Illustrated Vocabulary Cards8th Grade Social Studies

State Government in Georgia

Contents:

Red indicates words that have been specified as content vocabulary on SOAR.

State Government in Georgia• State constitution

• separation of powers• checks and balances• rights of citizens• responsibilities of citizens• voting• Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation• Georgia General Assembly• committee system• legislative branch• executive branch• judicial branch• governor• lieutenant governor

• Department of Education• Department of Human Resources• Department of Public Safety• Department of Transportation• Department of Economic

Development• Department of Natural Resources• Trial Courts• Appellate Courts• criminal law• civil law• Juvenile Court• voting qualifications• political parties

Vocabulary Cards:

State constitution

State constitution

State constitution

a legal document that allows a state to exist; outlines fundamental principles, form, major officials, and powers of a government

checks and balances

checks and balances

checks and balances

the system that provides to eachbranch of government some power that controls or prevents some actions of the other two branches

separation of powers

separationof powers

separation of powers

a division of responsibilities for government among the three branches (legislative,executive, judicial)

rights of citizens

rights of citizens

rights of citizens

the freedoms and protections that cannot be denied by the government except under limited circumstances

responsibilities of citizens

responsibilities of citizens

responsibilities of citizens obligations of citizenship

voting

voting

voting a right and responsibility of citizens; a formal expression of an opinion by an individual

Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation

Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation

Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation words in the Pledge of

Allegiance to the Georgia flag

Georgia General Assembly

Georgia General Assembly

Georgia General

Assemblythe official name of Georgia’s state legislature

committee system

committee system

committee system

system in which groups of legislators work together to respond to proposals to enact, amend, or repeal laws

legislative branch

legislative branch

legislative branch branch of government

in Georgia responsible for making the law

executive branch

executive branch

executive branch

branch of government in Georgia responsible for carrying out the law

Executive Branch in RED

judicial branch

judicial branch

judicial branch

Branch of government in Georgia responsible for interpreting the law

governor

governor

governor executive head of the state government

lieutenant governor

lieutenant governor

lieutenant governor

state officer next in rank to a governor, Presiding President over the state senate

Department of Education

Department of Education

Department of Education

Georgia state department that is responsible for administering state education laws

Department of Human Resources

Department of Human Resources

Department of Human Resources

Georgia state department that is responsible for human services such as disease control, immunization, restaurant inspection, and daycare licensing

Department of Public Safety

Department of Public Safety

Department of Public Safety

Georgia state department that is responsible for enforcing traffic laws and preventing accidents, injuries, and deaths on public highways

Department of Transportation

Department of Transportation

Department of Transportation

Georgia state department that is responsible for planning, building, and maintaining state, U.S., and interstate highways in Georgia

Department of Economic Development

Department of Economic

Development

Department of Economic

Development

Georgia state department that is responsible for promoting economic development by recruiting industries and investments to Georgia

Department of Natural Resources

Department of Natural Resources

Department of Natural Resources

Georgia state department that is responsible for making sure our natural resources are used in the best interest of all people

Trial Courts

Trial Courts

Trial Courtscourts that have the authority to be the first court to hear a case; can hold trials

Appellate Courts

Appellate Courts

Appellate Courtscourts who have the authority to review decisions of lower courts; made up of several judges who hear cases and make decisions as a body

criminal law

criminal law

criminal lawviolating the criminal laws of the state

civil law

civil law

civil lawdispute involving citizens, groups, businesses, or governments that does not involve a violation of criminal law

Juvenile Court

Juvenile Court

Juvenile Court court that hears cases involving people who are under 17 years of age

voting qualifications

voting qualifications

voting qualifications

be 18 years of age, a U.S. citizen, and a resident of Georgia and county in which you register to vote

political partiespolitical parties

political parties

an organized group of people who share common ideals and who seek to influence governmentpolicies and decisions by electing members of their party to government office