Government of Georgia (U.S. state)

David Perdue and Brian Kemp (cropped)

Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones 2023 (cropped)

Christopher M. Carr

Brad Raffensperger

John F. King

Overview of the government of the U.S. state of Georgia

Government of Georgia (U.S. state)

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The Government of Georgia is the governmental structure of the U.S. state of Georgia as established by the Constitution of Georgia. It is composed of three branches: the executive, the legislative, and the judicial.

Executive branch

The executive branch is headed by the Governor of Georgia, who is elected to a four-year term. The governor is responsible for enforcing state laws and overseeing the operation of the state executive branch. Other elected executive officers include the Lieutenant Governor of Georgia, the Secretary of State of Georgia, the Attorney General of Georgia, the State Superintendent of Schools, the Commissioner of Agriculture, the Commissioner of Insurance, and the Commissioner of Labor.

Governor

The Governor of Georgia is the chief executive officer of the state. The current governor is Brian Kemp, who has been in office since January 14, 2019. The governor has the power to sign or veto legislation, call special sessions of the Georgia General Assembly, and grant pardons and reprieves.

Lieutenant Governor

The Lieutenant Governor of Georgia is the second-highest executive officer and is elected on a separate ballot from the governor. The lieutenant governor presides over the Georgia State Senate and assumes the role of governor if the governor is unable to perform their duties.

Legislative branch

The legislative branch is known as the Georgia General Assembly and is a bicameral body consisting of the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia State Senate. The General Assembly meets annually in regular session to consider legislation, pass the state budget, and address issues affecting the state.

Georgia House of Representatives

The Georgia House of Representatives is the lower house of the General Assembly. It is composed of 180 members who are elected to two-year terms. The House is responsible for initiating revenue bills and impeachments.

Georgia State Senate

The Georgia State Senate is the upper house of the General Assembly. It is composed of 56 members who are elected to two-year terms. The Senate is responsible for confirming the governor's appointments and trying impeachments.

Judicial branch

The judicial branch is responsible for interpreting the laws of the state and ensuring justice is administered fairly. The highest court in Georgia is the Supreme Court of Georgia, followed by the Georgia Court of Appeals. The state also has various lower courts, including Superior Courts, State Courts, Juvenile Courts, Probate Courts, and Magistrate Courts.

Supreme Court of Georgia

The Supreme Court of Georgia is the highest court in the state. It consists of nine justices who are elected to six-year terms. The court has appellate jurisdiction over all cases involving constitutional issues, election contests, and other significant matters.

Georgia Court of Appeals

The Georgia Court of Appeals is the intermediate appellate court. It consists of 15 judges who are elected to six-year terms. The court reviews appeals from the lower courts and ensures the correct application of law.

Related pages

• Georgia General Assembly
• Governor of Georgia
• Georgia House of Representatives
• Georgia State Senate
• Supreme Court of Georgia (U.S. state)
• Georgia Court of Appeals