Georgia has had ten different constitutions in its history, not counting its royal charter granted in 1732. The current and tenth Georgia State Constitution was ratified on November 2, 1982.
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. They must then be ratified by a majority of electors. Amendments can also be proposed at a constitutional convention, which requires the support of a two-thirds majority vote by both houses of the legislature and a simple majority of state voters.
