Georgia Politics in a State of Change

by Bullock, Charles S., III; Gaddie, Ronald K.

• ISBN13: 9780205864676
• ISBN10: 0205864678
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-02-22
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

Updated in its 2nd edition, Georgia Politics in a State of Change, explores Georgia's constitution, politics, and government. It combines historical background and the most current scholarship to tell the story of Georgia politics from the state's founding to the institutions, policies, and people changing Georgia today. Written with an entertaining, conversational style, this concise text provides expansive treatment of Georgia politics and covers new ground not available in any other book on the subject.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xiii
Georgia Politics: From Talmadgism to Two-Party Competition
Georgia and the Rule of the Rustics	p. 1
The Historic Past	p. 2
Bifactionai Politics	p. 4
"Three Governors"	p. 6
Conclusion	p. 7
Georgia Geography and Politics	p. 8
The Fall Line and Georgia Regions	p. 9
Economic Implications of the Fall Line	p. 10
Geography of Antebellum Politics	p. 12
Geography of Reconstruction Georgia	p. 14
Regionalism in the One-Party System at Mid-Century	p. 16
Population Trends	p. 21
Conclusion	p. 23
Republican Rebirth, Democratic Delaying Actions	p. 25
Race, Republicans, and Georgia	p. 26
Rebuilding the GOP	p. 29
GOP Breakthrough	p. 32
Conclusion	p. 34
Constitutions and Institutions
The Georgia Constitution	p. 35
Contrasting the Georgia and U.S. Constitutions	p. 35
Georgia and the Bill of Rights	p. 36
From Trustee Charter to Constitutional Colony	p. 37
The Constitution of 1777	p. 37
The Constitution of 1789	p. 38
The Constitution of 1798	p. 39
The Constitution of 1861	p. 39
The Constitution of 1865	p. 40
The Constitution of 1868	p. 41
The Constitution of 1877	p. 42
The Constitution of 1945	p. 43
The Constitution of 1983	p. 44
Amending: U.S. Constitution versus Georgia Constitution	p. 45
The Amendment Process	p. 46
Making Change More Difficult	p. 46
Conclusion	p. 48
Interlude votefordanae.com	p. 49
Lawmaking 101	p. 50
"Target on the Back"	p. 52
Post-Elective Career	p. 54
The Georgia General Assembly	p. 55
Personnel	p. 56
Campaign Finance	p. 60
Legislative Elections	p. 62
Party Leadership	p. 63
The Legislative Process	p. 67
Innovation and Change	p. 69
Cleavages	p. 70
Staff Support and Resources	p. 71
Norms Governing Behavior	p. 72
Conclusion	p. 75
The Executive Branch	p. 76
Governor	p. 76
Governor's Responsibilities	p. 78
Governor's Budgetary Powers	p. 82
Governor's Personal Staff	p. 85
Lieutenant Governor	p. 85
Other Constitutional Offices	p. 86
Secretary of State	p. 86
Attorney General	p. 87
Insurance Commissioner	p. 88
State School Superintendent	p. 88
Commissioner of Agriculture	p. 90
Commissioner of Labor	p. 90
Public Service Commission	p. 90
Department of Transportation	p. 91
Campaign Finance	p. 91
Conclusion	p. 92
The Judicial System	p. 93
Georgia's Court System	p. 94
Trial Court Proceedings	p. 96
Appellate Proceedings	p. 97
Amicus Curiae	p. 97
Bases for Judicial Decisions	p. 97
Judicial Selection	p. 98
Judicial Contests Become More Political	p. 100
Judicial Misconduct	p. 101
Judicial Officers	p. 103
Conclusion	p. 106
Local Government	p. 107
County Government	p. 107
County Commissioners	p. 108
Consolidated Government	p. 111
Municipal Government	p. 111
Local Public Officials	p. 118
Local Revenues	p. 121
The Urbanization of Georgia: Balkan Atlanta	p. 121
Corporate Federalism and Milton County	p. 127
An Instance of Regional Government: MARTA	p. 131
Conclusion	p. 133
Agents of Change
Voting Rights in Georgia	p. 134
Georgia and Discriminatory Voting Practices	p. 134
Georgia and the Voting Rights Act	p. 137
African American Office Holding in Georgia	p. 142
Georgia Voter Photo ID	p. 144
Conclusion	p. 145
Georgiamanders	p. 146
One-Person, One-Vote in Georgia	p. 146
Racial and Partisan Consequences of Redistricting	p. 149
Redistricting in a New Century	p. 154
Redistricting and Partisanship	p. 157
Regional Shift in Power	p. 157
Redistricting 2011	p. 158
Conclusion	p. 163
Linking the Public to the Government
Political Parties	p. 164
Party in the Electorate	p. 164
Party Organization	p. 166
Party in the Government	p. 168
Conclusion	p. 170
Interest Groups	p. 171
Types of Groups	p. 171
Who Becomes a Lobbyist?	p. 178
The Impact of the Change in Party Control on Lobbying	p. 178
Ethics Reform	p. 180
Conclusion	p. 182
The Electoral Process	p. 183
Primaries	p. 183
Presidential Primary	p. 185
General Elections	p. 186
Municipal Elections	p. 189
Special Elections	p. 189
Registration	p. 191
The Act of Voting	p. 191
Participation by Ethnic Groups	p. 193
Campaign Finance	p. 194
Campaign Consulting	p. 194
Conclusion	p. 195
Education Policy	p. 196
Contemporary Education in Georgia	p. 196
Completion and Dropout Rates and Academic Performance	p. 197
The Evolution of Public Education in Georgia	p. 199
Educating the Freedmen	p. 199
Early Education Reform	p. 201
The Sibley Commission	p. 201
QBE: The Quality Basic Education Act	p. 202
The Lottery and HOPE	p. 203
Recent Efforts: A+ Education Reform Act and No Child Left Behind	p. 206
"Tough Times"	p. 208
Conclusion	p. 210
Index	p. 213
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