Georgia Official and Statistical Register 1983-84 - the Digital Library ...

Act of September 16, 1977 required certain documents relatingto land grants to be filed with "the surveyor general©s office"and"the secretary©s office" (Marbury and Crawford. p. 318). TheConstitution of 1789 declared. "The great seal of the state, shallbe deposited in the office of the secretary . . ."(Art. II, Par. 11,Marbury and Crawford, p. 17), but made no other reference tothe office. It was the Constitution of 1798 that formally established "a secretary of state" and "a surveyor general" (Art. II,Par. 12, Marbury and Crawford, p. 27), who were both, like thegovernor, elected by the General Assembly fora two-year term.The Constitution of 1877 continued only the office of theSecretary of state, who assumed the duties of the SurveyorGeneral.The Constitution of 1877 (Art. 111. Sec. VI I) also empoweredthe Secretary of State to incorporate banking, insurance, railroad, canal, navigation, express and telegraph companies.Other businesses and organizations were incorporated by thestate©s superior courts. Beginning in 1938, copies of applications for incorporation and orders of the superior court judgethereon were required to be filed with the Secretary of State©soffice, which then issued certificates of incorporation (Ga. L.1938, p. 218). In 1976, the legislature directed that all articles ofincorporation should be filed directly with the Secretary©s office(Ga. L. 1976. p. 1102).The Secretary of State first became involved in the management of elections by the Act of February 18, 1873(Ga. L. 1873.p. 26). The legislature transferred the duties of consolidatingand proclaiming election results from the Governor to theSecretary of State in 1921 (Ga. L. 1921. p. 91).The Secretary©s duties relating to professional certificationbegan with two laws of 1908 which created the State Board ofExaminers of Public Accountants (Ga. L. 1908, p. 86) and theState Board of Veterinary Examiners (Ga. L. 1908, p. 88).The legislature first required dealers in securities to registerwith the Secretary in 1913 with passage of the "Georgia BlueSky Law"(Ga. L. 1913. p. 117). then seven years later created aSecurities Commission consisting of the Attorney General, theCommissioner of Commerce and Labor, and the Secretary ofState as chairman.The Department of Archives and History was established asa separate state agency in 1918 (Ga. L. 1918, p. 137), operatingunder direction of a State Historical Commission.The State Government Reorganization Act of 1931 (Ga. L.1931, p. 7) enhanced the Secretary©s powers by abolishing theSecurities Commission and the State Historical Commission,thereby transferring regulation of securities and control of theDepartment of Archives and History to the Secretary of State,and consolidating the examining boards under his administration.Joseph Maxwell (Max) Cleland,Lithonia. Secretary of State, Jan.1983-date. Born Aug. 24, 1942 inFulton Co., Ga. Stetson U., BA,1964; Emory U., MA, 1968.Lambda Chi Alpha. Methodist.Democrat. U.S. Army, Vietnam,1965-68. State Senator, Dist. 55,1971-72; 1973-74. Director. U.S.Veterans Administration, Mar.1977-Feb. 1981.Family details: Joseph Maxwell (Max) Cleland is the son ofJoseph Hugh Cleland and Juanita (Kesler) Cleland and thegrandson of Young L. Cleland and Maud (Cooper) Clelandand of Bob Doc Kesler and Lula (Autry) Kesler.Curtis L. Atkinson, Assistant Secretary of StateAdministration Division Gary O. Childers. Director.Provides administrative support to all divisions in accounting,budgeting, personnel and purchasing. Coordinates grants andcontracts. Processes mail, maintains a warehouse and inventory of supplies and equipment. Under the AdministrativeProcedures Act, compiles all rules and regulations adopted bystate agencies and produces a publication of those agencydirectives (OCG A 45-13-81). Maintains central record of notaries commissioned by Clerks of Superior Courts (OCG A 45-17-4). Receives fees, issues identification and certificates. Performsadmininstrative duties for the Claims Advisory Board (OCG A28-5).Department of Archives and History — Edward Weldon,Director. Administers and provides an archival depository topreserve and make available the official archives and vitalrecords of the State. Develops and administers a state recordsprogram, directed by the State Records Committee, to insurethe retention and availability of government records withadministrative, legal, fiscal, and historical value to the Stateand its citizens. Administers a research library program toprovide information about the State and its citizens to government agencies and the public. Administers and provides a staterecords center in which to assemble and manage records andinformation of value to the State for varying periods of time.Directs the office of Surveyor General, the compilation of theGeorgia Official and Statistical Register, and program activities of the Georgia Historical Society in Savannah. Managesthe State©s interest in Rhodes Memorial Hall. Provides administrative direction to the State©s Native American Employmentand Training Program. Operates under the authority of OCG A36-3 and 45-13.Corporations Division --- Robert K. Hooks, Director.Responsible for the general administration of the Georgia Corporation Code, which includes the filing and certification of alldocuments of incorporation, amendment, merger, dissolution,and resolution; providing information to the general public andlegal community about corporations; and the maintenance ofcurrent register of service of process agents on all domestic andforeign corporations. Investigates corporations as necessary.Handles charters, amendments, mergers, and dissolutions ofstate banks, trust companies, credit unions, insurance companies, savings and loan associations, railroads, steamship, expressand telegraph companies and issues Certificates of Grant forcorporate powers to those corporations. Administers the RealProperty Law as it relates to filing of deeds and related documents for state-owned property. Registers and renews trademarks and servicemarks. Administers the service of processfilings of the Real Estate Investment Trust instruments, multilevel distribution companies and banks acting in a fiduciarycapacity. Administers the filing requirements of an insurancepolicy or bond for outdoor amusement shows. Administers thefiling of bonds under the Georgia Proprietary School Act(OGCA 20-4). Accepts the filings for charitable organizationsand professional fund raisers and solicitors. Administers thefiling of hospital authorities and professional associations. Certifies copies of corporate documents on request. Providesassistance to the legal community as to procedural law indocument filing. Authorized primarily by OCGA 14.Elections Division — Frances Duncan. Director. Administers the Georgia and municipal election codes. Assists in themanagement of state and local elections. Conducts trainingseminars for election officials. Provides election supplies. Certifies candidates and official ballots. Registers campaign financial statements. Issues commissions validating all elected andappointed congressional, state and county officers and gubernatorial appointments. Issues incumbency certifications for theAttorney General. Prepares and publishes "Georgia Official30