Georgia Official and Statistical Register 1983-84 - the Digital Library ...
Georgia Official and Statistical Register 1983-84 - the Digital Library ...
Georgia Official and Statistical Register 1983-84 - the Digital Library ...
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Chapter ICONSTITUTION<strong>1983</strong>CONSTITUTIONOF THESTATE OF GEORGIARatified General Election, November 2,1982; Governor©s Proclamation, March 1,<strong>1983</strong>. Effective, Jufy 1,<strong>1983</strong>.Table of ContentsARTICLEARTICLEARTICLEARTICLEARTICLEARTICLEI.II.III.IV.V.VI.ARTICLE VII.ARTICLE VIII.ARTICLE IX.ARTICLE X.ARTICLE XLPageBill of Rights ................................................................. 1Voting <strong>and</strong> Elections .......................................................... 3Legislative Branch ............................................................ 3Constitutional Boards <strong>and</strong> Commissions ....................................... 8Executive Branch ............................................................ 10Judicial Branch .............................................................. 11Taxation <strong>and</strong> Finance ....................................................... 14Education ................................................................... 18Counties <strong>and</strong> Municipal Corporations ......................................... 20Amendments to <strong>the</strong> Constitution ............................................. 25Miscellaneous Provisions ..................................................... 25NOTE: The State of <strong>Georgia</strong> has had ten state Constitutions, which took effect in <strong>the</strong> following years: 1777,1789, 1798, 1861, 1865, 1868, 1877, 1945, 1976, <strong>1983</strong>.CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF GEORGIAPREAMBLETo perpetuate <strong>the</strong> principles of free government, insure justice to all, preserve peace, promote <strong>the</strong> interest <strong>and</strong> happiness of<strong>the</strong> citizen <strong>and</strong> of <strong>the</strong> family, <strong>and</strong> transmit to posterity <strong>the</strong>enjoyment of liberty, we <strong>the</strong> people of <strong>Georgia</strong>, relying upon<strong>the</strong> protection <strong>and</strong> guidance of Almighty God, do ordain <strong>and</strong>establish this Constitution.ARTICLE I.BILL OF RIGHTSSECTION I.RIGHTS OF PERSONSParagraph I. Life, liberty, <strong>and</strong> property. No person shall bedeprived of life, liberty, or property except by due process oflaw.Paragraph II. Protection to person <strong>and</strong> property; equal protection. Protection to person <strong>and</strong> property is <strong>the</strong> paramountduty of government <strong>and</strong> shall be impartial <strong>and</strong> complete. Noperson shall be denied <strong>the</strong> equal protection of <strong>the</strong> laws.Paragraph III. Freedom of conscience. Each person has <strong>the</strong>natural <strong>and</strong> inalienable right to worship God, each according to<strong>the</strong> dictates of that person©s own conscience; <strong>and</strong> no humanauthority should, in any case, control or interfere with suchright of conscience.Paragraph IV. Religious opinions; freedom of religion. Noinhabitant of this state shall be molested in person or propertyor be prohibited from holding any public office or trust onaccount of religious opinions; but <strong>the</strong> right of freedom ofreligion shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness or justify practices inconsistent with <strong>the</strong> peace <strong>and</strong> safety of<strong>the</strong> state.Paragraph V. Freedom of speech <strong>and</strong> of <strong>the</strong> press guaranteed. No law shall be passed to curtail or restrain <strong>the</strong> freedom ofspeech or of <strong>the</strong> press. Every person may speak, write, <strong>and</strong>publish sentiments on all subjects but shall be responsible for<strong>the</strong> abuse of that liberty.Paragraph VI. Libel. In all civil or criminal actions for libel,<strong>the</strong> truth may be given in evidence; <strong>and</strong>, if it shall appear to <strong>the</strong>trier of fact that <strong>the</strong> matter charged as libelous is true, <strong>the</strong> partyshall be discharged.Paragraph VII. Citizens, protection of. All citizens of <strong>the</strong>United States, resident in this state, are hereby declared citizensof this state; <strong>and</strong> it shall be <strong>the</strong> duty of <strong>the</strong> General Assembly toenact such laws as will protect <strong>the</strong>m in <strong>the</strong> full enjoyment of <strong>the</strong>rights, privileges, <strong>and</strong> immunities due to such citizenship.Paragraph VIII. Arms, right to keep <strong>and</strong> bear. The right of<strong>the</strong> people to keep <strong>and</strong> bear arms shall not be infringed, but <strong>the</strong>General Assembly shall have power to prescribe <strong>the</strong> manner inwhich arms may be borne.Paragraph IX. Right to assemble <strong>and</strong> petition. The peoplehave <strong>the</strong> right to assemble peaceably for <strong>the</strong>ir common good<strong>and</strong> to apply by petition or remonstrance to those vested with<strong>the</strong> powers of government for redress of grievances.Paragraph X. Bill of attainder; ex post facto laws; <strong>and</strong> retroactive laws. No bill of attainder, ex post facto law, retroactive
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